Council Quickies: Red Line Deal Starts to Take Shape

Charlotte City Council met for an action review, public forum and business meeting on Monday. During the action review portion of the meeting, council discussed the Strategic Mobility Plan — specifically draft legislation that will allow them to place a referendum on the ballot to increase the sales tax by 1 cent to pay for transit infrastructure, and the purchase of Norfolk Southern’s O-Line tracks, on which the city hopes to build its Red Line commuter rail. 

Read more: Where Charlotte Stands in the Evolving Red Line Plan

On the Agenda:

• Strategic Mobility Plan/Red Line
• Public Hearing
• Steele Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery Historic Designation
• Other Business Items

Strategic Mobility Plan

Before Monday’s presentation on the Strategic Mobility Plan, Mayor Vi Lyles spoke about the importance of the Norfolk Southern deal. 

“If you go back in time years ago, I think any council member would have said, ‘Let’s purchase the Red Line,'” Lyles said. “Twenty-six years have passed and we haven’t gotten that done. But tonight we are in this moment feeling what I think many colleagues and predecessors wish that they had made possible, and we have the opportunity to now make it possible.”

If approved by council, the city would pay $91 million to Norfolk Southern — $74 million for the 22-mile O-Line leading up to the county border and $17 million for 1.6 acres adjacent to Charlotte Gateway Station for a Red Line station. The city would need approval from Iredell County and the town of Mooresville to purchase the remainder of the O-Line, or staff could work out a deal in which Norfolk Southern retains ownership of that portion of the track and allows Charlotte to run commuter rails on it, paying per train.

A proposed breakdown of how the first-year revenue from a proposed 1-cent sales tax increase, estimated to be about $345 million, would be spent on transit throughout Mecklenburg County showed $138 million going to roads ($102 million of that in Charlotte and $36 million to surrounding towns), $69 million to bus infrastructure, and $138 million to rail infrastructure. 

Draft legislation being sent to the NCGA for approval would also create a new countywide governing body over transit concerns that would combine the current roles of the Metropolitan Transit Commission and the city. The new authority would include 12 board seats from Charlotte out of 27.

“This is huge, this is really exciting,” said Ed Driggs. “We are not just sitting here waiting to see what happens, which is frankly what often happens in these situations … I’m proud of the fact that we are looking as actively as we are ahead instead of just reacting.”

“Our challenge is going to be to take that authorization that we have and put something out there in the way of a plan that in November or whenever that referendum comes up, the public agrees and thinks is worth paying for,” Driggs continued.

Marjorie Molina said many of her constituents think the city is choosing the Red Line over the Silver Line to Matthews, which she emphasized is not the case, stating that the city is simply doing what it can with what the NCGA allows in pursuing the Red Line, a goal 20+ years in the making.

Dimple Ajmera said her concern is that the Red Line project is adding to the idea that there are two cities within Charlotte, with north and south Charlotte enjoying light rail while east and west Charlotte remain without equitable access to public transportation.

“For me, this is a less of a mobility decision and more of an economic development decision,” said Dante Anderson. “There are so many Charlotteans who don’t have cars … who would love to jump at the opportunity to access a safe, reliable, secure transportation system.”

Public Hearing

Kicking off with the public forum, a volunteer with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control pointed out that, while Charlotte is now the 14th largest city, it still operates the same shelter it did 30 years ago when it was the 33rd biggest city.

Volunteers and staff at AC&C have continued to ask that the agency be separated from CMPD and given autonomy, including its own budget.

Victoria Pennell with Reimagining Reentry spoke about the work her organization does and asks that the city consider partnering with them in order to help curb recidivism.

Housing advocate Apryl Lewis asked council to consider helping to transform the Lamplighter Inn in west Charlotte into a community center, a project that could help young people in the area near Thomasboro-Hoskins/Enderly Park/Lakewood neighborhoods.

A resident who works in Uptown asked that council remove and reconsider the new paid parking restrictions in Uptown, adding that there should be an Uptown employee program that allows workers to park in certain parking decks throughout the Center City area.

Gina Gupton with the Belmeade Green HOA near the Whitewater Center in northwest Charlotte said 18-wheelers have been parking throughout the neighborhood as drivers pull off the freeway to rest, knocking down street signs and causing other issues.

Speaking about water pipe breaks, sewage leaks, and other problems caused by Google Fiber, Mayor Lyles said, “This is Google’s second time coming after the idea of fiber in this city and the first time wasn’t much of a joy, either … It is a problem.” 

Steele Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery

Two residents of Steeleberry Acres in west Charlotte addressed council about the recent demolition of the historic Manse House in west Charlotte earlier this month. The Historic Landmark Commission had recommended that council designate the property as historic, but it never came in front of council for a vote.

“How can property that until now has been protected by historical designation be so easily disregarded?” asked one resident. The issue represented bigger concerns among Steeleberry Acres residents that the expanding airport is encroaching on their neighborhood.

Jimmy Vasilio with the Housing Justice Coalition spoke in solidarity with the Steeleberry Acres neighbors: “I’ve lived in Charlotte long enough to know that when the city is determined to grow in coordination with private interests it plans to do it at the expense of the working class and in quick fashion.”

The neighbors were there to oppose a plan to de-designate a portion of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery property, meaning that portion of the property would no longer be a historic landmark.

City staff said the de-designation would help preserve the actual church building and cemetery, which would retain the historic landmark designation, but residents were convinced the decision is being made so the airport can continue to buy up land around Steeleberry Acres.

An attorney with Foundry Commercial said his client would buy the portion of the land that is de-designated, about 23 acres, so as to redevelop it while helping to move the historic Douglas House onto church property, which would help to preserve the house, church building and cemetery. 

She Built This City would also have a home on the preserved pieces of property, which would comprise around 14 acres. 

Read more: She Built This City Launches Job-Training Home-Repair Program

After more than an hour of discussion, council voted to defer the decision about Steele Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery until Oct. 14.

Other Business Items

Council voted to designate the Alexander-Howell House at 250 Cherokee Road in Eastover as a historic landmark, as well as the John Phillips Little Jr. House on 1136 Queens Road in Myers Park. 

Council voted to extend the lease for McGill Rose Garden located on city-owned property on North Davidson Street, for another five years at $1 per year.