Larry Kuzniewski
Carnita Atwater
One of the main voices of the resistance against the Memphis 3.0 plan, Carnita Atwater, is not a Memphis resident, according to a Local 24 investigation.
Local 24 reported Friday that Atwater lives in a $400,000 house in Germantown, not in the New Chicago neighborhood which she has been advocating for and where she works as the president of the New Chicago community development corporation. Atwater’s Facebook profile claims she lives in Memphis.
The Memphis City Council has twice delayed taking the first of three votes on an ordinance that would adopt the 3.0 plan. The first delay was prompted by a few dozen New Chicago residents’ opposition to the plan voiced at the council’s March 19th meeting. Atwater was one of those residents.
The vote was held a second time this week. This time the council will return to the vote in 30 days. Council Chair Kemp Conrad said Tuesday that there needs to be more community input before the council votes.
The second delay came three days after New Chicago residents protested the 3.0 plan in a rally organized by Atwater.
Atwater previously voiced concern about the lack of plans and investment for New Chicago in the Memphis 3.0 plan. But, Atwater reportedly had her own version of plans for New Chicago that she requested be included in the 3.0 plan, but were not.
Facebook- Carnita Atwater
Atwater speaks against the Memphis 3.0 plan at a rally Saturday
“She put some of the suggestions I had in there, but when it came to funding, none of those were put in there when it came to integrating the New Chicago revitalization plan, that was not integrated into the Memphis 3.0,” Atwater was quoted in Local 24.
Atwater asked the city to sell or donate 22 acres of land to her in order for her to proceed with a master redevelopment plan. The plan includes housing for seniors and veterans, a five-star resort, and the New Chicago Adventure Park.
The adventure park would house a replica African village, a lake for boat rides, and an RV park, while offering llama and alpaca rides, live shows, and zip lining.
Atwater said last week that she would move forward with a $10 billion lawsuit against the city if the city council approves the plan.
