REZONING UPDATE
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There will be an Open House Forum on Monday night to discuss the affordable housing rezoning issue for the Ballantyne area. The meeting will be held at 4:30pm at the government center and the public is invited to attend. This will be the first opportunity for Ballantyne residents to voice their opinions on the debate.
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Ballantyne, NC – Ballantyne Holdings has requested that the 7 acre property located at the intersection of Highway 521 and Providence Road West be rezoned for multi-unit housing that would be considered affordable housing. The public meeting is scheduled for March 15 at the Government Center in Uptown Charlotte. This development is set to have 110 housing units with bank and teller pads.
According to the CharMeck zoning webpage the application was made on December 28, 2009. Various city departments have not all weighed in on the impact this would have on Ballantyne. According to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools comments on this application, the development would put a potential strain on the schools serving this development. It anticipates the addition of new students to Ballantyne Elementary, Community House Middle and Ardrey Kell High School could cause crowding issues that would require the addition of mobile classrooms with a cost of approximately $350,000.
Click here to view and download site plan.
“We have submitted a rezoning petition to allow for 110 class A apartments. Their design will be indistinguishable from market-rate housing. 70% of the units will be affordable to those making 60% of AMI and 30% will be affordable to those making 30% of AMI. This project would provide an opportunity for some of Ballantyne’s more modest income workers and their families to live closer to their jobs.
Stuart Proffitt – Republic Development Group
CMS comments to the petition were as follows “Adequacy of existing school capacity in this area is a significant problem. We are particularly concerned about rezoning cases where school utilization exceeds 100% since the proposed development will exacerbate this situation. Approval of this petition will increase overcrowding and/or reliance upon mobile classrooms at the schools.”
The property fronts the southwest corner of the intersection and currently is not part of the public transportation network. Other issues surrounding the project are issues concerning the high traffic volume that passes through this intersection on a daily basis, which could potentially make it “pedestrian unfriendly”.
“We are still reviewing the request and working to ensure as much information as possible is available to area residents before the Council’s decision which is scheduled for April 19″.
Warren Cooksey – Charlotte City Councilman
2010 Ballantyne Scoop The Scoop Network
From what I understand from Mr. Cooksey, the city will be subsidizing this development with our tax dollars, for a project that will ultimately devalue our property! This is absurb!
The homeowners in the Ballantyne area need to bond together to fight this!
It takes me almost 30 minutes to get through Ballantyne between 5:00 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on the way home from work (that’s from the bridge above Torringdon to Providence Rd. West – maybe a mile at the very most – and Mecklenburg wants to add 110 new units to that mess? Traffic is just as bad in the morning. NOT a good idea!
Some points for consideration that need to be talked through as this moves forward are;
1.Will there be a need to extend public transportation to this site which is almost at the South Carolina border.
2.What will be the cost to us for providing this extension of public transportation to this location?
3.As a new housing development in this location where will the residents find nearby employment opportunities?
4.Accessability to shopping and necessities if private transportation is not available. Are there stores and necessities within walking distance?
5.Impact on traffic flow along Johnston Road to I-485 which is a bottleneck already.
6.Impact on the overcrowded schools?
Beyond this there is the larger issue of what appears to be a disconnect in how the vision of the city – county works when something like this is put on the table. On one hand we have read and been told repeatedly for years that the future of Charlotte needs to be focused along our transit corridors to control sprawl. These corridors provide a readly accessable means of transit to major business centers with the benefit of walkability to shopping and necessities. This is the urban lifestyle that works to reduce the need for cars to be driven daily. One where a family can reduce their living costs through the use of mass transit and accessability to an employment base built into the urban living concept. This urban vision also spoke to having a range of housing options which would be more affordable because of the economics involved in building along these urban transit corridors. Is there opportunities for affordable public housing along the southern sections of South Charlotte on South Blvd. Drive that route and note the distressed under valued vacant properties that are available along the light rail line. What location better fits the vision we have been told is our future.
