Matthews Families Worried Development Will Force Them Out of Homes

MATTHEWS, NC – More than two dozen families in Matthews say they’re worried a development project could force them out of their homes.

The town is considering a re-zoning plan to build 350 apartments off Matthews-Mint Hill Road.

“Right now we are all worried because we put all the money that we have in these houses. And now they’re gonna sell it and we have nowhere to go,” explains Matthews resident Maria Gomez.

She owns her mobile home and rents land at Oakhaven Mobile Home Park.

She and 25 other families recently got notice about a plan to sell the land to a developer.

Bainbridge Communities Acquisition has submitted a rezoning request to build up to 350 apartments on 30 acres near Matthews-Mint Hill Road and Highway 74.

If approved, Gomez says the only option would be to move her home.

“No, we cannot afford that and then we also have some houses that are really old. And they can not even be moved,” she says.

Neighbors say the community has been there since 1960, and they feel they’re being forced out to make way for higher-income residents.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. I’m gonna end up in a motel room somewhere, if it goes like it’s going,” says neighbor Michael Cowick.

“I mean we know why it’s being done. But is it right? That’s the point. Is this right?” asks resident Jessica Moreno.

Monday night, neighbors showed up to speak out at Matthews Town Hall.

They learned a public hearing is being delayed until September.

Now they’re hoping that will give them more time to come up with a plan or that the land owner might change their mind.

“I just feel like they should have taken more care of us. Like there should have been someone there to help us,” says neighbor Selena Moreno.

WCCB Charlotte reached out to the development company but was told, “No one on that project is in the office today.”