PINEVILLE, N.C. — Pineville town leaders are allowing the apartment project Livano Pineville to move forward, but with required tweaks.
Livano Pineville is already approved for 65 apartment units, retail, and public parking on Main and Church Streets. The developer was waiting for its planned 172 apartments on College Street to be approved, but the vote didn't go as the company hoped.
Town Council approved the plans under the condition that the number of parking spots are increased, which ultimately will decrease the number of apartment units.
The apartment complex will be within walking distance of restaurants, businesses and local shops in downtown Pineville.
However, it's unclear how the developer, Birmingham, Alabama-based LIV Development, will adjust its blue prints after the vote.
Despite the expected changes, some people welcome the development and the extra foot traffic.
A small-town feel with a southern charm is what attracted Reza Elyasi to downtown Pineville where his business, Pineville Rug Gallery has been for the last 39 years.
“It has that southern accent to it which made me start my business here,” Elyasi said.
It's a town he said continues to see growth.
“Talking not even five... seven years ago, big change,” Elyasi said.
Kevin Devanney is the owner of The Garrison and Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market, located side-by-side right on Main Street.
“Since we opened the restaurant, the town has really flourished and grown,” Devanney said. “More people are coming into town, more business is coming to town, more townhome development and more business development.”
Both Devanney and Elyasi are excited for the new apartment development they hope will bring more foot traffic to their businesses.
“Seeing commercial and residential development would help all of the businesses including myself,” Elyasi said.
“We don’t have the bodies and residents to sustain the businesses in Pineville right now,” Devanney said. “It is critical that these apartments come in and put feet on the streets in Pineville in order for all us business owners to grow and have people coming in and out of the doors.”
Devanney said this development will not only help stimulate the local economy, it will also add to the charm the town already has.
“Business owners, new residents, and younger people bring a new vibe to the town, and that is really what we need to take this town to the next generation,” he said.
However, not everyone is on board with the plan. Longtime Pineville resident Gerry Pope told town councilmembers Tuesday the apartments scare her.
"Deep down inside I just don’t feel like this building would match our town," Pope said.
LIV Development's master plan for Livano Pineville includes a second phase of development for a fourth apartment building on College Street and retail space where the fire station is.
As the company goes back to the drawing board, Casey Viser, attorney for the developer, provided this response:
“We are disappointed that the Council has now added additional conditions — inconsistent with past votes, our understanding, and the contract we have with the Town of Pineville — in an apparent effort to satisfy a small contingency of those who do not have the best interests of the Town of Pineville in mind. We have worked tirelessly with planners for over two years, and accommodated many requests to alter plans that we were told would be approved, in an effort to see this deal go through. While we are hopeful the Council will reconsider what we believe is inconsistent with the Town’s obligations, the Pineville Comprehensive Plan for the Downtown Overlay District, and the best interests of the community, we are currently evaluating our options.“
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.