CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Charlotte city council members gave the go-ahead Tuesday night for a multimillion dollar makeover to the Quail Corners shopping center in south Charlotte.
The measure passed a re-zoning request put in by the developer, Crosland, which will allow the renovation of the shopping center and fast-food restaurant on the property.
Residents who live near the shopping plaza on Park Road said Crosland promised they would not to bring in a fast-food restaurant when it was building the plaza in the 1980s.
The developer admitted to breaking a promise, but said it's for a good reason.
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"I think a lot of the residents do feel betrayed," Maria Smithson said. Smithson is part of the Park/Quail Coalition, a group of residents against the rezoning. She calls Crosland's actions a "broken promise."
"They have no problem going back on that," she said. "I think that should be frightening to people throughout the Charlotte area -- the developer can make a promise to an area."
Crosland officials said they don't doubt that a promise was made years ago. But the officials said the retail landscape is changing and the company needs to change with it.
They also said they've spoken with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials and the Charlotte Department of Transportation about funding another crosswalk, because some neighbors are concerned students from Quail Hollow Middle School would cross Park Road to reach the new restaurant.
"We always have this, 'Wow, what a good plan!' But the neighbors don't want it," City Councilman Andy Dulin said.
"If they can get it redone and get those shops reopened and leased to somebody, then we create jobs, we create income for the county and the city," he said.
Crosland officials said if the rezoning is approved, they could start renovations by the end of the year.
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