9 Investigates

9 Investigates: Long-term growth of Charlotte could impact emergency response

The heart of Charlotte is expected to see more growth this year. As many as 6,000 residents could move to uptown in the next year.

While Charlotte native Kathleen Britton is happy to see the growth, she knows firsthand the struggles that come with it.

Britton is a 9/11 survivor. Her condo was just a few blocks from the horror that hit New York City.

"I was on the 17th floor, I couldn't run and I thought I was going to die," Britton said.

She moved back home to Charlotte a year later and she worries about some of things she sees here.

"The sidewalks are more dangerous. There's not much room for emergency vehicles." she said.

In fact, Channel 9 saw construction equipment taking up the entire sidewalk along Church Street this month. As more buildings go up, uptown could become even more congested.

Adding up the number of apartment complexes planned or under construction, Channel 9 found there will be around 3,426 new units in uptown. That has the potential to increase the uptown population by nearly 5,824 in the next year.

Much of that growth will be in the south part of uptown. Charlotte Center City officials said developers have invested nearly $3 billion in the Stonewall Street corridor.

Crescent Communities is currently building a 22-story tower with more than 400 apartment units and hotel space next to the Stonewall light-rail station. A Whole Foods store is planned below those units and will connect directly to the light-rail stop.

Tyler Niess is the chief marketing officer with Crescent Communities. He said company leaders are excited about the opportunity to open up that area.

"That in combination with some of the things the city did to make the land easier to develop has turned Stonewall really into the next major street in Uptown," Niess said.

All of that growth has a direct impact on the agencies responsible for protecting residents.

"The main thing I look at when I look at the high-rise is the occupancy," Charlotte Fire Department Capt. Ron Porter said.

Porter works at Station Four off Church Street in uptown. His crews have been busy developing pre-fire plans for every new building under construction in the city. As soon as a project breaks ground, firefighters train on site.

They look for alarm panels and places to hook up their hoses. Porter said it's easier for firefighters to check for those things when the building is still under construction.

Since their ladders reach just seven floors up, firefighters discuss plans for a large-scale evacuation, and the location of stairwells.

"These are just all the things we will look for as the building is going up so when it's completed we are familiar with these things," Porter said.

Last year, Fire Station Four responded to 8,200 calls. With more people moving uptown, they expect calls to increase by 46 percent this year.

"We like to think we are ready for anything," Porter said.

Britton said uptown residents should take her advice, know the risks and have their own fire-escape plan.

"Disasters are completely unscripted,” she said.

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