Monday, November 10, 2014

Half-million dollar Saussy Burbank homes coming to Cherry neighborhood

There's been a lot of debate lately surrounding proposed rezonings in the historic Cherry neighborhood near the Metropolitan. Now comes news today that Saussy Burbank will be the builder of 39 single-family homes and two duplex lots there, with prices ranging from the high $400s to the low $600s.

Cherry, a working-class African American neighborhood near Myers Park, has been facing increasing gentrification pressures as the area around the Metropolitan redevelops. Earlier this year, City Council approved a rezoning for real estate developer Stoney Sellars' StoneHunt Development Group to build on 5.71 acres in the neighborhood. Some residents protested that decision, saying Sellars' plan to bring market-rate housing to the area would change the character of the neighborhood. Sellars has said he has upheld a commitment to keep some affordable housing by building Cherry Gardens, an apartment building for seniors.

Saussy Burbank will be the builder working with Sellars on the project. The homebuilder said today that lots will be made available for purchase in phases. The first phase will include six lots at the corner of Baxter and Main streets, with homes ranging from 2,900 square feet to 3,500 square feet and priced from $550,000 to $625,000. "The architecture will pay tribute to the style and vernacular of the surrounding neighborhoods," said Jim Burbank, a partner in Saussy Burbank. "It's important to us that we respect what's there. The real benefit for buyers is a new home -- and all the elements that go along with it -- in an older, close-in neighborhood."

A sales office and model home is expected to open in May 2015.


Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/25/5199509/second-cherry-neighborhood-rezoning.html#.VGDgG_nF9TI#storylink=cpy

15 comments:

Page Lee said...

What a horrible plan. This is a working class neighborhood with existing houses all under 1000 square feet. These are totally out of proportion, both cost and size. At least make the developer build smaller. Also, one apartment for seniors is hardly a commitment to affordable housing. It is a joke.

This development will absolutely wreck a very special neighborhood that is still intact enough to give us a sense of our history. I think we already have enough McMansions in the Charlotte area. Why sell out this unique community for a quick profit that only a couple of developers will ever see anyway? Have we not learned any lessons at all?

Anonymous said...

They are simply forcing middle and lower class blacks out of an area they have lived in for almost a century by increasing their property taxes to a level they can not afford.

The Brooklyn neighborhood in Charlotte was destroyed and resold under Urban Renewal.

There is no way this project should be built in any way, shape, or form in Cherry. Will you guys leave these people alone and find somewhere else to build?

They City Council should reject this and any future attempts to remove these people from Cherry. That's all they are doing.

Anonymous said...

That horse left the barn, several years ago

Anonymous said...

Saussy has built some very nice homes in Dilworth, in keeping with the craftmans style of the neighborhood. These new Cherry homeowners will enjoy a historic neighborhood with the amenities of a close-in hood. Gentrification has many benefits, glad Cherry has to oportunity to benefit like many other close in hoods.

Anonymous said...

This is exciting news, Saussy Burbank houses will fit wonderfully in the neighborhood. The houses they have built in Dilworth look as if they were built 80 years ago.

Anonymous said...

Kudos to Stonehunt, Saussy Burbank was an excellent choice as your builder!

Anonymous said...

Interestingly, when I drive down Baxter. All I see is vacant property. What am I missing, who is being displaced?

Anonymous said...

This project was already approved. "StoneHunt" promised they would be the ones doing the building. Thank goodness they're not. But the houses are too large.

If there's blame, the people to blame for being greedy and changing the neighborhood and 'running people out' are the City Council that approved the first rezoning of this same parcel plus this second rezoning, but mostly the people who manipulated the deal to sell it to them in the first place.

They are the ones crying the loudest about it now. The finances should have a good, hard look. It was sold in what Anthony Hunt admitted was a deal he and Stoney Sellars were not supposed to disclose (see Anthony Hunt's comments on City Council public meeting countering Sylvia Bittle-Patton's complaints after the deal) after buying with no open competition from a "non-profit' 501(c)3 Cherry Community Organization for much less than market rate.

For the most part, it won't be the same residents in the neighborhood now enjoying new homes.

When you choose who to do business with and how to do business, you choose the consequences. Good or bad.

Anonymous said...

Willing sellers and willing buyers.

The concern I have is how our bond money for affordable housing may have been mixed in this pot. It would be interesting to learn to what degree.

Anonymous said...

What's disgusting is how they accumulated the land. These folks thought they were selling their land to a trusted member of their community and it turned out that gentleman was just a front for the developers. The folks in Cherry didn't benefit at all from having some of the most coveted land south of downtown.

Anonymous said...

If I had to guess the shysters who stole this land from the good people of Cherry made a quick 2 million and will have nothing to do with this neighborhood going forward. Smart money says Saussy never takes down all of the lots and they sit vacant

Unknown said...

I've been yearning to look for a good place to stay. It's the money talk that's making things hard. But this one's great so thanks for the post. certified financial planner exam

Anonymous said...

Biddleville is next........

Anonymous said...

one duplex for low income families. How did this possibly get approved?

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