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Charlotte City Council approves Hajoca Building historic landmark designation

Charlotte City Council approves Hajoca Building historic landmark designation

Rule Changes Charlotte, NC local

Council adopted the landmark designation Oct. 26. The city record shows the motion carried but no vote count has been published. The owner plans a boutique hotel in the 1920s warehouse.

October 26th, 2026: City Council public hearing and decision on Hajoca Building

Overview

Updated Oct 28

Charlotte City Council designated the Hajoca Building at 1447 South Tryon Street a historic landmark on Monday, Oct. 26. The city's record shows the motion carried, but no vote count has been published. Council Member LaWana Mayfield said she would vote no, and Mayor Rob Harrington declared the designation passed.

The designation protects the brick exterior and the concrete and hollow-tile floor structure, so changes need approval from the landmarks commission. The owner can defer half its property taxes, about $28,300 at current value, and the deferred amount stays as a lien on the property. The owner, 1447 South Tryon LLC, plans a boutique hotel with a six-story addition, a rooftop bar and a ground-floor restaurant.

Why it matters

Landmark status would put city review over changes to a 1920s warehouse the owner wants to turn into a hotel.

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Key Indicators

Approved
Designation vote
Council adopted the landmark ordinance Oct. 26, 2026; no vote count published
1
Public hearing held
The Historic Landmarks Commission heard the case September 14; the City Council hearing followed October 26
$10M
Sale price, September 2025
What 1447 South Tryon LLC paid Beacon Partners for the building

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Organizations Involved

Charlotte City Council
Charlotte City Council
Municipal legislative body
Adopted the Hajoca Building landmark designation on Oct. 26, 2026. The city record shows the motion carried but no vote count is published.

The governing body that decides historic landmark designations in Charlotte.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission
Public commission
Held a public hearing on the Hajoca Building September 14, 2026, after its Survey Committee recommended designation in June

Reviews historic landmark designation requests and holds initial public hearings.
ST
1447 South Tryon LLC
Property owner
Received Hajoca Building landmark designation Oct. 26, 2026. Plans a boutique hotel conversion with a six-story addition.

Owner of the Hajoca Building at 1447 South Tryon Street and developer of a planned boutique hotel there.

Timeline

June 2026 October 2026

7 events Latest: October 26th, 2026 · 2 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. City Council public hearing and decision on Hajoca Building

    Latest Public Hearing

    The council will hear public comment and vote on whether to designate the Hajoca Building as a historic landmark.

  2. Council approves Hajoca Building landmark designation

    Decision

    Council adopted the ordinance on a motion by Mazuera Arias, seconded by Anderson. The city record shows the motion carried with no tally. Mayor Rob Harrington declared it passed.

  3. City Council agenda published with Hajoca Building item

    Notice

    The published agenda for the October 26 City Council business meeting lists the Hajoca Building public hearing and decision.

  4. City publishes public notice of council hearing

    Notice

    The city published notice of the October 26 City Council public hearing on the Hajoca Building designation, listing the property and tax parcel.

  5. Hotel conversion plans filed with the city

    Filing

    A land development construction plan for converting the building into a boutique hotel was filed October 6, followed by a new service site plan on October 8, according to Groundbreak Charlotte.

  6. Historic Landmarks Commission holds hearing on Hajoca Building

    Public Hearing

    The commission held a virtual public hearing on the potential landmark designation of the Hajoca Building at 1447 South Tryon Street.

  7. Landmarks Commission committee recommends designation

    Recommendation

    The Historic Landmarks Commission's Survey Committee voted unanimously to recommend landmark status, covering the brick exterior and interior structural elements including reinforced concrete and hollow-tile floor decks.

Scenarios

4

Hotel conversion wins a building permit

Possible Resolves by End of 2029

Discussed by: 1447 South Tryon LLC and its project team, as reported by Groundbreak Charlotte

With designation in place, the owner's plan for a six-story addition, rooftop bar and ground-floor restaurant moves toward construction. The project team has targeted an opening at the end of 2029.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 1978

Penn Central v. New York City (1978)

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld New York City's landmark designation of Grand Central Terminal, ruling that historic preservation laws do not constitute an unconstitutional taking of private property. The city had denied the owner permission to build a 55-story tower above the terminal.

Then

The ruling established that landmark designation is a valid exercise of government police power, even when it limits development.

Now

The case became the foundation for historic preservation laws across the United States, including North Carolina's Chapter 160D.

Why this matters now

Charlotte's landmark designation process operates under the legal framework this case established, allowing the city to restrict alterations to designated buildings.

September 2026

301 South Tryon Designation (2026)

Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 on September 28, 2026 to designate the former Two Wells Fargo Center at 301 South Tryon Street as a historic landmark. The designation enables owners Riverside Investment & Development and Singerman Real Estate to pursue tax credits for a $250 million mixed-use conversion.

Then

The owners filed a land development construction plan on October 8, 2026, moving forward with plans to add 282 apartments and 180 hotel rooms.

Now

The case shows how Charlotte uses landmark designation to enable redevelopment of aging office buildings while preserving their character.

Why this matters now

The Hajoca Building hearing follows the same process and comes just weeks after this similar designation, showing the council's recent approach to historic preservation.

Sources

(9)
+3
City of Charlotte NoticeRegistry Mecklenburg County Country 103.7 Wisevoter Groundbreak Charlotte Hoodline The Charlotte Mercury Charlotte City Council Legistar