A front elevation rendering of the proposed Foxcroft City Home structure.

A contentious rezoning dispute between Alan Simonini Homes and Foxcroft residents will be back before Charlotte City Council as early as next month for a vote after being brought before the City Council for the second time at its February rezoning meeting.

Simonini and Saratoga Asset Management are seeking to rezone more than 6 acres on Sharon Lane from zoning that allows 3 single-family homes per acre to a zoning that allows for more dense development with attached residential units.

According to the original petition that went before City Council in October, Simonini planned to develop 31 attached townhome units on the plot of land between Providence Road and Heathmoor Lane.

Simonini has since scaled back the plan for Foxcroft City Homes, as the project is to be called, to 24 attached townhomes targeted toward empty nesters. The acreage would have 12, 2-residence buildings.

Area residents have voice opposition and more than 1,200 signed a petition opposing the rezoning that allows for multi-family structures in a neighborhood of single-family homes, according to a Charlotte Business Journal report.

Plans for the residences start at 3,400 square feet and $1 million, which area residents question as targeting empty nesters, who typically choose to downsize.

Other issues complicating the rezoning request are stormwater runoff from development, which Simonini and Saratoga Asset Management said would be miitigated by plans for a stormwater management system to be implemented.

Current zoning would allow for 18 single-family homes. Simonini is seeking to build only 3 more structures and a total of 6 more residences.

Several residents, including owners who had sold their homes for this development, supported the plan saying as an advantageous change in the neighborhood and a nice transition between the current single-family landscape and the mixed-use activity at nearby Sharon Amity and Providence roads.

The City Council will likely vote on the petition in March.

There are two areas south of Uptown Charlotte that come to mind when people think of great places to live and great shopping, dining and recreation – Ballantyne and SouthPark.

The SouthPark neighborhood of Pellyn Grove does not disappoint. Built up in the mid-1980s, Pellyn Grove has larger estate homes in a mature setting with overhanging trees and well-manicured lawns and gardens. 

The neighborhood is located off Sharon View Road, just south of Carmel Road. It is just minutes from major roads, such as Carmel, Providence and Sardis roads.

From Pellyn Grove, it is less than 20 minutes to either Uptown or Ballantyne and about 10 minutes to the heart of SouthPark. Its central location and stately homes are tough to beat.

Carmel Road Neighborhood Park, McAlpine Creek Greenway and James Boyce Park are also nearby for enjoying the outdoors.

Pellyn Grove homes are larger in size, in excess of 3,000 square feet and are full brick or stucco construction. Homes have been lovingly maintained and many have been updated with more modern touches, new kitchens and baths since the 1980s

There are some 1-story ranch homes, however, most homes are 2 stories and many of the homes have pools.

A total of 5 homes sold in Pellyn Grove during the last 12 months for an average sales price of $821,102 and nearly $184 per square foot.

Pellyn Grove has approximately 5 months of inventory with 2 homes currently listed for sale as of Jan. 1. That is about 2 months more than Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, which each has 3 months of inventory as of Jan. 1.

Sales prices in the last year ranged from $625,000 to $1.15 million. The current homes listed for sale are priced at $865,000 and $885,000.

Pellyn Grove is currently zoned for Sharon Elementary School, Carmel Middle Schol and Myers Park High School. Carmel Middle is located right outside the neighborhood. Pellyn Grove is also close to private Charlotte Country Day School.

The neighborhood is located between Quail Hollow Country Club/Carmel Road and Park Road. It’s boredered by Johnston Road and has great accessibility to Pineville-Matthews Road (Highway 51) and I-485. To the southeast, McMullen Creek borders the neighborhood, separating it from other Carmel-area neighborhoods.

Built in the late 1980ss to early 2000s, Cameron Wood is nearly equidistant – only 10 miles – to Uptown and the Ballantyne area of South Charlotte. Shopping and dining aplenty can be found at Quail Corners Shopping Center, nearby SouthPark Mall or the Highway 51 corridor.

Nearby South Charlotte is also known for its multiple golfing destinations, and there are 3 great courses only minutes from Cameron Wood – Carmel, Ballantyne and Quail Hollow country clubs. Within the neighborhood, there is also the Cameron Wood Swim and Racquet Club, where members have access to a pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse. Nearby Harris YMCA is also an option for fitness, swimming and sports.

Cameron Wood has more than 800 homes on its 386 acres of land. Homes are varied in size and architecture, ranging from 1,600 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet. Mature trees and beautiful landscaping add to the curb appeal. Many of the neighborhood’s oldest homes have undergone some level of renovation and updating.

