Top Stories for Feb. 5, 2025
Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next budget and public policy meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11 at 2:30 p.m.
1. Brooklyn Village: The Board of County Commissioners received a presentation on Brooklyn Village, the Second Ward neighborhood being redeveloped under an agreement between Mecklenburg County and BK Partners. BK Partners notified the Board last August that construction would be delayed due to unfavorable market conditions. This week, the developer presented a revision to Phase 1 that modifies the use of the property and proposes construction of 250 affordable residential units. All units would range between 30% and 80% of the area median income (AMI) under a 99-year affordability agreement. The proposal indicates that construction would begin in March 2026 and be complete by Sept. 2027.
2. University City Library: After the Board’s approval in 2022 of $39.8 million for the project, the new University City Regional Library will open its doors on Saturday, Feb. 8. A grand opening celebration will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the branch located at 5528 Waters Edge Village Drive in Charlotte. The 35,000 square-foot library includes educational space for children and teens, community programming areas, a drive-through book return, and study spaces. The building is part of the new Waters Edge development at University Place and is a short walk to both a light rail station and greenway.
3. Who’s Who on Committees: The Board reaffirmed six committees and established two new ad-hoc committees and leadership for 2025:
- Economic Development, Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, Chair
- Environmental Stewardship, Elaine Powell, Chair
- Health and Human Services, Arthur Griffin, Chair
- Intergovernmental Relations, Laura Meier, Chair
- Performance Review (ad hoc), Leigh Altman, Chair
- Audit Review (ad hoc), Laura Meier, Chair
- Equity Investments (new, ad hoc), Mark Jerrell, Chair
- Seniors (new, ad hoc), Vilma Leake, Chair
4. Give Kids a Smile Day: Public Health will offer free oral health services to uninsured children with a particular focus on ages 11 and under. In partnership with Central Piedmont Community College, the community health equity event is expected to serve 175 children. North Carolina data shows one in five kindergartners have tooth decay, and 25% of children in Mecklenburg County have untreated cavities in their permanent teeth, most in low-income families. Give Kids a Smile Day will take place Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at CPCC’s Worrell Building Gymnasium, 1228 Elizabeth Ave. in Charlotte.
5. Launching New Careers: Mecklenburg County is helping residents begin careers in the advanced manufacturing, construction, and facilities maintenance management industries. Two workshops next week will help prepare job seekers for the Career Expo, a job fair and hiring event featuring multiple employers. A daytime workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11. An evening workshop is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13. Attendees may gain priority access to employers at the Career Expo, which will take place on Feb. 25 at CPCC’s Harris Conference Center. Private sector and workforce development partners from across Mecklenburg County will introduce attendees to career opportunities and interview qualified candidates.
6. African Americans and Labor: That is the theme of Black History Month 2025, celebrating the contributions of Black labor in building the U.S. from its beginnings. To celebrate Black History Month in February:
- Park and Recreation is hosting several events including a history exhibition, nature series, bingo and trivia nights, poetry and movie nights, and much more.
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will host a variety of events at branch libraries throughout the month, plus highlight titles by Black authors that explore the idea of origins, legacy, and modern impact in Black history.
- Take a scroll through our interactive map created by Geospatial Information Services (GIS), celebrating the people and places in Mecklenburg County that made history.
7. Order of the Hornet: The Board of County Commissioners inducted Catherine Hansen into the Order of the Hornet after her many decades of service to the community. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the Board, for people who have displayed a high level of service to the residents of Mecklenburg County. Hansen’s work as Chief Protocol Officer for the N.C. Consulor Corps includes the development and nurturing of the 30-year partnership between Mecklenburg County and its namesake state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.