Posted on October 23, 2018

We are proud to introduce our new association members! The following is a list of individuals who have joined NAIOP Charlotte since June 11, 2018:

• Jacob Bachman, ColeJenest & Stone
• Andy Bahr, Elite Touch Cleaning Services, Inc
• Drew Barnett, Patterson Real Estate Advisory Group
• Michelle Carlson, BL Companies
• Jeffrey DelSordo, Gresham Smith & Partners
• Candice Gaddy, Allegiant Commercial Experts LLC
• Doug Irmscher, Beacon Partners
• Ian Patrick, biloba Architecture
• Rob Phillips, KingGuinn a Division of Bennett & Pless
• Jonathan Ribskis, Builtech Services, LLC
• Matthew Rocco, GrandBridge Real Estate Capital, LLC
• Jason Vaughn, Agracel, Inc.

The Town of Huntersville is considering establishing its own local development review and permitting agency, bringing in-house a variety of services now provided by Mecklenburg County.

The main services the Town would take over from LUESA include development plan review; zoning, development and erosion control inspections; and bond administration. The Town Manager told the Board this week that five new positions would need to be created to provide these services.

Board members expressed their hope that bringing land development services in house would improve efficiency and reduce plan approval time for developers. REBIC is meeting with staff and Commissioners over the coming weeks to explore the proposal and ensure a handover doesn’t negatively impact development services.

The Board of Commissioners hopes to vote on the proposal in November and begin implementation by July 2019.

View original posting.

Posted on October 16, 2018

REBIC has put together an Election Guide to help you cast your vote for candidates who support the real estate industry.

See which candidates REBIC has endorsed.

View early voting times and locations.

Posted on October 9, 2018

Congratulations to our Tournament Winners!

Posted on September 14, 2018

Earlier this week, the Board of Directors for the Charlotte Regional Partnership and the Executive Committee of the Charlotte Chamber voted unanimously to authorize their CEOs and staff to engage in the steps necessary to formally combine the organizations. The Boards of both organizations are expected later this year to act on a formal recommendation from their respective Executive Committees to finalize the combination. It is anticipated that should the Boards vote to ratify the recommendation, the new enterprise will begin operations on January 1, 2019. We are providing the media this afternoon with a limited joint statement, but we believe it is important for you to hear this news from us first.

The decision to combine the two organizations is rooted in a belief that the vision and mission of the two organizations naturally align with one another and combining the two will sustain and enhance the economic growth, prosperity and global competitiveness of the Charlotte region. As part of an integration effort, the mission statements of each organization will be reviewed with an intent to build on their respective foundations to determine the mission and vision of the new organization.

The intent of the combined enterprise will be to build on the experience and passion of both organizations to galvanize the 16-county Charlotte region through a shared vision and coordinated efforts. The business leaders in our community are committed to building the best enterprise in the country in order to drive long-term growth and a vibrant economy. A unified enterprise provides a clear path and single development team for site selectors and business leaders and owners who are considering a corporate re-location or business expansion. 

REBIC’s annual BBQ & Candidate Meet & Greet is fast approaching on September 27, 2018! Make sure to get your tickets early! This annual bi-partisan Political Pig Pickin’ brings state and local candidates together with hundreds of members of the Charlotte real estate, homebuilders and development industries for an afternoon of food and fun!

WHEN: September 27, 11:30-1:30 p.m.

WHERE:  SMS Catering, 1764 Norland Rd., Charlotte, NC 28205

*Tickets may be purchased with corporate or personal credit cards*

Click here to register.

Posted on August 7, 2018

The Charlotte Planning Department is undergoing a comprehensive reorganization, in an effort to streamline the development approval process and reduce the number of conflicts that arise between final rezoning and site plan review.

The initiative is moving forward even as Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance takes a step back, to allow staff to begin work on a Comprehensive Plan to guide the City’s growth over the next two decades.

Posted on August 7, 2018

NAIOP Charlotte has partnered with CREW on their upcoming ABC Networking Event on September 20.  Proceeds from the event help fund the scholarships with Queens University and UNC Charlotte.

Click here for more information.

Posted on June 26, 2018

pproved a budget for FY 2018/2019 that includes an historic investment in Affordable Housing bonds — assuming voters approve them in a November referendum.

