Electricians in Mint Hill, SC

Atlanta warehouse developer, meet Mint Hill residents.

A $50 million proposal from Strategic Real Estate Partners to build a nearly half-a-million-square-foot industrial park has been met with strong opposition from residents who live nearby.

It also comes as Mint Hill seeks to maintain its small-town feel while guiding growth in and around its main corridors. The town of about 27,000 people is about 13 miles east of Charlotte.

Residents who live in a cluster of homes behind the proposed site are pushing back on the project, sending emails and phone calls to town leaders urging them not to support it. One resident started a Facebook page, telling people to contact the town to say residents aren’t supportive.

Three residents who live nearby told The Charlotte Observer they mainly worry the added truck traffic could bring a dangerous element to an already busy group of roads by Interstate 485.

“This is our retirement home,” said Jeff Miller, who lives on Connell Road, just behind the proposed project site. “We don’t want to deal with trucks going up and down the road all the time. We want to get out of our neighborhood safely.”

Strategic Real Estate Partners is seeking approval from town commissioners to rezone 38 acres from residential to industrial. The land is north of Mint Hill’s main drag, and sandwiched between Albemarle Road, I-485 and Blair Road.

One of the company’s principals, J.R. Wright, presented the project to the town last month during a workshop.

As of Thursday, the company hadn’t filed a formal rezoning application, meaning it hasn’t gone before the town for a public hearing and vote. The company missed the deadline to get on the agenda for the town’s February meeting, planning director John Hoard told the Observer in an email.

Wright did not respond to requests for comment from the Observer.

In the December meeting, Wright said the proposal would include two buildings; one consisting of 282,000 square feet and the other 212,000 square feet. There would be 116 truck bay doors between both.

The truck loading doors will face the inside of the site and landscaping and berms will help provide a buffer from the rest of the town, Wright said.

Strategic Real Estate Partners is also proposing to donate a 1/2 acre on the property for a public park. The park would be separated from the truck site with landscaping and a berm.

It’s not clear what businesses would go at the site. One logistics company out of Atlanta is interested in signing a long term lease, according to Wright.

But the developer got push back from the town of Mint Hill.

One commissioner, Patrick Holton, questioned Wright at the December meeting. He wasn’t sure about the idea of having children play in a public park next to an industrial site.

He told Wright he has to consider how proposed projects will benefit the community. “To me, that’s not a benefit,” Holton said of the small park.

Holton has received a number of emails and calls about the proposal. Even though the developer has not filed a formal zoning application, it has met with neighbors, according to residents.

“I haven’t gotten anybody that wants this project,” Holton said.

Holton also worried about what could happen to the warehouse buildings in five years and the prospect of having them sit empty.

“I don’t want to look at two big vacant buildings on one of the main arteries coming into town,” Holton said.

Mint Hill Mayor Brad Simmons told Wright the town is not in a position to rush the process on such a big project. He asked Wright to contact the town planning staff to provide more details on the proposal.

“If that means slowing this thing down a little bit then I’m all in favor of slowing this thing down a little bit so we’ve got all the information,” Simmons told Wright at the December meeting.

The majority of residents who are against the petition live in the Summerwood section of Mint Hill. The cluster of several hundred homes sits not far from the proposed industrial site.

School buses and students are constantly going in and out of nearby Rocky River High School.

One intersection — at Connell and Blair roads near an I-485 ramp — has seen a number of car crashes in recent years, residents told the Observer.

“The left turn (from Connell Road on to Blair Road) is impossible,” Miller said. “You have to floor it just to get out because you’ve been sitting there almost four or five minutes.”

Another resident, Matteo Sebastiano, moved to Mint Hill about a year ago from Ballantyne. He was concerned to see that a recently adopted land use plan from the town recommends industrial zoning near Summerwood.

He wouldn’t have moved into the home if there was a chance the area could become more industrial.

Strategic Real Estate Partners is also proposing to donate $250,000 to improving traffic, but residents don’t seem convinced that would help.

There are cars coming off the interstate and residents trying to get in and out of Summerwood.

“You put a lot of 18-wheelers into that traffic,” Sebastiano said. “It’s scary.”

This story was originally published January 20, 2023, 9:34 AM.

Multiple agencies responded, and a special device was used to get the person out.

MINT HILL, N.C. — A person who was trapped in a grain silo near Mint Hill is now recovering after being rescued Wednesday.

