North Charlotte Condo Development Saved From Demolition

Wind is the only sound at this condo project as no one has heard the roar of construction trucks for at least a year.

Instead neighbors only see smashed windows, boarded up doorways and overgrown grass.

Ben Vandgrift lives in the building right next door to what's called Bloc 90. Its website advertises 90 homes on 2.2 acres.

Five condo buildings were planned for this location but only two were partially built. Ladders are visible where vagrants tried to live inside the buildings.

"It’s pretty horrible-looking,” Vandgrift said.

But after Tuscan Development partially built just 36 units, funding issues put a halt to construction.

"I want to see trucks here tomorrow moving dirt around, and fixing windows panes, and getting things underway," Vandgrift said.

It won't happen that soon, but Bloc 90's developer tells Channel 9 in a matter of days or weeks work will resume here.

They just reached a deal with a bank that will save the project from demolition.

"That’s certainly something that's good news for us, because this is a building we want to see them finish. They've invested a lot of time and money in it already," said Walter Abernethy.

Abernethy is the city code enforcement manager and he said the abandoned condos were set to be torn down after inspectors found countless violations.

He showed us photos of the inside and said the clothes are evidence vagrants were living here.

Community leaders want the site improved but still have questions.

"I hope they will be reasonable with their prices when they finish them, and not put things in Optimist Park that will be too extravagant and expensive for people who live here," said Pauline Simuel who is president of the Optimist Park Comm. Association.

The developer tells Channel 9 that the condos will run about $150,000 for a one-bedroom unit.

They already have a general contractor to re-start construction, but say it’s too early to know when this project will be finished.