Per the UPoR, this happened Wednesday night:
That flood of growth is what drew more than 50 people to Snug Harbor in Plaza Midwood on Wednesday night to talk about options for protecting the character and flavor of their neighborhood. The meeting was organized by Plaza Midwood Shows Up, which formed after a developer announced plans to tear down local dive bar Tommy’s Pub and build apartments on the lot.
The theme of the night: “Can Plaza Midwood survive?”
The speaker of the moment? Mary Newsom, currently the associate director of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute.
And yes, this whole topic is super ridiculous. It is, as the UPoR put it, about “how to balance growth and preserve cherished buildings and local businesses.” So select businesses are now suppose to enjoy an entitlement to continue existing? Really? And the building that houses Tommy’s Bar is cherished? Well, yes, probably by the impressively large water bugs that live there, but objectively it’s kind of a dump with hazardous waste remediation issues from a gas station that once was there. And let’s be honest, a lot of the commercial buildings in that area qualify as the sort of strip mall construction that planners like Newsom hate.
The proposed solutions, including establishing a historical district and having buildings declared historic landmarks, are just laughable.
Bonus thought: It would be nice if the Charlotte Observer mentioned who Newsom’s previous employer was.
