Walking through Windsor Park
Plus: Lawyer says panel can't delay I-77 widening; A look at new I-485 toll lanes; Election day information; Charlotte gas prices expected to rise; Plaza Midwood taproom closes; Bathroom-rating app
Good morning! Today is Monday, March 2, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
Hi readers, it’s Lindsey, here to remind you that tomorrow is Election Day for party primaries and that voting is extremely important. For many local races, it’s the deciding election, as some candidates won’t face any opposition in November for the general election. I recommend checking out The Election Hub before visiting the polls for comprehensive voting guides for all races in Mecklenburg, Gaston and Cabarrus counties.
In this edition of The Ledger, we’ve got the first piece in a new occasional series we’re calling “Neighborhood Walk,” where we show you around a Charlotte neighborhood and how it’s navigating growth. There’s also a new podcast episode that breaks down the I-77 toll lane controversy surrounding it, and a look at the new express lane on I-485 that opened this weekend.
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Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by Robinson Bradshaw, an esteemed Carolinas-based corporate law firm committed to providing clients with comprehensive legal services of the highest quality.
Windsor Park hopes to retain its midcentury charm and sense of community as east Charlotte changes
Editor’s note: All of Charlotte’s neighborhoods have a story to tell. Some have histories dating back centuries. But as the Queen City booms, it sometimes alters the unique places Charlotteans call home. Neighborhood Walk is a new, occasional series that puts a spotlight on Charlotte neighborhoods, and how leaders of these places are navigating a changing city.
Today’s featured walk is Windsor Park, a neighborhood in east Charlotte bordered by Central Avenue, North Sharon Amity Road, Eastway Drive, Shamrock Drive and a rail line.
by Ashley Fahey
On a recent, unseasonably warm walk through Windsor Park, Rachel Guzman recalls the time she had 500 board games in her living room.
It was originally supposed to be a slightly more reasonable 40 games, as part of a donation drive to give children at Windsor Park Elementary School an activity to bring home during winter break in December. But Guzman, 40, president of the Windsor Park Neighborhood Association, and her board had a more ambitious thought to give one to all 519 students.
Within a month, and with help from a $5,000 city community grant, every surface in her living room was covered by boxes of Connect Four, Sorry!, Trouble, Candy Land and other nostalgic games.
“We received a thank you letter from one of the students that said that he’s never had his own game,” she said, choking up. “He was like, ‘I like having my own stuff.’ I was like, this is why we do this.”
As Charlotte’s growth changes neighborhoods like Windsor Park, it’s an anchor Guzman wants to place in her own community: giving back to the people who live there and make Charlotte feel like home.
Windsor at a glance
There’s a new neighborhood monument sign at the Sudbury entrance to Windsor Park. Adjacent to the sign are three single-family homes built within the past few years that occupy a lot where, previously, there was one house.
It’s one example of densification occurring across Charlotte. Guzman said builders have been taking advantage of new density allowed under the city’s recently adopted unified development ordinance, although it’s mostly one-off projects.
Homes measuring about 1,200 sq. ft. in Windsor Park are listed on the market today in the mid- to upper $300,000 range.
Windsor Park has 2,800 homes, wide streets and mature trees, giving it a suburban feel despite being only about six miles from uptown. Many of its one-story ranch homes are being flipped — we walked past a few, the sound of buzzsaws cutting through an otherwise quiet afternoon — but ones that were demolished and rebuilt still largely retain the character of the rest of the neighborhood.
Charlie Miller, a broker and developer at 5 Points Realty, has built several midcentury-style homes in Windsor Park, including the ones at the front of Sudbury Road. He said it’s feasible to build homes similar to existing design, size and scale in a neighborhood like Windsor Park because real estate isn’t as expensive as other parts of town.
One house in Windsor Park is strikingly different: The 5,100 sq. ft. home on Sudbury that celebrity home makeover host Ty Pennington built in a 2008 episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” was “way before its time” and still doesn’t quite fit in with the neighborhood, Guzman said.
Lessons for Windsor Park’s future
We walk along Kilborne Drive and talk about some of the challenges facing Windsor Park.
“If you would have asked me this before the latest City Council election, I would have had a different answer,” Guzman replied. “We just didn’t know what we didn’t know before.”
Things were happening in the neighborhood that she and her neighbors didn’t know much about until something was approved or even built — then, when it dawned on everyone what impact it might have on the neighborhood, it was too late to do anything about it.
One example, she said, was the installation of bike lanes at Central and Kilborne avenues. Guzman said she and her neighbors were pro-bike lanes, but didn’t realize the neighborhood would lose a turn lane in every direction because of it. It now takes longer to exit the neighborhood.
Drivers also mistake the bike lane for a vehicular lane just about every day, according to Guzman, and bollards — the only protection between the bike lane and the car traffic — have to be replaced monthly because of how frequently they’re mowed down by cars.
