University Area: Present and Future (for sale, rental, houses)

[mrdkb]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Perhaps you did not phrase things as you meant to phrase them, but indeed, you did say that black folks being in the majority would blight the area, wh/ I very carefully pointed out. That fact that you are black does not change what you said.

Let's be honest: you would not buy a house in a subdivision or area that was 60% black (assuming you are not black) . It's OK to tell the truth.

It's ok to create a small santized urban utopia like Birkdale in Huntersville which is 88% white and 7% black. It's OK. But that will be Charlotte's plight. Declining suburbs in Charlotte that will soon be called urban. Growth in the exburbs. But you cannot gentrify a suburb.

Funny how right down the street from Birkdale/ Huntersville are the old confederates and trailer homes. This is how racially polarizing areas are created. On the land owned by rural racists whites because other races don't venture to live there. Liberal whites, however, who live in these areas and observe 1-2 minorities will say: I have a black neighbor. Every heard of Cumming GA or Forsyth County. It's the 13th wealthiest county in the country. But that wealth is concentrated in the southern portion, which is actually towns outside of the county. The rest of the county is the old klan and confederates. Like the hip Birkdale.

The problem with this type of planning is that it kills the city -that is the brand - Charlotte. And the only hope to revive a city is gentrification. But as I said, you cannot gentrify a suburb.

[mrdkb]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

Before you get roasted for saying this (Ani has already started on you LOL) I must say that I understand your feelings and I am NOT offended. I am a black male BTW. You bring up some great points about the truth with some whites and blacks in Charlotte. For someone who is a newcomer to Charlotte, you have quickly noticed Charlotte's ugly side and you are not affraid to discuss it. I applaud you for doing so my friend because we need more posters that are not affraid to tell like it like it is.

With that said, here is why I think your prediction is wrong. While there are MANY whites in metro Charlotte that wants NOTHING to do with Charlotte proper, there are SEVERAL whites that do. Look at NoDa and Wilmore. These are two areas of Charlotte that whites would not walk through in broad daylight 20 years ago. Today, they are nicely mixed with all races and incomes. Also, Charlotte has one of the country's largest black middle classes. Me (and my co-workers who are mostly black) earn $60,000 a year or better. We all own homes. A few of my co-workers drive BMWs and Mercedes. New ones at that. I drive 2009 and 2007 Suzuki AWD Crossovers. Both of these vehices and my townhouse ($16,000 for each vehicle and $130,000 for the townhouse) I puchased without a co-signature. I am 28 years old (so much for the myth that young black males have bad credit LOL!!!) I also have a 1998 Galant that I let my mom's (RIP) best friend drive. He is older and has trouble catching the bus. My point is that "majority black" does not automatically mean ghetto or poor in Charlotte. It does not mean whites will automatically be turned off either. My wife, for example, would love living in a majority black neighborhood if she was single LOL!!! She is a white nurse BTW.

The one thing you failed to consider is the Light Rail factor that will come to the University area in 5 to 7 years. You do reallize that triple car (not doubles) LYNX trains maybe running down North Tryon Street's median by 2016? You do reallize that IKEA is on that corridor? You do reallize that the LYNX has brought about HUGE urban gentrification to areas like Wilmore, South End, and South Blvd? My prediction is that the University Area will see NoDa and South End type development if the LYNX becomes a reality in that area.

I hope your right because my mother lives there.

[chicagocubs]

...and, why can you not gentrify a suburb?

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by mrdkb

I hope your right because my mother lives there.

You must understand that the University area of Charlotte was RURAL 15 to 20 years ago. Ugly cheap development is the only thing this area knows. There was NEVER an urban plan for this area. You will be happy to know that there is an urban plan now!!! The LYNX and the redevelopment of North Tryon is a major part of this plan. Putting the trains on the median will give North Tryon a pedestrian feel that it NEVER had. Here is a very recent story about the University Line.
Northeast Charlotte LYNX Route Announced - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte

[mrdkb]

Originally Posted by chicagocubs

...and, why can you not gentrify a suburb?

Because suburbs are houses and townhomes built for people who have have the white picket fence mentality looking for good schools and greenery. Cities with brownstones and very dense housing attract people looking for the urban experience. The urban experience has an historic influence. i.e. old universities like Emory in Atlanta or Columbia in NY. Columbia is practically located in Harlem - which has undergone a demongrahic transformation. The only hope a suburbs have for sustainability are the local public schools. Meaning to create some type school tradition that can pass from one decade to the next. If this does not happen decline will set in. Once decline sets in, that's it for the area.

