Community has worries about phase three of Dairy Market project
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va (CBS19 NEWS) -- Tuesday night, the developers that brought Charlottesville the Dairy Market heard from a number of Black residents who feel like they are being pushed out of their own community by what could be Phase 3 of the Preston Avenue developmental plan.
"It doesn't look good," said Airea Garland, a neighbor of the potential project.
Garland and others organized an impromptu meeting at what was supposed to be an open house for the Stony Point Development Group to share renderings and ideas for the next phase of their project.
The developer is required to have community meetings before applying for a permit to begin building.
The group of nearby residents don't like the ideas though.
"It seems as though the Dairy Market is building a community within the neighborhood," said Garland.
Concerned people say this project is adding to the gentrification of their community. President of Stony Point Development Group Chris Henry says his group is paying attention to their worries.
"We are hearing a lot of neighborhood concerns that are typical with a project of this size. We are listening and taking notes," he said.
Instead, Henry thinks this will contribute more to the community.
"I think this project will add more housing, new commercial space, a new mixed-use environment in addition to what's been created at the Dairy Market project," he said.
But Garland wonders if all this will fit into her existing community.
"I am really interested in seeing their plans for how they plan to integrate and include the neighborhood into their plans and so far, I am not seeing that," she said.
This all, of course, must be approved by the Charlottesville City Council to become a reality. Councilor Juandiego Wade says this is the first of many gatherings to talk about the project.
"It's going to be a while before it gets to us, but for me, how I like to govern, is to really get the input as much as I can in different ways," he said.
Garland says her community needs to continue to share concerns and talk about the project.
"The community definitely needs to come out and be a part of the conversation," she said.
Stony Point Development Group says it is willing to continue these conversations like the ones had Tuesday night.