CHARLOTTE — Mayor Vi Lyles needs a green light from city commissioners to build a new home in Charlotte’s historic McCrorey Heights neighborhood.
You may remember she demolished the historic home originally on the site back in February of this year. That decision was met with skepticism from neighbors.
Lyles got a permit to demolish her home before McCrorey Heights became a historic district. Now that she wants to build on the vacant lot, she needs permission from Charlotte’s Historic District Commission.
The new house is being called the Alexander residence. It is a ranch-style brick building that is 27.5 feet at its tallest and 89 feet wide. Staff says it is about the same size of neighboring properties
The scrutiny over Mayor Lyles’ new home is because of where it is located and what it is replacing.
Lyles decided to demolish her original home back in February, saying it had severe water damage and foundation issues. But the home itself was steeped in Charlotte history.
That house was built in 1957 and was the longtime home to Isaac Heard, a prominent engineer for the Charlotte Douglas Airport. He went on to fight urban renewal with the city’s development office.
Charlotte’s first Black mayor, Harvey Gantt, designed the home’s carport and a room addition.
McCrorey Heights is a historic district, so all new construction has to be approved before it can be built.
The mayor did not attend a meeting with the Historic District Commission Wednesday, but she was represented by her project engineer.
“We have a 0.4 acre, we intend to build a single-family home,” engineer Kenneth Kornegay said.
Lyles’ son also attended virtually.
The commission was excited and honored to consider the application.
“I think it is very exciting to have someone who has served in our community submit an application,” said chair Kim Parati.
But they didn’t take it easy on her. They questioned whether the mayor needs a three-car garage, its proximity to the curb, and whether it will blend in with the neighboring homes.
“Not only is this house larger than any of the other historic houses, it is also wider than any other houses there,” Parati said.
The mayor’s project engineer said if they need to scale back their project to meet the Historic District Commission’s guidelines, they will do it.
A decision is expected by April.
This was the first application from McCrorey Heights to the commission.
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