Charlotte's New Medical District Opens, But Affordable Housing Remains Elusive
Atrium Health's promise of affordable housing in Charlotte's Pearl Innovation District remains unfulfilled, leaving residents disappointed.
Jacqueline Stowe, a 76-year-old resident who grew up in the Brooklyn community, has seen big promises come and go. In the 1960s, the community was bulldozed for urban renewal, with city leaders promising to rebuild and allow families to return.
Now, decades later, Stowe fears that another promise tied to the same land — a vow to create affordable housing — could be broken too.
In 2021, Atrium Health unveiled a plan to build a medical school and research campus on the Brooklyn land, aiming to make Charlotte a center for medical innovation. The project required $75 million in taxpayer money for infrastructure such as roads, utilities, and parking.
- Atrium Health's promise of affordable housing remains unfulfilled
- The project received $75 million in taxpayer money for infrastructure
- Residents are disappointed and fear another broken promise
Author's summary: Atrium Health's promise of affordable housing in Charlotte's new medical district remains unfulfilled.