Neighbors Voice Concerns Over Proposed Elizabeth Apartment Complex

Neighbors in one East Charlotte community are concerned about a massive apartment development that could be coming to the area soon. Developers want to rezone an area of Central Avenue near Piedmont Street for a new 315 unit apartment building.

Victoria Weiss walks her dogs down Sunnyside Avenue. She enjoys the charm of the Elizabeth neighborhood.

“It feels very much like a family,” Weiss said.

The developers, Central Avenue Multifamily, LLC are proposing a 315 unit apartment building with at least 1500 square feet of retail space that would stand 85 feet high part of it would sit on Sunnyside Avenue.

“We’ve seen a lot of impact from the Gibson being at this corner already. We have a lot of people walk down our street that maybe aren’t super settled into the community, or maybe don’t care enough about taking care of the aesthetics of our street,” Weiss said.

In a meeting Monday night, developers asked city council to rezone the area from commercial to residential and make an exception for the building’s height. The city abides by the Unified Development Ordinance which mandates things like size, height and use of the building. In its current state, this development is considered a Community Activity Space but it will only have plans for at least one retail space. Several neighbors spoke out in opposition wanting to see more entertainment and retail instead.

“It’s really meant to be, mixed use retail restaurant, with businesses in there that would like, really make the first floor a very vibrant, lively area to be and that’s not what they’re calling for, Bethany Gooch, Elizabeth Resident said.

The San Francisco based developer plans to install speed bumps and a traffic signal at the corner of Piedmont and Central.

“The design in its current form isn’t going to work for the neighborhood. We’re very concerned about traffic. We’re very concerned about parking,” Gooch said.

The developer says architects are working to maintain the integrity of the neighborhood.

“We worked diligently with the architect to look at context sensitive design,” Keith H. MacVean, Land Use & Zoning Consultant for Central Avenue Multifamily, LLC said. “The porches, the design of the porches and the stoops are based on an event at the architect looking at surrounding residential properties.”

Neighbors say they understand the need for more housing options but they would like to see a plan that better fits the neighborhood.

“Victoria Weiss, Elizabeth Resident “has I have seen some of the changes going on in South End, and I’m really scared that that is going to be the similar thing that happens here.

City council will discuss the project again on August 26th.