At Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) of Charlotte, N.C., new dormitories to increase its student housing, and the historic West End district of Charlotte was in need of revitalization.
Constructed on a former brownfield site, this mixed-use project was developed to do more than provide student housing for JCSU. By also including a level for retail space into the plan, the hope was to spark new life into an old abandoned city corridor. The project, a partnership between Griffin Brothers Acquisitions and JCSU, had the primary goal of improving neighborhood engagement. The belief was that a mixed-use structure would be the best way to meld students, residents, and young professionals from diverse backgrounds into a solid community.