aShortChronicle learned in recent weeks that attorneys for all defendants asked for extensions to allow more time to respond to the claims in the suit. Those extensions are set to expire in the coming days. According to documents on file with the court, the developers have asked for more time until close of business today, Friday, March 23rd and the Town until Wednesday, March 28th. This means responses from defendants, one way or the other, should be available starting next week after allowing a couple days for mailing.
aShortChronicle has obtained the names of the attorneys for the defendants. In an email from Public Information Officer Christina Shaul, she says the Town has consulted with Keith Merritt with the law firm of Hamilton, Stephens, Steele and Martin. The attorney for the developer and landowner is Roy Michaux with K&L Gates. HSSM is a Charlotte firm with over 20 lawyers on staff while K&L Gates is a global powerhouse with its Charlotte offices in the Hearst Tower downtown.
It is unclear at this point if the Town is really willing to actually fight against a significant portion of the citizenry who oppose this project. All of the current Board members have expressed varying levels of opposition to the project's location, so it would seem unlikely they would want to spend tax dollars fighting the very taxpayers who paid those dollars. At the same time, it would seem like a bad business decision for the developers to attack citizens in the same town where they want to do business long term. For the plaintiffs part, they are just average citizens trying to protect their home values and quality of life. All of this makes for a very interesting dynamic that's about to play out.
In preparation for the next phase of this legal action, fundraising to support the plaintiffs is also ramping up. Maria Chilton who has been active in organizing citizen opposition posted this update to the GoFundMe site raising money for legal expenses.
"Exciting news - thanks to a donation from a concerned CSD parent, we are doing a matching drive for $3000 over the next two weeks! Now is a great time to donate and double your impact!
Additionally, thanks to ongoing fundraising efforts offline we are able to lower our overall GoFundMe goal. Thank you to everyone who has contributed both through GoFundMe and offline, it is truly appreciated."
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| Click here for link |
Donate at the above GoFundMe site or mail checks to:
"Luke Charde - Special Account"
PO Box 785
Davidson, NC 28036
Heidi Deitrich another activist involved in the effort had this to say about the need for the community to come together in support of the plaintiffs.
"I ask every resident of Davidson today to walk 130 steps off their back deck. Now picture a 4-story hotel with several guest suites looking down at your children playing on the swing set in the backyard. Ask yourself, would a Board of Commissioners approve a hotel 130 feet from their own back porches? From their own children's bedroom and playset? I have heard throughout the years of the Town's commitment to preserve the historic African American community - a committment to civil rights, equal rights, affordable housing and our Town's core values. Is that just lip service or are we fully committed as a community to put that into action? I urge you to put your concern for the residents of our historic African American community and Westside Terrace residents into action by making a donation today to the legal fund in effort to move this hotel project to a more appropriate location.
It is simply not fair for former Town officials to put a 4-story hotel in the back yards of residents who are begging and pleading not to have their quality of life ruined."
Please donate what you can - $10, $50, $100 or more if possible. $3000 is a short term goal that can be reached easily in this town. Many hands make light work and this is a worthy cause. Please support it today.
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