Myers Park friends and neighbors,

I hope you and your family are doing well. Trees have fully leafed out, and the neighborhood is full of robust blooms. Our cherry trees and viburnums have blossomed, and azaleas, hydrangeas, roses and many others are taking their turns illuminating the neighborhood. Landscape wise, it is the prettiest time of the year for us. (Also, see the article on Myers Park’s winter blooms.)

I am currently serving as President of the Myers Park® Homeowners Association (MPHA). I have lived in Myers Park most of my adult life and have served on the board for a number of years. I am passionate about the neighborhood and committed to doing all that I can to keep it as one of the most beautiful neighborhoods anywhere. We are a member driven organization, so if you have ideas, please share them.

Despite rising interest rates, residential real estate sales in Charlotte continue to be robust, and Myers Park has been no exception.

The number of homes sold may be lower than last year, but prices remain high, due to Charlotte’s strong economy and reduced inventory. We know we have a lot of new residents in Myers Park, for which we are grateful. The MPHA publishes The Oak Leaf twice a year, and for many this may be your first issue. If you are one of our new neighbors to Myers Park, welcome, I know that you will love living here.

One result of Charlotte’s economic success is the interest in redevelopment of properties in and around Myers Park. We understand certain sites are underdeveloped and most neighbors are not opposed to redevelopment per se, but residents have a strong desire for redevelopment to be consistent with the neighborhood.

Last year, a developer proposed a new building on Providence Road that would soar up to 110 feet tall, and the building foot- print would be pushed close to Providence Road. We met with the developer to share our concerns for a building of that height and proximity to high volume Providence Road, making the area even less walkable. Many residents signed letters opposing the petition, and we thank you; the rezoning petition was withdrawn. A revised petition could be filed, and we certainly don’t expect redevelopment interest to cease, but a building of that height and mass would be a troubling precedent.

We were able to return to our annual Fourth of July celebration last year and will continue that tradition again this summer. It is very popular event and includes a parade, antique cars, face painting, food, etc. If you are in town, I would encourage you to bring your family for a terrific patriotic celebration. Queens University has graciously offered their front lawn on Selwyn again. There will be signs and more information on our website www.mpha.com in June.

John Nolen designed Myers Park with an innovative plan that was well ahead of its time. A key part of his vision was lining streets and medians with oak trees to create the canopy that we enjoy today. Preserving our tree canopy continues to be a high priority for residents and we are working hard on a number of fronts to restore the tree canopy for not just Myers Park but for the City as well. You will read more about our tree initiative in this issue of The Oak Leaf.

Lastly, many of us dreaded the long, delayed water main replacement project along Queens Road West, but the project is ahead of plan, and the general consensus is it has been less disruptive than anticipated. The City of Charlotte has done an excellent job communicating with residents and the men and women doing the heavy work have been terrific. Many residents have expressed their sincere thanks. While the orange tree protection was an eyesore to some, it was quite effective. Plus the City allowed us to replant oaks in the median of Queens Road West in certain sections after their work was completed. (See the related article in this issue.)

You will find out more about the neighborhood in this newsletter and I would invite you to visit our website www.mpha.com to learn more. We would love to have you join as a member. Membership in the MPHA is entirely voluntary, but it enables us to preserve and enhance the historical character and beauty of the neighborhood.

If you are already a member, Thank You! If you would like to join, we would love to have you. We also send information via e-mail which is more efficient. We won’t use your e-mail for any purpose other than neighborhood matters.

I have been fortunate enough to meet many of you and hope to meet many more. I can be reached at info@mpha.com; I would love to hear from you.

Best regards, Charlie Welch