Geeking Out Over CLT Airport's Planned Expansions (Video)

I don't know when, but at some point in recent years I developed a fascination with how cities and neighborhoods grow and, essentially, how they're built (or rebuilt). I know it has a lot to do with me having lived in Charlotte for almost a decade now, and the sizable growth I've witnessed here during that time.

So I enjoy reading the many news articles of announcements and updates on new condos, apartment buildings, office towers, hotels, shopping centers (and in many cases a combination of these things, commonly known as "mixed use") being planned and built around the city, that I come across on The Charlotte Observer and Charlotte Business Journal's websites. And, of course, that growth is mirrored (or should be mirrored) in the improvements in infrastructure, such as the final leg of Interstate 485 finally opening, the next phase of the light rail running to University City, and the continued renovations and expansions of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

And it's the CLT airport stuff that's caused me to geek out. Seriously, since the airport announced, a month ago, the next phase of its development master plan, I've been talking to friends and colleagues about it like it's the Apple Watch or something. The $2.5 billion investment will make the airport more modern, convenient, accessible, and keep up with its crazy growth. Consider this: the airport welcomed 25 million total passengers for the year in 2004; 10 years later, in 2014, the total was 44 million.

Renderings of the planned renovations and expansions at Charlotte's airport. Credit: CLT

You can read about the planned projects, including expanding the terminal and lobby and renovating the concourses. But you'll definitely want to watch the video below, which is what fascinated me. It uses computer generation to show how, most notably, the terminal curb and roadway will be expanded and elevated, with the addition of several new lanes for vehicles dropping off and picking up passengers. And keep in mind, all of this construction will take place while the airport is in full operation, with millions of passengers coming and going each month.

Fascinating. #BarbaraWaltersVoice.

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Your Chance to Own a Piece of 'Homeland'

Although it's a fictional television show, reality set in last night for many of us Homeland fans who live in Charlotte. The realization that now that the critically acclaimed, award-winning Showtime series has kicked off its fourth season, we will no longer have the pleasure of spotting the Queen City throughout the episodes. As most locals know, since Homeland's inception, the show has largely been filmed in Charlotte, which was used as a stand-in for Washington, D.C. (remember that time "I Sat at the Bar with Carrie and Brody"). We learned in the spring that the series would be moving production out of Charlotte and into Cape Town, South Africa for this season.

Well, after three years of calling Charlotte home, a television production as big as this one surely accumulates a lot of stuff. And now, you can own a piece of Homeland stuff.

A "Homeland Sale" is being held on October 10 and 11, beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day, taking place at a large warehouse located at 6935 Reames Road in Charlotte, which had been converted into a soundstage by Homeland's producers. According to the advertisement, thousands of items from the show's production are for sale, including furniture, housewares, electronics, office supplies, clothing, construction materials, tools, hardware, and more.

Back to the show, last night was a special two-episode premiere that revealed a lot of what we can expect (and the always unexpected) this season from Carrie, Saul, and the gang. And the Twitterverse was fixated on how much Carrie's baby from Brody actually looks like the fictional father.

Two Words: Spitting. Image. #Homeland #brodybaby pic.twitter.com/YjwMlldbjH

— Giana Mucci (@RatedGiana) October 6, 2014

Kudos to @SHO_Homeland for managing to cast a baby to play Brody's daughter who looks like his head photoshopped onto a 5 month old's body.

— Sarah Rowan (@sarah_r0wan) October 6, 2014

Did anyone notice the baby on Homeland looks just like dad Brody (red hair and all)? #Homeland pic.twitter.com/lYvRcl5LOL

— Susan Matthias (@sarpedon16) October 6, 2014

TV BABY POWER RANKING: 1. Holly, Breaking Bad 2. Michelle Tanner, Full House 3. Frannie aka Brody Clone,Homeland 100. Gracie the alien, FNL

— Jessica Goldstein (@jessicagolds) October 6, 2014

My theory for this season's #Homeland. Brody's baby is turned. Working for Abu Nazir.

— Joey (@joeynemati) October 6, 2014

Baby Brody is the best character of the show. The dad's hair and the moms cry. #homeland

— brooke haney (@theBrookeHaney) October 6, 2014

Brody was reincarnated as a baby...what a plot twist! #Homeland

— Beth B. (@bethblabs) October 6, 2014

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Money Magazine Reveals What We Already Know: Charlotte Is the 'Best Big-City Bargain' In the Country

ICYMI, earlier this week, Money magazine published its annual package of stories and rankings comprising its "Best Places to Live in America." Among the 2014 lists is the "Best Big-City Bargains," and coming in at No. 1 is Charlotte, which you likely agree with if you live here. Nos. 2-5 are Phoenix, Fort Worth, Boston, and Chicago. The Time Inc.-owned publication describes its methodology for determining the list:

To create this list of best-value big-city neighborhoods, we ranked places with over 500,000 in population on housing affordability, economic strength, home price forecasts, and livability using data from NeighborhoodScout, OnBoard Informatics, and CoreLogic. Then we looked for promising, well-priced neighborhoods in our top 10 locales.