I’m wondering what bank will want to be next door to public housing. The tenants can roll right out of bed and right into the bank for their morning holdup. Awesome idea.
I agree traffic is a significant issue, although any new development will negatively impact the existing traffic situation. My biggest concern is the strain that an affordable (or any) housing project will place on CMS area schools. CMS uses somewhat antiquadated “yield factors” when looking at projects like the proposed 110 apartments. CMS is using a factor of .2374 students per apartment, yielding a total of only 26 new students from the 110 units. These 26 students would flow into a crowded Ballantyne Elementary School – already at close to 90% capacity 2 years into existence, the largest middle school in all of CMS at Community House Middle – at 123% capacity today, and into an overcrowded high school at Ardrey Kell, 105% capacity today.
For discussion purposes, let’s take .5, 1, and an extreme case of 1.5 students per apartment as yield factors and model those scenarios. At .5 the project will add 55 students, at 1 it will add 110 and at 1.5 it will add 165. So what is the right yield factor in this case? Clearly not .2374 as that will be far below the actual impact on area schools. Can CMS, or the developer, provide a similar example of an affordable housing unit being developed in an affluent suburb, and the impact that development has had on the area schools?
If you read the on-line petition, CMS is clearly not in support of this re-zoning and development. Members of the Ballantyne community that are not in support of this development should pressure CMS, Tim Morgan our District 6 board member, and the CMS Planning Department.
Rather than debating if we should be adding additional students to an overcrowded system, we should be working with CMS to relieve the strain at CHMS and AKHS. CHMS is bursting at the seems, and Ballantyne Holdings will just add to that problem while profiting for themselves.
Are we really supposed to believe that single adults, making 30% of the AMI will want to move to a Ballantyne apartment complex? That complex, if built, will be full of families with school age children.
Who is Stuart Proffitt?? I looked up Republic Development Group and can’t find anything on them. Stuart is listed as VP at Pappas. Looks odd. The other name on the petition is Pete A Land Ballantyne Holdings LLC.
The proposed plan is not consistent with our South District plan and the density at 20 units/acre is incredibly dense for ANY part of Charlotte. With only one access point this intersection is going to be a mess. Additionally, the same access road is also serving 6 acres of commercial in the back.
With the current housing crisis and empty, foreclosed properties everywhere why in the world would anyone consider building ANY additional housing at this time? Is it just because we have tax revenues or worse, deficit spending available. Please stop the madness!!
It is concerning that a project like this would even be considered with the current decline in home values due to the continued economic strain. A project such as this will further depress the values of the homes in the Ballantye area thus increasing the “walkaway foreclosures” that are increasing and may become epedemic. Additionally the schools are over burdened, traffic is at a breaking point and the area is increasingly becoming over crowded…I do not see the benefit to the area and in cases such as rezoning there needs to be an offset benefit…besides for those who may live in the new development.
I just pray that the MS-13 gang doesn’t set up shop in those apartments and try to recruit our young kids, or plague our lives with their robbery, racketeering, extortion and murder binges!
The serious roads and schools impacts that this proposal produces along with the ill fit to district plans and overall vision and corridors planning make this a bad idea at this location. My hope is that those representing the area stick to the real impacts and not fear-filled, outdated “affordable housing” references. Today, affordable housing residents could include young teachers, firefighters, and police personnel as well as the workers we need in our restaurants, hotels and such….and come to think of it, maybe a few laid off corporate personnel.
Come to the Meeting and let your VOICES Be HEARD. We CAN fight this!
The housing authority controls who lives here – no ex-corporate personnel has a shot at living here. <30% of AMI is NO to lowest income in the state. This is a shelter at best. It is also part of the Move to Work program — which means it will not qualify for age-restricted (less crime).
Prime for crime.
Ballantyne lacks parks, not houses. It would be much nicer if that land can be used as a county park for residents.