The $50 million in Affordable Housing Bonds are part of a $223 million bond package that also includes $118 million for streets and sidewalks, and $55 million for neighborhood improvements. Voters will be asked to approve the bonds on November 6th, and REBIC will partner with the Charlotte Regional REALTOR® Association and the Charlotte Chamber to advocate for their passage through a wide-ranging community campaign.

The budget approved by Council also includes the following:

Posted on June 25, 2018

The North Carolina General Assembly approved last week's legislation that would make substantive reforms to local building permitting and inspection processes both Mecklenburg County and statewide.

HB 948 – ‘Building Code Regulatory Reform‘ was sponsored by Rep. Mark Brody (Union), and makes some very beneficial changes to the permitting and inspection process that would benefit both home builders and commercial developers. They include:

• Clarifies existing language allowing a licensed architect/engineer to certify a component or element of a building, without the need for a city or county to inspect and approve that component.
• Gives the State Department of Insurance the statutory authority to assign Marketplace Pool inspectors to conduct an inspection in the event the local officials cannot provide one within 2 business days of a request.
• Provide greater flexibility for the State Q-Board to grant provisional licenses to Code Enforcement officials who are certified and in good standing in other states, which will help address the growing issue of inspector vacancies across North Carolina.

HB 948 is now awaiting Governor Cooper’s signature. Thanks to the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA) for their leadership on this critical piece of legislation.

Posted on June 22, 2018

The Matthews Town Board this week held a public hearing on a proposal to create a new Zoning Overlay District that would make the land use and development policies in three Small Area Plans enforceable on all new development, regardless of whether or not a rezoning is involved.

REBIC spoke against the proposal, as did a small group of property owners who shared our concerns about the restrictions the Overlay would place on their property. The Overlay would impact all parcels in three Small Area Plans adopted by the Town between 2014 and 2017:

• The Monroe Small Area Plan (page 118 of the Town’s Land Use Plan), stretching northward along Monroe Rd between Hwy 51 and the Town limits;
• The Entertainment District Small Area Plan, covering a large geography around the Matthews Sportsplex; and,
• The E. John St./Outer Loop Small Area Plan (page 172 of the Town’s Land Use Plan), covering an area south of the I-485 / E. John St interchange.

While a Land Use Plan serves a policy guide, a zoning overlay district has the force of law on all property in its defined geography, and supersedes any zoning rights in the underlying district. The proposed Overlay District would incorporate policies ranging from building design to lot setbacks, and apply to both new development and redevelopment in all three Small Area Plan geographies.

Posted on June 11, 2018

We are proud to introduce our new association members! The following is a list of individuals who have joined NAIOP Charlotte since March 15, 2018:

• Jon Allen, Griffin Brothers Companies
• Bita Asgari, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
• Laura Beaver, Gensler
• Michael Clark, Wells Fargo Bank
• Robert Day, Kimley-Horn
• Colee Haisten, Holder Construction Company
• Brian Harrison, Greer Walker
• Robert Jones, Crescent Communities, LLC
• Anna Karageorgiou, Monroe-Union County Economic Development
• Lisa Kincaid, Alfred Williams & Company
• Alan Lewis, The Keith Corporation
• Emily Reynolds, K&L Gates
• Austin Watts, Kimley-Horn
• Philip Wesbury, Builtech Services, LLC

Posted on June 6, 2018

On May 30, 2018, the three chapters of NAIOP North Carolina, visited capitol hill to advocate.  A special thanks to Jason Moore (Charlotte Legislative Committee Chair) and Joe Padilla (REBIC) for helping coordinate visits with legislators to speak about the commercial real estate perspective.  While this is a short session (this means the time of the session is short, but also that new legislation cannot be introduced), it is of critical importance the state senators and representatives know who NAIOP is and what we represent. 