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

You must understand that the University area of Charlotte was RURAL 15 to 20 years ago. Ugly cheap development is the only thing this area knows. There was NEVER an urban plan for this area. You will be happy to know that there is an urban plan now!!! The LYNX and the redevelopment of North Tryon is a major part of this plan. Putting the trains on the median will give North Tryon a pedestrian feel that it NEVER had. Here is a very recent story about the University Line.
Northeast Charlotte LYNX Route Announced - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte

Thanks, Urban. I know that UC has had some difficult times, but, I really feel like we are on the upswing now, especially with Ikea coming in. That will also hasten the "arrival" of the light rail. My neighbourhood still has a lot of foreclosures to go through which will impact our property values for awhile, but, hopefully, this will just be a short term issue.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by mrdkb

Let's be honest: you would not buy a house in a subdivision or area that was 60% black (assuming you are not black) . It's OK to tell the truth.

Wow. You don't know me at all!!! What an assumption!!!! It so happens when we thought we were being transferred to ATL, the neighborhood we liked best was predominantly made up of black couples. Are all your ideas about white folks shaped by stereotypes or what????

It's ok to create a small santized urban utopia like Birkdale in Huntersville which is 88% white and 7% black. It's OK. But that will be Charlotte's plight. Declining suburbs in Charlotte that will soon be called urban. Growth in the exburbs. But you cannot gentrify a suburb.

Why would you need to gentrify a burb? This is not 1950. Anyone of any color/ethnicity/sexual preference can move anywhere - as long as they can afford housing in that area! Instead of pointing out that Birkdale is 88% white and 7% black (a stat I don't know is accurate, but assuming it is . . . ) - why do you call this "sanitized" when anyone can move there who wants to move there? Are you saying there is nothing there that would APPEAL to black folks and only white people are comfortable there? I really don't get where you are coming from on these statements!!!! Are you saying it is "sanitized" - meaning - not ghetto? And black people are only drawn to ghettoes? Dear me. These statements continue to astound me!!!!

Funny how right down the street from Birkdale/ Huntersville are the old confederates and trailer homes. This is how racially polarizing areas are created. On the land owned by rural racists whites because other races don't venture to live there. Liberal whites, however, who live in these areas and observe 1-2 minorities will say: I have a black neighbor. Every heard of Cumming GA or Forsyth County. It's the 13th wealthiest county in the country. But that wealth is concentrated in the southern portion, which is actually towns outside of the county. The rest of the county is the old klan and confederates. Like the hip Birkdale.

Okay. This is just ridiculous. Old Confederates and trailer homes. So, poor white folks who can only afford to live in trailer homes are by virtue of being poor presumed to be racists. With that line of reasoning - does that mean the converse is true? All poor black people are racists and hate white people? And just b/c someone flies a Confederate flag, that equates to their being a Klan member? I guess if a black person has a Farrakhan poster on a wall, that means he/she hates whitey and will burn down their neighbor's house, poison their dogs and rape their women? Good grief.

The problem with this type of planning is that it kills the city -that is the brand - Charlotte. And the only hope to revive a city is gentrification. But as I said, you cannot gentrify a suburb.

Again - gentrify a suburb. You are saying - black folks will move to the burbs and since they are, by nature, criminals and irresponsible, they will create a ghetto wh/ can only be saved, someday in the future, by gentrification . . . but gentrification is not possible . . . so therefore, black people moving to an area will ruin the city.

I can't believe what I am reading. My eyeballs want to pop out of my head.

[mrdkb]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Again - gentrify a suburb. You are saying - black folks will move to the burbs and since they are, by nature, criminals and irresponsible, they will create a ghetto wh/ can only be saved, someday in the future, by gentrification . . . but gentrification is not possible . . . so therefore, black people moving to an area will ruin the city.

I can't believe what I am reading. My eyeballs want to pop out of my head.

I am sure you live in a neighborhood or subdivison that has the same stats as Mallard Creek HS.

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by mrdkb

Because suburbs are houses and townhomes built for people who have have the white picket fence mentality looking for good schools and greenery. Cities with brownstones and very dense housing attract people looking for the urban experience. The urban experience has an historic influence. i.e. old universities like Emory in Atlanta or Columbia in NY. Columbia is practically located in Harlem - which has undergone a demongrahic transformation. The only hope a suburbs have for sustainability are the local public schools. Meaning to create some type school tradition that can pass from one decade to the next. If this does not happen decline will set in. Once decline sets in, that's it for the area.

who decides this??? I want names!!!!!!!

[chicagocubs]

Originally Posted by mrdkb

I am sure you live in a neighborhood or subdivison that has the same stats as Mallard Creek HS.

WHO CARES WHAT THE STATS AT MALLARD CREEK HS ARE?? I go to church there and it seems like a nice place, not run down or anything. What do I care if there are 56% black kids there?? Or, maybe 60% Asians?? What difference does that make where I want to live?? You are not making any sense....