Neighbors Worried About More Slave Burial Sites as City Council Approves Controversial Rezoning

CHARLOTTE, NC – Some neighbors in University City are upset after City Council unanimously approved a controversial rezoning.

A developer plans to build close to 400 apartments, restaurants, and retail near Mallard Creek Church Road and I-85.

Nearly 20 slave graves were discovered on the property next to Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church in June.

That led to TopGolf pulling out of the project.

Neighbors argue they’ve found tell-tale signs of more grave sites throughout the property.

“There’s a number of sites there and we are very concerned that they could just bulldoze right over them,” says neighbor Linda Majchrzak.

Neighbors raised enough money to have the land looked at by a professional using ground penetrating radar – but say the developer refused their offer.

“We also asked the developers to come with us, we would show you the areas, and they never did. Nor did any single council member,” Majchrzak says.

“This has been a very contentious rezoning. We’ve tried to reach out to the best we can,” said City Council district 4 representative Greg Phipps.

Instead, neighbors say the developer has promised to have a team of experts examine the area — but only on foot.

“If unmarked graves are in fact located on these portions of those areas.. they will do whatever state law allows them to do or requires them to do to protect those graves,” Phipps said.

But neighbors worry with City Council giving the green light, development could begin, regardless of what might be under the ground.