Ely Portillo of The Charlotte Observer had an very interesting story out over the weekend on the gentrification of the Cherry neighborhood, which features an interesting dynamic:
Opposing residents have squared off at the council’s last two rezoning meetings, with longtime residents speaking in support of new affordable housing, which they say will help them stay in Cherry. Groups of mostly newer residents have come out against the proposed apartments and rentals, which they worry would wreck Cherry’s single-family neighborhood character.
Council member David Howard said an unhealthy dynamic has taken root in Cherry.
“The dynamic is just disturbing,” Howard said during last month’s zoning meeting. “I wish both sides would talk more.”
Council member Al Austin told me that the situation in Cherry – with groups of residents opposed to each other, instead of opposing a developer – is unusual for a gentrifying area.
“It’s a very weird situation,” Austin said. “I have seen this community just evolve to something it never was before.”
Austin said he expects such discussions and disagreements to continue as close-in neighborhoods such as Wesley Heights, Wilmore and NoDa see more growth.
“This will continue in other communities,” he said. “These communities that are really close to downtown are viable and trendy. How do you manage that?”