It highlights two thriving Charlotte neighborhoods in particular: Plaza Midwood, writing, "Just 10 minutes by car from the center of Charlotte, this artsy, bike-friendly neighborhood is an interesting mix of the gritty and the pretty;" and Mountain Island Lake, "Convenient to the soon-to-be-completed I-485 beltway, Mountain Island Lake features pretty, spacious homes." I live in the less glamorous section of the Mountain Island area, but about five minutes north of me is the community Money is referring to, which really is a hidden gem in Charlotte (and maybe in five years I'll be able to afford to live there).

In addition to Best Big-City Bargains, Money, in the October 2014 issue, also profiles the 50 Best Small Cities, Best Places to Be Rich and Single, Top Earning Towns, and Best Places to Find a New Job.

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What Does It Mean When A Family Dollar Store Opens In Your Neighborhood?

When opening a new business, particularly a brick-and-mortar store, one of the most important factors that goes (or should go) into the decision-making of the entrepreneur or corporation is the location (location, location, location, as developers say). A lot of market research and data are analyzed when new locations of franchises are being considered. So it's strategic when a franchise or chain like H&M, Chuy's, Taco Mac, or Chick-fil-A, for example, is deciding when and where it is opening in Charlotte. Among other things, it usually represents an area's population growth, and depending on the business, it might represent the affluency of that population.

But what does it mean when a new Family Dollar store opens in an area? Back in December, I was making a quick drive to the bank down the street from my house when I realized that a Family Dollar was being built. I commented on Twitter:

Noticed a Family Dollar is being built down the street from my house. Not sure if that's good or bad for my neighborhood.
— Jarvis Holliday (@HollidayInk) December 19, 2013

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had conversations with various people on topics involving socioeconomics. In a few of those conversations, we began talking about companies/stores like Walmart and Family Dollar, and in the case of Family Dollar, some interesting perspectives emerge as to the type of areas and neighborhoods the company opens stores in.

This Family Dollar is opening soon on Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road in my neighborhood.

Leon Levine opened the first Family Dollar store in Charlotte in 1959. Today, it's a publicly held, Fortune 300 company, headquartered in Matthews, with more than 8,100 stores in 46 states. It's largely viewed as a fast-growing chain, so it came as a bit of a surprise when Family Dollar announced on Thursday that it would be closing 370 stores and slowing new-store growth. This is a result of sales from the most recent quarter being down 3.8 percent. Also as part of their "immediate, strategic actions," the CEO says the company has "made a significant investment to lower prices on about 1,000 basic items." So apparently, you'll be able to buy many items at the store for even cheaper; I guess as a way to drive more customers to the stores.

Furthermore, this is how Family Dollar is described in its corporate bio:

For more than 54 years, Family Dollar has been providing value and convenience to customers in easy-to-shop neighborhood locations. Family Dollar’s mix of name brands and quality, private brand merchandise appeals to shoppers in more than 8,100 stores in rural and urban settings across 46 states. Helping families save on the items they need with everyday low prices creates a strong bond with customers, who often refer to their neighborhood store as “my Family Dollar.”

Recently, a friend told me that "You won't find a Family Dollar in Ballantyne." This goes back to the perception of the type of neighborhoods in which Family Dollar opens stores. And my friend is right; I searched the store locator on Family Dollar's website and there isn't one in Ballantyne. But according to the company's history section, where it describes how and why a young Leon Levine started Family Dollar, it says he found success opening discount stores in low to middle income neighborhoods.

If that trend continues, then does it mean that if there's a new Family Dollar store opening where you live, that your neighborhood is considered low to middle income?

This isn't at all intended to be a knock on Family Dollar as a company. I've never heard anything bad about what it's like to work for them, the way, say, we often hear complaints about Walmart. And it should be noted that the company's founder and his wife do some incredible charitable giving through the Leon Levine Foundation--their impact can be seen throughout Charlotte especially, with the tens of millions of dollars they've donated.

The reality is that a business is a brand, and brands represent things. What do you think it represents if a Family Dollar store opens in your neighborhood?

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Charlotte Premium Outlets Taking Shape, Scheduled to Open Mid-Summer

UPDATE: The website for Charlotte Premium Outlets has gone live -- premiumoutlets.com/charlotte -- and there you'll find additional info, including details for its May 2 Job Fair and July 31-Aug 3 Grand Opening.

Over the last few weeks, I've traveled up and down Interstate 485 several times, from my home exit, Exit 16 (NC 16/Brookshire Boulevard) down past Exit 1 (NC 49/South Tryon Street). And by taking that route--most recently on Friday--I've noticed the rapid progression of construction for Charlotte Premium Outlets, which is visible from the interstate near Exit 4 (NC 160/Steele Creek Road). I used to travel along that Steele Creek Road exit often a few years ago, so I recall the large plots of vacant land around there. That's all about to change when this new outlet mall opens, with its target opening date of July 31.

Rendering of Charlotte Premium Outlets.

Charlotte Premium Outlets is a 50-50 joint venture between Simon Property Group (premiumoutlets.com) and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers (tangeroutlet.com), which each operate dozens of outlet shopping centers around the country--in the region, Simon operates Concord Mills and Gaffney Premium Outlets (as well as SouthPark Mall), for example, and Tanger operates two across North Carolina, two in Myrtle Beach, and one in Charleston. On Monday the companies announced the latest news on Charlotte Premium Outlets, including the scheduled opening date, that the number of planned stores has increased from 90 to 100, and a partial list of tenants that are already under contract.

