Historic McQuay Farmhouse Preserved Amid Charlotte’s Growth; Preferred Parking Reports Data Breach Charlotte’s Historic McQuay Farmhouse Stands as a Link to the Past In 2023, Justin Lukas and Emily Craft purchased the McQuay Farmhouse, a nearly 145-year-old historic landmark in Charlotte’s Enderly Park neighborhood. Built in 1882 by brothers Robert and John McQuay, the farmhouse remained in the family for 120 years before its sale. Designated as a historic landmark, the property located at 3200 Tuckaseegee Road offers a rare glimpse into Mecklenburg County’s rural past, now surrounded by urban development. Preserving the home’s character has required creative solutions, from repairing the foundation with custom-cut lumber to navigating strict renovation guidelines enforced by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Every modification, including window replacements and fence installations, must be approved to maintain the structure’s historical integrity. While the process is costly and time-consuming, Lukas and Craft emphasize the value of safeguarding the home’s unique features, such as its wraparound porch, original wood floors, and fireplaces. As Charlotte’s rapid growth threatens historic properties, preservationists argue that these sites provide essential context for the city’s evolution. Stewart Gray of Mecklenburg County’s Historic Landmarks Department notes that such landmarks help communities retain a sense of identity amid constant change. --- Preferred Parking Discloses June Data Breach Affecting Thousands Charlotte-based Preferred Parking, which manages over 240 parking locations across 15 Southeast cities, reported a data breach in June that exposed customers’ credit card information. The breach, disclosed in filings with Vermont, South Carolina, and Massachusetts, affected approximately 5,200 South Carolinians, 142 Massachusetts residents, and 11 Vermonters. Given the company’s extensive operations in North Carolina, the total number of impacted customers is likely significantly higher. According to the filings, an unauthorized actor accessed Preferred Parking’s database on June 7 and 8, extracting files containing names and credit card details. The company has advised affected individuals to monitor their financial statements for fraudulent charges and has implemented additional security measures. Online discussions suggest some customers received notification letters but expressed frustration over the company’s response. Preferred Parking, occasionally criticized for aggressive enforcement practices, joins a growing list of Charlotte-area businesses including Bojangles, Krispy Kreme, and Duke Energy that have experienced data breaches in recent years. Such incidents often lead to class-action lawsuits alleging negligence in protecting customer data.