Preserving Charlotte’s Homes and Communities
Photo: Ely Portillo
For at least the past decade, development in Charlotte’ Historic West End has doubled and even tripled in the number of investors looking to grab a piece of the coveted west side skyline. Here are the organizations and movements taking shape to help preserve Charlotte’s Historic West End.
But first, what is the area described as Charlotte Historic West End and how does it differ from other areas west of uptown with majority Black populations? The Historic West End is anchored by Johnson C. Smith University and is bordered by Beatties Ford Rd and Rozzelles Ferry up towards Brookshire Blvd to the North. This are has a long history of black wealth and ownership but that is being tested almost daily.
Some parts of this blog post are from published articles. Please visit their websites to learn more.
West End Community Land Trust
With a full-time executive director and a $200,000 grant, a three-year-old west Charlotte nonprofit is accelerating its efforts to stave off displacement with a housing strategy that’s unprecedented in this fast-developing city.
In the next five years, the West Side Community Land Trust wants to build 50 permanently affordable housing units in historically black neighborhoods along the West Boulevard corridor. Residents fear many of those neighborhoods will soon become too expensive for them, as development inches ever closer to their homes.
“A lot of communities are feeling the impacts of gentrification and displacement,” said Rickey Hall, a lifelong west Charlotte resident who co-founded the land trust in 2016. “A land trust will offset those avenues for gentrification. You get the type of housing diversity that doesn’t drive people out, but allows them to stay in the community.”
Here’s how it works: The nonprofit raises money to buy land where it can develop houses. The group sells or rents those units to qualified low-income individuals at below-market rates. Residents who buy the homes retain ownership of the house; the land underneath belongs to the trust and, in essence, the community. If a home is sold, some equity goes to the homeowner and some remains with the land trust, which helps the property stay affordable in perpetuity. Read more at The Urban Institute
For The Struggle, Inc
Charlotte neighborhoods are feeling the changes as Charlotte continues to grow. As the city increases in size and popularity, so do the homes and businesses closest to the action. In a lot of ways, that’s a good thing for Charlotte, but some neighborhoods are feeling negative impacts.
Homeowners in west Charlotte say they’re being harassed by buyers and developers asking to buy their homes almost every day. Homeowners say the offers are usually to buy in cash but for well-below market value. Homeowners are nervous that the buyers will renovate the homes and sell it for double the original price, making it impossible for many people to live in the area.
It’s especially concerning for the University Park neighborhood off of LaSalle Street and Beatties Ford Road. It’s a historically black neighborhood with a rich culture and history. Many of the homeowners have owned here for decades, including Narcissus Lowery.
“I love living here and I pray to the Lord I get to stay here," said Lowery.
She’s called LaSalle Street home for 45 years and just celebrated her 92nd birthday over the weekend. She says the letters and calls are constant asking to buy her home.
“It’s sad how they send mail here wanting to buy my home, calls come in wanting to buy my home. It’s sad," she said.
Alesha Brown is an attorney and executive director of a non-profit called For the Struggle, Inc. She’s lives in University Park and says she’s a victim of the harassment as well.
Rosa Parks Farmers Market
The Rosa Parks Farmers Market is a fruit & vegetable market serving the Greater West Charlotte area. We are open Tuesdays from 3-7PM, June to September. Address: 2020 Beatties Ford Road Charlotte NC 28216
Cash, Credit/Debit, SNAP/EBT accepted
Seeds for Change Urban Farm
With rising violence in Charlotte, CMPD has been very clear about how much they need people in the community to help them curb crime. One area stepping is the West Boulevard corridor by sowing the seeds for change.
At the Urban Farm off Romare Bearden at West Boulevard, all the fruits and vegetables grown at this quarter acre plot of land go back into the community.
“You know it’s a food desert, so our main thing is bringing healthy foods along the corridor,” says Brenda Campbell from the West Boulevard Coalition. Read more on Fox 46.
Sources
https://www.charlottemagazine.com/inside-the-west-side-community-land-trusts-fight-against-displacement/
https://ui.uncc.edu/story/west-charlotte-community-land-trust-stop-gentrification
https://www.wbtv.com/2019/09/30/we-demand-you-stop-homeowners-university-park-complain-theyre-being-harassed-by-developers-trying-buy-their-homes/
https://www.wfae.org/post/finding-home-proximity-uptown-brings-changes-west-end-neighborhoods
https://www.sustaincharlotte.org/west_boulevard_community_discusses_new_food_market_and_greenway_plans
https://www.westsideclt.org/
https://www.fox46.com/news/sowing-seeds-for-change-west-boulevard-coalition-community-garden-flourishes/