There was definitely a decline in new building during the Covid 19 pandemic, but the building sector is coming back strongly in the Queen City. Construction has been slowed by supply chain issues and staffing concerns. Many homeowners renovated existing homes instead of building new homes. But building permits for residential projects were up from 65,067 in 2019 to 72,684 in 2021. This shows a strong comeback and can hopefully start to ease the inventory woes that have plagued the area in recent years.

There are a host of new projects underway that we are excited about and here are just a few of them.

Alexan Mill District – this project is located in Optimist Park on Brevard Street. When completed the project calls for 290 units divided between studio, one, and two bedrooms. The average size will be 820 square feet. Parking will be shared with the adjacent Optimist Hall. This project is being developed by Trammell Crow and broke ground in March.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery – 8 acres surrounding the biergarten in Southend have been sold and are being developed into an adaptive reuse project. When completed, the project will have 350 multi-family units in addition to offices and retail space. This is a joint project with White Point Partners and Cameron Property Co. Details are being finalized with expected start later this year.
Eastway Crossings – This is a great project for seniors. Eastway Crossing is a new development from Greystone Affordable Development and Urban Trends Real Estate, Inc. They plan to build a 132-unit multi-family complex customized for residents 55 and older with incomes below 60% of the area median income. There will be onsite amenities as well as shuttle services. Completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2023.
University Center – This Rock Hill development is getting additional stages rolled out with apartments, student housing, retail, and a second hotel. The entire project is expected to cost $220 million but will bring much needed housing and businesses to the area. University Center combines historic mill buildings with new construction and will connect Rock Hill with Winthrop University. Builder Tuttle Co. will start the next phase in 2023 and will unite with Knowledge Park which has completed and expected new sections as well.
Carson South End – Crescent Communities and Nuveen Real Estate are developing Carson South End to be a 31-story mixed use tower with space for offices, retail, apartments, and a hotel. It will be built on a 3-acre parcel on West Carson Street between South Tryon and Winnifred streets. Timeline on the project is expected to be released soon.

With so many projects coming at the same time, we are excited for the future of the Queen City. With all of the people moving into the area, they all need spaces to thrive and these new construction projects will allow many more people that opportunity. In addition to these large projects, many smaller projects like infill development, single-family home communities, and many commercial projects to help support the new developments are in the works.