Ballantyne schools are already overcrowded right now. There are several subdivisions that are under construction or even not starting construction yet and that will put even more pressure on the schools after those subdivisions are occupied.
This project will ruin the already overcrowded schools of AKHS and CHMS. If we don’t stop this right now, our kids won’t be able to take the classes they choose.
Lets allplan to meet at the meetinsg planned for this petition and show our common voice against this proposal.
1. Feb 1 – 5-6 pm at Government Center; 600 East 4th Street. 8th floor in the innovation center.
Send your comments to the city planners:
Mr Warren Cooksey
warren@warrencooksey.com
Soloman Fortune
sfortune@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Homeowners of Ballantyne need to bond together to stop this!!! The crime will become much worse and its already not wonderrul.
Where are the facts to support a rise in crime and gangs moving in? People, please don’t be so shallow minded. This is the 21st century and the economy sucks. Doesn’t every person deserve the opportunity to shelter and public education regardless of their income, color, race or socio-economic status? Are we so inconvenienced already that we won’t allow for more growth of this area as we sit back in our comfortable homes and environments?
If this rezoning results in lower income, subsidized housing – it could create or exacerbate several existing problems: traffic congestion, school overcrowding to name a few.
But there is a bigger problem with this location. Anyone who has spent any time in our around the area knows that this is not a low income area. In particular, there are no sidewalks in the area. The stores and shops in the area cater to a more well-off clientele and hence are expensive. People in low income housing typically rely on public transportation and an ability to walk to the nearby conveniences. There just isn’t any of that in this area. No low-cost service providers, no public transportation, and no walkways. How can that location improve the quality of life for a person with incomes in the range described in the petition?
Seems counter productive to me. If we have to spend taxpayer money, let’s do it in a way that adds value to people’s lives, not mislead them.
This is a bad concept for the following reasons:
• The proposed affordable housing is not consistent with the overall county development plan and planned usage for that area.
• The proposed affordable housing will place additional strain on an already overburdened school system.
• There is no viable public transportation option that residents could use (keep in mind that pro-affordable housing advocates often cite the lack of increased traffic due to residents dependency on public transit as a positive aspect of affordable housing – where is the public transportation in this plan?).
• Crime in the area will increase as there is no crime at that location today.
This is a poorly thought out plan, with no integration to the overall community plans.
The Ballantyne area needs to strongly oppose any intentions to build in our community. Open and undeveloped space in the form of parks and recreation areas are what the families and individuals of the neighborhood need.Regardless of the type of development and the potential problems it would certainly bring we should all recognize our collective need to protect the area from further overdevelopment, the kind that in time will turn a partially rural community into one which is partially urban.
We do not have a traffic light at 521 and Ballantyne Crossing (although all agreed 12 months ago that a signal is critically needed) because the highway department CANNOT AFFORD to put one in. How could the infrastructure changes related to this project possibly be afforded? We need responsible city government……now!
This can not be happening….Did someone wanted facts for increased crime??? Well Laura why don’t you send your kid to Garinger and all facts will be at your fingerprints. Everyone should live where they can afford to live, period. Not where government create a space to live for them. People in Ballantyne work hard in order to live there and do not deserve a shelter to be put up next to them, so they would be afraid for themselves and their kids.
Want to live in Ballantyne??? Go to school and get a job, do not assume that it should be handed to you!!!!!!!
ABSURD-
Review the definition of “Class A” housing:
“We have submitted a rezoning petition to allow for 110 class A apartments. Their design will be indistinguishable from market-rate housing. 70% of the units will be affordable to those making 60% of AMI and 30% will be affordable to those making 30% of AMI. This project would provide an opportunity for some of Ballantyne’s more modest income workers and their families to live closer to their jobs.
Class A: Apartment communities in the most favorable locations with high levels of unit features and amenities (such as washing machines, quality finishes, walk-in closets) and community amenities (such as recreational facilities or a clubhouse). These apartment communities have state of the art systems, exceptional accessibility and a definite market presence. They compete for residents willing to pay rents above average for the area.
