"Affordable Housing" in Ballantyne (Charlotte, King: daycare, employment, construction) - Page 13 - City-Data Forum

uk2nc · 02-10-2010, 09:52 AM

Should we form a Facebook page devoted to all of this.
More people will then be in the know about what is going on?!

I am not very computer savvy when it comes to doing this but i would definitely join the group.

jackie111 · 02-10-2010, 10:36 AM

Follow the money. As a taxpayer, tell Cooksey you don't mind supporting public housing but that you don't feel you should have to pay for the additional costs associated to house people in in the Ballantyne area. How much more land could be purchased (i.e. how many more housing units could be provided) with the money they have if they purchased the land at a lower cost? Difficult to imagine they cant find land cheaper in other areas of Charlotte...

Charlotte99 · 02-10-2010, 10:51 AM

I heard there may be a meeting in Ballantyne tomorrow night at 7:00 PM at aLoft Hotel. Does anyone have any details on this?

chicagomichauds · 02-10-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlotte99

I heard there may be a meeting in Ballantyne tomorrow night at 7:00 PM at aLoft Hotel. Does anyone have any details on this?

I have not heard this but pls if anyone monitoring this thread knows, post more details.

anifani821 · 02-10-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumbollo

North Carolina once had a law that did not allow local municipalities to perform mixed race marriages. Because the law is on the books, doesn't mean they can force votes on a city council. It's when the local city councils all vote in lockstep with no regard to their citizens when we should be pissed and worried at the same time. If we accept that fact that local control is now at the federal and state level, then we might as well dissolve the city council. It serves no purpose.

Your philosophy is just that - philosophy. It has nothing to do with what is on the books and how this situation is going to play out.

The facts are still the facts, Lumbollo, whether you want to recognize them or not. The city council can't, by law, vote against affordable housing on the basis of the possibility of declining property values, according to Cooksey.

Now, if you want to file a suit based on the unconstitutionality of this particular law (assuming Cooksey has interpreted the law correctly) - then feel free to do it. However, in five years or so, when the courts have finally heard your case, that ain't gonna help the situation in Ballantyne. Folks will have lived in those apartments for several years by then. Too little, too late.

anifani821 · 02-10-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leksi

IF a thousand people will be on site when they will plan to start digging, then they would not be able to dig. IF we do that everyday it will draw media's attention...that will be the last thing we could do after it all approved and through...but I think if we all do that then we can stop them...

Riiiiiight. Why don't you just stage a Tiananmen Square sort of event - you know - folks throwing their bodies down in the dirt in front of earth moving equipment.

I can see it now . . . soccer mommies prostrate on the ground, chanting "We Shall Overcome."

Here's the truth, all fantasy aside: It only takes ONE PERSON to stop this from moving forward. ONE PERSON who can figure out a legal reason to put an end to this.

ONE PERSON.

Residents appearing en masse to protest imminent decline in property values may get a headline and a photo . . . but that's all it will get.

Your goal is to stop this project. Find the ONE PERSON who knows how to do that. He/she is out there. FIND THAT PERSON.

lumbollo · 02-10-2010, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anifani821

Your philosophy is just that - philosophy. It has nothing to do with what is on the books and how this situation is going to play out....

This isn't philosophy, it's basic social studies. The government doesn't work as specified by Cooksey but it does make for good excuse to brush off a voter. They don't have to vote to change the zoning. If not, then let someone from the state come and force their hand. That might be a bit interesting because there isn't a way for them to do it as the current zoning is 100% legal in state law.

coastalgirl · 02-10-2010, 01:09 PM

Who owns the adjacent land? Didn't I read somewhere that the people intending to build commercial stuff on the adjacent parcels were angry b/c they would have to share an entrance with the potential ghetto? Those are the people who need to sign the protest petition; then it can only pass with a 3/4 vote.

anifani821 · 02-10-2010, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumbollo

This isn't philosophy, it's basic social studies. The government doesn't work as specified by Cooksey but it does make for good excuse to brush off a voter.

So you are saying that if our City Council decides to act in a manner specifically prohibited by law, there are no repercussions?

A few weeks ago, Charlotte commissioners were involved in a brouhaha over a former commissioner (Helms) not following what you determined was the law and now you are saying in this case, councilmen can willingly, deliberately and knowingly defy state law?

Regardless, it doesn't matter whether Cooksey votes for or against this project moving forward . . . he is OUTNUMBERED by a majority who are determined to approve this project. So it doesn't matter how he votes, really. It's a done deal - unless someone comes up with a legal reason to render the project untenable for that site.

coastalgirl · 02-10-2010, 01:17 PM

Thought this might be of some interest too: Jury finds Housing Authority negligent - CharlotteObserver.com (http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/1235936.html - broken link)