July 8. By Dave Vieser. Charlotte-based Palace Investment Group’s plans to develop 33 acres of vacant land in Cornelius along I-77 into a mixed-use center are officially dead.

While rumors had been circulating that the project, known as Charmore Center, was not going forward, July 7 marked the official end of the project according to Cornelius Planning Director Aaron Tucker.

Under the town code, a project which has seen no action for six months becomes deactivated, and the builder must start over. Tucker said Tuesday marked that day.

Charmore site plan

Charmore Center, planned for land currently zoned rural preservation, would have included medical offices, senior housing, a skilled-care living center, retail shops, an entertainment center and a hotel.

However, Palace would have needed conditional zoning to develop the property located on the west side of I-77 south of the Infiniti and Hyundai dealerships and the Life Fellowship church campus.

When plans were initially announced late in 2018, there was considerable opposition among area residents.

It all hit a snag when Holston Medical Group, whom they were courting for a 90,000 square foot building, abruptly pulled out of North Carolina last year.

Palace officials had estimated that the project would have generated 300 construction jobs., while a proposed Entertainment Center would create 1,000 full- and part-time jobs. Palace’s Cornelius Benton did not respond to an email asking for comment.

The development site actually comprises six separate tax parcels. According to county records, four of the six are listed as owned by James and/or Annie Blakely of Cornelius, the fifth parcel is owned by Steven Robinette of Cornelius, and the sixth parcel is owned by Life Fellowship Church.