CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Pipe and Foundry now has a developer for the massive Iron District development project on West Morehead Street outside Uptown Charlotte.
The company, which has operated a cast iron factory between South End and Uptown for over 100 years, is redeveloping its land for multiple uses. The relocation of their foundry to Oakboro, North Carolina, leaves their prime real estate next to the Bank of America Stadium open for a rare development opportunity.
"With one owner, you can have one vision for what an urban development might look like," Brad Muller, spokesperson for Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, said.
The 55-acre property will turn into the Iron District. Muller said they’re still ironing out details, but he expects designs to nod to the history and heritage of the foundry.
"Hopefully [the district] will be a new destination for Charlotteans to go to work, live, and play," Muller said.
The site was once a possible home for a new NFL stadium but instead, phase one of the development has apartments, retail and office space, a hotel, and parking. Phase one will front West Morehead Street and sprawl over 12 acres.
"I would just really like to see them develop this as a space for culture, especially since we're so close to the museums," Hope Rivers, the owner of a nearby business, said.
The Iron District’s first tenant is Blume Studios by Blumenthal Arts. Other tenants and development will transform the area and impact small businesses like Zen Creative Studio. Co-owner Hope Rivers is excited about the changes, but hopes they come with traffic improvements.
"Just to be sure that as they bring in new infrastructure and bring in retail and residents, that we have the infrastructure to support that," Rivers added.
Charlotte Pipe has selected developer Trammel Crow Company for the job. They hope to break ground in the middle of 2025.
"It could be a decade before the Iron District is fully built out. So, it really just depends on market conditions," Muller explained.
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In November 2022, WCNC Charlotte reported that Charlotte Pipe planned to sell the property, but the company says it will now retain ownership of the Iron District.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.