The Northside and Pine Knolls Community Plan Working Group was created in 2012 to come up with a long term plan for the community, but property owners say they’ve been left out of many of the group’s discussions.
“They aren’t represented on this committee or any other committee,” said Bob Lincoln, who owns seven rental properties in Northside. “I don’t think it’s fair or that the decisions will be very balanced because of that.”
The committee is comprised of staff from the town; the Jackson Center, which chronicles the history of Northside and advocates for its preservation; EmPOWERment, Inc., a Chapel Hill-based organization that connects people to affordable housing; and other community organizations and residents.
Lincoln said those organizations are important voices that need to be respected when it comes to the neighborhood, but there are other groups that have a stake in decision-making.
He said most Northside residences are rentals owned by investors and many tenants are students, despite the neighborhood being a historically black, low-income community.
“The landlords are trying to create a good place and many of us think Northside has become a much better place than 10 years ago,” he said. “I just don’t think the town respects the students enough and the contribution they make.”
Northside landlord Mark Patmore, who owns Mercia Residential Properties, said the town should appoint a permanent Northside neighborhood committee and require that one member be a property owner.
“The neighborhood belongs to property owners — we own the neighborhood,” he said. “Let’s say they ban duplexes and you want to build one and now you can’t — that has a direct financial impact to the property.”
