The much-ballyhooed and much-delayed $700 million mixed-use Brooklyn Village project in uptown Charlotte is now facing another twist — the county is suing the master developer to get it booted from the project.
Mecklenburg County filed suit Aug. 5 in Superior Court against BK Partners LLC, alleging breach of the master redevelopment agreement, citing failure to meet contractually obligated construction and demolition deadlines.
BK Partners is a joint venture between New York-based The Peebles Corp. and Charlotte-based The Conformity Corp. The county’s suit also names Peebles Corp. founder R. Donahue Peebles Jr. and The Conformity Corp. president Monte Ritchey, claiming breach of guaranty.
The county’s legal action comes as the 17-acre site recently changed hands.
After BK Partners delayed breaking ground on the first phase several times, citing market conditions and asbestos remediation, the site was acquired in May by Atlanta-based Peachtree Group. In June, it was sold again for $24.3 million to First & Early Capital, a Charlotte-based private equity firm.
The county alleges that BK Partners and other defendants relied on “hollow excuses” for project delays.
The suit challenges the developers’ claims regarding asbestos in the former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education building, noting the presence of hazardous materials was identified as early as 2018.
“Defendants failed to deliver,” the county claims in the complaint. “More critically, an abandoned Board of Education building that was required to be demolished and removed by July 2025 still stands.
Mecklenburg County filed a lawsuit against developer BK Partners LLC over the 17-acre Brooklyn Village site in uptown Charlotte’s second Ward. Preston Jenkins pjenkins@charlotteobserver.com
“The county and its residents have not gained the benefits of the project.”
The county is seeking a jury trial and a judgment to terminate BK Partners and its affiliates’ rights to the project. Officials will Peebles did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday evening.
The Charlotte Business Journal first reported about the lawsuit Thursday.
What’s next for Brooklyn Village project in uptown Charlotte
Just last week on Aug. 5, André Collins and Jubal Early Sr. with First & Early Partners introduced themselves to Mecklenburg County commissioners and discussed next steps for the first phase of the mixed-use Brooklyn Village project.
The firm purchased two parcels at 700 and 800 E. Brooklyn Village Ave.
First & Early Capital outlined a 75-day process to collaborate with county government leaders, conduct a joint market analysis and establish a development framework. The firm indicated an intent to align with the county’s original vision for the site.
That calls for 531,600 square feet of office space, 106,800 square feet of retail, a 150-room hotel and a residential component featuring at least 10% affordable housing.
Brooklyn Village is a central project in uptown Charlotte. Real estate firm First & Early Partners owns a portion of the redevelopment and plans to move forward with housing, office and retail space. Courtesy of First & Early Partners
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Catherine Muccigrosso covers retail, banking and other business news for The Charlotte Observer. An award-winning journalist, she has worked for multiple newspapers in the Carolinas, Missouri and New York.