Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association

Discussions continue among neighbors in Commonwealth and Merry Oaks regarding the proposed site on Central Ave. next door to St. Andrews Episcopal Church.  

The Eastway Division of CMPD requires a lot of at least 3 acres, two entrances and on a major thoroughfare with visibility.

Both the present proposed site and the area next to the present Eastway shopping center at Eastway/Central could be tailored to fit those requirements.       See http://underoak.blogspot.com/ 

The CMPD preferred site is now zoned R22, which means if the CMPD does't build there, it could be developed as apartments, for which there is no demand at present. It could also be rezoned commercial, which means we could have unwanted commercial development there. 

Least desirable is that it not be developed at all, as abandoned buildings attract vagrants. 

Present thinking among neighbors seems to be that a police station would be preferable to other alternatives and could increase safety or even lower home insurance rates. 

The last sentence in this post represents opinion, not fact.

While there may be some neighbors who think the police station is preferable to other alternatives, there is a growing consensus that the proposed project, with its 100 surface parking spaces, will 

• demolish homes 

• continue the rampant annihilation of Charlotte's tree canopy

• increase stormwater runoff into local creeks

• decrease walkability in one of Charlotte's most pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods. 

No environmental impact studies have been done. 

Neighbors also feel that the sprawling design of the one-story building is not the right fit for an inner-ring, urban neighborhood. 

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, there are more appropriate sites for this project on Central Avenue - sites that are already cleared and/or paved, zoned commercial, and a better economic value. 

Please check out this page for more information:

www.facebook.com/SaveCentral