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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BALLANTYNE | feature John and Annette Siverling tour an area home with longtime Ballantyne Realtor® David Huss. Kids enjoy the Adam Faulk Tanksley Fun Day. "I AM A TEACHER, SO I READ A LOT AND DISCOVERED THAT BALLANTYNE HAD STRONG SCHOOLS." — BALLANTYNE RESIDENT SARAH VRABEL At the outset, club meetings focused on the public schools, given the rapidly expanding population and concern by parents that their children receive a quality education. Over time, the emphasis in the club, now 500 strong, has shifted to roads and infrastructure. But the club's most prominent idea to bring the community together was the launch of an annual candidate forum and chili cook-off that has matured into a daylong Ballantyne Festival held each October at the Morrison Y. This year's event is Oct. 6. Schools a Unifying Force David Huss, a Realtor® with Allen Tate Co., moved to Ballantyne with his family in 1991. "We've watched the world grow up around us," he observes, noting that the commitment by parents to top- notch community schools has been a driver of continuous growth in the local housing market. Chris and Sarah Vrabel are a case in point. They chose to relocate here recently from California over San Diego and Boston. "We weighed the pros and cons of where to raise our family," says Sarah. "I am a teacher, so I read a lot and discovered that Ballantyne had strong schools." 42 BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE Adams Stevens, headmaster of the British American School, leads one of three private schools in the area. In just a decade, Ballantyne has developed a reputation for the quality of its public high school, middle school and five elementary schools. In addition, Ballantyne offers private-school options that include Charlotte Catholic High School, Charlotte Latin School and the British American School of Charlotte, which caters to the needs of an increasing number of international families relocating here. According to Adam Stevens, headmaster of the British American School, the student body of 150 represents 13 different nationalities. "When people relocate here from other parts of the world, their first concern is where they can educate their children," he says. "It's school first, then housing, followed by discovering this wonderful community." Several students have parents who live in Ballantyne but spend their working days in different parts of the globe running companies overseas. Since opening in 2004, the British American School has embraced the community by hosting a WorldFest each spring that raises money for charities selected by students. The school also partners with Charlotte United Soccer Group, and the well-known German school, which offers German language lessons at school facilities on weekends. Seeking an Integrated Lifestyle Another reason for the swift assimilation within Ballantyne is the fast-forward attitude of the people who move here. Ballantyne's continued on page 44 FALL 2012