5 Things to Know: Plans for The Excelsior Club Moving Forward

Plans for The Excelsior Club Moving Forward

Charlotte City Council’s Jobs and Economic Development Committee (JEDC) on Monday moved forward with a plan that could bring new life to a site that bears great historic significance in Charlotte’s Black community.

Located at the corner of Beatties Ford Road and Sanders Avenue, The Excelsior Club was a hub for Black Charlotteans from the Jim Crow era through the Civil Rights movement and beyond. It closed in 2016 and has sat vacant since, with multiple proposals for renovation or redevelopment of the site falling through.

The latest plan from current owner and developer Shawn Kennedy would see the building, said to be too structurally unsound to save, demolished and replaced with a replica building that pays homage to the original landmark while adding amenities such as a rooftop patio, a restaurant, event space and farmers market.

The entire project is estimated to cost about $8.3 million, with developers asking the county and city each to contribute $1.5 million.

The Excelsior Club opened in 1944 and hosted acts like James Brown and Nat King Cole over the decades.

“This is part of what I believe is corridor revitalization,” said district rep Malcolm Graham on Monday. “We’re not investing in a club, we’re investing in a corridor, protecting history, legacy and tradition.”

Council will vote on whether to approve the funding for the new Excelsior Club project at its Oct. 27 meeting.

Read more from Monday’s meeting: Noble’s Involvement Raises Concerns for Dream Center Proposal

Tepper Sports Set to Build Mid-Sized Music Venue in Uptown

Members of the JEDC also got a first look at David Tepper’s plan to construct a 4,400-seat music venue next to Bank of America Stadium during Monday’s meeting.

The development would be part of Tepper Sports and Entertainment’s (TSE) stadium upgrades and field house project. As of Monday, TSE is not requesting any public funding to help with construction. Council will need to vote on lease terms for the venue, however, and is scheduled to do so in its next meeting on Oct. 13.

Located on about 2 acres north of the stadium, the venue would expect to host between 80-100 shows per year, filling a void of music venues between the size of The Fillmore (2,000) and Bojangles Coliseum (8,600).

If approved for a lease, the venue is expected to be finished along the same timeline as the rest of the Bank of America Stadium renovation project in 2029.

Lawmaker Faces Charges for Alleged Sex Crimes, Calls to Resign

Party leaders are calling on Democratic NC Rep. Cecil Brockman to resign after his arrest for multiple alleged sex offenses against a minor.

The High Point rep appeared in court Friday after his original Thursday hearing was delayed due to hospitalization for an unknown medical emergency. He appeared virtually Friday, wearing a hospital gown, as reported by NC Newsline. His bail was set at $1,050,000.

The 41-year-old lawmaker was arrested Wednesday by the State Bureau of Investigation and charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory rape of a 15-year-old victim, according to a Guilford County magistrate’s order. The order accuses Brockman of trying to “use his status” as a state lawmaker to get information about the victim while the victim was in the hospital.

The NC Democratic Party released a statement on Thursday reading, “The North Carolina Democratic Party calls on Representative Brockman to immediately resign. The profound seriousness of these criminal charges makes it impossible for him to effectively represent his community.”

A bevy of other elected officials from both sides of the aisle made similar statements on Thursday and Friday.

Brockman could face life in prison without parole if found guilty of his crimes. If he makes bail, he will be ordered to wear an ankle monitor.

Shutdown Puts WIC Program at Risk Locally

County Manager Mike Bryant told the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Tuesday that most of the county’s federally funded programming will not be affected by the current federal government shutdown if it lasts less than 60 days, though one critical program is already at risk.

According to Bryant, the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which helps pregnant mothers and young children access food, was only funded for about another week at the time he spoke on Tuesday night.

About 200,000 pregnant or postpartum women and children under 5 years old rely on WIC benefits, including around 26,000 in Mecklenburg County alone.

“Donald Trump and Washington Republicans shut down our government last week to avoid fixing the health care crisis they created,” read a statement from NC Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton on Friday. “Now, in the second week of their shutdown, working North Carolinians continue to feel the brunt of their failures. If counties can’t fund their WIC budgets, pregnant women and infants will go without the nutrition they need. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. It’s time for them to act like leaders and reach a deal that makes health care more affordable and keeps those that rely on WIC fed.”

Sheriff Defends Meeting with DaBaby

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden released a statement this week defending his recent meeting with Charlotte-based rapper DaBaby, which had apparently drawn criticism from some unnamed corners.

On Oct. 4, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office posted a picture showing McFadden and DaBaby, whose real name is Jonathan Kirk, meeting in the MCSO offices with a caption that read, “Yesterday, Sheriff McFadden sat down with @dababy to discuss important issues and potential collaborations … Stay tuned to what’s cooking up.”

DaBaby’s reputation is a nuanced one, including run-ins with the law but no convictions and a few violent incidents filmed by camera phones as well as a long run of charitable deeds such as hosting and contributing to back-to-school supply drives and other such events.

The replies to the MCSO post were somewhat mild relative to today’s social media climate, but whatever feedback McFadden did receive inspired him to put out a release defending the meeting on Tuesday.

“As Sheriff, my primary responsibility is to engage not only with those housed in our detention center but also with members of the broader community, particularly those seeking to make a positive difference after their personal struggles and life experiences,” McFadden wrote.

“Recently, DaBaby has expressed a sincere interest in addressing issues that now heavily affect our community, such as mental health, substance abuse, suicide prevention, reentry, community violence, and even officer wellness,” he continued. “I was open to hearing his ideas and collaborating to find meaningful solutions to these challenges.

“I understand that some may criticize my decision to meet with individuals who have had prior involvement with the criminal justice system. However, I firmly believe that everyone deserves a chance to contribute positively to society, especially as we are faced with the ongoing challenges with little to no support, resources, or valid solutions to combat these issues.”