HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Plans for a new commuter rail line are slowly moving forward, and that has leaders in northern Mecklenburg County preparing for the future.
Huntersville commissioners heard their first proposal Tuesday night, which factored in plans for the proposed Red Line. Projects like this are what developers call “transit-oriented development”. Even though the Red Line’s future is up in the air, they’re getting ready for what will happen to Huntersville if it comes.
“It’s good for us to plan ahead for where people are going to live, where businesses are going to be so that we can plan for other infrastructure that might be around there like roads and greenways,” said Mayor Christy Clark.
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It’s the start of a potential development boom in northern Mecklenburg County.
“It’s going to be a game changer for this area,” said Clark.
Part of Tuesday night’s conversation at the Huntersville commissioners meeting centered around a 21-acre piece of land off Old Statesville Road near Sam Furr Road. The property could eventually be home to a new development made up of apartments, townhomes and more.
“There will be residence and retail and restaurants included in that and that’s what we’re hoping for,” said the mayor. “We want those things to happen, so we’re looking forward to more things like that coming to us.”
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It’s right along the tracks and close to where a proposed Red Line station could be built several years down the road.
Residents who spoke at the meeting were excited about what this project would mean for the area.
“We’re in favor of the development because it would bring additional foot traffic to the area,” said one man.
Mayor Clark said that while Tuesday night’s conversation was a first, it definitely won’t be the last. She expects several more projects if the Red Line gets funding.
