government
What Charlotte Got in Writing on I-77
The 12-page agreement behind the I-77 South toll lanes commits at least $300 million to west Charlotte and makes the private developer responsible for putting it up.
Jack Beckett·Oct 8, 2026
Topic
Charlotte City Council
government
The Enslaved Believed Buried Outside Sugaw Creek's Cemetery Fence
Charlotte made the two Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church cemeteries historic landmarks Monday. Researchers told council that more than 500 enslaved people are believed buried just outside them in…
Jack Beckett·Sep 29, 2026
government
Charlotte's Housing Bond Plan Now Says Where Homes Should Go
Before voters decide on a $125 million housing bond in November, city staff laid out how the money would be split, with new goals for homes near transit and in higher-opportunity neighborhoods.
Jack Beckett·Sep 29, 2026
government
Charlotte's Annexation Test Never Asks About Affordable Housing
Council voted on four annexations Monday under a policy adopted in 2003. Staff said the city has never used annexation to ask for affordable housing, and its lawyers have warned that doing so could…
Jack Beckett·Sep 29, 2026
government
First Union Tower Wins Landmark Status and a Tax Break, 10-1
Charlotte made the vacant office tower at 301 S. Tryon a historic landmark, which lets its owners defer half the property tax on the designated portion while they convert it to homes and a hotel.
Jack Beckett·Sep 29, 2026
government
Charlotte Approves 10 p.m. Curfew Pilot for Minors, 9-2
Starting Nov. 1, Charlotte residents under 18 must be off the streets by 10 p.m., with exceptions, under a pilot that runs through August 2027.
Jack Beckett·Sep 29, 2026
government
Facing a $69.5 Million State Bill, CRTPO Brings Back the I-77 South Toll Lanes. Two Mayors Resign From the Board.
The regional transportation board reinstated the $4.3 billion I-77 South toll lane project Wednesday, with a $69.5 million state bill hanging over any town that kept voting no.
Jack Beckett·Sep 24, 2026
government
Charlotte's I-77 Bill Is $69,577,547.67
The state's claim against Charlotte for walking away from the I-77 South toll lanes is $69,577,547.67, and the money would come out of the fund the city has already programmed for its next affordable…
Jack Beckett·Sep 15, 2026
government
Five Weeks Out, Charlotte Hasn't Moved on I-77, and Board Members Are Disputing the $60 Million
At its last meeting before the September 23 reinstatement vote, CRTPO heard that Charlotte's position on the I-77 South toll lanes is unchanged, that the alternatives analysis cannot finish in time…
Jack Beckett·Aug 26, 2026
government
Charlotte Council Debates What a Youth Curfew Pilot Would Test
Council approved neither a new curfew nor a pilot Monday. Charlotte's police chief asked to explore a test of the 9 p.m. rule, while members proposed different measures, limits, and timelines.
Jack Beckett·Aug 25, 2026
government
The Hendrick Rezoning Met Every Consent-Agenda Test. A Question About Its Buffer Sent It Back.
Petition 2026-019 cleared all four criteria that put a Charlotte rezoning on the consent agenda, where petitions pass together without discussion. It came off the list anyway.
Jack Beckett·Aug 20, 2026
government
Charlotte Read DOJ’s Model Cities Fine Print. Some of It Comes Later.
Charlotte has until September 1 to seek a share of nearly $300 million through DOJ’s Model Cities Initiative. Applying requires local signatures, federal collaboration and an immigration…
Jack Beckett·Aug 11, 2026
government
The Study Charlotte Wanted on I-77 Takes Five Months. Its Deadline Is in Eight Weeks.
Charlotte has until October 5 to reverse itself on the I-77 South toll lanes or absorb a penalty the legislature wrote in July: a state bill the city attorney puts at $64 million, a freeze on its…
Jack Beckett·Aug 5, 2026
government
North Carolina's Budget Gives Charlotte a Choice: Revive the I-77 Toll Lanes, or Repay $64 Million
The regional board that killed the I-77 South toll lanes in May will vote September 23 on bringing them back, under a state budget that told the governments that opposed them to reinstate the project…
Jack Beckett·Jul 16, 2026
government
Charlotte's Safety Committee Advances a 9 p.m. Curfew for Everyone Under 18
The City Council's Safety Committee voted unanimously to send the full council a single 9 p.m. curfew for everyone under 18, replacing the current age-tiered rules.
Jack Beckett·Jul 15, 2026
government
Rob Harrington Is Sworn In as Charlotte's Mayor. He Has 18 Months.
Robert "Rob" Harrington took the oath of office Wednesday morning as Charlotte's mayor, ending the succession that began with Vi Lyles's resignation.
Jack Beckett·Jul 2, 2026
government
Charlotte City Council Names Robert Harrington, Its Next Mayor
After a runoff decided by a single vote, the City Council chose Robert Harrington, a Robinson Bradshaw attorney who has never held elected office, as Charlotte's next mayor.
