Johnson C. Smith University Unveils Major Campus Development Plan for 100-Acre Site
Johnson C. Smith University President Valerie Kinloch envisions transforming the school’s vast 100-acre campus into a blend of new facilities and community spaces where students and residents can interact.
The plan includes demolishing the 65-year-old Brayboy Gymnasium to make way for a state-of-the-art convocation center featuring basketball courts, volleyball areas, and classrooms. When not in use by students, these facilities will be open to the community.
New student housing will be built along the West Trade Street streetcar route, with retail shops on the ground level welcoming everyone.
City Council member Malcolm Graham, a JCSU alumnus, supports the initiative. He notes that the center’s proximity to downtown hotels could attract major events.
Enrollment jumped 19% last fall to 1,300 students. Current spring enrollment sits at 1,200, a normal seasonal decrease.
This development initiative is separate from an $80 million donation through the Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative, which focuses on enhancing existing academic programs.
Since 1867, this private Black college has been a cornerstone of Charlotte’s Historic West End along Beatties Ford Road. Kinloch, a 1996 JCSU graduate, took the helm as president in August 2023.
While budget details and timelines aren’t public yet, similar projects offer perspective – UNC Charlotte’s hotel and conference center received $8 million in public funding.
