Aaargh! If you get the Observer, be sure to check out this weeks cover page of the Neighbors of Lake Norman. If you don't get it, go out today and buy it or view online at www.lakenormanneighbors.com. It affects all of us who live in the area. I have complained for weeks about the new developments along HWY 73 that will add to the already existing Northcross (Target) Shopping center. I as much as anyone enjoy having a Target in my area and will visit the proposed Michael's instead of driving to Mooresville. But these new stores along 73 will add to the already heavy and frustrating traffic. Our friends Dan and Quillain (Mandy's parents) will no longer be able to make a turn left into their neighborhood if traveling toward the intersection of 73 and 21. One neighborhood along 73 is already not allowed to make a turn into their own neighborhood! How outrageous!
The paper today talks about new proposed development on Westmoreland Road. 105 acres, 900,000 square feet, department stores, high-end grocery store, condos, 2 hotels, conference center, and other small stores. Chris and Tonya this will be in your back yard, literally. And Shawn and Emily, Tony and Julie, your neighbor. This may mean a new exit from 77 (which there would have to be if this size development is built).
I as much as anyone love having Birkdale and it's high-end stores near by. I enjoy the conveince of having a Harris Teeter and a 24 hour CVS on my own exit. I am excited about Discovery Place being within walking distance of my current home. When and if we ever sell and buy a larger home, I'd love to think we could buy a new home. But when is enough enough? In 10 years or less there will be no trees, no cows, no green spaces. I am already feeling claustrophobic in this area and it will only get worse. The new proposed development on Westmoreland will mean that Emma Kate and Jack, Cam, Isabelle and Logan will see stores and pavement on their daily trip to J.V. Washam Elementary school instead of the grazing cows, silo, and old barn that occupy the acreage now.
There is also a proposed development at 115 and Alexandriana Road that will be 400 acres and 1 million square feet that will very likely affect exit 23 and will mean a new ramp from 485. In addition, a new exit 32 and points north.
We have lived in Huntersville for 7 years and have seen the area grow unbelievably, But I'm ready to say stop! Stop the growth, stop the retail, stop the traffic congestion, stop ruining the downtown feel of our towns.
So on that note: Anyone want to buy a lovely brick townhome in a neotraditional neighborhood near historic downtown Huntersville?
Fletcher is Growing up Fast!
3 comments:
We've been reading about that Westmoreland development, too, and the COWS are my one of my biggest concerns as well! Those cows were some of Cam's earliest pleasures in the car - he would look for the cows, moo at them, and learned what a fence, barn, and hay bale are thanks to that field! Forget Lazy 5 Ranch - if we need fast entertainment, we have it 1 mile away.
Furthermore, that stretch of Westmoreland Road has always brought me comfort - made me feel like I'm not raising Cam in SUBURBIA but something a little more like Wilkesboro - where it was nothing to have to drive past multiple farms to get from my home to any of my friends' homes.
I stood in line last week with a life-long Lake Norman resident who remembers when the Davidson Ice House was the place to go purchase ICE (can you imagine?) on the weekends before loading up on the boat. She mentioned that North Mecklenburg was literally "asleep" with farms and families until 15 years ago. It seems to me that it's time North Meck to settle in for another nap!
Great comments, Emily. By the way, the Icehouse is no longer an arts complex but now has a sign in fron that it will be turned into condos. If they tear down that old building to construct condos, I'll be mortified! Fletcher took art classes there last summer and I can not beleive it's closed.
ok, so you know how much i love cows, and it just sucks to have so much development that everything natural and somewhat relaxing to look at, be around, turns to road rage. I found it pretty frustrating visiting Tonya at 5:30 pm - and people in charlotte ride your ass until you turn, like they were going to run me over if i didnt risk my own life by pulling out in front of a truck. granted, flipping someone off is pretty much a universal gesture, but i had to do that 5 or 6 times. i never have to flip off a cow, you know?
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