PlanCharlotte.org is a project of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, an applied research and community outreach institute at UNC Charlotte. Our goal at PlanCharlotte.org is to be a citizen resource, looking at problems and solutions in land use planning, neighborhood design, environmental protection and other urban and regional issues. The PlanCharlotte.org website offers news, information and analysis to help the people of the Charlotte region make well-informed decisions about the shape of their cities, towns and countryside. PlanCharlotte.org hopes to both educate and connect the people of this great region as they work to build a shared future. https://ui.uncc.edu/ en Wed, 26 Aug 2020 15:54:49 -0400 Thu, 27 Aug 2020 08:28:04 -0400 https://ui.uncc.edu/story/charlotte-mecklenburg-transportation-joint-work “We cannot do this individually. If we try to attack these problems in our own lanes only, we will only succeed at failing.” “Everything we embark on needs an intergovernmental framework and strategy to move forward.” “We truly are breaking down silos that exist in government.” That’s City Council members Tariq Bokhari, Braxton Winston and Matt Newton speaking Tuesday at a joint meeting with Mecklenburg County commission members to talk about a shared strategy on transportation. The consensus was clear: We need more cooperation and joint planning to craft solutions to the region’s growing congestion.  Ely Portillo https://ui.uncc.edu/story/charlotte-mecklenburg-transportation-joint-work Wed, 26 Aug 20 15:54:49 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute https://ui.uncc.edu/story/charlotte-annual-historic-preservation-awards Ely Portillo https://ui.uncc.edu/story/charlotte-annual-historic-preservation-awards Tue, 25 Aug 20 20:37:45 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute https://ui.uncc.edu/story/great-american-outdoors-act “The public wants access to the land it already owns,” observed Jay Leutze, conservationist and author of Stand Up That Mountain. That sentiment was the driving force behind support for the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), recently signed into law after receiving wide bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. Ruth Ann Grissom https://ui.uncc.edu/story/great-american-outdoors-act Mon, 17 Aug 20 12:26:35 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute https://ui.uncc.edu/story/coronavirus-reshapes-charlotte-transit The viral outbreak and ensuing lockdowns caused transit ridership numbers to plummet nationwide as millions of people stayed home or avoided trains and buses if they had to go somewhere. The Centers for Disease Control even recommended people drive solo as they return to work, shunning densely packed transit lines in favor of their own automobile bubble. Charlotte was no different: The Charlotte Area Transit System’s (CATS) ridership fell almost 65% in May (compared to the year before) at the height of the lockdown. Ely Portillo https://ui.uncc.edu/story/coronavirus-reshapes-charlotte-transit Thu, 13 Aug 20 12:45:28 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute https://ui.uncc.edu/story/mapping-charlottes-lost-buildings Charlotte’s aging buildings are being torn down at an alarming rate, the product of a fast-growing population and strong real estate market. https://ui.uncc.edu/story/mapping-charlottes-lost-buildings Mon, 10 Aug 20 16:17:55 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute https://ui.uncc.edu/story/NC-census-response-concerning More than four in every ten North Carolina households have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, representing more than 4 million North Carolinians not currently captured in the Census. Our current response rate is below the national rate and below where our state was in 2010. North Carolina communities that have not responded at high rates are predominantly rural, Black, and Brown, with low internet access. It is vital to our state that all North Carolinians be counted: the 2020 Census ensures our state receives its fair share of more than $1.5 trillion in federal dollars from census-derived programs ($44 billion to NC in FY2017) and that these and state funds are distributed fairly across the state. https://ui.uncc.edu/story/NC-census-response-concerning Sun, 09 Aug 20 17:04:34 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute https://ui.uncc.edu/story/NOAH-housing-crisis It’s no secret that Charlotte, like the rest of the US, has a housing affordability crisis. This is the result of two main factors: We don’t have enough housing units and the housing that we have is too expensive for many of our families. https://ui.uncc.edu/story/NOAH-housing-crisis Wed, 05 Aug 20 17:56:54 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute https://ui.uncc.edu/story/approaches-for-historic-preservation-Charlotte A shiny new skyline, a “New South” city, 150,000 new residents since in the last decade — however people describe Charlotte, the word “new” always seems to be one of the first on their tongues. That’s to be expected in a fast-growing city like Charlotte. But it’s also part of the reason Charlotte has a reputation for being a city with little regard for its history, always distracted by the quest for the next big thing (NBA! NFL! Light rail! New banks! NASCAR Hall of Fame! Whitewater Center!), and all too ready to make room for the new by tearing down the old. Ely Portillo https://ui.uncc.edu/story/approaches-for-historic-preservation-Charlotte Tue, 04 Aug 20 12:38:10 -0400 UNC Charlotte Urban Institute