South End doesn’t want chain retail and is worried about too many apartments

So says a new survey of South End residents conducted by Charlotte Center City Partners. Apartment construction was the No. 1 response when they were asked to list their concerns in an open-ended question. So at this point, the people who are building all the apartments apparently don’t have any worries, but the people living in them do.

This survey also revealed a lot about South End’s desires and population.

Here are the highlights:

60 percent of South End residents have lived there for two years or less. But these aren’t all transplants. More than half came from other parts of the Charlotte area.

They like living there. Most responded with a positive attitude toward South End and cited “walkability, unique flavor and locally owned shops and restaurants.”

They’re cool with going elsewhere for standard consumer goods. South End folks said they want more local stores and emphatically do not want chain retail. As in, they’re fine with going to SouthPark Mall or the Metropolitan Target for their stuff.

They’re not anti-development. Survey respondents said they are excited by construction in that it can bring more stores and “new life to the area,” but they’re worried about an oversupply of apartments. South End wants more of a balance, including condos and single-family homes.

You listening, developers?