An abandoned Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' building beside Collinswood Language Academy in south Charlotte has become a growing concern for parents, who say evidence of trespassing, drug use and a recent police call involving a gun show the site poses a danger to students.
The building — formerly the Smith Family Center — sits about 40 feet from the K-8 magnet school, sharing the same parcel of land. Parents say its proximity to athletic fields and the school’s main walkway makes the conditions especially troubling.
Last week, workers trimmed bushes and added new “No Trespassing” signs around the vacant structure. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been clearing debris and assessing the site after a flurry of parent complaints.
“You can tell the building is boarded up and doesn’t have any power supply,” said Collinswood PTA member Harry Carawan, whose child is a fourth-grader at the school. “But we do have video of people entering and leaving the building.”
Parents shared videos and photos with WFAE showing debris, human waste, a hypodermic needle and people entering and exiting the structure — raising fears it had become an encampment.
Carawan said parents are empathetic toward Charlotte’s homeless population, but the safety of students must come first.
“We appreciate that they’re going through a lot,” he said. “The issue from our perspective is just the safety and welfare of our children.”
A long-running issue
The building has been empty since 2021, when CMS closed it because of employee health concerns. Media reports at the time indicated the school board initially marked the property as surplus and planned to sell it to a developer who would demolish the structure.
The district later said it removed the site from the surplus list, and demolition plans stalled. It’s not currently listed on the district website as an available surplus property.
Carawan said the most recent push to address the building came after a January police report about an alleged threat involving a gun.
“We’re certainly grateful for the steps they’re taking,” he said. “But we don’t really see a long-term solution that doesn’t involve the demolition of the building.”
In a statement to WFAE, CMS said it has taken several steps with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, Charlotte Fire and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg CARES team to secure and evaluate the site. CMS police and building services have conducted walk-throughs to ensure the structure is vacant. The district is also removing trash, installing signage, increasing police patrols, conducting daily checks and coordinating with CMPD.
“Our immediate priority has been, and will continue to be, securing the property, strengthening monitoring and maintaining close coordination with school leadership and public-safety partners to ensure the continued safety of the community,” the district said.
CMS said it is evaluating long-term options, including “future sale and demolition,” and expects to complete that assessment in the coming months.
In an email to parents, CMS Chief Operating Officer Tim Ivey said a developer had expressed interest in the property, but the deal included the athletic fields — which CMS did not want to sell. After that option fell through, the district began exploring other possibilities, including whether Mecklenburg County might be interested.
Parents seek clarity
Parents say they still don’t know the district’s long-term plans.
“We just don’t have that sort of clarity or transparency,” Carawan said. “While we do appreciate what they’re doing and we want to be good partners, we’re still concerned about when we’re going to properly deal with this issue.”
The concerns extend beyond trespassing. Another PTA member, Ross Glynn, said the evidence of drug use so close to school grounds has shaken families.
“Obviously, the evidence of drug use so close to our soccer fields, so close to our facilities, is a major concern,” he said.
An online petition calling for the building’s removal has drawn more than 500 signatures.
