12/12/2025
Charlotte’s West Side just gained a powerful symbol of history and progress! Two historic 1890s “shotgun homes,” now lovingly named Lula and James, have been relocated and repurposed as affordable housing in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Led by the West Side Community Land Trust in partnership with the Lakeview CLT, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and the City of Charlotte Government, this project preserves Charlotte’s Black heritage while creating tiny, self-contained ADUs to address the city’s urgent affordable housing needs.
From their origins on West Bland Street to their educational role at the Gantt Center, these homes now serve as proof that historic preservation and community-led affordable housing can thrive together. This initiative shows what’s possible when neighbors, partners, and preservation efforts unite to build both community and opportunity.