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Five Points Forward
This project is in response to a long-held and broadly felt desire by the 5 Points and greater Historic West End communities for a grocery store—a desire confirmed through a community planning process with assistance by Shook Kelley, named 5 Points Forward. The development model and the composition of the team is a direct reflection of the community’s desire to build community—for existing and new residents—in a manner that will support existing residents at many levels.
5 Points Forward is a grassroots stakeholder initiative led by Historic West End Partners in partnership with the Knight Foundation, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Shook Kelley has provided community engagement, master planning, design and development services to create a shared community vision for spurring equitable and innovative development in the West End. Through authentic community involvement, a blueprint has been created that recognizes the historic past and progressive future of the community. The buildings and active spaces are designed with the intent to support a range of activities, both passive and active, for people of all stages in life, gathering together the diversity of a new 5 Points.
This is unlike any community development initiative ever undertaken within Charlotte. It will be owned long-term by community interests and not developers. Income derived from its realization will flow directly back into the community, assisting other initiatives to stabilize, support, and uplift the community and its residents. Built upon land that will be owned by a community land trust, ownership of the development once its debt is fully retired will revert to a community-based non-profit entity formed for the specific purpose of providing long-term affordability and food stability within the West End with a community-owned food market; multifamly residential units at diverse price points catering to individuals, young families and seniors; and a community center Mobility Hub with access to fractional car leases and micro-mobility options. As a stabilizing force it will serve as a bulwark against the negative aspects of gentrification while accommodating and integrating the inevitable change in cultures and incomes that attend growing urban neighborhoods.
The 5 Points Forward development will tackle multiple core needs through a comprehensive mixed-use development. It will offer permanent affordable housing for emerging families, with rental units tailored to young individuals and couples, and be particularly attractive and beneficial to those who work along the LYNX Gold Streetcar Line. As a result of a deed restriction coupled to continual non-profit ownership, the housing will always be affordable.
Without question, the first members of a neighborhood to be impacted by gentrification are the elderly. If a rental property—particularly one that has been home for a long time—is sold out from under someone, their life is seriously impacted. But even if someone sells their long-held asset for a notable profit there is a loss. The resident loses in that they now must likely move out of their neighborhood and away from friends and other social connections, situations that can lead to one of the worst situations for the elderly: Loneliness. The neighborhood also loses when a member of the social fabric disappears. The 5 Points Forward development will provide a home for senior residents disrupted by gentrification.
The project will provide a food desert solution that will stand the test of time. The heart of 5 Points once had its own supermarket, an A&P store constructed in the late 1960s. When it arrived, it displaced a number of smaller mom & pop neighborhood stores that served both a mercantile and a social function, collectively acting as a safety net providing credit for working families temporarily unable to pay for that week’s groceries. So, when the A&P left twenty some years after it opened, it calcified the damage that it began when it came to the community.
Above all else, solving this food desert issue is the end goal of this endeavor.
The 5 Points Forward project began with a commitment from Historic West End Partners (HWEP), the Knight Foundation, LISC Charlotte (the Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Shook Kelley and it's development arm, Chotomy—to create a permanent home for a community-owned grocery store. Over the past three years HWEP and these other community members have worked along a path of identification, vetting and selection of a grocery store partner that builds community through active daily, weekly and seasonal programming to bring people from diverse backgrounds and experiences together around the benefits and joy of healthy food.
5 Points Forward is a grassroots stakeholder initiative led by Historic West End Partners in partnership with the Knight Foundation, and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Shook Kelley has provided community engagement, master planning, design and development services to create a shared community vision for spurring equitable and innovative development in the West End. Through authentic community involvement, a blueprint has been created that recognizes the historic past and progressive future of the community. The buildings and active spaces are designed with the intent to support a range of activities, both passive and active, for people of all stages in life, gathering together the diversity of a new 5 Points.
This is unlike any community development initiative ever undertaken within Charlotte. It will be owned long-term by community interests and not developers. Income derived from its realization will flow directly back into the community, assisting other initiatives to stabilize, support, and uplift the community and its residents. Built upon land that will be owned by a community land trust, ownership of the development once its debt is fully retired will revert to a community-based non-profit entity formed for the specific purpose of providing long-term affordability and food stability within the West End with a community-owned food market; multifamly residential units at diverse price points catering to individuals, young families and seniors; and a community center Mobility Hub with access to fractional car leases and micro-mobility options. As a stabilizing force it will serve as a bulwark against the negative aspects of gentrification while accommodating and integrating the inevitable change in cultures and incomes that attend growing urban neighborhoods.
The 5 Points Forward development will tackle multiple core needs through a comprehensive mixed-use development. It will offer permanent affordable housing for emerging families, with rental units tailored to young individuals and couples, and be particularly attractive and beneficial to those who work along the LYNX Gold Streetcar Line. As a result of a deed restriction coupled to continual non-profit ownership, the housing will always be affordable.
Without question, the first members of a neighborhood to be impacted by gentrification are the elderly. If a rental property—particularly one that has been home for a long time—is sold out from under someone, their life is seriously impacted. But even if someone sells their long-held asset for a notable profit there is a loss. The resident loses in that they now must likely move out of their neighborhood and away from friends and other social connections, situations that can lead to one of the worst situations for the elderly: Loneliness. The neighborhood also loses when a member of the social fabric disappears. The 5 Points Forward development will provide a home for senior residents disrupted by gentrification.
The project will provide a food desert solution that will stand the test of time. The heart of 5 Points once had its own supermarket, an A&P store constructed in the late 1960s. When it arrived, it displaced a number of smaller mom & pop neighborhood stores that served both a mercantile and a social function, collectively acting as a safety net providing credit for working families temporarily unable to pay for that week’s groceries. So, when the A&P left twenty some years after it opened, it calcified the damage that it began when it came to the community.
Above all else, solving this food desert issue is the end goal of this endeavor.
The 5 Points Forward project began with a commitment from Historic West End Partners (HWEP), the Knight Foundation, LISC Charlotte (the Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Shook Kelley and it's development arm, Chotomy—to create a permanent home for a community-owned grocery store. Over the past three years HWEP and these other community members have worked along a path of identification, vetting and selection of a grocery store partner that builds community through active daily, weekly and seasonal programming to bring people from diverse backgrounds and experiences together around the benefits and joy of healthy food.