CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The city of Charlotte has the wrecking ball on hold for now but the fate of a home in north Charlotte is still being debated by neighbors in the community, where it is seen either as an eyesore or a part of the past waiting to be rebuilt.
A judge has granted a temporary restraining order delaying demolition of the vacant house at 443 Sylvania Ave. that was scheduled for Tuesday.
The Lockwood neighborhood and the association president said the reprieve is welcome.
"I mean, the structure of this house is solid," said Chris Dennis as he walked inside the house, which has been stripped back to its studs -- or as he calls them, bones.
"I do this kind of work all the time and within three weeks this house could be put back together," Dennis said.
"For this community, it would be a great loss," he said. "I think it would be a great loss for a house with these 'good bones' to be torn down."
But some people in Lockwood said it's time for the house to go.
"I mean, look at it. It's been that way five years. That's just too long," said Laney Higdon, who has seen vagrants in the house from time to time but no movement to fix it up.
"It needs to go man, too long, too long," Higdon said.
The man who is ultimately responsible is owner James Holloway, and he said he has had trouble finding money ever since someone broke in and stole everything of value that was inside.
"It's a struggle trying to get all that replaced," Holloway said. "My God, we're not made of money."
He said he would like to find the money to renovate the house but city inspectors said he has had plenty of time and if the judge doesn't block it, they will tear it down.
Even neighbors who would like to see it saved are running out of patience.
Erica Ryan lives two doors down.
"It's either, do something with the house, let's preserve it, let's make it happen. If not, it's a safety issue," Ryan said.
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