CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte City Council on Monday approved Charlotte’s first social district, with an 8-2 vote. The Plaza Midwood social district is expected to officially launch next year.
Business owners said they waited months for this moment, as they passed each step of the city’s rigorous application process.
"We spent the first year trying to answer questions and concerns, and that has gone really well," Russell Fergusson, a member of the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association, said.
The district will allow customers to carry open containers of alcohol along Central Avenue, running from Two Scoops Creamery past Workman's Friend and continuing all the way to Morningside Drive. The social district will expand toward Independence Boulevard to include Pecan Avenue, Thomas Avenue and The Plaza. It will also contain some land in Chantilly.
“We’re going to have to work together to make sure everything makes sense,” Blake Barnes, the owner of The Common Market Plaza Midwood, said.
Barnes' business has been in Plaza Midwood for 20 years. He's excited for a social district in Plaza Midwood, as more foot traffic will help his bottom line, but he's expecting to add an employee at his front door to make sure people are following the rules.
“Keep it in control, until people get used to it," Barnes said.
This won't be the first time Barnes will own a business in a social district; he has a similar shop in Monroe.
“At the very beginning it was like woohoo, you know, party time -- but as time went on people just kind of got it," Barnes said.
Charlotte leaders approved the creation of social districts last August. Several Queen City neighborhoods like South End, Uptown, NoDa and LoSo have shown interest, but none had moved forward until Monday night's vote.
Some city leaders said there are concerns.
"Social districts are controversial because on the one hand, they're happy places and you want to have them," Councilman Ed Driggs said. "On the other hand, there are risks related to intoxication and things like that."
Driggs ultimately voted in favor of the district, saying Monday it's a fun way to attract business. Councilmember Lawana Mayfield voted against it. She argued public intoxication issues in other parts of the city should be addressed before outdoor drinking is allowed.
Fergusson said he doesn't believe safety will be an issue of concern and this move would prove beneficial for the Plaza Midwood area as a whole.
"It all comes together to build community, we make a better walkable community, we have healthier local businesses, whose property values are intrinsic and tied together," Fergusson said.
Meanwhile, there are several cities and towns across North Carolina that have implemented social districts, including Kannapolis.
“I think it’s been a wild success,” Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg said.
Kannapolis was the first in the state to approve sipping and strolling, and when it comes to safety concerns or public intoxication, Legg said they've had no issues.
“It’s a matter of business owners taking to law enforcement and law enforcement talking to business owners and just communicating when there are concerns and making sure everyone’s on the same page about the rules and regulations," Legg said. "You do that and you’re not going to have any problems, that’s been our experience."
Community members in Huntersville at Birkdale Village also said their businesses involved in the social district have had success and they've had no instances of concern.
The social district will operate Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and drinks will be in a stainless-steel reusable cup to help with sustainability. It will still take some time for Plaza Midwood leaders to roll out the social district. They're hoping to have it fully up and running by springtime. That being said, Plaza Midwood leaders told WCNC Charlotte they are hoping for a soft launch during the holidays.
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