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Charlotte approves historic landmark status for Sugaw Creek Presbyterian cemeteries

Charlotte approves historic landmark status for Sugaw Creek Presbyterian cemeteries

Rule Changes Charlotte, NC local

City council voted September 28 to designate both cemeteries as historic landmarks

September 28th, 2026: Charlotte City Council public hearing and vote

Overview

Updated Oct 5

Charlotte's city council voted September 28 to designate both Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church cemeteries as historic landmarks. The vote was unanimous, according to the Charlotte Mercury.

The designation protects the cemeteries and everything on the two tax parcels. But the unmarked burial grounds where researchers believe more than 500 enslaved people are buried were not explicitly included. Julia Robinson Moore, who led the research, asked for that and it wasn't taken up.

Why it matters

The designation protects the cemeteries, but the unmarked graves of more than 500 enslaved people remain outside the protected boundary.

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Key Indicators

2
Cemeteries designated
Both Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church cemeteries received historic landmark status on September 28, 2026.
1755
Church founded
Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church was founded in 1755, the oldest extant church congregation in Mecklenburg County.
500+
Enslaved people in unmarked graves
Researchers identified more than 500 enslaved people believed buried in unmarked graves outside the cemeteries. Those graves were not included in the designation.

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People Involved

CC
Charlotte City Council
Decision-making body
Voted to designate both Sugaw Creek cemeteries as historic landmarks on September 28, 2026
SC
Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church
Property owner and applicant context
Both cemeteries designated as historic landmarks on September 28, 2026
 Julia Robinson Moore
Julia Robinson Moore
Researcher and advocate
Led research identifying enslaved people buried in unmarked graves; asked council to include those graves in the designation
SB
Sheila Bumgarner
Researcher
Presented research on enslaved people buried near the cemeteries
MJ
Matt Joyner
President, Mecklenburg Historical Society
Noted the cemeteries are not on tax rolls, so landmark status has no tax effect

Organizations Involved

Charlotte City Council
Charlotte City Council
Municipal legislative body
Voted to designate both Sugaw Creek cemeteries as historic landmarks on September 28, 2026

Governing body with authority over local landmark designations.

Timeline

2 events Latest: September 28th, 2026 · 1 month ago

  1. Charlotte City Council public hearing and vote

    Latest Public Hearing

    Council hears public testimony and decides whether to designate the Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church cemeteries as historic landmarks.

  2. City Council designates both Sugaw Creek cemeteries as historic landmarks

    Government Decision

    Council voted to designate both cemeteries as historic landmarks. The unmarked burial grounds for enslaved people were not explicitly included in the designation.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

2015-2020

Charleston church preservation fights (2015-2020)

Several historic African American churches in Charleston, South Carolina, sought landmark protection as development pressure mounted. City council debates pitted preservationists against property owners who wanted to sell or redevelop.

Then

Some churches received protections; others did not, depending on local political makeup.

Now

These cases established that historic church properties in the South are arenas for broader debates about memory, development, and community control.

Why this matters now

The Sugaw Creek decision mirrors these tensions: a historic religious institution's land sits at the center of a city's preservation-versus-development debate.

Sources

(3)
City of Charlotte Legistar The Charlotte Mercury Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission