Advertisements, websites and other marketing materials published by the Antiquity developers emphasize the project’s Davidson connections, rather than its location within the Cornelius town limits. A map on the AntiquityNC.com website even shows South Street as a cul-de-sac (illustration), irking residents who have long worried that the development would be pitched as a Davidson project.

(See related story: “With South Street opening soon, residents raise old concerns”)

Asked about the developer’s portrayal of South Street as a cul-de-sac, Davidson officials expressed concern.

“He needs to get that right,” Town Board member Margo Williams said Thursday. “That seems entirely reasonable, that the map show what the real condition is.”

Said Mr. Woods, “It’s not supposed to be (a cul-de-sac). … They may be saying that from a marketing perspective, but they are in Cornelius and they’ve got to admit that.”

Mr. Roy said residents and potential homebuyers could look at the technical site plan for a more realistic depiction of the location. “Look at the site plan, people,” he said. “The star (on the marketing map) is just showing the location of the project, not that it ends in a cul-de-sac.”

But site plans for the project have not been easily accessible. A project map was available on the AntiquityNC.com website briefly last winter, but it was removed this spring when a new marketing Website went up. After learning of the situation earlier this week, Mr. Roy pledged to restore the map. By Thursday night, a new one had appeared. (see http://www.antiquitync.com/news/)

The site plan also is on file at in the planning department at Cornelius Town Hall.

Davidson may have little power to influence the developer’s marketing, which may be designed to garner a “Davidson” premium on home prices. The interlocal agreement does not address the issue of how the property is marketed.

Although Mr. Roy said the South Street map is not intended to show what the site really looks like, the project’s and developer’s websites also contain other information that could mislead potential buyers – and that also raises concerns in Davidson.

SCHOOL QUESTIONS

One of the biggest concerns is over schools. The AntiquityNC.com website notes the development is within walking distance of Davidson Elementary – though it does not mention that the homes are in the Cornelius Elementary School zone.

The Venture Properties Website is less careful, saying: “Parents may choose between sending their children to two of the top elementary schools in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools system; either Davidson Elementary School, literally within walking distance, or Cornelius Elementary School.”

That’s not correct, said Davidson Elementary School principal Celeste Ellis. School zones for 2007-2008 are set, she said. That means at least for now, children moving into Antiquity this school year would go to Cornelius Elementary. Ms. Ellis said there are no plans to redraw the zones for the coming year.

As for the future, Davidson Elementary is already over capacity. The school will have more than a dozen mobile classrooms when it opens this fall, to handle an enrollment increase from about 950 students to nearly 1,000. By contrast, Cornelius now has two elementary schools – Cornelius Elementary off Catawba Avenue and the newer J.V. Washam, off Westmoreland Road.