Residents want sober-living homes out of Charlotte neighborhood

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Residents are fighting to get three homes for recovering addicts throughout Charlotte out of their neighborhood.

This is after city leaders decided Tuesday to reduce the number of recovering addicts that live in them.

Many residents weren't aware that these homes existed in their neighborhood.
 
"We're not trying to cause problems for anybody but we all just want to feel safe," a resident said. 
 
The homes are at 5901 Amity Place, 326 Bass Lane and 3515 McManus Drive and are called Fresh Start Sober Living Homes.

They are homes for recovering addicts.

Many people who live close by told us -- they don't want the homes or their tenants in their neighborhoods.

One homeowner who lives on Bass Lane didn't want her face shown.

“It's just very disturbing because there are a lot of different men coming in and out of that house,” said a resident on Bass Lane. “It's very transient.”

Michael Gillis, owner of the Sober Living homes, appeared before the zoning board committee Tuesday after he said a neighbor complained about the number of people living in the homes.

There are currently 37 people living in three recovery homes.
 
The board ruled that was too many and reduced the number of occupants to 28.
 
"They didn't substantiate it with any hard evidence any evidence whatsoever," Gillis said. 
 
Homeowners said they haven't seen any violence at the homes but they are concerned, nonetheless.
 
"I don't think that it's fair for us to be put at risk," a homeowner said.

Gillis said he opened his first home in 2007.

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