Charlotte, North Carolina – 1979

I moved to Charlotte from the Deep South in June 1979.  With an architectural degree in hand, I accepted a position with Odell Associates, Inc, and was fortunate to work directly with A.G. “Gouldie” Odell.

When I arrived in Charlotte, the city had a population of 306,000 people, nearly all African-American or Caucasian.  The downtown area of about 20 blocks was occupied by high-rise buildings spreading north and south from “The Square.”  The rest of downtown was a sea of asphalt parking lots.        

In 1979, Downtown Charlotte was a daytime work zone with very little nightlife. Being the home of two large banks, North Carolina National Bank and First Union, downtown was very corporate and stuffy.  Everyone wore a coat and tie to lunch, even in July. There were very few places to each lunch, such as Alexander Michaels and The French Quarter, which still remain today. Charlotte went through urban renewal in the 1960s and developed a series of over-street walkways.  The Overstreet Mall, as it was called, safely tied together the department stores, restaurants, shops, hotels, and private clubs but robbed Charlotte of viable “street life”.      

Charlotte started obtaining national attention in the early 1980s when companies like IBM and Royal Insurance started discovering the benefits of the South. To accommodate this growth, Charlotte needed a more efficient airport.  Odell had just started the design of a new International Airport in 1979, which was the start of the robust airport that we enjoy today.      

In the 1990s, Charlotte started to come alive and become a fun place to live, work and play.  Thanks to a trend toward New Urbanism, the Planning Department recognized the need for edgier Zoning Districts.  This allowed developers to reduce parking, locate buildings closer to the street, and reenergize the streets.         Charlotte has historically embodied an entrepreneurial spirit, helping the City become one of America’s fastest-growing cities and one of the best places for Millennials to start their careers and Baby Boomers to complete their careers.      

Tim Demmitt and I started Overcash Demmitt Architects in 1984.  Thirty-five years later, we continue to enjoy being a part of Charlotte’s growth and changes.  I cannot think of a better place to continue my career.  There are many exciting opportunities, and Charlotte is still small enough that the “little man” can make a difference

– Stephen F. Overcash

Charlotte, North Carolina – 2019