|
|
 |
North Carolina
Opposing Building Heights, Project Neighbors Ask for Changes to Redevelopment Plan
To raise cash for affordable housing construction throughout the city, the Charlotte Housing Authority (CHA) envisions mixed-use redevelopment of its underused 17 acres near the LYNX light-rail station in the Dilworth neighborhood into mostly market-rate dwellings, offices and shops, finding the City Council receptive to the idea.
The elderly and low-income residents of the 331 subsidized units in the Strawn Apartments and bungalows on the CHA tract would stay, reports the Charlotte Observer. The agency's profit on redevelopment, either in partnership with a developer or from sale of the land – appraised before the recession at $25 million – would be invested in its other projects.
After year-long work with the Dilworth Community Development Association, CHA officials and consultants allayed most of its concerns, strongest among neighbors from single-family homes, and focused on density and building heights exceeding the 100-foot limit in transit-oriented development zones. In a move toward compromise, the CHA scaled down two proposed high-rises from 200 to 160 and 120 feet, respectively, and one from 120 feet to 100 feet. It also reduced the total footage of the project from 1.3 million to 1.2 million square feet, decided to save more trees, and clarified some other points.
Before the council's public hearing on the CHA rezoning request, CHA Real Estate Manager Jeff Meadows said the plan is now ''35 percent less intense'' in terms of density than the current zoning allows. At the hearing, Axiom Architecture principal David Furman presented project sketches, including drawings of pedestrian-friendly streets, with first-floor retail, and business and offices easily accessible on foot.
But most promising for an amicable solution is the absence of neighborhood opposition to subsidized housing. If anything, some Dilworth residents would like CHA to build additional low-income apartments rather than only market-rate ones on its tract. ''It seems so counterintuitive,'' observed neighbor and former City Council member Sara Spencer. ''Why not seize the opportunity to showcase a great site?'' 7/19/2010
Click here or here to view the source article or
here to view the source publication.
|
|
E-mail
to a Friend
View
Printer-friendly page 
