Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Nov. 21, 2006, edition 1 / Page 7
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
I m 7A NEWS/t^e Cliarlotte Tuesday, November 21,2006 Changes for Cherry Continued from page 1A townhouses, and 42 senior apartments in the communi ty- Sellars and Hunt aren’t just any developers, though. “Seven years ago there were some burned out units in the community we went in and bought from investors,” explained Sellars. “I owned one; Anthony owned the other.” Though his plan was to live in the unit after reno vations, Sellars met his wife and moved, but Himt stayed, and still lives in the commu nity. ‘We understand Cherry’s place in the hearts of the com munity,” said SeUars. “We’re goii^ to be very cognizant to the impact to the people first.” “We found a developer we believe in, to provide housing for seniors and affordable housing,” said Cherry Community Organization President Phyllis Ljmch. Cherry, named for the trees that lined the community, is one of Charlotte’s oldest sur viving black residential areas, predating the Civil War. Many of its residents have lived in the neighbor hood for generations, yet the community that used to be a crown jewel for blacks fell on hard times and disrepair, with boarded up buildings that have made it a magnet for crime. ' StoneHunt’s plans include affordable housing, though how much is uncertain. What is certain is that if StoneHunt were not doing the project, eventually some one would. “People are stretching the suburbs,” said Sellars. “Traffic has increased. Folks are moving back to town...to be closer to the employee base, entertainment and restaurants. That’s why his torically African American neighborhoods are more attractive. They’ve been maintained for less than their standard... developers see them and think they can revitalize them and get a higher value.” ■ Cherry leaders “Phyllis Lynch, Virginia Bynum and Lucille Lynch have been able to protect an invaluable asset with very little resources,” continued Sellars. “They’ve been renting out units for $200-$300 for years.” This endeavor has left the community organization barely able to cover overhead costs, and completely unable to revitalize the community, which has led to some units bfeing boarded up. “AU of them are aging ...as is the community,” says Sellars. “What happens to Cherry without resources ...without significant invest ments? What do you do?” When approached 18 months ago, Sellars asked himself the same questions, because initially he said no to the idea. “I didn’t want to be known as the person who gentrified Cherr,” he said. With Cherry’s proximity to million dollar homes in Myers Park, expanding hos pitals, and greenways, SeUars realized the commu nity was at risk, no matter what. “We sat down and muUed it over, and came up with what we liiought would be good,” said SeUars. “There are three main components; to keep as many original residents as possible, especiaUy seniors. Tb redevelop and revitalize so the community is no longer at risk, and we’re confident in it being sustained as a mixed community with long-term affordable housing. And to make a model that is success ful and can be duplicated.” It took six to eight months before StoneHunt agreed to the deal, and then three months to come up with the plan. StoneHunt’s plan includes restricted active senior housing and market rate housing that can not be distinguished fixim affordable housing. “[CCO] has entrusted StoneHunt to create the vision they’ve had for years...while making sure that established residents are taken care of,” said SeUars. “We feel very good about the new housing,” said Lynch. “We negotiated with the developer...anyone who lives there now can stay. Neighborhood residents have been there working to pro vide for youth and seniors,” SeUars said StoneHunt has met with CCO leaders no less than 40 times for informal and formal meetings. They’ve also met with Cherry Neighborhood Association and homeowners. A meeting with homeowners was sched uled for Monday night, and StoneHunt will present a rezoning petition to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission on Dec. 18. Yet the meetings have not left some residents without concerns. SeUars estimates the cost of a condo in Cherry to “begin in the high 190s depending on construction costs, and to range upwards of $700,000 for the larger suites.” For the town homes he estimates “from market range of mid $200,000 to high $400,000.” For Patton and other resi dents, cost isn’t the only con cern. “Tliere is some hesitan cy as far as people going through with what they say they are going to do,” said Patton. “Lots of communities have said something and then were basically taken over. They come in initially and then seU out to the pow ers that be.” The relocation process is a cohcem to many. Patton has already been told the location he wiU be moved to as StoneHimt is works out the details. “We wiU be actively remod eling existing units,”. said SeUars. “We’d shift residents from units being taken out to ones being built out. We’ll build out Cherry Gardens (senior apartments) then townhouses, and shift folks back.” SeUars said they are bring ing in movers and will be cov ering frie moving costs for those transitioned. “Cherry is not the same commimity as it once was,” says Patton. “It used to be that everyone knew every one. Some individuals have 3 DEVELOPMENT/8A Why read IhePostP Unique perspeciiue “I think ifs important to have the’perspective of all parts of the community on public policy. The Post provides a unique perspective and I value that perspective.” Dumont Clarke, Mecklenburg County commissioner Call (704) 376-0496 to link with news that's important to Charlotte fKhr Cbarlottt }3ost Come jolii We Fo’ Christmas 9a' CuHah IIWy
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 21, 2006, edition 1
7
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75