Ballantyne (Charlotte neighborhood) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ballantyne
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Edge City / Neighborhood
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Ballantyne at the intersection of Johnston Rd and Ballantyne Commons Parkway in April 2024
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  North Carolina |
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| City | Charlotte |
| Council District | 7 |
| Neighborhood Profile Areas | 75, 169, 187, 188, 189, 253, 255, 257, 355, 356 |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Annexed | 1999–2003 |
| Founded by | Bissell Companies |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,114 acre (2,070 ha) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 70,582 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Zip Code |
28277
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| Area codes | 704 and 980 |
| Quality of Life Dashboard | |
Ballantyne is a busy neighborhood and a growing "edge city" (a big business and shopping area outside a main city) located in the southern part of Charlotte, North Carolina. It covers about 2,000 acres (which is about 8 square kilometers) and is very close to the South Carolina border. It's also home to St. Matthew Catholic Church, which is the largest Catholic church in the United States.
In 2013, Wingate University decided to move its campus from Matthews, NC, to Ballantyne.
Contents
History of Ballantyne
Ballantyne used to be a large area of land used for hunting. It was owned by the Harris family, who were related to a former North Carolina governor.
In 1992, Johnny Harris and his brother-in-law, Smoky Bissell, started developing the area. They created the Ballantyne Corporate Park, which has become a very successful planned community in the U.S. Johnny Harris got the 2,000 acres of land officially changed for development, which was the largest land rezoning in Mecklenburg County's history.
Another company, Crescent Resources, had already bought 610 acres of land. This land later became the Ballantyne Country Club and its homes. In 1995, Smoky Bissell bought out his brother-in-law's shares for $20 million. He then named the area "Ballantyne" after his great-aunt. Bissell also developed and designed the Ballantyne Hotel, which opened in 2001.
At a main intersection in Ballantyne (Johnston Road and Ballantyne Commons), you can see four large monuments, each 30 feet tall. These sculptures represent important ideas for Charlotte: transportation, technology, finance, and the human spirit. A Yugoslavian artist named Boris Tomic created this art over three years at a factory in Salisbury.
Ballantyne Corporate Park
The Ballantyne Corporate Park is a huge business area covering about 535 acres (2.1 square kilometers). It has over 4 million square feet (about 370,000 square meters) of top-quality office space. Many big companies have their main offices or large branches here, including Dentsply Sirona, Babcock & Wilcox, Curtiss-Wright, LendingTree, Snyder's-Lance, Premier Inc, Extended Stay America, SPX, ESPN regional television, Brighthouse Financial, TIAA, and Wells Fargo.
In 2010, the Ballantyne Corporate Park was named the "International Office Park of the Year" by a group called BOMA. This shows how well-designed and successful it is.
Many companies have moved into or expanded their offices in the park over the years. For example:
- In 2013, MetLife Inc. rented a huge amount of space, making it the park's biggest deal at the time.
- In 2016, Wells Fargo rented an entire 10-story building, planning to have 1,600 employees there.
- In 2017, the developer, Smoky Bissell, sold the entire Ballantyne Corporate Park for $1.2 billion to Northwood Investors. This was the largest real estate deal in Charlotte's history!
Northwood Investors has big plans for the area, called "Ballantyne Reimagined." They want to change the corporate park into a more walkable community. This plan includes building:
- Over 1,200 new apartments.
- Shops and restaurants.
- A large amphitheater for concerts and events.
- New parks and greenways.
- Ballantyne's first brewery, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.
This project aims to make Ballantyne a place where people can live, work, shop, and have fun all in one area.
In 2022, XPO Logistics announced that a new company, RXO, would be based in the Corporate Park. This new company will have 750 local employees.
Ballantyne Village
Ballantyne Village is a mixed-use area with shops, restaurants, and offices. It covers about 171,000 square feet. It has been bought and sold by different companies over the years.
The village has many places to eat and businesses for personal care. It also has office spaces, with more being developed. A popular spot is Blackfinn Ameripub, which has been there since 2016.
Panorama Tower
In 2019, construction began on the Panorama Tower in Ballantyne Village. This 14-story building is one of the tallest in Ballantyne, reaching about 182 feet (55 meters) high. It was finished in 2021.
The Panorama Tower is a "mixed-use" building, meaning it has different types of spaces:
- An AC Hotel by Marriott with 186 rooms, taking up the first seven floors. This hotel has a modern design with European touches.
- 100,000 square feet of office space, including co-working areas.
- A restaurant on the rooftop with great views.
This tower brought more hotel options to Ballantyne, as there were only a few before. It also added new office spaces and dining experiences. Several new businesses have moved into the tower, including Panorama Holdings (the developer), PartnerRe, and ServisFirst Bank.
Population and People
Ballantyne has grown a lot!
- In 2000, about 9,466 people lived there.
- By 2010, the population had more than doubled to 20,936.
- In 2016, it was estimated that about 70,582 people lived in Ballantyne.
In 2011, the people living in Ballantyne were mostly White (69.2%), with Asian Americans (11.3%), Black or African Americans (10.3%), and other races also living there. About 6.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino American. The average household income in the area was $96,435.
Printed Media
- Ballantyne magazine
Notable People
Some well-known people who have lived in Ballantyne include:
- Allen Iverson, a famous former NBA basketball player.
- Blake Van Leer III, a film producer and investor.
Images for kids
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Ballantyne Corporate Park in December 2023
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The Bowl under construction in December 2023
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Ballantyne Village
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The Panorama Tower in December 2023