The announced tenants are:

Adidas, American Eagle, ASICS, The Body Shop, Brooks Brothers, The Children’s Place, The Cosmetics Company Store, Crabtree & Evelyn, Fossil, Gold Toe, Haggar, Jockey, Justice, Kay Jewelers, Kitchen Collection, Le Creuset, Lindt Chocolate, Perfumania, Rack Room Shoes, Robert Wayne Footwear, Samsonite, Seiko, Skechers, Swarovski, The Uniform Company, Vitamin World, Wet Seal, and Wilson’s Leather.

That list of stores isn't anything to write home about, but keep in mind that this only reflects a little more than one-fourth of the total stores that will be housed there. And according to Construction Data Company's Building Blocks Blog, which regularly breaks news on commercial construction projects, many more tenants (more impressive ones at that) are planning stores at Charlotte Premium Outlets, such as:

Ann Taylor, BCBG Max Azria, BeBe, Calvin Klein, Charlotte Russe, Coach Store, Cole Haan, Famous Footwear, Finish Line, Guess Factory Store, Kenneth Cole, Levi's Outlet Store, Michael Kors, Oakley Vault, Perry Ellis, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Off Fifth, Soma, Tommy Hilfiger, White House Black Market, Zumiez, and others.

Charlotte Business Journal published a behind-the-scenes article and photo gallery of Charlotte Premium Outlets on Friday. The general manager of the outlet mall said she anticipates the first retailers will begin moving in about 60 days before the July 31 grand opening. Once completed, the stores will provide more than 900 full-time and part-time jobs.

I expect that this project will greatly transform this part of town, spurring a lot more development along I-485 Exit 4 and Steele Creek Road--pretty much the same way Northlake Mall did to its section of West W.T. Harris Boulevard when it opened in fall 2005. There were hundreds of acres of unused land around there before then. Today, there's not only the mall with its 150-plus stores, restaurants, and movie theater, but other shopping centers, big-box stores (Target, Lowe's, Best Buy), restaurants (P.F. Chang's, Mimi's Cafe, this new McDonald's), and a hotel (Drury Inn & Suites) have sprung up there over the years. New apartment complexes and townhouses have also been developed, with more currently under construction, and along the way I-485 Exit 21 opened, which helped make getting over there even more convenient.

Because of where Charlotte Premium Outlets is located, only four miles from the South Carolina border, it will undoubtedly draw plenty of shoppers from Fort Mill and Rock Hill. I also suspect it will attract a lot of visitors from Columbia because I believe this will become the closest outlet mall to them--about an hour-and-15-minute drive.

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Need A Job to Pay for Valentine's Day? Charlotte Job Fair Tuesday (Jan. 21) for Seasonal Workers

It's estimated that Americans spent about $18 billion dollars on Valentine's Day-related gifts last year. I blame the increase in spending on social media! For decades, ladies, even without ever mentioning it to their men, desired that their fellas send flowers and gifts to their jobs on Feb. 14, to the envy of their female co-workers. But now, the gifts they receive are elevated in notoriety through photos posted on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. So that $15 box of candy and $10 bear from CVS is no longer going to cut it, buddy. Better start stacking your dough now in anticipation of what you'll be spending in about three-and-a-half weeks. Need some financial assistance?

Provide Commerce is holding a job fair this Tuesday, January 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for seasonal employees to work in its ProFlowers and Shari's Berries Manufacturing and Distribution Center here in Charlotte (11922 General Drive, 858-677-7460). The temporary positions will be largely to keep up with Valentine's Day gift-purchasing demand. And according to the Fort Mill Times, the company is seeking to fill 1,200 local jobs. Provide Commerce is a San Diego-based company that operates popular consumer brands that include Shari's Berries, ProFlowers, RedEnvelope, and Personal Creations. The positions offer flexible schedules because the Charlotte distribution center is open 24 hours a day.

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Robin Emmons, of Sow Much Good, Is a 2013 CNN Hero

For the last few months, one each week, CNN has been unveiling its 2013 CNN Heroes--"everyday people changing the world." Thousands of submissions were sent in from around the globe, and 24 people have been chosen as heroes (a few more are left to be revealed). This week's CNN Hero is Robin Emmons, founder and executive director of Sow Much Good, a nonprofit organization that's working to eliminate urban food deserts in Charlotte by providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and educating people about healthy lifestyles, among other things.

I've seen and read about Robin's work for the last couple of years, and she and her team have done a great job of spreading their message and reaching the people who most need their help. But as the CNN article on Robin points out, more than 72,000 people in Charlotte lack access to fresh produce. So she has a lot of ground to cover, just in this city alone. And they're doing it. The video below shows a few examples of how Sow Much Good, now with 200 volunteers, has grown more than 26,000 pounds of fresh produce for local underserved communities.

It's one thing to not eat healthy because that's your choice, but it's another to eat unhealthy foods because you can't afford or don't have access to better food. That's often the case for people in low-income neighborhoods, who end up eating most of their meals from dollar menus at fast food restaurants, and do much of their grocery shopping at gas station convenience stores.

