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WithersRavenel recently hosted its latest LandCon event in Charlotte, bringing together regional real estate, land development, and community leaders for a forward-looking conversation on what lies ahead for the Charlotte Metro Area.
Held at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, the April 2026 event continued the LandCon series led by WithersRavenel and Tobe Holmes, creating a forum for open discussion around growth, development challenges, infrastructure needs, housing demand, and the evolving real estate landscape across the Charlotte Metro Area and the Southeast.
This event’s panel featured:
- Michael Peoples, City Manager of Gastonia, NC
- Nicole Frambach, Market Manager – Land Acquisition at NVR, Inc.
- Aaron Houck, Land Use Attorney at Robinson Bradshaw
The conversation reflected the complexity of growth in the Charlotte market. While the region continues to attract new residents, businesses, and investment, that momentum comes with increasing pressure on land availability, pricing, transportation systems, infrastructure capacity, tree preservation, affordable and attainable housing, and community expectations.
One recurring theme was the importance of partnership between developers, local governments, and communities. Gastonia was highlighted as an example of a city working to balance the needs of existing residents with the desire to grow responsibly. In a developer-friendly business climate that remains centered on citizens, Gastonia has positioned itself as an active participant in shaping sustainable growth.
From the development perspective, panelists emphasized the need for open communication early in the process. As Nicole Frambach noted, many perceived challenges can be addressed when communities and development teams are willing to have conversations. Developers may be able to help mitigate concerns around infrastructure, housing variety, and project impacts, but those solutions often begin with dialogue.
For attendees, the discussion reinforced that many of the challenges facing Charlotte development are shared across markets. Partnership with local jurisdictions remains critical, but it is only one part of the solution. With hundreds of new residents moving to North Carolina each day, the region must continue delivering a range of housing options while navigating rising land costs, infrastructure demands, transportation improvements, tree preservation, requests for affordable housing, and other growing cost pressures.
Through events like LandCon Charlotte, WithersRavenel helps create space for the conversations that shape the future of land development in the Charlotte Metro Area and across the Southeast. By bringing together public-sector leaders, private developers, legal professionals, and industry partners, LandCon continues to support a more informed, collaborative approach to growth.
As Charlotte and the surrounding communities look toward the remainder of 2026 and beyond, the path forward will require communication, creativity, and coordination across disciplines.
WithersRavenel extends its thanks to Michael Peoples, Nicole Frambach, and Aaron Houck for sharing their time, insight, and perspective with attendees, and to Tobe Holmes for leading an engaging discussion on the opportunities and challenges shaping Charlotte land development.
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