Neighbors Along Independence Blvd. Worry City Will Widen It Again

Independence Boulevard used to be Charlotte's retail central. Now vacant buildings line the road from Eastway to North Sharon Amity. Neighbors fear things will be getting even worse.

Ed Garber lives in the area and is worried about the city's plans to widen a section of Independence Boulevard.

Walmart has talked about opening up shop there, but neighbors are concerned that won't happen if there is less land to build on.

"Now if we lose Wal-Mart, nobody is going to redevelop this area. So the litmus test if right now if the city is committed to redevelop this area they are going to go ahead and make it happen," Garber said.

The city says Wal-Mart has plenty of land to build, even if Independence is widened. But neighbors and business owners want as much land as possible for redevelopment. Tom Warshauer with the Economic Development Office said, with a road like independence, more widening is inevitable.

"Along Independence in the future we will need more room. we need to be able to plan with the future of the entire community. Independence may need to grow for auto lanes," he said.

The city hasn't decided exactly how Independence Boulevard will look in the future. The few business owners still there, just want life to get back to normal after the last widening five years ago.