CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council has approved a petition for a large townhome community to be built on Beatties Ford Road. The area has been dubbed a corridor of opportunity – meaning the city is implementing revitalization efforts.
However, some worry the price point of the townhomes, along with surrounding growth, will push people out.
The site is about 37 acres on Beatties Ford Road near Sunset Road where a golf range and single-family houses sit.
Soon, some of the properties will be torn down to make way for about 240 townhomes. The developer told WCNC Charlotte the townhomes will likely be three to four bedrooms with two-car garages.
The starting price is $350,000 and then it will go up from there.
"I guess you could call these attainable housing price points," developer Mike Griffin said.
His family business, Griffin Brothers Companies, is behind the plan.
The Griffins have lived in west Charlotte for generations.
“We did want to make sure we put a top-quality product in the area we grew up,” Griffin added.
However, the quality comes with a price tag that has some wondering if it’s affordable.
"How can you afford that?" neighbor Vanessa asked WCNC Charlotte. "I mean, these people out here – nowhere to stay.”
Vanessa lives off Beatties Ford Road. She said she's in favor of building more housing if it makes sense for her neighbors.
"If they’re gonna fix it where it’ll be affordable for them to live, do it," Vanessa said. "But don’t fix it and then they still cannot, you know, pay.”
According to data from Niche.com, the average median income in the Beatties Ford area is $38,691.
“Property taxes are going to go up, rent is going to go up, it's already going up," affordable housing advocate Jessica Moreno said. "So, imagine if there's new construction starting at $350,000 -- that’s going to allow the market to go up even more.”
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Moreno pointed out that even home-buying assistance programs won’t help low-income buyers obtain one of the townhomes because the price cap for the city’s down payment assistance program is $315,000.
She argued the solution is to make programs more accessible and to build for all income levels.
“If we’re building 240 townhomes at $350,000, let’s build 240 townhomes for people making $20-30,000,” Moreno suggested.
Griffin said he agrees it’s important not to displace people, but he doesn’t think the townhome project does that.
Griffin said the plan is to break ground this year, but they have not chosen a builder for the townhomes yet, so they don’t have a timeline.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.