Developers bringing apartments, retail to lower South End site along light-rail line

By Jennifer Thomas  –  Senior Staff Writer, Charlotte Business Journal

This lower South End project will bring a mix of apartments and retail offerings to the neighborhood.

South & Hollis — a 322,000-square-foot development by Washington, D.C.-based Akridge, and Virginia-based Kettler — is under construction at 3441 South Blvd., in close proximity to the Scaleybark light-rail station.

The 310-unit, six-story building will have 9,500 square feet of ground-level retail. That project combines seven parcels for a total of 2.6 acres.

Akridge and Kettler paid $9.3 million for that land.

“When we look at the transformation of LoSo over time, there are certain sites that are holding the entire submarket back. This is one,” says Dan Outen, Akridge’s vice president for the Carolinas. “Not only can we transform this site into something better than it was before, but I think it will have an outsized impact in transforming LoSo as a whole.”

Plans call for a roughly 3,100-square-foot corner restaurant, complete with patio space. Local, regional, and national options will be considered.

“I think we would be open to a lot of different concepts. The use will be one that complements our residential experience,” Outen says.

Two additional retail tenants could split the remaining space — though those spaces could also be divided. Outen says a coffee shop, fitness concept, or other uses that would support the community will be considered.

“The way we look at this building — it’s also contributing to the larger community growth of LoSo,” Outen says.

Jay Royster of Royster Commercial Real Estate represented Akridge and Kettler in the property transaction.

Axiom Architecture is designing the project, LandDesign is providing civil engineering and landscape design, and Samet is providing construction services.

South & Hollis will deliver in the fall of 2023.

Davis Hahn of Ascent Real Estate Partners is leasing the retail space. Ascent is a boutique, full-service commercial real estate brokerage firm focused on retail leasing in Charlotte’s infill submarkets.

South & Hollis marks Akridge’s fourth project in North Carolina — and it’s second in the Queen City. Outen is leading its work in the Carolinas.

Kettler also continues to expand its footprint in North Carolina, with plans for long-term growth.

The firms are working on Hawkins Press, a 426-unit multifamily project that sits on 3 acres on Dunavant Street in South End. It is slated to deliver in late summer 2023.

“We have been pleased with the evolution of South End and the market,” Outen says.