On Thursday, October 10, CNN will reveal the Top 10 CNN Heroes of the year, with each receiving $50,000. As you've likely seen in years past, the top 10 will be featured on the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute telecast this fall, and the person selected as CNN Hero of the Year will receive an additional $250,000 to continue his/her work. During the tribute show, the heroes are each introduced by celebrities.

Let's hope that Robin Emmons is selected as one of the top 10. But even being chosen as one of the 24 heroes is already an incredible accomplishment. Get all the details by visiting CNNHeroes.com.

Sow Much Good, sowmuchgood.org, facebook.com/SowMuchGood, twitter.com/SowMuchGood.

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It's Hump Day, But You'll Want to Listen to What Humpy Wheeler Has to Say Any Day (About NASCAR)

I've always liked Humpy Wheeler. Not only is he a fellow University of South Carolina alumnus (he played football for the Gamecocks in the 1950s) and motorsports legend having served as president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway for decades (retired in 2008), but I most admire him because he's a straight shooter. He tells it like it is.

I've seen Humpy speak a couple of times over the years, and I've enjoyed reading articles where he's been interviewed, most often in relation to things going on within NASCAR. I had the privilege of interviewing him myself, for an article I wrote for Charlotte magazine in 2008 about Max Siegel and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated ("Can Mighty Max Save DEI?"). Humpy knows a lot about--and a lot of people within--NASCAR and the racing industry, and it looks he'll now be regularly sharing his knowledge and opinions with us.

Humpy Wheeler. Credit: YouTube

He launched a YouTube channel (youtube.com/thehumpyshow) last week and has since posted a handful of videos. Each video, so far, finds him opining on NASCAR--the sport, the drivers, the tracks, the fans. One video in particular is starting to get people talking; it's titled: "Humpy's Hot Topic: What's Wrong With NASCAR Racing." 

What's wrong with NASCAR racing? He says it's a common discussion "in bar rooms and pubs" and that he's "thought long and hard about that. I think we messed it up a little, folks. I think that we got too fancy. I think as it soared back in the '90s, a lot of people wanted to change it, didn't like the way it was. They thought it was too country or too unsophisticated or whatever. And those people were dead wrong."

If you're a fan of NASCAR, or sports in general, you'll appreciate the gems Humpy is dropping in this 18-minute video. He draws parallels to other professional sports.

Some of Humpy's sentiments are similar to what I heard firsthand when I interviewed NASCAR team owner Felix Sabates recently. That article will appear in the September/October issue of Where Charlotte, hitting stands in a couple of weeks. Felix is another straight shooter, sports executive legend, and successful businessman. I might look for a way to share portions of my interview with him that didn't make it into the Where article.

NASCAR fans should subscribe to Humpy's YouTube channel, and follow him on Twitter @HumpyWheeler. I'm curious to see whether anyone from the league office will respond to the bold statements he makes in his vlog.

In other NASCAR-Charlotte news, the SPEED channel will officially be replaced by the launch of FOX Sports 1 on Saturday. This move was announced back in January, but now that the transition is just days away, we're learning how FS1 will compete with ESPN, how much NASCAR coverage will be involved, what cable and satellite providers are carrying the new network, and what local jobs might be lost.

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Charlotte Is a Hot Market for Grocers... Do You Know About These Specialty Stores?

The grocery store/supermarket, er, market in Charlotte has been heating up over the past year. You've been keeping up with the news, right?

Publix is moving into the area with three new stores either planned or currently under construction--South End, Ballantyne, and Cornelius--and it's opening a Charlotte division headquarters. After years of locals wishing, Whole Foods finally opened its first store here last August, in SouthPark. Salisbury-based Food Lion, which operates 1,100 stores in 10 states, has been making all kinds of changes over the past year, trying to keep up with the competition. And our other locally-based supermarket chain, Harris Teeter, is the talk of the town (and business world) after news yesterday that it's being acquired by Kroger. And lastly, as it does to almost every retail sector, Walmart continues to be a major player with its grocery stores.

We all have to eat to live, but who would've thought the market would become so competitive? (#1stWorldProblems.) But amid all of the grand announcements being made and big-box grocery stores opening, there are a few smaller stores that have launched--first in Charlotte at that--over the past year that say a lot about our grocery shopping preferences and the city as a desirable market.

201central

Credit: facebook.com/201central

Opened: October 2012 (two locations)
The Appeal: Fine wines, domestic and imported beers, specialty foods; café seating area, in-store wine consultants; educational classes focused on wine, beer, and food pairings; a beer room, and a walk-in humidor.
Company: A division of Harris Teeter.
Address: 13108 Eastfield Rd., Huntersville, 704-875-2892, 5939; Weddington-Monroe Rd., Wesley Chapel, 704-821-2686, 201central.com.

The Baby Grocery Store

Credit: facebook.com/thebabygrocerystore

Opened: November 2012
The Appeal: Parents shopping for babies for items such as all-natural, organic, and non-GMO food products; diapers, wipes, and environmentally-friendly household items; staff available to answer questions about products and choices like making baby food, cloth diapering, and baby wearing.
Company: After operating a mall kiosk for a year, Charlotte entrepreneur Darren Gann opened the first brick and mortar location in Charlotte, with future plans to expand into other states.
Address: 10225 Park Rd., Charlotte, 704-543-8635, thebabygrocerystore.com.

