“We Were Told No One Would Build Behind Us”: Hood Road residents confront a 94‑townhome plan—and a trust gap
A Familiar Scene at Council
On August 18, Charlotte City Council once again found itself as the stage for the city’s longest-running drama: growth versus neighborhood trust. The petition under review promised a tidy package—94 for-sale townhomes, a 20,000-square-foot athletic club, 4,500 square feet of retail, and a quarter of the site left as green buffer. What it got instead was a steady line of Far East Charlotte residents who came to say they’d already seen this movie, and they didn’t like the ending.
Leading the charge was Ms. Ray Timothy, who told Council that Hood Road had become less a residential street than a cut-through speedway. With school buses negotiating blind curves and cars darting around like it’s the Charlotte Motor Speedway, she said, more development would only stack danger on danger.
What’s at Stake
The parcel in question isn’t new to controversy. Two decades ago, it was zoned for a large shopping center—a plan that died on the vine. Developers now argue the current proposal is not only less intensive but also adds amenities the neighborhood could actually use.
The developer, Empire, has positioned the project as a middle ground: townhomes for buyers locked out of pricier neighborhoods, small shops for everyday needs, and a fitness club meant to anchor community life. Council’s planning staff acknowledged the proposal was “close” to aligning with adopted policy, but “close” wasn’t good enough to win an endorsement.
The Residents’ Case
Neighbors see it differently:
- Traffic and Safety: Hood Road, already jammed at peak times, has become dangerous. “We’re putting our kids on buses that navigate roads where drivers treat stop signs as suggestions,” one resident said.
- Environmental Impact: Residents noted frequent flooding and erosion issues, warning that more pavement and rooftops would funnel stormwater into backyards. Deer and other wildlife, they said, are already disappearing from the woods behind their homes.
- Trust Deficit: Empire has history here. Neighbors recalled earlier conversations where they believed more buffer would be left intact. To them, this felt like a bait-and-switch.
Council in the Middle
By rule, hearings are structured—staff unlimited time, petitioner three minutes unless opposed, opponents ten minutes, rebuttals two. But the subtext is rarely so tidy. Council members pressed on traffic counts, school capacity, and whether this “better than the shopping center” line actually satisfies anyone. Staff punted: not yet.
The politics are straightforward. Incumbents running for reelection don’t want to be tagged as rubber stamps for developers. Opponents in tight districts are already using traffic and zoning as campaign cudgels.
Zoning and the 2025 Campaign Trail
The zoning fight on Hood Road is not an isolated flare-up. It echoes through this year’s municipal races:
- District 5 candidates, including Juan Diego Mazuera Arias, have emphasized housing policy and structural reform, signaling support for development but only if equity and representation are accounted for.
- District 6 hopefuls, from Republican Krista Bokhari to Democrats Sary Chakra and Kimberly Owens, have made traffic congestion, infrastructure strain, and “developer overreach” into core talking points.
- Citywide, at-large contenders like Dimple Ajmera and James Mitchell have linked affordable housing promises to smarter zoning and better road planning.
In other words, every campaign yard sign is standing in the shadow of zoning petitions like this one.
What Comes Next
Council deferred action, effectively sending Empire back to the drawing board. For residents, the delay is a small victory but hardly a guarantee. The project will return, likely with tweaks, and the questions will remain: How much density can East Charlotte absorb before its infrastructure buckles? And how long can residents be asked to “trust the process” when they feel the process keeps leaving them behind?
For now, Hood Road waits—still crowded, still dangerous, and still at the center of a fight that looks increasingly like the blueprint for Charlotte’s political season.
About the Author
Jack Beckett drinks too much coffee, mostly to survive zoning hearings that stretch into the night. When not filing council copy, he can be found refilling his mug and questioning his life choices.
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Creative Commons License
© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, “When Neighbors Push Back: Far East Charlotte Residents Challenge New Townhome Development,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“When Neighbors Push Back: Far East Charlotte Residents Challenge New Townhome Development”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)