Neighbors concerned apartments would cause parking problems

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Developers want to build new apartment complexes in the Third Ward of Uptown Charlotte and in NoDa.

But neighbors in both areas say they're worried the projects will hurt parking.

In NoDa, the Mercury NoDa would be built just back from the busiest intersection in the neighborhood -- E. 36th Street and North Davidson Street.

Developer Tyler Foster has filed an application with the city to build a 250-unit apartment and retail complex.

"I think it's too big -- it's in the wrong place," Susan Hunt, who lives in the neighborhood, said.

She's worried the tenants, their guests, and all the people who come there will be searching for parking spaces.

"Parking is already an issue here in NoDa, especially when the Neighborhood Theatre has patrons who come to see that," she said.

The developer did not return any messages, but city officials said he's agreed to provide about 412 spaces for the apartments, retail, and the neighborhood if the project is approved.

Four miles away, residents fear the same problem on West Fourth Street in Uptown.

At the intersection of West Fourth Street and Johnson & Wales Way, developer Faison wants to build "Gateway West."

"The number of units they said was somewhere in between 270 and 275, and they're looking at 1.2 to 1.3 parking spots per unit, which just doesn't really make sense," Mike Sposato, President of the Third Ward Neighborhood Association, said.

He said the developer has told him about preliminary plans to build one, two, and even some three bedroom units on the site.

Despite plans for a parking deck, Sposato is worried tenants and their guests will use neighborhood streets too.

"Johnson and Wales is already there," he said. "A lot of their students are coming in, parking illegally during the day."

Faison officials said they were not commenting, but officials with the city confirmed their preliminary application showed 271 units and 366 parking spaces -- about 1.35 spaces per unit.

Officials with the Greater Charlotte Apartment Association said it's important residents bring their concerns to developers.

"They don't want people to be up in arms against their proposal, so typically they will make concessions," Executive Director Ken Szymanski said.

The developer of the Gateway West apartments, Faison, is holding a public meeting on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Third Ward's community meeting house at 1015 W. 4th Street.

WSOC