City Council votes against pool club in Plaza Midwood

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — City Council voted Monday night against putting a community pool in Plaza Midwood at the Van Landingham Estate.

That was a plan to save the historic estate and hundreds of pool passes have already been sold. Now, they may need to be returned.

Supporters said that shows how many wanted the plan to work compared to the dozens living around the estate who didn't and fought for months to get Monday night’s vote.

Phillip Gussman and his neighbors thought they held the answer in their hands.

They wanted a yes to a plan to put a swim club at the Van Landingham estate.

“We're a very landlocked neighborhood,” Gussman said. “We don't have lots of big spaces so when we found a private owner who had space, we were thrilled.”

In addition to the pool club, the estate owner said townhomes would’ve saved the estate that is heavily in debt.

Some said the pool would cause traffic and parking problems.

Council voted 8-4 against the plan forcing Gussman to figure out what to do next.

“We had a private developer ready to do it, ready to make the investment,” Gussman said. “We had the bulk of the community supporting. I'm not sure how else you make something happen in this town.”

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