Lettuce Carry

Credit: facebook.com/LettuceCarry

Opened: March 2012
The Appeal: Offers more than 15,000 items including fresh food (local and organic), household items, health and beauty supplies, tobacco, beer, and wine; delivered to your door at no additional charge in a refrigerated truck.
Company: Privately owned; delivers to most of the Charlotte region including all of Mecklenburg County, Concord, Mooresville, Gastonia, Fort Mill, Rock Hill, and Monroe.
Contact: 704-962-3019, lettucecarry.com.

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Charlotte's Bid for the X Games Ramps Up

Last month, ESPN announced that Charlotte was one of four finalists for cities to host the summer X Games for three years beginning in 2014. The other three cities being considered are Austin, Chicago, and Detroit. If Charlotte is selected, the majority of the extreme sports competitions would take place at the racing complexes at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In recent weeks, speedway officials have ramped up (see what I did there?) excitement around the possibility by launching an official website, social media accounts, and making appearances at popular Charlotte events.

This rendering shows what an X Games ramp could look like inside the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photos credit: xgamescltbid.com

ESPN launched this annual event in 1995 as the Extreme Games, held in Providence, Rhode Island. Two years later it was rebranded as the X Games and relocated to California, where the bulk of its run has taken place over the years. The X Games have grown significantly during the past decade and has helped many of its competitors become superstar athletes. The games now feature nearly 20 competitions in four categories: BMX Freestyle, Moto X, Skateboard, and Rally Car.

According to a study by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission, the 2010 X Games in Los Angeles had an economic impact of at least $50 million (stats from study provided by CMS). The study also shows that in 2010, ESPN broadcast 31 hours of original content live during the games, reaching all 50 states and 175 countries. So, this would bring national and international attention to Charlotte, would be a huge benefit to the local economy, and it would be another boost to Charlotte's reputation as a great city to host large events.

Charlotte Motor Speedway, of course, is in the midst of hosting several days of events during its busiest schedule of the year, with this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race, which comes after last weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race. ESPN and X Games officials are scheduled to visit Charlotte June 4 and 5 as part of their decision-making process, and they're expected to announce the chosen city this summer. I wonder if our connection with ESPNU and the recently announced SEC Network will carry any favor?

Fans showing support for X Games Charlotte at a recent Alive After Five event in Uptown.

You can get all the latest info and support the efforts for Charlotte's X Games bid by visiting:

• XGamesCLTbid.com

• facebook.com/XGamesCharlotte

• twitter.com/XGamesCLTBid

The speedway has also created this promo video:

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An Evening with Charlotte's Mayors - May 21

If you're civic-minded, politically engaged, or just want to get more insight into the well-being and future of Charlotte, there's a great event coming up that you should mark your calendar to attend. An Evening with Charlotte's Mayors is a free public forum, taking place Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m. at Dale F. Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College (1206 Elizabeth Ave.). All six of Charlotte's living mayors will be on the panel: current Mayor Anthony Foxx (who's leaving his post soon to join the Obama Administration) and former mayors: North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, Richard Vinroot, former U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, Harvey Gantt, and Eddie Knox.

Charlotte mayors present and past. Top, left to right: Mayor Anthony Foxx, Gov. Pat McCrory, Richard Vinroot; bottom: Sue Myrick, Harvey Gantt, and Eddie Knox.

The forum is billed as an "historic discussion [that] comes at an intriguing time in Charlotte's history. A crucial mayoral election looms while concerns swirl over the city's future: growth without annexation, the widening gap between the affluent and poor, and rising tensions over control of the airport and a persistently high unemployment rate." Award-winning documentarian and TV journalist Steve Crump will moderate the evening, and audience members will be allowed to ask questions.

The event is free to attend, but registration is required by clicking here.  Doors will open at 6 p.m., the forum begins at 7, and a dessert, wine, and coffee reception will follow. The event is sponsored by The Charlotte Observer, PNC Bank, and CPCC.

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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Community Meetings April 16 and 22 to Discuss 2013-14 Budget Proposal

Last week, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison presented his budget proposal for the 2013-2014 school year to the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. Morrison's 46-page proposal, titled "Advancing The Way Forward," requests a $28.5 million, or 8 percent, increase, for a total of $365.9 million from the county (CMS has a budget of more than $1.1 billion, including money from the county, state, and federal government).

Morrison is nearing the end of his first year as CMS superintendent, after serving in that role at the school district in Reno, Nevada (he was named national superintendent of the year while there). I saw him speak at a Charlotte Chamber luncheon last August and I was impressed with his perspectives on how he would improve Charlotte schools.

Superintendent Heath Morrison. Credit: CMS

A little more than a third of the additional $28.5 million Morrison is requesting would go toward improving technology in schools: increasing wireless Internet capability, adding projection systems in all classrooms, and creating mobile tech labs. Three million dollars would be used to hire 36 facilitators or academic coaches to help teachers improve their skills; $1.2 million would fund after-school and summer programs to help about 5,000 kindergarten through third grade students improve their reading skills; $900,000 would be used to hire 10 people to coordinate community partnerships at 40 to 50 schools and a volunteer coordinator to work district-wide; along with requests for money to create six new magnet programs, as well as money to cover fees for students taking advancement placement tests (source: The Charlotte Observer).

