Charlotte City Council approves millions for affordable housing after heated debate
The Charlotte City Council approved millions in funding for public housing projects Monday, but not without a contentious public hearing.
The council voted 7-3 to approve $13.2 million in Housing Trust Fund dollars for six projects and $4.3 million in federal funding for three projects. Council members Tariq Bokhari, Lawana Slack-Mayfield and Victoria Watlington voted against the measure.
And Freedom Fighting Missionaries, a local nonprofit focused on helping formerly incarcerated people, was unanimously approved for a $2 million grant to create affordable housing for “criminal justice involved families.”
Together, the proposals will create more than 750 affordable housing units, according to the City Council.
But some residents who spoke ahead of the votes expressed concerns that their neighborhoods are becoming oversaturated with affordable housing.
Multiple residents who live near the proposed Sycamore Station complex and the proposed Grove Park location of Freedom Fighting Missionaries’ project said they’re concerned more affordable housing will overtax their already crowded schools and overworked police precinct.
Joi Mayo, who requested the vote on a development on South Boulevard near Arrowood and Nations Ford roads be delayed, said as a resident of the area she thinks affordable housing is “essential” but that she’s concerned about creating “a concentration of poverty” in a traditionally underserved community.
Mayo said she’d like to see more public money go toward workforce development, recreation centers and afterschool programs for students.
Other residents were more supportive and said they were concerned that racism and stereotypes about low-income families and formerly incarcerated people were coming into play.
The Rev. Kate Murphy of The Grove Presbyterian Church, which was considering partnering with Freedom Fighting Missionaries on their project in the Grove Park neighborhood, described some of the comments she’d heard about the group as “bullying” and said opponents of the project were spreading “misinformation.”
Murphy also said she’s heard people in the neighborhood say they would call police on people, including children, associated with Freedom Fighting Missionaries.
“When doing the work of equity there will always be strong opposition … What I’m called to do is stand with those who have been marginalized,” she said.
Mary English-Spry said she and her family chose to live in Grove Park because of its diversity and that she feels affordable housing is well-suited to the neighborhood.
“I am not deterred from wanting to see all of our families housed and all of our children thriving,” she said.
After the public hearing but ahead of the vote on the Freedom Fighting Missionaries grant, Councilwoman Marjorie Molina announced that the group had told her they intend to find a different site for their project after the pushback from the Grove Park community.
Shouting and cheers from those in attendance could be heard throughout the public hearing.
Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston said he was “disgusted” by some of the comments he heard at Monday’s meeting.
“The past is present,” he said.
More City Council discussions, votes and proclamations
Much of Monday’s council meeting focused on an update from the city’s Quality of Life team, who told the council its focus is currently on addressing issues with commercial truck parking, illegal parking and littering.
Councilwoman Dimple Ajmera said she hopes the team will also consider addressing community concerns about public urination, defecation and drinking.
Councilman Malcolm Graham said he hoped the team would have more concrete action plans to present, “a main course, not the appetizer.”
Winston said he was concerned to hear so much focus on “punitive” action from his fellow council members, calling that approach “a regression.”
The council also voted to change vendors for the purchase of “a customized Police Command Bomb Truck,” with Slack-Mayfield the lone vote against. The council approved the truck’s purchase in July.
This story was originally published September 26, 2023 at 11:56 AM.
