Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
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W EDDINGS BY THE FOUNTAIN, baptisms on the parking deck, a Fourth of July Parade. When Bob Bruner, principal owner of Ballantyne Village, opened his T retail-shopping complex in 2006, he hoped it might eventually serve as a town center for residents in the newly constructed area of Ballantyne. But he never imagined how quickly the courtyard at Ballantyne Village would become a social focal point for the burgeoning population. "Our original plan was to create the plaza so we could block it off for street parties," explains Bruner. "But it's surprised me how many activities we've been asked to stage — from bar mitzvah's and Sweet 16 parties, to car shows, auctions, an Ardrey Kell High School jazz band performance and even a fresh produce market. We're a true village." This rapid metamorphosis in Ballantyne has been driven by the mindset of people who gravitated here in the past 10 years. Creating a community feel was an absolute must because the majority of residents were new to the area and in search of connections. "We wanted to be somewhere that had a sense of community," says Sue Dockstader, whose husband's job relocation to Rock Hill six years ago brought the couple from California. "We were coming from the West Coast and had teenage children, so we were seeking an area that had a ready-made community. Ballantyne had that feel for us." Y, Breakfast Club: Key Roles That ready-made feel, however, didn't happen by accident. Several key players emerged early on to sow the first seeds of community. One primary force was the Morrison Family YMCA, which opened in 1999. FALL 2012 "The Ballantyne community was built almost overnight, so there was no de facto local pharmacy or hardware store where people met and made decisions," says Steve Bowers, community vice president of the Morrison Y. "The intent of volunteers that led our board and staff from the beginning was the belief that the Y could serve as a convener, a place for residents to meet, grow partnerships and friendships." Bowers remembers meeting in a tiny office when the Y was only 10,000 square feet to address this challenge. "We asked ourselves how we could start traditions in our community that a hundred years later people would still be doing, and could recall their parents and grandparents doing. One idea we came up with was our 5K race. We wanted to hold the race in Ballantyne Corporate Park because it was designed as a hub, a place where people did more than business." The courtyard at Ballantyne Village has become a highly sought community spot for events, such as the Fourth of July Parade. Kim Weihs samples Fire Station 32's entry in Ballantyne's annual chili cook-off. Pictured with her are Tommy DeFrancisci (from left), Rob Brisley and Jeff Nixon. Michele Stout (from left), Maria Pontuso and Suzi Crane staff the Firebirds' booth at the Ballantyne Business Bash. The first year, the race drew 220 participants. Last spring, 2,000 people took part in what has become a signature event in Ballantyne. "We had 15 schools enter teams led by principals, teachers and PTA groups," Bowers reports. "We also had seven companies and six community groups sponsor teams. It's now a cradle-to-grave event, with people of all ages coming out to be part of the community." Another leader in the effort to inspire a sense of community was Ray Eschert, who in 2001 formed the Ballantyne Breakfast Club. "Ballantyne was new ground and an area where a lot of people were moving, so I wanted to create a forum where residents could learn what was going on and exchange information from local business leaders, elected officials and service providers," he says. "Our mission today remains the same." BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 41