Cameron Wood is divided into 5 subsections or villages. They are: Deer Brooke, Glen Laurel, Park Springs, Stone Croft and Wingfield.

Forty-two homes have sold in Cameron Wood in the last 12 months at an average price of $352,948 and $138 per square foot. Those home sales averaged more than 98% of list price.

As of Dec. 18, there are 7 Quail Hollow homes on the market, with list prices that range from $269,900 to $419,500. Four are under contract as of Dec. 18.

The schools currently zoned for Cameron Wood are all less than a mile away! They are:
Smithfield Elementary School, Quail Hollow Middle School and South Mecklenburg High School.

There are very few gated single-family home communities in this price point from which to choose in South Charlotte, and Toll Brothers-built Bellmore Hall does not disappoint in quality and privacy. (The Enclave at Providence is another gated community in South Charlotte.)

Bellmore Hall is located off Edenbridge Lane near the Rea and Colony roads split across from Olde Providence ELementary School and Park.

Homes in Bellmore Hall range from more than 2,200 square feet to just over nearly 4,000 square feet. The community’s private, wooded lots are sized from one-fifth of an acre to one-third of an acre. There are only 35 homes in the community.

All exterior lawn and irrigation maintenance is included in the HOA dues, however, there are no other amenities. 

Residents will not miss a community pool or tennis courts. There are numerous options nearby. Avid golfers have a choice of several country clubs and courses in the area, such as Cedarwood, Piper Glen, Ballantyne, Providence, Carmel and Quail Hollow. There are also a few swim and racquet clubs in the area. The Harris YMCA is just 4 miles from the neighborhood, and Ballantyne Village’s YMCA is 6.5 miles south.

Bellmore Hall residents can find top shopping, dining and entertainment in 10 minutes or less in any direction. The neighborhood is minutes from the Highway 51 corridor, Stonecrest shopping center, SouthPark Mall and Carolina Place Mall.

Bellmore Hall is conveniently close to some of Charlotte’s major roadways, making commuting easier. Uptown Charlotte is only 20 minutes, and Charlotte Douglas airport is about 30 minutes away.

A total of 4 homes sold in Bellmore Hall during the last 12 months for an average sales price of $514,921 and nearly $170 per square foot. Those sales averaged approximately 97% of list price.

Currently, there are 2 Bellmore Hall homes for sale. Both are under contract as of August 4. List prices range from $575,000 to $650,000.

Neighborhood children attend CMS’s Olde Providence Elementary School, Carmel Middle School and Myers Park High School.

An artist’s rendering of a new Marriott-brand hotel approved for the SouthPark area.

The move to make SouthPark a more dense urban, walkable place is under way, and Charlotte City Council gave the effort a boost by approving a new 170-room Marriott property, according to an Observer report.

The AC Hotel, a Marriott-owned brand of hotels, will be eight stories and be located at the corner of Rexford and Roxborough roads on a site that is currently the parking lot of the existing Charlotte Marriott SouthPark.

This AC Hotel location will be the second for Charlotte; there is currently a location being built atop EpiCentre in Uptown.

This hotel plan includes a 2-story parking deck behind the property.

Last year, the city hired the Urban Land Institute to evaluate and come up with plans to make the bustling SouthPark area a walkable space to ease traffic congestion.

There is an influx of apartments, shops and offices moving to the SouthPark area, and the largely residential streets surrounding the area were never designed to handle the traffic from residents, people who work in the SouthPark area and shoppers.

Since the SouthPark Mall opened in 1970, the growth has been exponential, while the infrastructure is largely unchanged.

In addition to this hotel, which will help handle overflow from existing Marriott hotel, there are many projects on the docket for SouthPark, such as Encore at SouthPark, Capitol Towers, the redevelopment of Colony apartments and redevelopment at the site of Sharon United Methodist Church.

If you are looking for a family-friendly neighborhood that is in a central location close to schools, shopping, dining and Uptown then looking no further than desirable Governor’s Square in SouthPark.

Located off Fairview Road adjacent to Foxcroft East Shopping Center, Governor’s Square is a mature, well-established neighborhood with some great older homes.

While new construction in and around SouthPark in such neighborhoods as Barclay Downs and Foxcroft can cost upwards of $900,000, there are still very affordable homes in Governor’s Square in an equally good location.

Governor’s Square is almost equidistant to both Uptown and Ballantyne at about 8 miles each. Governor’s Square is also right down the road from SouthPark Mall, Phillips Place and Strawberry Hill. All your the shopping you could ever desire is less than 1.5 miles away!

Within walking distance is Brixx Pizza, Ben & Jerry’s, Caribou Coffee and Barrington’s.