WE WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO OCCUR!
THERE IS PLENTY OF HOUSING CURRENTLY AVAILABLE! IN THIS ECONOMY …. ARE YOU KIDDING???
THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW THE AREA TO BECOME AN OVERCROWDED DISASTER!!!!!!!THE SCHOOLS…THE TRAFFIC…WHAT A MESS IT WILL BE!!!
IF THE CITY ALLOWS THIS THEN THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE – AND THAT IS THEIR JOB – BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE IS OPPOSED TO THIS!!!!!!!!
I’M ASHAMED OF CHARLOTTE’S BEHAVIOR!!!!
Laura,
Really now? These renters “will” pay above rents average for the area or are “wiiling” to pay? Would this payment be with their own money or a voucher?
Get real. At Post Ballantyne a 1BR goes for $760 and up, a 2BR for $900 to $1,095. At Plantation Park Ballantyne a 1BR is $700-956, a $2br is 925 – $1,215, and a 3BR is $1,160 – $1,201. Camden Ballantyne a 1BR is $757, 2BR $975-$1,050 and a 3BR is $1,051 to $1,200.
The housing authority stated that the proposed units will go for: 1BR-$650, 2BR-$750, and 3BR-$850. Those are simply not market rates, and they are absolutely not above average rents for the Ballantyne area.
The Housing Authority needs to their facts straight. Well actualy, they probably do not, but they should be forced to.
The average median income for the Ballantyne area is $86,713 – 60% of that is $52,078 and 30% is $26,013.9. Has Stuart Proffitt stated that he is applying for section 8 housing? If so – where can I see this information?
Ben Collins, from the Charlotte Housing Authority, stated at the meeting:
“30 of the 100 (sic 110) units are targeted for very low income…30% of the AMI…about $20,000 a year…They would have to make less than $20,000 a year. The rest of the units are targeted, the true workforce housing, for people at 60% of the AMI…roughly $32,000 – $33,000 a year.”
By my math, that would place AMI at $67,000, 30% = $20,100. Now $67,000 X 60% = $40,200 so I am not sure where Ben is getting his numbers from, but it could be an honest mistake.
The AMI number of roughly $64,000 is based on a family of four.
Also, regarding the proposed stoplight at Ballantyne Crossing and Johnston Road, Ballantyne Scoop has been told that this light should be installed by 2nd quarter of this year. They have already started the preliminary work.
I don’t know about most but we moved to Ballantyne because it is safe place to raise a family and we are surrounded by other hard working individuals who pay their own way and don’t rely on goverment subsidies. Our home value has dropped more than 10% in the last two years that we have lived in this part of Charlotte. What is adding low income housing going to do to boost the home values of people who are paying their own mortgages and to boost the local Ballantyne economy? To me it seems this will lower our property values and we’ll have to pay more taxes to add the classroom trailers to the schools for our children to go to. Will this attract new businesses to the shopping centers who have lost tenants lately? It’s certainly not going to help traffic or the school system. Because a greedy developer bought a piece of property he probably can’t currently get a loan for commercial construction on, the residents of Ballantyne are supposed to accept low income housing and absorb all these costs for him? Not our fault he bit off more than he can chew. Sit on it a while or sell it to someone who can get the funds to develop commercially as the land is zoned.
I agree 100% with all of the politically correct concerns; overcrowded schools, traffic bottlenecks, etc… however, it seems absurd that concerns of safety from a rise in crime and a decrease in real estate values cannot be legally considered as valid. My first instincts after learing of the re-zoning were upgrading my home security system, purchasing a hand gun, and how could I possibly sell my house when the hood will be just two blocks down the street.
I have worked very hard to be able to afford a certain quality of life for my family and living in Ballantyne is a priveledge, it should not be a governemnt offered entitlement. I know this attitude will ruffle some PC feathers, but I honestly don’t care….