The neighborhood has become more civically involved since, to be more proactive about proposed changes and projects. “I’ve learned more about zoning than I ever thought I would,” Guzman said.
A sense of community
Windsor Park is one of many east Charlotte neighborhoods that’s largely residential but includes a few businesses, especially along its Central Avenue edge.
Perhaps its most famous business is Manolo’s Bakery, which was Ground Zero for protestors when U.S. Border Patrol came to Charlotte in November for an operation that targeted immigrant communities in places like east Charlotte.
Guzman said Windsor Park is diverse, “with very diverse opinions,” including politically. She said in November, about a dozen neighbors volunteered for two weeks at Windsor Park Elementary pickup and dropoff. They stood off of school property on nearby sidewalks, “to be a warm, welcoming face” for anyone concerned about bringing their kids to school, and to be ready to document any Border Patrol activity.
Border Patrol, as far as she knew, largely stayed out of the neighborhood.
Miller said Windsor Park was, for a long time, a well-kept secret in the shadow of Plaza Midwood. Young families started discovering it about a decade ago, about the same time that longtime residents were aging out of their homes. Much of the growth has been organic, unlike other parts of Charlotte that have seen rapid-fire redevelopment and change.
Guzman said the association expects more change is coming for Windsor Park, especially because of its proximity to Eastland Yards — a development she said she’s excited about.
But she hopes to keep fostering a sense of community within Windsor Park through the association, which has grown from 50 to 300 members since she moved to the neighborhood, and to keep applying for grants to help support neighborhood projects, investments and events.
Guzman’s association is now collecting 300 bottles of body wash for Windsor Park Elementary teachers, who are putting together toiletry bags for when they teach second- to fifth-graders about personal hygiene.
“We want people to continue to care about where they live,” Guzman said.
Ashley Fahey is The Ledger’s managing editor. Want to lace up your sneakers for a walk and talk about your neighborhood? Reach Ashley at ashley@cltledger.com.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Find peace of mind and a place for your child to thrive with free, personalized guidance from our knowledgeable navigators. Start your search at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685.
Lawyer says regional planning board can’t stall I-77 widening plans
A lawyer for the regional transportation board that gave the thumbs-up to expanding I-77 with toll lanes has said in a memo that the board cannot reverse course and pause the project.
The legal interpretation potentially cuts off one route that opponents had hoped to use to delay the widening, which in recent weeks has been strongly opposed by neighborhood groups who say that the N.C. Department of Transportation’s plans near uptown would harm historic Black neighborhoods.
Attorney Sardar Mujeeb Shah-Khan wrote in a memo last week that the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, or CRTPO, “has no further role in the NCDOT I-77 South Project” and cannot rescind its October 2024 vote to move forward with the project. Opponents had argued that if CRTPO reverses course, NCDOT would have to stop working on the project, since the law requires regional planning boards to sign off on road construction plans.
Shah-Khan, who has his own firm and works on a contract basis for the CRTPO, is the former city attorney of Monroe and Greensboro.
The legal interpretation was first reported by WFAE.
An environmental lawyer working with opponents of the plans had earlier written that CRTPO can legally change its mind.
The Charlotte City Council is meeting tonight to discuss the project. Charlotte’s city attorney said last week that the City Council cannot unilaterally stop NCDOT’s plans. Opponents are urging the council to instruct its representative on the planning organization, Ed Driggs, to push for a delay by rescinding CRTPO’s vote to support the toll-lane project. The city controls 42% of CRTPO’s votes and would likely have enough allies to pass such a resolution.
Mecklenburg County commissioner Leigh Altman, who is a lawyer, wrote in a memo that Shah-Khan’s interpretation lacked a basis for his conclusions, WFAE reported. “What CRTPO received was a bare conclusion with no authority. Since legal authority was expressly asked for but not provided, it is reasonable to infer no legal authority barring rescission actually exists,” she wrote. —Tony Mecia
➡️ Read the memo from CRTPO lawyer
➡️ Read the legal memo from widening opponents that says the project can be halted
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🎙️ New on the pod: Understanding the I-77 toll debate
Interstate 77 has been one of Charlotte’s most frustrating stretches of pavement for years. Now, as state leaders move closer to widening that corridor with new toll lanes, a controversy has erupted over what the expansion would mean for neighborhoods already divided by the highway decades ago.
In the latest episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Ledger editor Tony Mecia sits down with Steve Harrison, political reporter at WFAE, to unpack how the I-77 debate evolved from complaints about expensive toll lanes in North Mecklenburg to a broader fight over equity, neighborhood impact and whether Charlotte leaders still have any power to reshape the project. It was recorded during a live conversation on Feb. 23, 2026, at The Sharon at SouthPark retirement community.
