Park Woodlawn Area Plan - Charlotte-Mecklenburg County

Part 3:AppendixPark Woodlawn Area PlanDevelopmentCharlotte-MecklenburgPlanning DepartmentOffice and CommercialMuch of the office space in the area is located along Park Road in 1960’s and 70’s office buildings of 4-8 stories. Thereis a scattering of newer office complexes. Many older homes located on Park Road have also been converted to officeor commercial uses. Commercial centers in the plan area vary from older, strip type shopping and converted homesalong Park Road, to newer mixed use centers concentrated around the Park Road and Woodlawn Road intersection.Park Road Shopping CenterOne of the highlights of the ParkWoodlawn area is Park RoadShopping Center, a commercialcenter that boasts a history unlikeany shopping center in Charlotte.Charlotte shopping was concentratedin the downtown area, but asneighborhoods began to sprawlfurther southeast from the centercity, the idea of a neighborhoodshopping center began in the mindof developer A.V. Blankenship. Mr.Blankenship purchased the land onthe corner of Woodlawn and ParkRoads in what was then betweentwo growing neighborhoods (MyersPark and Sedgefield), building theshopping center on its 40 acres. Itopened on November 15, 1956, with32 new stores and was considereda bold move by business leaders atthe time. It was the first open airshopping center in Charlotte, and thelargest between Washington D.C. andAtlanta.The opening of the center was anotable event in the neighborhoodand spectators like J.C. Penney madethe trip to Charlotte to welcomeshoppers to his first store in thecity. The center was a first not onlyfor Charlotte, but for the entireSoutheast. The crescent-shapedshopping center sported a brandnew Colonial grocery store, andshoppers that first day receiveda complimentary five pound bagof sugar. A drawing was held forvisitors to win one of three brandnew 1957 Fords. The 2,400 parkingspaces allowed shoppers plenty ofspace to park close to the shopswhere seemingly endless rows ofmerchandise were waiting. ParkRoad Shopping Center unveiled itstrademark - the large, red sign thatcould be seen for blocks. The signstands today as a testament to thecenter’s enduring longevity.Through its 48 years, Park RoadShopping Center has remained astrong and vibrant commercial corein the neighborhood. With its mix ofstores and services, combined withlow turnover rates, the center hasmaintained a sense of communityand continues to serve the purposefor which it was first created – to be auser friendly neighborhood shoppingcenter.Three brand new 1957Fords were given awayat the openingThirty twonew storesopened in1956Upper level todayDRAFT January 15, 2013Opening in 1956,Park Road Shoppingcenter was the largestshopping center of anykind between Washington, D.C.and Atlanta68Lower level today