Those all seem like important and worthwhile requests, that I could see myself supporting once I learn more about them. But $28.5 million is a lot of money, and county commissioners have said they might not have the funds to spare, and that they're already having to make cuts to other county-funded programs. Plus, some people might view this as throwing money at the educational problems, when that doesn't always work. But you know what? You, the citizens of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, need to voice your opinions.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is holding two community meetings to discuss the 2013-14 budget proposal. 

• April 16, 6-7:30 p.m. at West Charlotte High School, 2216 Senior Drive
• April 22, 6-7:30 p.m. at Rocky River High School, 10905 Clear Creek Commerce Drive

Superintendent Morrison and members of the executive staff team will present information on the budget priorities and facilitate a question-and-answer session. CMS will provide an interactive technology tool that will allow participants to ask questions and provide feedback from their mobile phones and tablets. It would be a good idea that you looked over the proposal before you attended. Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation. Click here for more info on the meetings.

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ABC Stores in N.C. -- The Letter and Spirit of the Law

People have had gripes with their governments since the beginning of civilized societies. But I would think criticism of government is at an all-time high, whether it's people complaining about government on the federal, state, or local level. All we seem to hear is that government is too big, meanwhile things like sequestration are happening and budgets for important programs are getting cut along with jobs. But there's one thing in Charlotte, and in North Carolina as a whole, I don't seem to notice people being too concerned about: the fact that all the liquor stores are government-run.

To be specific, in North Carolina, liquor stores, or retail spirit stores as they're called, are operated by Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) boards in individual counties. So in Charlotte, the liquor stores are ran by the Mecklenburg County ABC Board--there are currently 24 stores throughout the county. If you live here, I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know. Well, you might not know the legalities of it, but you know that any time you want to buy a bottle of liquor from retail--your favorite vodka, tequila, gin, rum, or the like--you have to get it from a store with the big, illuminated ABC Spirits sign.

 Credit: My Windows Phone

This is the first state I've lived in where the liquor stores are government-run, even if it is on the county level, and I've just always thought that was weird. And this is coming from a guy who grew up in South Carolina where we have some of the most archaic laws, commonly referred to as blue laws. But even in the Palmetto State, liquor stores are owned by private business owners, even if there are tough restrictions on what times liquor can be sold.

This evening, I made a quick stop into the ABC store that's only about five minutes from my house. It's one of the newest in the city and is located across the street from a Walmart. Whenever I'm in there (which isn't too often, but hey, what if I go every day--mind your business), I always think about how liquor sales is such big business. And how come the conservatives or, better yet, people like the Tea Partiers, aren't complaining that government is taking away money that should be going to small business owners? Yeah, I know Meck ABC loves to tout how much of its profits go back into the community. But Americans care more about capitalism. Or is it okay for our liquor stores to be socialists?

Fancy display I saw inside the ABC store this evening. Credit: My Windows Phone

The one thing I will say that I'm pleased with that's a direct result of the ABC stores here being run by the government, is that they're some of the cleanest, well-maintained businesses you'll find. And they're usually placed in appropriate locations, oftentimes in or near shopping centers. Basically what I'm saying is we don't have to worry about having filthy, corner liquor stores in the hood.

The ABC boards were established in North Carolina in the 1930s, but in this new era we're living in when government officials can't decide on budgets, and people are saying that government is too big, maybe county governments in North Carolina should have one less thing to be responsible for. And the liquor stores should be returned to the people. Who's going to drink to that?

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Raleigh the Fastest-Growing City In U.S.; Charlotte 5th

The two largest cities in North Carolina continue to be among the fastest growing in the country, in terms of population percentage increase. This week, Forbes published its list of the 10 Fastest-Growing Cities In the U.S. (and the 10 Slowest-Growing), with Raleigh ranking as the fastest growing and Charlotte coming in fifth. In between them, Austin, Texas is ranked second, Las Vegas is third, and Orlando is fourth.

Forbes explains how it analyzed the data, which was recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Some of the cities' growth have been impacted by economic factors such as the housing market and job sectors. The cities' populations are grouped into their respective metropolitan statistical areas--MSAs encompass the populations of the smaller surrounding cities and towns. So for Charlotte, the MSA includes Gastonia and Rock Hill, among others. According to Forbes:

No. 1: Raleigh, NC, Metropolitan Statistical Area
2012 population: 1,188,564
Growth since 2000: 47.8%
Growth since 2011: 2.2%
Rank in 2011-2012: No. 3

No. 5: Charlotte, NC-SC
2012 population: 2,296,569
Growth since 2000: 32.8%
Growth since 2011: 1.7%
Rank in 2011-2012: No. 9

Forbes ran a bland photo of Uptown Charlotte's skyline. They should've hit up my buddy, photographer Jon Strayhorn of Media Arts Collective, to get a great shot like this.

Cleveland ranks as the slowest growing U.S. city, with Detroit, not surprisingly, coming in a close second, followed by Buffalo and Pittsburgh. All four of these cities have decreased in population since 2000.

Charlotte has ranked high on the fastest-growing cities lists since I've lived here. And over the past year, all it takes is a drive through neighborhoods like South End and Plaza Midwood to see the many new apartments being built, and in south Charlotte where subdivisions are being expanded and/or entirely new ones are being constructed with hundreds of houses (evident in this July 2012 article I wrote for Charlotte magazine).

