MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — It's been almost 10 years since the Dilworth neighborhood in Charlotte was promised a project that would bring revenue and growth to the area.
This plan meant the Strawn Cottages Apartment complex had to be demolished to make way for the new project, but that land still sits empty - years after people were forced out of their homes.
Developers with Inlivian - which was formerly known as the Charlotte Housing Authority - acquired the land with the idea of bringing in more “affordable housing, more revenue with commercial properties, and more opportunity.”
“In 2017, we began the process of redeveloping this site. We relocated our seniors who were here. We knew we needed to recreate opportunities for additional affordable housing particularly for families who were getting priced out of the market,” explained Cheron Porter, the spokesperson for Inlivian.
According to Porter, development partners claim they need another year before officially starting, but Inlivian is pushing back for an earlier start time.
“We certainly had some delays. Initially, there was an infrastructure project that was done, and it’s completed. We’ve now gone through rezoning and we’re now in negotiations with developers. There’s no question about that,” Porter said.
Still, Corine Mack, the president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP, says she’s seen this story many times before.
“Let’s talk about affordable housing. That term. What does that mean? Is it affordable for everyone? Because a family of 4 making $52,000 is not affordable. And they know it. So, they can’t afford what’s affordable,” Mack explained.
She says developments in the county tend to push out Black people in the area - leaving those families to figure it out.
“I don’t think any community that was predominantly Black did well after that. Most of those cities didn’t give those people an opportunity to come back,” continued Mack.
Inlivian says they did help the residents who once resided at the apartment find other housing and they say they are hoping to kick off the first phase of this project by the end of summer.