Depending on outside funding, other options could include:
- expanding Chantilly Neighborhood Park
- a greenway trail
- educational opportunities for the nearby elementary school and community
on the former Cavalier site.
Check out the project blog
September 2012 project mailer
Restoration project objectives:
- improve water quality and aquatic habitat in Briar Creek, Edwards Branch and Chantilly Tributary
- restore a total of about about4,500 linear feet of the streams
- temporarily hold some floodwater during heavy rain
Restoration project costs:
Approximately $2.2 million
Possible restoration funding sources:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Fees
Project schedule:
Planning and design: Summer 2012 to fall 2013
Wildlands Engineerings, Inc.
Construction: Expected to begin summer of 2014
Work to restore the stream channels and floodplain will begin after CMUD completes installation of a new sanitary sewer line along Briar Creek in the spring of 2014.
Efforts are made to minimize disruption to nearby property owners.
Overall restoration project manager:
David Goode, P.E.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
704-432-3087
Water quality enhancements project manager:
John Schrum
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services
704-336-3927
Why a buyout?
The two apartment complexes were built in Charlotte’s worst flood hazard area. The complexes were built in the 1960s before restrictions on construction in floodplains. Three devastating floods in nine years caused millions of dollars in damage to both the Cavalier and the Doral Apartment complexes and to the belongings of people living there.
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Doral/Cavalier site during 1997 flood |
Doral/Cavalier site in 2012 after demolition |
Engineering studies confirmed there was no feasible way to stop Briar Creek from flooding the apartments. If the highest-risk units remained, future flood damages would be 400% higher than the cost of the buyouts.
As part of Storm Water Services’
Floodplain Buyout Program:
- all of the Cavalier Apartments were purchased in 2008 and torn down in 2009
- half of the Doral Apartments were purchased in 2010 and torn down in 2011
Cavalier buyout cost: $9.6 million
$6.6 million to purchase land (13 acres and buildings (192 apartment units)
$3 million for tenant relocation and building demolition
Cavalier buyout funding sources:
FEMA Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant: $5.4 million (56%)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services: $4.2 million (44%)
See the Cavalier Apartments' timeline. |
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Flooded Cavalier Apartments in 2008 |
See a video from the March 12, 2009 Demolition Ceremony showing the benefits of this project.
Doral buyout cost: $4.7 million
$3.1 million to purchase land (8.4 acres) and qualifying buildings (128 apartment units)
$1.6 million for tenant relocation and demolition
Doral buyout funding sources:
FEMA Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant: $3.5 million (75%)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services: $1.2 million (25%)
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See the Doral Apartments timeline.
Read the news release about the Doral Apartments buyout.
The buyout did not include more than ten acres of the Doral complex closest to Monroe road. The current owner of Doral will decide what to do with the 132 apartment units and more than ten acres of land still under Doral's private ownership. |
Doral Apartments demolition in 2011 |
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Giving back to the community
Before demolition in 2009, Habitat for Humanity removed reusable items from the Cavalier and Doral Apartments such as appliances, doors, windows, cabinets, and light fixtures. See a
video.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police used empty apartment units for training exercises for SWAT officers and K-9 units.
During demolition at both sites, all asphalt, brick, concrete, carpets and metal products were recycled.