Commissioners Charles Jeter, Ken Lucas and Brian Sisson said they'd like to explore building a government complex on a town-owned site called the Anchor Mill. Town leaders have long hoped to sell that site to a private developer to spur redevelopment interest in the area just north of downtown.

Instead, under the scenario they described, the town could sell to private developers the sites of the current Town Hall and police department and the property being assembled for the Discovery Place Kids town center project

The Mecklenburg Historical Association is offering "From Wagon Roads to New South City," a free series of regional history courses.

"I've lived here almost 26 years now, and it wasn't until I took these classes in 1999 that I began to understand the significance of our history," said Wanda Hubicki, an association docent. "We want (people) to appreciate Charlotte's history and understand what's going on here ... and know how it came to be the city that it is today."

Buchanan Street Partners of Newport Beach, Calif., said it will become an equity investor in 440 South Church Street with Novare Group Holdings and Trinity Capital Advisors.

Steve McCarthy, managing director of Buchanan Street's Atlanta office, said uptown Charlotte is one of the nation's strongest office markets.

MLP Real Estate Acquisitions has asked the city to rezone 12.81 acres on the southwest corner of Northlake Centre Parkway and Mount Holly-Huntersville Road and Alexanderana Road from residential (allowing up to three units per acre) to multifamily (allowing up to 17 units per acre). A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 18 on that request.

State Street Companies received permission from the Charlotte City Council in 2004 to build a residential development called The Reserve. But work has not begun yet.

http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/454592.html

The draft master plan's recommendations include big changes: building a new park downtown, connecting an existing park now cut off by railroad tracks and converting two key streets from one way to two-way traffic.

The plan contains dozens of recommendations, most with more than one option for achieving results.