According to Medic, multiple agencies responded to the scene along Arlington Church Road around 10 a.m. Rescue efforts were attempted by firefighters who responded, with the Mint Hill Fire Department leading on-scene operations with Charlotte Fire and Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department also aiding.

For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.

Crews with the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department were called in to help since they had a specialized rescue tube, which Medic reported was placed around the person to keep them from sinking further in.

Medic and Mint Hill Fire said the person was safely rescued and showed no apparent signs of injury, but was still transported for evaluation.

Atrium Health's MedCenter Air was also called into the scene.

You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku and Amazon Fire TV, just download the free app.

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Joe Brown knows the cancer journey well after losing his mother to ovarian cancer when he was a child.

MINT HILL, N.C. — This is the sound of victory: cyclists from all across the country coming together to face the realities of cancer and its impact while still remaining hopeful for a cure.

Mint Hill native Joe Brown knows the cancer journey well after losing his mother to ovarian cancer when he was a child.

MORE NEWS: Here's how you can 'adopt' an animal at Grandfather Mountain

Then most recently a close friend and colleague named Christy was also diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer. Thankfully she managed to beat it.

"As christy always says whenever she encounters a problem ‘hey Joe, it’s not cancer.' I try to keep that mindset. she inspires me so much," Brown said.

Now, Brown and over 120 of his colleagues from Bristol Myers Squibb are committing to cycling hundreds of miles as part of Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer.

"This is for the patients," Brown said. "We’re riding for patients like Christy, like my mom, and raising funds and our goal is to raise $1 million dollars to fund cancer research through the V Foundation."

MORE NEWS: Horse rescued after five-hour effort in South Carolina

The ride begins in September starting from the west coast to the east coast and will be divided into nine segments.

Brown and his group will cycle the final leg from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in just three days.

"It’s a lot of training, it’s a big commitment and fortunately, I have people that have done this ahead of me, so I have a lot of great coaches and counselors," he said.

You can stream WCNC Charlotte on Roku and Amazon Fire TV, just download the free app.

Five months of training to help pay it forward in support of those battling a much bigger burden like cancer.

"To just wake up and have my health and go out and actually ride a bike and train hard I’m really grateful for that,” Brown said

If you’re not a rider you can still donate to help out. Bristol Myers Squibb Company will match donations dollar for dollar up to $500,000.

Learn more about how you can donate to the Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer journey at www.cancerbikeride.org.

MINT HILL, NC – Now that the school year is over, a lot of families are looking to find uniquely entertaining, interesting and educational ways to fill their summer hours. To answer this need, The Mint Hill Times would like to introduce its readers to Tetnika Williamson with Poise, Inc.

Williamson is a Certified Etiquette Consultant and Style and Branding Management entrepreneur and small business owner. She found her niche while teaching etiquette courses. “I’ve always had a ‘hustle’ mentality,” she explains. “When I left the corporate world to become a middle school teacher, I recognized that I wanted to extend my classroom so that I could continue to work with the kids and mentor them. Etiquette is such an important element to both workforce skills and life skills – plus it’s a personal passion of mine – and most people have either forgotten its elements or have never learned them. However, we all need it in case we find ourselves in a situation where we have to use it.”

In order help achieve her goal, Williamson first wrote the book Modern Day Etiquette for Everyday Living. It is a practical guide to the rules of social behavior and can be found on Amazon, in Barnes and Noble, or even at the local public library. Next, under her brand, Poise, Williamson runs Cutie Pie Pampering. This company provides spa parties for girls ages 4-14.

Williamson says the parties are always a success. “The girls choose a theme and a party package for up to six friends. Throughout the event, we focus on three principal ideas. First, we talk about manners, behavior, and what it looks like. Then, we discuss how these two skills can empower us in other areas of life. Finally, after the girls are all dolled up, we talk about how these elements of etiquette can create confidence in who we are and how we carry ourselves. But mostly, we just have a whole lot of fun!”

Williamson also has a deep heart for philanthropy. “I’m so grateful that my for-profit business allows me to also run several nonprofit charity programs,” Williamson shares. “I started with the Prom Project to collect dresses for girls in need. I partnered with families, local dress stores and bridal shops to collect donated dresses. By the second year, I received almost 3000 dresses for the girls to choose from.”