There was a previous comment asking for the facts to support a rise in crime, well here is a quick example.
HOPE VI program in Lexington, http://www.cartographica.com/article.php?story=20090810115320231
“what can definitively be said is that at the time of the relocations, the neighborhoods that HOPE VI residents moved to were significantly more socially disorganized, and that the level of crime in the neighborhoods became worse over time.”
It is amazing to me that Charlotte government would want to take a stable neighborhood, and similar to HOPE VI slowly sprawl and transform all of Charlotte into “fragile” crime ridden neighborhoods.
I will seriously consider packing up and leaving this city if the re-zoning and construction proceeds in my backyard. I will not put my families saftey into jeopardy, even if this means another empty house destined for forclosure….
According to the Scoop article linked below, there are plenty of open apartments in Ballantyne right now. Why not work with the existing rental property owners and incent them to take rental vouchers if they do not already. Wouldn’t this be more cost effective than purchasing land and building new apartments a mile down the street?
70 evictions last year across 4 major Ballantyne rental properties.
http://ballantynescoop.com/ballantyne-renters-not-immune-to-evictions/
You’d have to be crazy to to trust CHA to run anything:
“Negligence by the Charlotte Housing Authority led to an elderly woman’s 2007 death at the hands of a crack cocaine addict, a jury ruled Tuesday.
Attorneys sued the agency on behalf of the estate of Eva Dunlap Green, 63. She was strangled three years ago in her ninth-floor apartment at Charlottetown Terrace, a public housing complex for the elderly and disabled near uptown.
Her 46-year-old neighbor Kenneth Cyrus – a man attorneys said has a history of violence, drugs and mental illness – was convicted of her killing.”
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/1236243.html
Saw this posted on another site……. LOL!!!!
I think that each renter should get a free full equity membership to Ballantyne CC. It is only fair, the people in the apartments cannot afford a golf membership at a private club but that is not their fault. Heck, they cannot afford the apartment they are in either but that is not stopping the Housing Authority, County Planners or our Mayor from putting them there. A recent study I read found that the majority of low income unemployed residents in Charlotte do not have access to private golf clubs in upscale suburban neighborhoods. Well, we have to stop this madness and get people who make 20% of the AMI tee times at clubs like Ballantyne. People have the right to play golf wherever they want to. Also, it will be cruel and unusual punnishment to have these renters walk past the entrance to Ballantyne CC twice a day, with no access to the facility, as they hoof it to the bus stop 1.5 miles down 521. I say free housing and golf for everyone!
I’m really concerned by this proposal. I live in the Ballantyne are, just South of the proposed site, and:
Our schools are already crowded, and our kids are educated in the trailers already.
Our roads are choked — at peak periods, it can take half an hour to go from Providence Road West to I-485.
Our property values are shaky already, without adding low-cost housing to the mix.
Crime rates are already a concern; we’ve had sporadic incidents in the neighbourhood. I’m concerned about the influx of low-income families, with the attendant law-and-order issues.
Stop this plan!
GB
Across the United States, concentrated, low income housing developments are being emptied and torn down. Residents are relocated to less densely populated areas. Cities have consistently found that these communities create tremendous issues for their residents and the cities in which they are located. We have talked about crime issues related to this development — we should not ignore the resident on resident crime which is commonplace in these tight quarters. Individual residences have proven time and time again to be the most beneficial for all involved. There are currently many, many available individual housing units in Charlotte. Let’s see how “progressive” our elected officials actually are. Will they use historical facts to guide their community planning decisions or do they really believe that this development will defy all odds?
Great point bubbajack!!! Using a very basic search (single family under 100k) on a real estate site, there are over 1,000 single family homes available in Charlotte. If they purchased and managed a large number of these houses, the housing authority could create additional affordable housing and spark the real estate market giving the local economy a much needed boost.
This re-zoning and building does not make any common sense, WHO is really benfiting from these deals????
