Matthews and Mint Hill’s tastiest bite-size descriptions on Google Maps
Q&A with Providence soccer coach Nathan Williams
page 13
page 4
Locally Owned & Operated www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Volume 8, Number 32 • Aug. 6 to 12, 2015
ZABS Place reaches out to young adults with special needs
Charlotte Country Day seeks campus upgrades
by Josh Whitener josh@matthewsminthillweekly.com
$29-million bond would build, renovate buildings See Justin Vick’s story on page 10 Photo courtesy of Charlotte Country Day School
Stalled senior citizen housing project moves forward
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Windsor Run 2010 McKee Road
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MATTHEWS – Erickson Living never gave up on Matthews. The company sought to build Windsor Run, a retirement community of 1,100 apartment units, on McKee and Pleasant Plains roads in 2007. The company celebrated the start of the project with a groundbreaking ceremony and began engineering and design work on the 105acre site. Then the recession hit – hard. The property fell into foreclosure in 2010 after the company declared bankruptcy.
A developer tried to squeeze a 200home subdivision into the same site in 2013, but residents panned the project, citing traffic concerns and cut-throughs of existing neighborhoods. The land remained undeveloped. With a new name and ownership, Erickson Living returned before the Matthews Planning Board in February 2014 intent on carrying out its initial plans – minus 200 units and some parking. “They were able to survive, reorganize and reclaim the property,� said Kathi Ingrish, planning director for the town. “They
Weddington Road
by Justin Vick justin@matthewsminthillweekly.com
(see Senior Housing on page 5)
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MATTHEWS – Passersby might see ZABS Place, situated at the corner of Trade and John streets in downtown Matthews, as simply a trendy thrift shop. In reality, the store is more about mission than merchandise. Transitioning into adulthood can be a scary time for young adults with developmental disabilities and their families, and the people behind ZABS Place have committed to help make that transition a little easier. ZABS Place was founded by two local couples, Bentzion and Rochel Groner and Charlie and Caren Gale, and opened in November 2014. The “affordable, upscale (and) inclusive� non-profit thrift boutique offers a variety of clothing, small furniture, vintage items, art and household goods. But it also offers something else – a place for young adults with special needs to transition into the workplace. The Gales’ son, Jonathan, is on the autism spectrum and was active in the Friendship Circle of Charlotte, an organization for special needs children, for years. But when Jonathan was about to age out of the Friendship Circle, his parents were left wondering what was next. (see ZABS Place on page 3)
INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Education, 9; Faith, 10; Calendar, 11; Sports, 12; Classifieds, 15
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