CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A packed house at Monday night's Charlotte City Council meeting as neighbors in Plaza Midwood fight plans for a new 97-unit apartment complex.
Many of them showed up holding signs that read "Stop Sterilizing Charlotte."
They're opposed to a developer's plans to build apartments on Central Avenue.
It would force a local bar, Tommy's Pub, and vintage clothing store, Backstage, out of the area. Neighbors say it ruins the character of the neighborhood.
The developer, DPJ Residential, says the complex will actually help by cleaning up a site that's contaminated by old gasoline storage tanks.
"What I'm trying to do is boutique developments that are very low to mid-density within historic neighborhoods," said developer Porter Jones.
Such changes, Jones said, include adding commercial space to the first floor of the development.
"We spent a lot of time modifying this plan to try to fit the character of the neighborhood as much as we can," he continued.
Opposition organizer, Jenna Thompson, said, "Development is going to happen no matter what, and that's okay. But I feel like we have to do it in a way that everyone-- particularly the people who built this neighborhood out of a horrible, scary place to be-- they need to be able to stay here. They need to be able to afford rent. They need to be able to afford their property tax."
The president of the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association, Phillip Gussman, spoke in support of the petitioners Monday, asking City Council to approve the proposed rezoning petition. In the meeting he said the PMNA is concerned with the intensive development in the community, but this project is one of the most intensive collaborations the association has had.
City leaders are set to vote on the rezoning request next month.