Williamson also realized that girls aren’t the only ones who can benefit from the confidence of life skills. “The past two years, I partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to create Ties to Tomorrow, a nonprofit that collects neckties and bowties,” she says. “Then, it pairs local leaders in the community with a young man to mentor. The gentlemen attend five workshops with me to learn manners and etiquette and how to properly wear a necktie. We conclude with a meal to illustrate the skills the boys have learned, and they each wear their newly donated tie around their neck.”

Williamson also hosts a coed event, the Charlotte Children’s Business Fair. “This event is more closely related to my small business side,” she explains. “I organized an activity where kids can set up their own pop-up shop and sell things they make. Two or three times a year, we host about fifty or sixty child vendors. We took a break during COVID, but we are looking forward to bringing it back soon.”

Williamson also runs a workforce development program for special needs students within Meck Ed Charlotte. She hosts a Mother’s Day event, Empower Her, for girls who have lost their mothers. She works with the Girl Scouts to offer a badge for her pamper parties. She has also organized Poise Entrepreneur summer camps with the Matthews Parks and Rec department.

Williamson shows no signs of slowing down. “I have so much passion and drive. That’s what happens when you’re an educator who truly cares about people,” Williamson smiles. “I do hope to scale my business and begin to hire a team. I can’t do it all myself, and know that balance is important in life. I don’t know what the next thing to come my way will be, but I’m excited and looking out for it.”

MINT HILL, NC – The North Carolina Real Estate Commission revised the Offer to Purchase and Contract in 2011 to better protect the consumer. They introduced a new term called “due diligence” to better protect both buyers and sellers. Before 2011, the only money paid up front was the “earnest money.”

What is Earnest Money?

Earnest money is money paid up front to show “earnestness” of the buyer. It is being deposited into an escrow account. It’s paid by the buyer to ensure the seller is compensated if the buyer backs out from the deal after the buyer’s due diligence period ends. As long as the deal goes through, the earnest money is credited back to the buyer at closing. If the sale doesn’t go so smoothly, the earnest money may be returned to the buyer, provided the contract is terminated during the due diligence period.

Even if a buyer needs to obtain financing to purchase a home, the contract is no longer contingent on financing. The buyer has to secure financing, try to get final underwriting approval during the due diligence period and then decide at the end of that period if he will close. The money is returned if the buyer’s financing is denied during the Due Diligence Period and the buyer terminates the contract in time. This could happen due to a change in the debt to income ration, a lost job or appraisal issues.

What is the Due Diligence Fee?

The “due diligence fee” is paid directly to the seller from the buyer and the seller keeps it even if the buyer decides to terminate the contract. If the deal closes, the buyer will have the amount credited to them at closing. Regardless, the amount goes into the seller’s pocket – unless the seller is in breach of contract. If the seller is in breach of contract both, Due Diligence Fee and Earnest Money, need to be returned to the buyer.

Before 2011, there was a big problem for sellers because once earnest money was paid and when a contract was signed, the home would come off the market. If the buyer’s financing fell through at the last minute, the seller was left with nothing but lost time and lost opportunities to sell their home. The due diligence fee was designed to somewhat compensate the seller for time lost on the market.

The due diligence period allows the buyer to handle things, such as inspections, document review, surveys, financing and appraisals within a certain amount of time. It also allows the buyer to back out for any reason, but they have to do this before the due diligence period ends in order not to lose their earnest money. If they don’t back out before the due diligence period ends, they will not only lose their due diligence fee, but also their earnest money.

Due Diligence fees used to be lower amount of $1000-$3000. In the current seller’s market, those amounts have drastically increased and amounts of $5,000 to $250,000 (!) have been part of recent transactions. Once the market cools down to a more balanced or buyer’s market, those amounts should hopefully adjust again to more reasonable amounts.

Over and above the due diligence fee, Buyers could be out the money paid for inspections and appraisal if for instance the requested repairs are not performed by the seller and the buyer decides to terminate. While they may get their earnest money back, they could still be out lots of money for inspections, survey, appraisal and the due diligence fee.

When you decide to buy a home in North Carolina, you will most likely pay both earnest money and the due diligence fee. Neither amount is mandatory but most contracts these days show both fees. These fees are in place to protect both buyers and sellers and to ensure the buyer and the seller is serious about the transaction. It’s important to understand both and ask your real estate agent if you’re unsure of anything during the buying or selling process.

I would love to be part of your journey when the time is right for you. If you ever have a real estate question or need, or know someone who does, trust that you can turn to me (704) 650-5707 | annagrangerhomes@gmail.com.