Ballantyne Scoop plans to live stream tomorrows Ballantyne Breakfast Club meeting visit our site for details on how to watch….http://ballantynescoop.com/
Republic Development Corp is part of a shell associated with Proffitt Capital Group. Stuart Proffitt and friends, including Warren Cooksey, all got themselves in the Charlotte Business Journal in the past year listed as “Top 40 Under 40″. Mr. Proffitt lives over in Myers Park, check the Mecklenburg Tax register and he financed it through a “government” move with Sirva Relocation in 2005. He has gotten himself made head of the Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders – note, the parent board for this has the Harris’s, the Pappas, the Bissell’s, etc…and entertains the city council. It’s beautiful politics at its finest, Mr. Proffitt and Republic Development Director, Jonathan Schwaller, have placed themselves in a spot to make alot of money and by forcing the big money guys to keep their mouths shut…very slick politics indeed…they are one up on everybody. Cooksey is single with no family…slick on getting in on the Ballantyne Repub. ticket, although he’s probably staging himself for a future Democrat run at a much higher level…if he teams up to move the “poor” voters in he can probably lose a few of the Ballantyne repubs in a future election…slick again…
I have read many of the comments posted on this forum regarding the affordable housing issue in Ballantyne and some have brought up valid points to be considered when adding any kind of residential housing.
I live in East Charlotte. I moved here less than two years ago to be closer to my Uptown job. I found there are a lot of retirees who have lived here 30 – 40 years. They raised their children here. Those same children may now be raising their own families in Ballantyne. We also have young families with children, couples and singles who are vested in their community. The young people I have encountered are well-spoken and polite. They are involved in church activities, afterschool dance classes, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. They are successful in school. We have joggers, dog walkers and neighbors who enjoy an evening walk.
We are residents of East Charlotte (homeowners and renters) who want the best for their community….just like those in South Charlotte.
I understand your concerns at having the investment in your home, the safety of your families and the future of your community threatened with the idea of an affordable housing complex in Ballantyne. Other areas of Charlotte have been fighting this issue for a long time. These areas are overwhelmed with affordable housing.
Thank you and I wish you well in your endeavor.
A Proud East Charlotte Resident
Charlotte Observer front page of Local and State section: Mecklenburg faces budget gap of $15.9 to $62.8 million. Must we ignore all financial reason when making rezoning decisions as well?
“There will be an Open House Forum on Monday night to discuss the affordable housing rezoning issue for the Ballantyne area. The meeting will be held at 4:30pm at the government center and the public is invited to attend. This will be the first opportunity for Ballantyne residents to voice their opinions on the debate.”
I like how this meeting is being held at 4:30 PM so people who actually WORK for a living cannot attend!!!!!
So many thoughts and so little time:
– if CharMeck keeps making decisions that negatively
impact home values they are just shooting themselves
in the leg- less value means less tax collected
– if this type of housing is not a “problem” then why does
it need to be “spread” around town?
– the local schools are overcrowded already, w/ trailers
and exceptionally large classes, the children from these
assisted homes are not used to such large classes- real
transition issues will ensue- trust me, I am a substitute
for CMS.
– Traffic is horrible! Enough said.
– Why are tax payers being asked to bail out another OVERPAID
WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL ? Have CharMeck politicians forgotten
ALREADY about how pissed off tax payers are at bailing out
the Rich?
– if you think this is not a BailOut, you are mistaken.
Clearly, Stuart for Proffitt is in it for the money.
His company OVERPAID for the property in 2007 and they
can’t sell it now. They NEED the money- not much development
going on right now, and they like getting it from taxpayers
and not banks. You don’t have to pay BACK taxpayers!
– the Election period is NOT that far away.
– Pay attention city council!
