Charlotte Leads State In Elevator Permits

North Carolina issued 221 permits for new elevator devices during the first quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year. Mecklenburg County led the state with 61 of those permits, according to data from the N.C. Department of Labor.

Wake County ranked second with 17 permits. Guilford followed with 16, Buncombe with 12, and Alamance with nine. Statewide activity dropped 16.6% compared to the 265 permits issued in the same quarter last year.

The department reported that North Carolina currently maintains 32,439 active elevator devices. Labor Commissioner Luke Farley stated that these figures offer insight into new projects and infrastructure investment across the state.

In Charlotte, Wood Partners and Sarofim Realty Advisors plan to break ground in November on Village Park. The project consists of 372 apartments located at the corner of Prosperity Church and Benfield roads near Highland Creek.

The development will include seven residential buildings with one, two, and three-bedroom units. Five percent of the homes are reserved for households earning up to 80% of the area's median income. Amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, coworking spaces, and a swimming pool.

Village Park is scheduled to open in May 2028. The site will feature a park, a pond overlook, and pedestrian connections to the surrounding neighborhood.

In Raleigh, PlayPower withdrew its plan to acquire BCI Burke after an antitrust lawsuit. N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined the Federal Trade Commission and 11 other states to block the merger. The lawsuit alleged the deal would reduce competition and increase prices for commercial playground equipment. Jackson said the merger would have made playgrounds more expensive for schools and towns to build. He noted that the company backed down, which he called good news for families and schools.