Jack Beckett·Jun 23, 2026
government
The Five Finalists for Charlotte Mayor, in Their Own Words
The council interviewed five finalists for interim mayor on June 18 and set the appointment vote for Monday. Here is how each got on the ballot, what they told council about running meetings, the…
Jack Beckett·Jun 20, 2026
government
Charlotte Moves to Regulate Street Vending Citywide. The Split Was Over Whether Repeat Offenders Should Face a Criminal Charge.
A Charlotte City Council committee voted 4-1 to keep exploring a criminal-penalty option for repeat street-vending offenders and unanimously advanced citywide vending regulation, sending both to the…
Jack Beckett·Jun 3, 2026
government
Charlotte Council Votes 10-1 to Give Firefighters the Same 10% Raise as Police
Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 Monday to direct the city manager to give the Charlotte Fire Department the same 10 percent raise as police, closing a pay gap that drew months of firefighter protest.
Jack Beckett·Jun 2, 2026
government
Charlotte Council Opens Interim Mayor Applications, 19 Days After Lyles Announced Resignation
Charlotte's city council voted Tuesday to open applications for an interim mayor, 19 days after Mayor Vi Lyles announced her resignation, and the 2027 race question is already on the form.
May 27, 2026
government
Charlotte residents packed City Hall to fight data centers. The council will vote June 8.
Charlotte City Council held a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed 150-day moratorium on new telecommunications and data storage facilities.
Jack Beckett·May 27, 2026
government
Manor Theater Redevelopment Approved
Charlotte City Council on Monday unanimously approved a partial rezoning of the Manor Theater site on Providence Road, clearing the way for SLRH Acquisitions to redevelop the long-closed Eastover…
Jack Beckett·May 22, 2026
government
A 49-Unit Faith in Housing Petition Reached Public Hearing at Council Monday
Mission City Church, Freedom Communities, and the True Homes Foundation walked Charlotte City Council through their 49-townhome affordable-housing petition Monday night.
Jack Beckett·May 21, 2026
government
Manufacturing Land Near Woodlawn Station Just Became TOD-NC
The Charlotte City Council on Monday rezoned a 0.16-acre Verbena Street parcel from ML-2 (manufacturing and logistics) to TOD-NC, 7-2.
Jack Beckett·May 21, 2026
government
Renée Johnson Brought a CMS School-Utilization Report to Council Monday. She Has Been Making This Argument for Five Years.
Council Member Renée Johnson (District 4) brought a manually-compiled CMS school-utilization report to Monday's council meeting to argue that the conventional rezoning process is not tracking the…
Jack Beckett·May 20, 2026
government
Charlotte Council Approved a 41-Acre Atrium University City Rezoning Monday. The Vote Took Two Tries.
Charlotte City Council unanimously approved a 41.26-acre rezoning of the Atrium Health University City hospital campus Monday, switching the property from Institutional Campus 1 to Institutional…
Jack Beckett·May 20, 2026
government
Charlotte Council Deferred a Conventional Rezoning 5-4 Monday. Renée Johnson Led the Opposition.
Council Member Renée Johnson pulled petition 2025-136, a conventional rezoning at 1800 West Sugar Creek Road by Larry Cooper, off the consent agenda Monday, citing her standing concern about…
Jack Beckett·May 19, 2026
government
Vi Lyles Chaired the May Zoning Meeting. It Was Her First This Year and Her Last.
Mayor Vi Lyles had not chaired a 2026 zoning meeting through her current term, Council Member Ed Driggs (District 7) handled each of the four held earlier this year.
Jack Beckett·May 19, 2026
government
Brendan Maginnis Offers to Serve as Interim Mayor
Brendan K. Maginnis, the runner-up in Charlotte's September 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, has volunteered for the interim mayor appointment, from Copenhagen, where his family moved in January, and…
Jack Beckett·May 16, 2026
government
A Budget Hearing, an I-77 Reset, Data Centers — and the Question Malcolm Graham Wouldn't Answer
Council convened in special session at 4 p.m. Monday to take up three of Charlotte's biggest active fights, a $4.5 billion budget hearing, a resolution on the I-77 South toll lanes, and the council's…
Jack Beckett·May 11, 2026
government
Vi Lyles Will Resign as Charlotte Mayor on June 30. The Race to Replace Her Already Started.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announced Thursday that she will resign on June 30, ending a tenure that began in 2017. Under North Carolina law, the City Council will appoint a Democrat to serve the…
Jack Beckett·May 8, 2026
government
MTC Closes Comment Period on CATS Fare Plan With One Cash-Rider Question Unanswered
At the final public hearing on the Charlotte Area Transit System's Fare Modernization Program, public commenter Carson Cohn told the MTC that CATS had promised him an answer over a month ago on…
Jack Beckett·May 7, 2026
government
Charlotte's 2024 Housing Bond Is $5.6 Million Over. Staff Wants to Cover It From Supportive Housing, Shelter, and Innovation.
The rental housing production category of Charlotte's 2024 affordable housing bond is now $5.6 million over its allocation goal.
