February 12, 2016. From my archives of news articles .
This is a portion of the article and also a portion of the original artwork
 commissioned for  my special feature on Cherry.


The Charlotte Observer

Apr. 08, 2005 

Saving Cherry

Without city action, historic black community will be lost

Can Cherry, a century-old African American neighborhood of affordable housing, be preserved? It's beginning to look as if the answer is no. Unless city leaders step in, the neighborhood will almost certainly be lost to gentrification.

Cherry, which was named in 1891 but probably predates the Civil War, is a marvel of survival. For decades it offered black Charlotteans a place where they could own a small home and grow a garden. Meanwhile, all around it, farms developed into theMyers Park neighborhood, Independence Boulevard and the Midtown shopping area. Nearby property values have soared.

Cherry's land values haven't, though, probably due to the many houses in poor repair, plus lingering racism, which can depress property values in many black neighborhoods.

But unless it gets protection from relentless economic forces, Cherry will succumb. Over the years developers have bought and demolished houses on its fringe. That process will continue, with higher land values creeping farther into the neighborhood's heart. Rising tax bills will force landlords to raise rents and push low-income and elderly homeowners to sell out.

Or maybe Cherry becomes the next NoDa, with urban pioneers refurbishing its houses. That, too, raises property values. In either case, the neighborhood's low-income residents would eventually be displaced.