“Stop Gentrification Through Ownership”: Inside a Powerful Conversation with Charlotte’s Black Developers

Charlotte, NC — On Tuesday morning, from 8:30 to 10:00 AM, the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum became more than a panel—it became a window into the lived experiences, strategies, and urgency behind Black development in Charlotte.

Featuring developers Bobby Drakeford, Todd Collins, and Shawn Kennedy, the conversation moved beyond theory. It was grounded in personal history, real projects, and a shared mission: to turn growth into ownership for Black communities.

From Left to Right: Shawn Kennedy, Bobby Drakeford, and Todd Collins, speak on panel at the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum.

“A Lot of What Hasn’t Happened…”

Bobby Drakeford didn’t begin with numbers. He began with a truth.

“A lot of what hasn’t happened is based on conversations that haven’t happened.”

A native Charlottean who grew up behind Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on the West Side, Drakeford’s story is deeply tied to the city’s transformation. His father was both a small business owner and a professor at Johnson C. Smith University, later becoming a broker—an influence that introduced Drakeford to real estate after he returned to Charlotte in 1991 as a tax attorney.

He remembers when homes in neighborhoods like Wesley Heights, Plaza Midwood, and Greenville were affordable—before appreciation changed everything.

And he noticed something critical early on:

The people buying and holding land were mostly white—because they understood its future value.

Now, Drakeford is working to shift that reality. His current developments near Statesville Avenue and Harding High School include affordable, for-sale units—a deliberate move to create ownership, not just housing.

His model is simple, but powerful: Affordable homeownership is the foundation for wealth in Black communities.

From $15,000 Deals to Multi-State Development

Todd Collins, CEO of Red Hill Ventures, brought a different lens—one shaped by both humility and strategy.

Raised in Houston by parents who grew up picking cotton on land they owned, Collins once thought that experience was normal—until he arrived at Morehouse College and realized just how unique it was.

His first deal was as practical as it was transformative:

• Bought a property for $15,000

• Fixed it up

• Sold it for $30,000

• Reinvested—without spending his own money

But success didn’t come quickly. Collins spent eight years balancing a full-time job while building his real estate portfolio before going all in.

Now operating across DC, North Carolina, and Texas, his strategy is rooted in value creation:

• Buying undervalued or under-managed assets

• Redeveloping them into thriving spaces

• Creating ecosystems where businesses feed into each other’s success

One example: his recent acquisition of The Boardwalk, which he is actively redeveloping with new tenants like Brixx Pizza and local bakery concepts.

His philosophy is intentional:

“Your goal is that every new tenant you bring makes the others successful.”

Knocking on Doors, Buying Homes for $13K

If Collins represents strategy, Shawn Kennedy represents instinct—and relentless action.

Kennedy, who often introduces himself as “Queen Esther’s grandson,” moved to Charlotte in 2004 after graduating from Morehouse College.

Before real estate, he was already building:

• Opened 5 clothing stores

• Launched a bar at just 22 years old (a move he admits “was not a good idea”)

• Ran multiple restaurants and nightlife ventures across Charlotte

But everything changed in 2009 when he discovered real estate.

With no formal roadmap, Kennedy began:

• Knocking on doors in NoDa

• Buying single-family homes starting at $13,000

• Learning the business in real time

“There was no plan,” he said. “I was building the plane while flying it.”

Today, that same man is preparing to release over 700 affordable housing units, all designed as for-sale products—not rentals.

His projects include:

• Developments in Hidden Valley (over 30 townhomes)

• Work tied to the Excelsior redevelopment

• Community-driven initiatives that prioritize Black builders and contractors

And he’s intentional about who benefits:

“We don’t try to bring in minority trades—we bring in Black builders.”

In one project alone, 4 out of 5 builders interviewed were Black, with an emphasis on ensuring their subcontractors also reflect the community.

What Developers Actually Do

One of the most clarifying moments came when the panel broke down a common misconception.

Developers are not builders.

As Kennedy explained:

• Developers create the vision

• Secure financing

• Navigate city relationships and zoning

• Hire builders to execute

It’s a role that requires strategy more than labor—and one that offers high leverage for wealth creation.

Collins added another layer, explaining tools like 1031 exchanges, which allow investors to defer taxes while reinvesting in larger properties—accelerating wealth over time.

Gentrification: The Real Answer

When asked if gentrification could happen “safely” without displacing communities of color, Collins didn’t hesitate:

“There is one way to prevent gentrification. And it’s that we own the properties.”

It was one of the most direct statements of the morning.

Ownership, he emphasized, doesn’t start with luxury—it starts with entry:

• Small investments

• Delayed gratification

• Understanding appreciation

Because once land is owned, displacement becomes far less likely.

The Youth Are Missing

Despite packed community meetings and growing developments, Kennedy highlighted a concerning trend:

The average age at community meetings is around 60 years old.

Younger generations aren’t showing up.

And when they are, there’s often a mindset shift needed:

“Why would I want to live in the hood?”

Kennedy challenged that thinking directly—pointing out that communities are often only valued after they’ve been transformed and priced out.

Rebuilding Career Awareness

The panel also touched on education—not just in schools, but in exposure.

Kennedy shared that he didn’t have his first Black male teacher until Morehouse, and that today’s youth still lack visibility into alternative career paths.

“Carpenters and plumbers make six figures,” he said. “And they don’t know it.”

Collins echoed this through action, creating scholarship pathways that:

• Move individuals from hourly jobs (like Walmart)

• Into skilled professions (like nurse aide programs)

• Doubling their income potential

Policy, Power, and the Future of the West Side

Drakeford brought the conversation back to policy—specifically zoning overlays and transit-related rezoning discussions impacting areas like West Boulevard.

His stance was clear:

• Some zoning overlays are not favorable to Black communities

• Advocacy must include equitable provisions

• Policy decisions shape not just buildings—but who gets to stay

The Cost of Entry—and Creative Solutions

Audience members also raised concerns about rising commercial rent:

• Co-working spaces reaching $2,000/month

• Retail starting at $5,000/month

Collins responded with a practical alternative:

At East Town Market, his team offers:

• Office and retail spaces starting at $700/month

• Increased occupancy from 30% to 90%

Proof that affordability can exist—with the right development strategy.

The Unanswered—but Critical Question

As the panel closed, SISTAH Magazine posed a question that shifted the room:

Is development a male-dominated industry—and how can Black women enter and compete?

Todd Collins didn’t hesitate.

He stated plainly that real estate development is a white male-dominated industry, and in all his years across multiple markets, he could point to only one Black woman operating at a highly competitive level:

Dionne Nelson, a graduate of Spelman College, known for leading and executing large-scale development projects.

But the weight of his answer wasn’t just in who he named.

It was in what followed:

He only knew one.

In an industry that shapes land, policy, wealth, and the physical future of cities, that reality is more than a gap—it’s a call to action.

Because throughout the conversation, one thing remained clear:Development is not just about construction—it’s about control, ownership, and influence.

And without Black women in those rooms—structuring deals, leading projects, and owning land—entire perspectives are missing from the blueprint.

The question, then, is no longer just how to enter.

It’s how to intentionally build pathways, access, and capital pipelines so that Black women are not the exception—but a defining force in the future of development.

The Bottom Line

This wasn’t just a conversation about real estate.

It was a masterclass in:

• Ownership

• Strategy

• Policy

• Community responsibility

And above all, timing.

Because as Charlotte continues to grow, the window to build wealth through land is still open—but it won’t stay that way forever.

The question is no longer whether development is happening.

It’s whether we are ready to own a piece of it.

For more community-centered economic stories and conversations, follow SISTAH Magazine.