Charlotte-based Black Pearl Global Investments has just entered into an agreement to acquire Florida-based contact lens manufacturer Hydrogel Vision Corp. (HVC). As a result of the acquisition, HVC will be known as Black Pearl Vision, becoming the only Black-owned and woman-owned contact lens manufacturer in the world. The deal is expected to close by mid-September.

“It’s exciting to celebrate this milestone as we close out National Black Business Month,” said Dr. Shante Williams, CEO of Black Pearl Global Investments. “We recognized the company’s potential and quickly saw the opportunity of how we could help train talent for jobs of tomorrow.”

HVC, a division of Clerio Vision, is best known for its Extreme H20 contact lenses, which are made from a proprietary ultra-hydrating material that retains up to 99% of their moisture. Located in Sarasota, Florida, the manufacturer produces lenses in multiple sizes – smaller options for those with smaller corneas or narrower eyelids, and larger lenses for those with larger corneas or athletic lifestyles – as well as opaque-colored contacts for those with astigmatism. Black Pearl Vision plans to introduce new products to consumers early next year.

Through the deal, Black Pearl Global Investments will also acquire the 33,926-square-foot Food and Drug Administration-regulated manufacturing facility in Sarasota. Williams says the firm plans to incorporate more space where new businesses can integrate research, development and manufacturing into their processes.

“We know that venture capital and private equity are among the least diverse areas in the financial sector,” Williams said. “We approached this deal with how to make a great company even better but also with the mindfulness of what it could mean for emerging minority-owned businesses.”

Black Pearl Vision will retain HVC’s 38 employees while increasing the number of jobs in the area.

Several Charlotte videos and images are now going viral after a bald eagle and his trainer were spotted going through a TSA security check at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Exotic Animal Trainer Daniel Cone was taking a Southwest Airlines flight home to St. Louis after teaching students at High Point University about the majestic 8-lb bald eagle.

According to a statement the TSA released on Twitter:

“TSA officers are used to seeing an eagle on their uniform as they look over their shoulder, but I’m sure the team at @CLTAirport Checkpoint A did a double take when they saw a real one earlier this week.

Our special guest was Clark the Eagle with the World Bird Sanctuary, who decided to give his wings a break and fly commercial. His airline notified us and we screened him and his handler. Clark is trained to spread his wings, and even showed off a bit during screening.”

Our special guest was Clark the Eagle with the World Bird Sanctuary, who decided to give his wings a break and fly commercial. His airline notified us and we screened him and his handler. Clark is trained to spread his wings, and even showed off a bit during screening. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/SMkQAo65aQ

— TSA Southeast (@TSA_Southeast) August 25, 2022

The following video of the massive bird flapping its wings is going viral, already racking up over 100k views:

Mans is out here bringing a bald eagle through TSA at CLT Douglas 😂🦅 pic.twitter.com/zQm0Mlt620

— Elijah Burke (@ElijahWhosoever) August 22, 2022

The Charlotte City Council has just voted to approve a new city ordinance that allows for the creation of specially designated ‘social districts’ where open container alcoholic beverages will be allowed on public sidewalks.

The new ordinance requires that beverages must be purchased from an ABC approved bar, restaurant or other establishment, and consumed within the boundaries and hours of the specific social district. The containers also must have clear labels with the specific social district’s logo and name.

“[Social districts are] a great way for us to be able to help our small, local businesses in the community,” said Council Member Larken Egleston in a press release. “It will require more work on the back end of this vote by the next council to approve the specific districts that come in.”

While the broad ordinance is now approved for the city, individual social districts must now be designated and approved by the council.

According to the ordinance, potential new districts must:

• Establish boundaries, and days and hours of operation, and signage with this information.

• Develop a management and maintenance plan.

• Have labeled containers (no glass, maximum 16 ounces) for ABC-permitted establishments in the district.

• Have signage for establishments within the district that do not sell alcohol, but allow consumption on their premises during social district hours.

What do you think about the idea of having social districts in Charlotte? 

A recent analysis of over 125 U.S. metro areas concluded that no less than 420,000 new apartments are expected nationwide this year. Considering the total deliveries for 2021, apartment construction is at a 50-year high — the last time developers completed more than 400,000 rentals in one single year was in 1972.

According to the analysis by RentCafe, the Charlotte metro is on track to return to prepandemic levels in terms of projected apartments. Moreover, the city of Charlotte secured a spot among the Top 20 Cities with the most units already delivered in 2022.

• With 8732 new units expected to be delivered this year, apartment construction in Charlotte metro dropped 21.7% compared to 2021 deliveries. But the projected deliveries for 2022 are almost on par with the number of units completed in 2019, showing the metro’s return to a steady pace of apartment construction.
• The city of Charlotte accounts for most of the projected apartments — approximately 6,000. Out of those, 2172 new apartments have already been delivered this year, placing Charlotte among the top 20 cities by number of apartments built in the first half of 2022.
• Huntersville, Indian Trail and Kannapolis all have strong multifamily pipelines as well. Around 760 apartments are projected to enter the Huntersville market this year, while Indian Trails and Kannapolis will see the completion of more than 500 units.

While most people believe Charlotte’s housing market has hit its peak, one analyst is now predicting a 27% decline is home prices, ranking Charlotte among the top 10 worst housing bubbles in the nation.

Reventure Consulting released their new housing bubble report earlier this month, which analyses home price appreciation, migration trends, and price to rent ratios to determine which markets might be in for some major price corrections.

According to the report, these are the top 10 worst housing bubbles in America:

10. Atlanta, GA – Atlanta’s Real Estate Market has as much as 25% price downside given how expensive home values have become for local workers.

9. Cape Coral, FL – One of the most volatile Housing Markets in America. Cape Coral/Fort Myers is currently in a Housing Bubble but could have another 2007-style Crash given how high prices are relative to rents and long-term trends.

8. Phoenix, AZ – Home Prices in Phoenix today are 50% higher than the previous peak in 2007. Meanwhile, inventory is surging and real estate investors are starting to sell out of the market.

7. Tampa, FL – the home-flipping capital of the US. Tampa has a ton of investor demand that pushes home prices up during Housing Booms and down during Housing Crashes.

6. Charlotte, NC – Charlotte has quickly become one of the America’s biggest Housing Bubbles. A sky-high Price to Rent Ratio indicates that both homebuyers and investors will stop buying.

5. Raleigh, NC – Home Values in Raleigh are nearly 35% high than the long-term trend. Which is problematic for a city where migration is below the previous highs experienced in the mid-2000s.

4. Seattle, WA – Seattle lost the most people it ever has in 2021 according to US Census Bureau data. Now Housing Inventory is climbing rapidly and prices are projected to decline 28%.

3. Salt Lake City, UT – a combination of record-high prices, stagnating wages, and too much home building make Salt Lake City one of America’s biggest Housing Bubbles.

2. Boise, ID – this will be one of the first cities to Crash. Inventory in Boise is up 118% YoY according to Realtor.com and Zillow estimates show values already declining.

1. Austin, TX – America’s Biggest Housing Bubble is without a doubt Austin, TX. Home Values are predicted to Crash by 34% according to the Reventure Consulting Home Price Model.

Data used in the analysis was taken from Zillow (https://www.zillow.com/research/data/) and BLS (https://www.bls.gov/sae/data/).

You can watch the full video here: