CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For more than 25 years, Demetrice Lockett has called Brookhill Village her home.

“I moved in Brookhill when I had my son,” Lockett says.  “He was about 5 years old when I moved over.”

In that time, she’s seen the heart of the city of Charlotte inch closer and closer as South End continues to expand.

“It’s very convenient because I’m just 10 minutes away from the job because I work at Atrium health main,” Lockett explains. “So it doesn’t take long to get to work. Close to the grocery store, Walmart, it’s very convenient in the area we’re in right now.”

Lockett has watched as the skyline adds buildings and cranes, but also as affordable housing options continue to deteriorate, including Brookhill.

“And the market rate I hear now,” Lockett says. “It’s hard for anybody to afford if you’re making that type of blue collar money and stuff.”

That's why she was so excited when she heard a developer was coming in with a new Brookhill, designed by Lookout Housing Ventures, Inc.

“They’ve showed us a plan of what the apartment is going to look like,” Lockett says. “They’re going to be beautiful, they say a swimming pool, retail stores, and all. And when I say that’s going to be awesome, I’m hoping they keep that and tell the truth that that’s what’s going to happen.”

But with the excitement, comes some nervousness.

“I pray that whatever they do, that everybody over here would be able to go back into one,” Lockett adds.  “And they would be able to do something affordable to be able to stay.”

It's something that hinges on whether the city continues to work with the developers to help them pay for some of the costs of the affordable housing section.

“There’s no way a person should be out here homeless,” Lockett says.  “If they can build ball parks, all kind of retail stores, with money they say they don’t have for people who want a place to stay.”

Until a final decision is made between the developers and the city, Lockett says residents are anxiously in limbo as they wait to hear about their next move.

“It has made me kind of worry about if it’s still going to be affordable, because that’s the thing you hear people talking and saying. Since it’s like South End, they may be going up and just telling us a story. But I’m praying,” Lockett says. “That it’s not. They keep it affordable as they say they are going to do.”