More Affordable Housing Coming to Historic Cherry Neighborhood
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CHARLOTTE, NC – Residents who have lived in the Historic Cherry Neighborhood for decades say more affordable housing gives them a chance to stay in the neighborhood, as high-dollar homes are built next door.
Monday night, Charlotte City Council approved four rezoning petitions submitted by the Charlotte Housing Authority that will bring more affordable housing units to the changing Cherry neighborhood.
“I stand on my front porch and look over the skyline and just marvel in the fact that this is where I live, this is where I’ve chosen to live and I’m still living there,” said Barbara Rainy, a Cherry resident.
The Cherry area began in the late 1800’s as one of Charlotte’s earliest African-American neighborhoods.
Now, the demographics and landscape are changing as high dollar developments move in.
“There’s nothing wrong with change. Change is good. It’s beneficial for everybody as long it doesn’t push a certain class of people away,” said Victoria Brown, a Cherry resident.
Brown lives in units owned and operated by the Charlotte Housing Authority. The non-profit proposed four rezoning petitions, which were approved 9-1. The CHA wants to build 31 new affordable housing units that could allow residents like Brown to stay in the historic neighborhood.
The Charlotte Housing Authority is also proposing a five-story, 200-unit work force housing complex. City council deferred a vote on that petition until April.