In addition to shopping, the Harris YMCA is only 2.5 miles away for family activities and fitness. The Foxcroft East Racquet & Swim Club also is just across the street.

The neighborhood borders are Fairview, Carmel, Sharon View and Colony roads. I-77 access is only 4.5 miles west on Tyvola Road.

This 3-bedroom Governor’s Square ranch sold for $445,000 in 2016.

Within the neighborhood are some great older homes built in the 1960s and 1970s. There is a variety of architecture in Governor’s Square, but most of the homes are traditional 2-story homes, some with gambrel roofs. Many of the homes have been updated or renovated.

Typically, homes are priced in the $400,000s to $600,000s.

A total of 5 homes sold in Governor’s Square during the last 12 months for an average price of $476,376 and $178 per square foot. Homes sold averaged 97% of list price.

Currently, there are 4 homes for sale in Governor’s Square. Three of the homes are under contract as of May 19. The list prices range from $439,900 to $525,000.

The neighborhood is zoned for Sharon Elementary, Alexander Graham Middle School and Myers Park High School. Private Charlotte Country Day School is practically within walking distance.

Well-maintained home and landscape of a Giverny home sold in 2015.

Located off Colony Road near Sharon View Road, Giverny is approximately 5 minutes from Phillips Place and SouthPark Mall, where there is great, upscale shopping, theater and dining options.

Uptown is less than 8 miles from Giverny via back roads. Equally convenient is the Pineville Matthews (51) corridor in South Charlotte, which is just over 5 miles away via Colony Road. Ballantyne Center is about 9 miles away. The airport is just 12 miles away.

Schools and parks are within walking distance of the serene, wooded neighborhood with well-maintained landscaping and homes. The adjacent Mountainbrook Swim & Racquet Club has memberships for swimming and tennis. There is no shortage of activities in the SouthPark area, and the Harris YMCA is only 2.5 miles away for a host of family-friendly activities and fitness.

Giverny homes are situated on larger lots in the quiet neighborhood of cul de sac streets.

Giverny was built in the late 1980s to mid-1990s as an enclave of mostly custom-built homes. Homes typically sell in the $500,000 range to $1 million. Many of the homes have undergone updating and some homes have been completely remodeled.

A total of 10 homes sold in Giverny during the last 12 months for an average of 0.8 homes sold per month.

The average sales price of homes sold in Giverny is $682,838 and nearly $180 per square foot. Sales average about 97% of list price.

Currently, there are 2 homes for sale in Giverny. Neither is under contract as of May 4. The list prices are nearly $900,000 and $814,900.

Inventory in popular Giverny is approximately 2.7 months.

Giverny is zoned for Sharon Elementary School, Carmel Middle School and Myers Park High School. Private Charlotte Country Day is also only 2 miles away!

A beautiful brick traditional in SouthPark’s Belingrath neighborhood

Located off Quail Hollow Road near Gleneagles Road, Belingrath is ideally located to make all South Charlotte, SouthPark and Uptown locations convenient. Not to mention, the neighborhood is surrounded by some of the area’s finest country clubs, offering a beautiful surrounding landscape.

There are everyday shopping amenities and groceries less than 5 minutes away near Carmel Road. For health, fitness and social activities, the Harris YMCA is 5 minutes in north on Quail Hollow Road.

SouthPark, one of Charlotte’s top destinations for dining and shopping, is a mere 2.5 miles away, and the Uptown area is only 9 miles from Belingrath. Park, Sharon and Carmel roads are the main thoroughfares near Belingrath, which allows you to travel back roads to most of your destinations. Should you want interstate access, I-485 is less than 5 miles away!

Belingrath is an older neighborhood built in the 1980s and 1990s and lacks the resort-style amenities of newer, master-planned communities. However, its ideal location makes up for it. Quail Hollow and Carmel country clubs are almost next door to Belingrath for golf, tennis, swimming and social activities. The Harris YMCA has an indoor and outdoor pool and is great for the entire family.

Those are just the clubs in the immediate area. Cedarbook, Ballantyne and TPC Piper Glen are all less than 10 minutes away for even more golf and sporting choices.

This highly desirable SouthPark neighborhood’s homes are larger in size from 3,000 square feet to more than 6,000 square feet, many with 5 bedrooms. Lots are a half-acre or smaller with prices typically in the $400,000s to $800,000s. Many of the homes have been meticulously maintained and updated.

Sales during the last 12 months averaged 1 home sale per month. Those 12 homes sold for an average price of $619,542 and $168 per square foot.

There are currently 6 homes listed for sale in Belingrath. As of April 29, only 1 is under contract. Given sales trends for the past year, Belingrath has 6 months of market inventory, which is a little higher than Charlotte’s 4.3 months of inventory.

