Mr. Muhammed Darar, owner of the Mulberry House restaurant in Washington, NC, has asked the City Council to rezone the property adjacent to the high school from Residential to Office and Institutional ("O&I"). What this means for your high school students? 

In O&I, almost anything can be built including a restaurant/ bar. At Mr. Darar's current restaurant/ bar downtown, he holds DRAG QUEEN events and other alcohol fueled events. If this property is rezoned, he can do the same thing RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILDREN - and children visiting from other schools. The current soccer field has a clear and close line of sight to the property.

Another major concern is that the streets in this area are already congested and hazardous due to traffic from the high school. Many residents enjoy walking in our neighborhood but face risks from high school students speeding through to avoid traffic backed up at the stoplight. The addition of hundreds more vehicles from his proposed 96-apartments complex will only exacerbate these safety issues.

Moreover, such drastic changes threaten property values within our community. According to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), proximity to large-scale housing developments can negatively impact nearby residential property values.

The developer is trying to make people believe there is a "housing crisis" in Washington. THERE IS NOT! U.S. Census data PROVES it! 

We must protect Slatestone Hills from these disruptive developments that threaten both our quality of life and financial stability. We urge city officials to reconsider this rezoning proposal and prioritize preserving the character and safety of established communities like ours.

Please join us in opposing this rezoning effort by signing this petition today!