Jamestown Hits Snag in Suburban Charlotte Mixed-Use Expansion

Jamestown’s proposal to expand Birkdale Village met resistance after a split vote by the Huntersville Planning Board.

The board voted 4-3 to recommend denial of the rezoning request, leaving the final decision in the hands of the Huntersville Board of Commissioners, who are set to review the project on March 18, the Charlotte Business Journal reported.

The Atlanta-based investor is seeking to rezone the 250,000-square-foot development at Birkdale Commons Parkway and Sam Furr Road to allow higher density than what is permitted.

The planned expansion includes a 125-key hotel, 150 multifamily units, a 175,000-square-foot office building and over 26,000 square feet of retail space. The $200 million project would replace two existing buildings with a six-story office building, a six-story residential building, and a five-story hotel. It would also add two parking decks.

Jamestown, led by CEO Matt Bronfman, has argued that the development aligns with Huntersville’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, which encourages high-density growth in designated areas. The company purchased Birkdale Village last year as part of a $2 billion deal with the property’s previous owner, the Atlanta subsidiary of North American Properties.

Birkdale Village is the largest taxpayer in Huntersville, and Jamestown anticipates the expansion will bring substantial economic benefits, including an additional $200,000 in annual property tax revenue.

The proposal has sparked concern among some residents regarding increased traffic congestion and changes to the community’s infrastructure. The opposition mirrors a similar response to a rezoning request made by North American Properties in 2023, which was ultimately denied due to public outcry.

Jamestown’s proposal, however, differs in its scope and design. The plan includes significant updates to both retail and office components, with the firm planning to bring new tenants to the complex, including the potential return of Barnes & Noble.

— Andrew Terrell