The key areas of discussion are around regulatory reform, economic development and tax reform.  To view the NAIOP NC 2018 Legislative Priorities, click here.  A special thanks goes to the following legislators that took their time to meet with us directly:

• Chris Thomas
• Jason Moore
• George Lyles
• Jim Gamble
• Tim Robertson

Posted on May 10, 2018

On Wednesday, May 9, 2018, NAIOP Charlotte hosted a form for more than 90 people on the upcoming Mecklenburg Tax Revaluation and the impacts of Federal Tax Reform on Commercial Real Estate.  A special thanks to our speakers:  Bobbi Jo Lazarus, Elliott Davis, Ken Joyner and Christy Lantis, both from the Mecklenburg County Tax Assessors. 

The rates and structures of taxes are changing and impacting commercial real estate dramatically.  Each presenter encouraged commercial real estate firms to become educated on the opportunities and impacts for their properties and organizations.  Click below to view the PowerPoint presentations.

• Tax Reform by Bobbi Jo Lazarus, Elliott Davis
• Tax Revaluation by Ken Joyner, Mecklenburg County Tax Assessors Office (updated May 2018; data within may change over time as the revaluation is a work in progress)
  

Click here to view photos from the event.

Posted on April 25, 2018

2018 NAIOP Charlotte/CRCBR Clay Shooting Tournament

Thank you to everyone who came out on Thursday, April 19, for the NAIOP Charlotte and CRCBR Annual Clay Shooting Tournament at Meadow Wood Farm.

Click here to view photos from the event.

Top Overall Team
Charlie Guiraud
Jay Hendrix
Sean McDonnell

Top Overall Male Shooter
Matt Ferlisi

Posted on April 24, 2018

The REBIC Primary Election Voter Guide is now available. View below or click here to view.

Posted on April 19, 2018

By: Ashley Fahey

The first female president of NAIOP Charlotte has a sizable agenda for her leadership term this year.

Cheryl Steele, member at Charlotte law firm Horack Talley, began her presidency late last year at the local NAIOP chapter, part of the national organization that celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. NAIOP is a commercial real estate development association that includes networking and educational events as well as advocacy for legislation on behalf of its members, most of whom work in commercial real estate, at the national, state and local level.

Posted on March 15, 2018

NAIOP Charlotte is pleased to announce our 2018 Board of Directors.

President - Cheryl Steele, Horack Talley
President Elect - Tracy Dodson, Lincoln Harris
Secretary - Scott Harris, Choate Construction
Treasurer - Alyson Craig, UNC Charlotte | Childress Klein Center for Real Estate
Immediate Past President - Brendan Pierce, The Keith Corporation
Past President - Jim Gamble, Bohler Engineering

Click here for a full list of the 2018 NAIOP Board of Directors

Posted on March 13, 2018

We are proud to introduce our new association members! The following is a list of individuals who have joined NAIOP Charlotte since October 5, 2017:

• Timothy Bahr, Healthcare Realty
• Justin Bishop, JLL Bank of America
• John Brock, Edwards Construction Services
• Andreane Champagne, DCE Solar
• Lee Deal, Trademark Visual
• Michael Duganich, TD Bank N.A.
• Sabrena Fernandez, Spangler Restoration
• Mohammed Idlibi, UNCC - MSRE
• George Jenison, Jenison Construction Incorporated
• John Alexander Kincaid, Southside Constructors Inc.
• Jim Langlois, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture
• Bradley Loman, GreerWalker LLP
• Stephen McClure, The Spectrum Companies
• Derek Meachum, Momentum Construction
• Scott Muller, Trademark Visual
• Brian Richards, Beacon Partners
• Brian Simpson, M+A Architects
• Michael Tuck, Samet Corporation
• Cary Watts, Burton Engineering Associates

Posted on March 7, 2018

With capacity challenges mounting in numerous basins across the City, Charlotte Water is taking steps to assure developers they’ll have the sewer taps for their projects when the need arises.

Charlotte Water announced this week that it will now be extending its capacity reservations from 12 to 24 months, effective for all connection applications approved on or after January 1st, 2017.  As a result, there will be no expiring capacity reservations for 2018.

The Capacity Assurance Program (CAP) started in 2017, as a way for developers to reserve sanitary sewer capacity after a capacity review is completed and a connection is approved. The program reviews the capacity of the system from the point of connection through the local gravity system, through trunk lines and eventually to the wastewater treatment plants. It ensures that new connections to wastewater treatment system won’t overwhelming existing pipes and plants.