Published reports say Pappas has talked with the city's planning department and will be filing a rezoning request for the land near Lake Wylie. The project is expected to include property owned by Sarah Belk Gambrell of the Belk retail family and the estate of the late Dwight Phillips.

Tom Phillips, son-in-law of Dwight Phillips, says Pappas has 600 acres of the family's property under contract. The project is expected to include only a small parcel of the Gambrell property.

In published reports, Pappas says he is waiting for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg planning department to complete certain plans in the area that may affect his project. This study is expected to be completed in January or February.

Southwestern Mecklenburg has been one of the last areas of the county to be invaded by developers. They are more interested now since sewer lines have been extended to the area. Also, roads are being improved, including the extension of Interstate 485, which will run through the area.

Since leaving Lincoln Harris and forming Pappas Properties in March 1999, Pappas has been involved in numerous mixed-use challenges. He is working to redevelop Midtown Square into a mix of shops, residences and restaurants similar to Phillips Place, which he helped develop while at Lincoln Harris. He has filed a rezoning petition seeking approval for 875,000 sf of retail and office space, 200 hotel rooms and 500 residential units on the Midtown Square site.

Pappas plans to develop a six-acre site owned by Duke Energy Corp. at South Boulevard and Bland Street with retail, office, restaurant and residential space. Also on his plate is the Charlotte Cotton Mill project on North Graham Street in Fourth Ward. He plans to develop 180 apartments behind two historic cotton mill buildings that would be converted to loft-style offices, shops and restaurants. In addition, Pappas is involved with Birkdale Village, a golf-course community in Huntersville.

Instant Insights /

Pappas Eyeing Southwestern Mecklenburg for Next New Project

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