The Terranova Group bringing luxury homes to site of historic estate in SouthPark area

A South Carolina-based residential developer is getting started on its second Charlotte community that will be built around one of the city’s historic homes in the SouthPark area.

The Terranova Group of Greenville is currently in the process of installing infrastructure for Foxcroft Place, a development off Sharon Lane, between Sharon and Foxcroft roads, that will consist of eight new luxury, single-family homes anchored by the McNinch House.

Terranova, which is also behind a similar project in Plaza Midwood called Mecklenburg Park, acquired the 3-acre property at 2401 Sharon Lane for $3.525 million in late 2020, according to Mecklenburg County property records.

Home construction at the site is expected to begin in the next two months, with the first residences scheduled for completion in mid-2023, said Rob Haney, president of Terranova. No homes have been sold yet at Foxcroft Place.

The McNinch House, featuring a Colonial Revival architectural style, sold this spring for $1.835 million. It was built in 1925 for Frank Ramsay McNinch, a prominent North Carolina political figure who served as Charlotte mayor, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission documents.

Terranova worked with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission and local nonprofit Preserve Mecklenburg on the sale to ensure the new owners will protect and restore the home.

“Historic Preservation and development working together has assured the preservation of former Mayor Frank McNinch’s Home on Sharon Lane,” said Dan Morrill, co-founder of Preserve Mecklenburg, in a news release. “The house will be protected by a preservation easement. Otherwise, it was at great risk of being demolished.”

Terranova also worked with Preserve Mecklenburg on the design and planning of the development. The McNinch House will inspire the design of the eight homes surrounding it.

The residences will range from 4,150 to 4,650 square feet, with four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and two half-bathrooms, Haney said. Other features include an open floor plan, primary bedroom on the main level, media room, study, reading alcove, front porch and attached two-car garage. Each buyer can select and customize high-end features for their home. Lot sizes range from about 0.1 to 0.2 acres.

The homes are priced from $2 million to $2.5 million, Haney said.

Terranova’s other local project, Mecklenburg Park, began last August at 2400 Mecklenburg Ave., surrounding the historic Knowlton-Shaw House. It consists of eight new duet-style cottages and two lots designated for custom homes.

Haney said four homes in that community have sold and are under construction, adding that two more residences available for sale with an average price point of $1.495 million are currently being built there as well. Each home is about 3,400 square feet and includes four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. The Knowlton-Shaw House, also known as the Victor Shaw House, is listed at $1.95 million.

Salins Group is building the homes at both Foxcroft Place and Mecklenburg Park. The Charlotte-based builder is also in charge of preserving the McNinch and Knowlton-Shaw houses. Lucy Moore Butler of Cottingham Chalk is handling the residential sales for both developments.

Terranova, founded in 2011, aims to create and revitalize neighborhoods through residential development and construction, according to its website. Its portfolio includes projects across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.