Jack Beckett·May 5, 2026
government
A 2.5-Million-Square-Foot Data Center Is Going Up off University City Boulevard.
The Charlotte City Council deadlocked 5-5 Monday night on whether to even schedule a public hearing on a temporary moratorium for new data center approvals. Mayor Vi Lyles broke the tie, voting no.
Jack Beckett·Apr 28, 2026
government
Mayfield votes no on a Faith in Housing petition she built — tells the chamber the label is not "an automatic check"
Council Member LaWana Mayfield built Charlotte's Faith in Housing initiative. Monday night she voted against one of its petitions, and told the chamber from the dais why the label alone doesn't get a…
Jack Beckett·Apr 22, 2026
government
Charlotte Council Approves Both Faith in Housing Rezonings.
Council Member LaWana Mayfield, the architect of Charlotte's Faith in Housing initiative, voted against a Faith in Housing petition Monday night. Both rezonings passed.
Jack Beckett·Apr 21, 2026
government
Charlotte Housing Trust Fund Staff Picks Are In. The Questions Are Already Louder Than the Numbers.
Charlotte City Council reviews $20.85 million in Housing Trust Fund staff recommendations, four rental projects, nine homeownership proposals, as council members push back on rezoning timing…
Jack Beckett·Apr 14, 2026
government
Charlotte City Council Passes First Post-Sales-Tax Transit Budget, Sends Street Vending Back to Committee
The first CATS budget built on the new 1% sales tax totals $571.7 million. Council rejected criminalizing street vendors. Staff recommended thirteen of eighteen housing trust fund proposals.
Jack Beckett·Apr 14, 2026
government
Charlotte Safety Committee Revisits Red Light Cameras After Fatality on The Plaza
Lance Sotelo was 25 years old when a driver ran a red light on The Plaza in January and hit him. Charlotte's Public Safety Committee has revisited the city's red light camera program, off the street…
Jack Beckett·Apr 7, 2026
government
Charlotte Has Until April 27 to Pick. Eighteen Groups Applied for $45 Million. The City Has About $29 Million.
Charlotte received 18 proposals requesting more than $45 million for its Housing Trust Fund, but only has $28.7 million to give out. The council votes April 27.
Jack Beckett·Apr 7, 2026
government
What Is the MPTA? Charlotte's New Transit Authority, Explained
The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) is Charlotte's new regional transit authority, created after voters approved a half-cent sales tax in November 2025.
Jack Beckett·Mar 28, 2026
government
Six Council Members Voted for Affordable Housing in East Charlotte. Four Who Champion Equity Voted No.
Charlotte City Council approved the Crosland Southeast affordable housing project 6-4 at the March 23 zoning meeting. The four no votes came from council members who champion equity, arguing East…
Jack Beckett·Mar 23, 2026
government
Charlotte's $50 Million Housing Bond Is a Non-Starter. Council Said So Monday.
City staff proposed cutting Charlotte's affordable housing bond from $100 million to $50 million in the FY2027 budget. Council members from across the dais rejected the number, with Mayfield…
Jack Beckett·Mar 23, 2026
government
Gateway Station: Two Council Members Say Charlotte Has Waited Long Enough
At Monday's FY2027 budget workshop, Council Members Anderson and Graham pushed for a Gateway Station progress update and connected it to the stalled CTC redevelopment and the former EpiCentre.
Jack Beckett·Mar 23, 2026
government
Charlotte City Council 2026: Budget Pressures, Toll Lane Fights, and the Topics That Actually Matter
Charlotte City Council spent Q1 2026 juggling a razor-thin budget, a toll lane revolt, affordable housing policy, and a transit authority handoff with a July deadline.
Jack Beckett·Mar 15, 2026
government
Charlotte Just Changed Who Gets to Sell You a Tomato
A quiet UDO change lets farmers markets operate by right in Charlotte's industrial zones, and at least one council member says that's the whole point.
Jack Beckett·Feb 18, 2026
government
Charlotte City Council Approves $4.3M Transit Authority Start-Up, Advances Infrastructure Contracts, Defers Gateway Station Parking Lease
Council approved $4.3M for a new transit authority start-up and major infrastructure contracts, while deferring a Gateway Station parking lease and a Norland Road path item.
Jack Beckett·Jan 17, 2026
government
Charlotte City Council Zoning Meeting, Dec. 15: Displacement Vote, Brookhill Overlay, TOD Disputes, and Growth Pressures
Charlotte's last zoning meeting mixed holiday cheer with hard votes on displacement, traffic, TOD, and school crowding. Here is what passed, what failed, and why it matters.
Jack Beckett·Dec 16, 2025
government
What The Mayor Pro Tem Vote Reveals About Charlotte's New City Council
On swearing-in night, a failed motion for one Mayor Pro Tem and a 9–3 vote for another gave Charlotte its first look at how this new City Council may sort itself into factions.
Jack Beckett·Dec 8, 2025