Listen to the full conversation, sponsored by Child Care Search, anywhere you get your podcasts. It’s worth a listen!
Charlotte gas prices tick up; expected to go higher this week after Iran bombings
Gas prices in the Charlotte region have ticked up slightly in the last two days, since Saturday’s bombing of Iran started.
The average price this morning was $2.75 a gallon for regular gas in the Charlotte area, up from $2.73 on Saturday, according to AAA.
Oil prices rose by $10 a barrel on Monday. An analyst told NBC News that gas prices will likely rise later this week as stations start passing along anticipated higher costs.
Gas prices in North Carolina are about 24 cents per gallon cheaper than the national average of $3 a gallon. —Tony Mecia
🎥 WATCH: A first look at the new I-485 express lanes
The new I-485 express lanes in south Charlotte opened Saturday, and The Ledger went for a test drive. The project adds one express lane in each direction along roughly 17 miles between I-77 and U.S. 74, plus a new interchange at Weddington Road, upgrades near E. John Street in Matthews, and new general-purpose lanes between Rea and Providence roads.
Tolls will vary based on vehicle type and time of day, with dynamic pricing launching within a year. Unlike the I-77 North lanes, there’s no free or discounted HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) travel — though Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) vanpools, transit vehicles and first responders qualify for toll-free access.
Watch our video for a quick drive-through and breakdown of what you need to know:
🗳️ Election Day is TOMORROW: Know what’s on your ballot before going to the polls
Tomorrow is Election Day for the 2026 primary in Mecklenburg, Gaston and Cabarrus counties. If you’re registered and haven’t voted yet, make a plan to head to the polls. Find unbiased information on the candidates, what’s on your ballot and key election details with The Election Hub, a free non-partisan voter guide.
Here’s what you need to know before heading to the polls:
Polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. — If you’re in line by 7:30 p.m., you can still vote.
Bring a valid photo ID (North Carolina’s voter ID law is in effect).
Vote at your assigned polling place — You can look it up using your voter registration.
Research your ballot ahead of time so you’re prepared.
Happy voting! 🇺🇸
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
WEDNESDAY: “The Gambrell Foundation Author Series Presents Susan Magsamen,” 6:30-8:30 p.m., at The Gambrell Center at Queens University, 2319 Wellesley Ave. The Gambrell Foundation and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library present a conversation with Susan Magsamen, co-author of “Your Brain on Art.” Her research reveals how arts reduce stress, build cognitive skills and improve public health. Explore how the arts help us build great lives and transform our community. Free.
THURSDAY: “Champions of Public Education: It’s Everybody’s Business,” 5:30-8 p.m., at Central Piedmont Community College, Central Campus Zeiss Building, Parr Lecture Auditorium #110, 1231 Elizabeth Ave. Join the League of Women Voters of Charlotte Mecklenburg for a panel discussion with leaders from education, business, and civic life on what it means to be a champion of public education. Learn why strong public schools matter to everyone—and how you can help drive meaningful change. Bring a friend. Free.
MARCH 10: “Charlotte ToolBank Open House,” 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Charlotte Community ToolBank, 2513 S. Tryon St. Join Charlotte ToolBank for an open house celebrating 15 years of supporting nonprofits and strengthening the community. Stop by to tour the ToolBank, meet the team and see the impact your support makes possible. Free.
MARCH 12: “Artist Talk: David McGee, Katia Zavistovski, and Anita Bateman,” 6-7 p.m., at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St. Join the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art for the opening-night conversation celebrating “David McGee: The Griot and the Nightingale.” Experience this major survey starting with an artist talk featuring McGee in conversation with Bechtler curator Dr. Katia Zavistovski and Dr. Anita N. Bateman of the Harvey B. Gantt Center. They’ll explore the ideas behind his work. Free.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Plaza Midwood taproom closes: Southern Strain Brewing closed its Plaza Midwood taproom Saturday after its lease ended. Operations will continue at its original Concord location. (WCNC)
Student legal services in limbo: A proposed UNC System policy that would restrict student activity fee funding has left UNC Charlotte’s Student Legal Services — and similar offices at other campuses — facing possible closure, raising concerns about students losing free, on-campus legal support. (Niner Times)
State trooper killed in head-on crash: A North Carolina state trooper was killed Sunday in a wrong-way head-on crash on N.C. 147 in Durham, marking the second State Highway Patrol trooper to die in a crash in the past week. (WRAL)
Public restroom app: A Charlotte entrepreneur has launched DootyCall, a community-powered app that helps users avoid sketchy restrooms by rating and reviewing the city’s public bathrooms before nature calls. A Bojangles near uptown got a one-star review, but a SouthPark McDonald’s review reads: “I felt like I was sitting on a throne. I had all the leg space to make sure I could get the job done, and the toilet paper honestly didn’t miss.” (Observer)
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