Rapid population growth is why it's important that a city like Charlotte is forward-thinking in its city planning, particularly as it pertains to roads and public transportation (i.e. light rail and streetcar), as well as job growth and the types of industries city leaders try to lure here.

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'The New American is Arriving,' Merger with US Airways; Charlotte's Ego, Your Wallet

After a year of rumors and speculation, today US Airways and American Airlines officially announced their plans to merge. The combined company will keep the American Airlines name, and will become the largest airline in the world. They've created a website for you to track developments and news: newamericanarriving.com.

The new American Airlines has also created a couple of web videos to mark this milestone.

Video

Video

Charlotteans and local businesses and media have all been concerned about the prospects of this merger because of how it could potentially affect Charlotte Douglas International Airport's status as US Airways’ largest hub--US Airways operates more than 600 flights coming in and out of CLT daily, nearly 90 percent of the airport's total daily flights. The indication right now is that the merger will bring more daily flights to Charlotte, according to US Airways CEO Doug Parker.

Charlotte's business and civic leaders are, of course, concerned about how the merger will affect the city in terms of economic impact and number of jobs. But there's another thing: Charlotte is fixated, almost to the level of obsession, with being able to claim it's the headquarters city of this and that, or is the largest home to this or that (folks still haven't gotten over losing Wachovia). After the merger, the US Airways name will go away, and as for the new American Airlines, Charlotte is expected to be its second largest hub, behind only Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (the combined company will be headquartered in Fort Worth).

All of that is fine and dandy, but to most of us there's one thing that's more important: how will the cost of fares be affected? That's something we won't know for months, maybe even years to come. As if it hasn't gotten expensive enough to fly.

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Since 'God Made a Banker,' Charlotte Must Be Heaven

One of the most popular and top-rated commercials during this year's Super Bowl was the "So God Made a Farmer" commercial by Dodge Ram. The two-minute spot featured a voiceover from a speech delivered by legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey in 1978, and was paired with beautiful countryside photos of farms and farmers that looked like they'd been run through Instagram filters.

While that commercial may have pulled at Americans' heartstrings, it's also sparked some parodies. One of the latest is "So God Made a Banker" by Brett Arends for MarketWatch. While it isn't set to video or audio (yet), you're asked to "read in the voice of Paul Harvey."

The column features such standout lines as:

God said, “I need someone who doesn’t grow anything or make anything but who will borrow money from the public at 0% interest and then lend it back to the public at 2% or 5% or 10% and pay himself a bonus for doing so.”

So God made a banker.

God said, “And I need somebody who will tell everyone else to stand on their own two feet, but who will then run to the government for a bailout as soon as he gets into trouble — and who will then use that bailout money to help elect a Congress that will look the other way. And then pay himself another bonus.”

That verbiage got me thinking: Since God made a banker, then Charlotte must be heaven. Because this city makes (has) a lot of bankers, as the second largest banking center in the country. And I guess the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets in Uptown would be the pearly gates. And Billy Graham Parkway is, well...

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Talking About 2012 In Charlotte

I taped two interviews yesterday at WCNC (NBC Charlotte); one for a story that ran during the 4 p.m. newscast and one for the 11 p.m. news. For the first story, I was interviewed by Bill McGinty and it focused specifically on New Year's Eve events in Charlotte. I was asked to talk about some of the many NYE parties that are taking place Monday night since I'd put together a list on my Dusk Till Dawn blog for Charlotte magazine.

Sitting at the WCNC news desk preparing to be interviewed for the four o'clock show.

After I wrapped up the segment on NYE parties, Rad Berky interviewed me for a story he was working on that focused on the large, high-profile events Charlotte hosted in 2012--such as the CIAA Tournament and Democratic National Convention--and the economic impact, growth, and exposure those events have had on the city. I commented on it from a nightlife perspective, particularly how there were many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs that opened in Charlotte in 2012. That story aired last night and again this morning on WCNC. It's also available online so I've embedded the video below.

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World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes—8 Charlotte Ballers

Forbes has published its annual list of The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes, ranking sports figures based on the money they've raked in over the last 12 months, between June 2011 and June 2012. Boxers take the top two spots: Floyd Mayweather Jr. at No. 1 with $85 million and the guy people have been wanting him to fight for two years now, Manny Pacquiao, at No. 2 with $62 million. Rounding out the top five are Tiger Woods at No. 3 with $59.4 million, LeBron James at No. 4 with $53 million, and Roger Federer at No. 5 at $52.7 million.

Forbes explains that the earning figures it compiled include salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, licensing, and endorsement income. So there are a number of ways athletes become filthy rich. All of Mayweather's $85 mil came from what he made in the ring, considering he owns his own fight promotion company, while $45 mil of Federer's $52.7 mil came from endorsements, so he made most of his fortune away from the court.

The business magazine also points out that 30 NFL players made the list of 100 highest-paid athletes, which is more than any other sport, but an anomaly this year because many NFL players, it reports, had bonuses delayed until the summer of 2011 that normally would have been paid in March due to the NFL lockout. Plus, several players had their 2012 salaries converted into signing bonuses and paid out in March to alleviate team’s salary cap issues. As a result, of those high-earning NFLers, four are Carolina Panthers: defensive end Charles Johnson at No. 15 with $34.4 million, linebacker Jon Beason at No. 56 with $21.4 million, running back DeAngelo Williams at No. 66 with $19.9 million, and center Ryan Kalil at No. 71 with $19.4 million (the NFL's highest paid center).

