City Council gives go ahead on SouthPark church project

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council unanimously voted Monday night that will change a large part of SouthPark.

Sharon United Methodist Church would be the centerpiece of the project -- a plan the congregation supports.

Last month, Channel 9 was there as more than 100 church members showed up to the City Council meeting, many holding signs encouraging council members to vote yes to tear down their 50-year-old church.

As part of the deal, a new church will be built, with the similar ski slope steeple Sharon United Methodist is known for.

The church would be the focal point of the new development. Around the church would be a hotel, apartments, retail, dining and fitness space.

The decision has been three years in the making.

A Charlotte zoning committee approved new apartments for the Belmont neighborhood.

The plan calls for 335 multi-family units near the Parkwood Transit Station.

This comes as City Council members have been looking at ways to make the area safer. Nearly 200 crashes have happened in that area over the past five years.

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Cox Media Group