Concerns About More Possible Slave Burial Sites on Land Slated for Development

CHARLOTTE, NC – There are new concerns about possible slave burial sites on land slated for development.

Neighbors living near Mallard Creek Church Road and I-85 say they want more research done before a rezoning vote next month.

“We saw, what we think (is) gravesite, after gravesite, after gravesite,” explains neighbor Darrin Rankin.

Rankin and his neighbors say they’ve found tell-tale signs of more slave burial sites.

“The stones, the periwinkle, the positioning of the stones around the base of trees,” Rankin explains.

A developer wants to build close to 400 apartments, restaurants, and retail on the 65-acre property.

Topgolf already pulled out of the project after nearly 20 slave graves were confirmed on the property in June, beyond a wall next to Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church.

“Our issue from the beginning was, we thought graves extended throughout the woods. We didn’t think it was limited, you know, to that little 50 foot area that they examined or that they researched,” Rankin says.

Neighbors say the developer told them if they want the site checked out, they’ll have to pay for it.

So they raised $1000 to do it.

“All we’re asking for is authorization to have access to the property and then we’ll have the company come in with the equipment and look in the areas that we have identified as possible gravesites,” explains neighbor Linda Majchrzak.

So far they haven’t heard back from the developer.

“What if this was your family? You know, if you found out you had ancestors that may have been buried there, wouldn’t you want that preserved?” Majchrzak asks.

“It’s very important to us. I think it should be important to the entire community,” Rankin says.

WCCB Charlotte reached out to the developer but did not hear back.