Charles Johnson, photographed with a kid at his football camp last week, is the highest paid athlete in Charlotte over the past year and No. 15 in the world. Credit: @randywattson

Also in relation to Charlotte, there are four NASCAR drivers on the list who call this area home. Dale Earnhardt Jr. at No. 23 with $28.2 million (making him NASCAR's top-earning driver thanks largely to $15 million in endorsements), Jeff Gordon at No. 42 with $23.6 million ($10 million in endorsements), Tony Stewart at No. 47 with $22.3 million ($7 million in endorsements), and Jimmie Johnson at No. 53 with $21.5 million ($7 million in endorsements). It's also worth noting that three of these four drivers, with the exception of Stewart, are a part of the Hendrick Motorsports team.

So, there are a total of eight Charlotte-area athletes on the list via the Panthers and NASCAR (but no Charlotte Bobcats). As I often say, there's a lot of money in this town.

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Charlotte, Not to Be Confused with Charleston, 'Tech' Speaking

There are people who live in parts of this country, particularly the Midwest, West, or even far Northeast, who don't know much about southern states and cities because they've never visited the region. Some of those people are the ones who confuse Charlotte with Charleston. Sure, the first five letters of the cities' names are the same and they're both in the Carolinas, but, as you know, one is in North Carolina and the other is in South Carolina. And as landscapes, tourist attractions, and prevalent industries go, they couldn't be more different. To put it simply, Charlotte is more of a southern metropolitan city whose downtown boasts skyscrapers, condos, headquarters of large companies, and professional sports teams; Charleston is an historic coastal city with beaches, plantation-style homes, and revered for its food and arts festivals. I know I'm just summing up those cities very briefly and that they each have so much more to offer, but I've never thought the two cities had a whole lot in common.

Then I learned there's one thing Charleston has that I already knew Charlotte possesses: a burgeoning technology industry.

Fast Company published an article this week titled, "Introducing "Silicon Harbor": Charleston, SC, Home Of TwitPic And Amazon's CreateSpace," where it illustrates how and why Charleston is one of the top-10 fastest growing cities for software and Internet technology, despite being the 75th largest metro area in the U.S. "TwitPic and Amazon's CreateSpace count among the household names to emerge from Charleston. Additional prominent companies with footprints in the city include Blackbaud, Boeing, and Google," the article states.

It also goes on to describe some of the prominent tech startups and partnerships in Charleston. But you know what, Charlotte has many comparable entities:

• Whereas Charleston has the Charleston Digital Corridor to provide office space and support services, Charlotte has The Ben Craig Center and Packard Place.
• Charleston has notable tech companies and startups like PeopleMatter, BiblioLabs, and Benefitfocus, while Charlotte has DealCloud, Skookum Digital Works, Acrowire, and Appian, just to name a few from each city.
• While Charleston has Business Indigo to connect the tech community, Charlotte has the Charlotte Regional Technology Executives Council.
• And whereas Amazon acquired Charleston-based BookSurge and turned it into CreateSpace and kept the company there, last year Amazon also bought Charlotte-based voice-to-text technology company YAP Inc., but won't talk about it.

Now, there are a couple of things Charlotte can learn from Charleston in terms of growing its tech community. For starters, Charleston has given itself a cool name for the industry: "Silicon Harbor." Charlotte needs a moniker too. Any suggestions? How about "Silicon Bank"? Secondly, Charlotte needs to land a large technology company. Sure, Apple has built a new data center in Maiden, about 45 minutes northwest of Charlotte, and Google built a data center in Lenoir, but those are both large facilities mainly used to house servers. We need a large tech company in Charlotte, proper, where developers go to work every day. Charleston specifically uses state tax incentives and grant programs to target tech companies. But one area where Charlotte has an advantage, we have a lot more access to venture capital because of all of the current and former banking executives that live here and have started investment funds. Securing sources for capital is essential to startups' survival.

The Fast Company article talks about how software developers, engineers, and other techies are moving to Charleston because they're finding it to be a great place to live. That's the same case with Charlotte, as is illustrated in the video below on the tech community by the Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee, as part of their Carolina Stories series.

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Job Fair June 7 for Charlotte-Area Military Veterans

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and RecruitMilitary are presenting the Hiring Our Heroes veteran job fair and opportunity expo on Thursday, June 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Charlotte Motor Speedway (in the ballroom of The Speedway Club, 5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord). This is a free event for military veterans, including personnel who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, veterans who already have civilian work experience, members of the National Guard and reserves, and their spouses.

So far, 46 exhibitors and hiring companies have signed on to participate, including Verizon Communications, Bank of America / Merrill Lynch, Kellogg, Chiquita Brands, The Home Depot, Wells Fargo, Convergys, Ettain Group, State Farm, Lash Group, Oracle, and many more. Click here for more details and to register to attend. You can also see what people are saying about RecruitMilitary, the military-to-civilian recruiting firm putting on this job fair, by visiting their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/recruitmilitary.

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