Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - In an effort for transparency and public health, Wise News Network has been actively seeking answers as to why the Rutherford Crossing Apartments are not occupiable. The complex located at 1465 W Academy Street in Cherryville, NC, was completed in November 2025, according to Gaston County, NC records. A Cherryville certificate of occupancy (CO) was passed on 11/05/2025, along with a building final inspection, which also passed. However, the apartments all remain vacant.
Tenants were supposed to start moving into the complex in December 2025, but have not yet done so. Future tenants have reached out to WNN and been given various reasons, such as "Radon Gas" and "Soil Conditions," for not being able to move in. Each month it gets pushed farther out, stated a tenant. Another future tenant stated,
"I have been down every avenue looking for a place to live, and I found Rutherford Crossing. This, I thought, was a dream come true. My dream has turned into a nightmare as I continue to be in homeless status".
Also, a 78-year-old and a 94-year-old anxiously wait each month, hoping it will be soon that they can move in.
Tenants are repeatedly asked to fill out the same paperwork. One tenant made 7 trips to complete the paperwork, only to be asked to redo it again as things are delayed. "Our question is, why are they requesting the same documents we have already provided to them a month or so ago?" stated the tenant. Tenants have been asked to visit a Shelby, NC location since the Cherryville, NC location is not open.
West Academy Street is the site of two NCDEQ Brownfields sites: Rutherford Crossing and Travis Knits. The Travis Knits site is located at 1515 West Academy Street. Documents from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) indicate that the Travis Knit site most likely contained substances that contributed to the Rutherford Crossing site. A large pile of excavated soil material from Rutherford Crossing sits to the west of the apartment site. In addition to these sites, the Westage Park Landfill site is adjacent to the south of the Rutherford Crossing site.
The mound of displaced material from the building of the Rutherford Crossing apartments - Cherryville, NC - February 13th, 2026
Mason Beam (WNN)
Rutherford Crossing's management and developer, Woda Cooper Companies, NCDEQ, or the City of Cherryville, have yet to explain why the apartments remain closed.
WNN has obtained public NCDEQ files for the Rutherford Crossing Apartments Site and the Westgate Park Landfill Site. For files, click here. Also see the previous article, Rutherford Crossing Apartments in Cherryville Delayed by Possible EPA Issues.
This is a developing story, and not all sources have replied to our requests. WNN will release more information as it becomes available.
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