Ballantyne residents resist proposed low-income housing
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
PINEVILLE, N.C. – On Monday, a standing-room-only crowd of Ballantyne-area residents received information about a proposed development in their community. The Charlotte Housing Authority wants to build 100 low-income apartments at the intersection of Providence Road West and Johnston Road.
The property is currently zoned for commercial use.
While there are still a lot of unanswered questions, it's a proposal many who attended believed would change their community for the worst.
"Can the businesses sustain it? Can the traffic sustain it? Can the schools sustain it?" said Ballantyne resident Seth Robbins.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools don't take an official position on the matters. However, they are required to submit an impact statement that estimates the new development will bring an additional 26 students to Ballantyne's already overcrowded schools.
Residents say the physical and environmental impact the proposed development will have on the area tops their list of concerns. The other point of contention involves the impact low-income housing will have on the upscale neighborhood.
"Honestly, with the million dollar homes in the Ballantyne area, you just don’t think of low-income housing sitting in the middle of it," said resident Janet King.
A state law prohibits city council members from considering the varying socioeconomic statuses in the neighborhood.
"The issue before council is the land use of 110 apartments regardless of who the tenants will be," said District 7 city council representative Warren Cooksey.
Next Monday, residents will have an opportunity to meet with the developer at 6:30 and the Harrison United Methodist Church in Pineville. On March 18, there will be a public hearing regarding this zoning request. City council will vote on the proposal on April 19.