Really.
allpoliticsallthetime hit it on the head. The Democrats in city council see a way to secure more minority and poor votes by puttin a group of them up in Ballantyne on the taxpayers dime, Proffitt gets 2 benefits; 1. he’s getting reimbursed because he lost his behind in the original deal with the market collapse, and 2. If a future political run is in his mind then he’s already done a “good deed” to boost his votes from the poor/minority voters who are going to benefit from this deal. Those 2 reasons alone are wrong and enough for people to be outraged but then you add;
- The current deficit in Charlotte which this would only increase
- The amount of people that will lose property value so that a handful can live around here
- The lack of public transportation in the area (none)
- the current problem with overcrowding in schools
- those who do have vehicles in the housing would increase the existing traffic problem
- The high priced retail stores in the area that these people wouldn’t be able to afford
- the cultural divide that would completely separate those in the apartments from those who already lived there, including the children who would see the effects at school
Basically the only 2 groups that would benefit from this would be city council and Stewart Proffitt. Otherwise everybody else involved would be placed in some sort of hardship as a result. Whether it be losing value on their property or having to travel to another side of town to find places you could afford to shop (let’s face it, if you need public assistance you can not and SHOULD NOT be able to afford to shop in Ballantyne). It seems to me as if Charlotte is turning out to be a miniature D.C. when it comes to politics, I just hope the city leaders are smart enough to learn from others mistakes.
In the real world (you know, the one that taxpayers live in), when revenues are down, one looks to decrease expenses or to find alternate ways in which to increase income….lucky thing our elected officials are not required to deal in reality.
It has been my experience (in several Charlotte apartments) that generally the lower socioeconomic level residents tend to be much more active and visible than the other residents. So with these new units you will likely see a big increase in foot traffic. There will be a regular stream of people walking along (the non-sidewalks on) Johnston Rd and on the median up to Harris Teeter, ABC Store, CVS etc. Also some of these people will need somewhere to “hang out”. It could be on the apartment property or by some storefront or somewhere else. This has just been my experience and the reason I have moved out of previous apartments.
One thing I have not seen at all is how much is this going to cost the taxpayers? They have to fill that lake, the land alone is probably 300-400k. So figure 3 million tax dollars to build this so 86 people can live there. Thats crazy! That and the .25 child per unit is absurd. They need to have to present some kind of documentation on how much this is going to cost and where they got these numbers from. They could easily pull the number of children living per household in affordable housing from social services and I think the cost of this should be made public record.
First how much is this going to cost?????
Ok a quick google brings up some interesting facts about charlotte HUD demographics. This is what we can expect to be moving here.
https://pic.hud.gov/pic/RCRPublic/rcrcity.asp
Median Income 9k
This is about 10% AMI of Ballentyne
Average household size 2.2
Percentage of single parent 46%
Percentage of 1 person in household 46%
Percentage of 2 person in household 21%
Percentage of 3 person in household 16%
Percentage of 4 person in household 10%
So with 86 units there should be about 190 people. If 46%(88 people)are single mothers that is at least 44 kids in 40 units. The distribution for 1 person in a houshold is 46% as well. So 46% of the remaining 46 units is 21 units with 1 person. The remaining 25 units will have 2-4 people in it so you have to figure another 15 kids.
To me that looks around 60 kids with 86 units a far cry from the .2374 per household
This is in response to: Laura – February 1st, 2010 at 11:46 am .
Really? Is this really the time for a bleeding-heart liberal way of thinking? I’m sorry…but we buy houses in the neighborhoods we do BECAUSE of the low crime rate, that our kids can go to good schools and because of the property valuea. I’m all for affordable housing…don’t get me wrong! BUT if I fork out all this money becuase of the location I want the location to continue to rise in value!!! Why don’t you move to uptown and live in their ‘affordable housing’ and see how much you like it before condeming all of us for our ways of thinking!
I agree with Mike. The 0.23 kids per household is not believable. In my neigborhood, almost all houses have kids — usually 2 or 3.
So we’re talking about potentially 2-300 kids landing in Ballantyne schools….