business committee for the arts

HeadlineReal Estate Development Firm Heightens Its Presence By Preserving Community Heritage

Company: MECA Real Estate Services, LLC
Headquarters: Charlotte, North Carolina
Industry: Real Estate Development
Company Size: Small (annual revenues of less than $50 million)

"Small businesses may think they can’t do much to support the arts, but they’d be surprised at just how much they really can do."
                – Anthony T. Pressley, President

Objectives
To preserve the architectural heritage of Charlotte’s downtown area, to broaden interest in the arts and arts education, and to enhance its image as a company dedicated to improving the quality of life of its community.

Process

• To preserve and re-invigorate interest in the architectural heritage of Charlotte’s South End, MECA Real Estate Services created Camden Square Village, a multi-use development which features as its cornerstone the Design Center of the Carolinas (DCC), a series of converted warehouse buildings which house a number of art and design-related businesses.
• MECA also works with arts organizations and the nearby Community School of the Arts to use the public spaces and alleyways between the DCC buildings for a variety of arts projects such as the annual Summer Arts Market and the Boogie Woogie Ball.
• MECA also hosts the annual Children’s Arts Festival in Camden Square Village presented by the Community School of the Arts, and it has commissioned several of the school’s student artists and faculty members to create public murals and art installed throughout Camden Square Village and the DCC.

Results
Through its development efforts, MECA has enhanced its image as a company dedicated to supporting the arts in Charlotte. In addition, the arts and design community has a new outlet for showing its works, and the architectural heritage of a previously underutilized area of the city has been preserved and is now a commercial center and destination for tourists and residents.