Belingrath is zoned for CMS’s Beverly Woods Elementary School, Quail Hollow Middle School and South Mecklenburg High School. All 3 schools are conveniently located less than 2.5 miles from Belingrath!

Another hidden gem of an established neighborhood is SouthPark’s Woodbridge tucked away between Carmel and Providence roads adjacent to Charlotte Country Day.

The neighborhood, built in the 1970s, is in an ideal location that is convenient to most areas of town and is full of mature trees lining its quiet roads.

From Woodbridge, Providence Road leads into Uptown in about 20 minutes. To the south, Providence Road brings you right to Highway 51 and the Arboretum for shopping and dining or further south toward Ballantyne.

This 1.5-story renovated 1973 home in Woodbridge sold for $450,000 last year.

Some of the best shopping and dining in the city is less than 3 miles away in and around the SouthPark Mall and Phillips Place. Strawberry Hill is nearby for shopping at Fresh Market or grabbing a bite to eat at Aqua e Vino.

For recreation, there are numerous parks within 10 minutes of Woodbridge, such as Marion Diehl Park, James Boyce Park and Carmel Road Neighborhood Park. The nearby Levine Jewish Community Center also offers lots of nondenominational activities.

In addition, golf lovers will appreciate several championship courses within 15 minutes of home! For tennis players, Old Providence Racquet Club is less than 5 minutes away.

Woodbridge’s homes have such character and each is uniquely individual. Many of the homes have been completely renovated, though there are still diamonds in the rough and homes that need a little bit of TLC.

Homes in Woodbridge range from the $200,000s to the $500,000s. Square footage is typically from 2,000 square feet to mid-3,000s. There are more traditional homes as well as some with contemporary flair and even gambrel roofs.

There are currently 6 homes on the market in Woodbridge and 3 under contract as of April 6.

A total of 18 homes sold during the last 12 months for an average of 1.5 homes sold per month. That puts current inventory at about 4 months, which is equal to current Charlotte and Mecklenburg County inventory levels.

The average sale price for a Woodbridge home is $381,017 and about $160 per square foot.

Homes sales averaged 99% of list price, with many selling at or above list price.

The neighborhood is zoned for Sharon Elementary School, Carmel Middle School and Myers Park High School. In addition, Charlotte Christian and Charlotte Country Day.

Woodbridge is a wonderful place to consider if you like the feel of a mature neighborhood with well-maintained homes and proximity to the city’s best amenities.

Foxcroft is one of those neighborhoods. It is tucked away between Sharon and Providence roads to the east of SouthPark Mall and surrounded by some of the other great Charlotte neighborhoods like Myers Park, Cotswold and Barclay Downs.

Though it is just 15 minutes from Uptown and 5 minutes from SouthPark Mall and Phillips Place, you would never know you’re in the center of one of the busiest retail areas in Charlotte. The neighborhood’s streets are peaceful and quiet. There is a reason Foxcroft is one of the most desirable and priciest Charlotte neighborhoods.

This 2008-built Foxcroft home sold in 2015 for $2.175 million or $360 per square foot.

Foxcroft was developed in the 1940s on land that was once a dairy farm. Since then many of the homes in Foxcroft have undergone some major renovations or have been torn down with newer homes in their place.

The stately homes are on large lots and range from traditional 2-story homes to sprawling ranches and quirky modern designs from the 1970s. It is not uncommon to have homes more than 6,000 square feet in Foxcroft. Though there are some in the mid-2,000-square-foot range, those are the exception. Many of the homes are much larger.

Always a desirable neighborhood, Foxcroft demands a certain discriminating buyer. Even the smaller homes do not come cheaply, as the neighborhood garners some of the highest per-square-foot prices in the city.

Currently, there are 12 homes for sale in Foxcroft, 3 of which are under contract as of March 15.

The highest list price is $2.15 million for a nearly 6,700-square-foot traditional home. The lowest list price is $875,000 for a 2,600-square-foot brick ranch.

Nearly 2 homes sold per month during the last year for an average sales price of almost $1.3 million and $280 per square foot. The 23 homes that sold during the last year averaged 95.5% of list price.

Given the per-month sales average for the last 12 months, Foxcroft has about 6 months of inventory on the market as of March 15. Generally, more than 6 months of inventory suggests a buyer’s market, however, not at Foxcroft’s price point. The market for these homes is select and few when compared to the general buying population.

In addition to being located near the best shopping and dining, the neighborhood is also zoned for some of Charlotte’s best schools – Sharon Elementary School, Alexander Graham Middle School and Myers Park High School.