Paint the Pavement

Over the course of the 3-day project, we had 80 5th graders and more than 30 community volunteers who contributed 100 hours of service to paint  90 squares covering 2,100 square ft at the intersection of Anne St. and Cheryl St. right by Shamrock Gardens Elementary School.  We had neighbors meeting neighbors who didn’t know each other before the project.  …

Embrace at The Point

The MoRA community came together to create Embrace, a stunning 16′ art sculpture (at Monroe Road and Conference Drive). At Embrace, we now have a cool spot where people meet up, celebrate, hang out, take photos, are entertained, and can relax and reflect. The shared experience of creating this remarkable mosaic and gathering spot has brought together this entire community. …

What’s a UDO? A Place Type? Summit aims to improve public understanding

Not all commercial areas in Charlotte look the same as the one the NoDa neighborhood. So, planners ask, why should the city zoning ordinance not take into account that different places might look different? They call the concept Place Types. A public workshop Saturday will explore the city’s new approach to its zoning ordinance. Photo: John Chesser Lela Ijames & …

Visiting planning expert talks about the need for a city vision

Mary Newsom | Mar 19, 2018 As Raleigh’s chief planning and development officer for nearly a decade, Mitchell Silver oversaw the rules that shaped development in that fast-growing city. Silver, president of the American Planning Association 2011-2013, will talk Thursday in Charlotte about the importance of having a vision, and what must happen after that vision is created. The event …

Can Charlotte Go From Dealmaker To Planmaker?

“This has gotten a lot of buzz the last couple of days,” said Mitch Silver, addressing a crowd of about 100 in the UNC Charlotte uptown campus’ auditorium on a Saturday. Projected on the big screen above him was a PowerPoint slide showing Charlotte’s skyline on a cloudless day, the same assembly of skyscrapers and office buildings that the attendees …

Time for a new vision for Charlotte?

By: Mary Newsom | Dec 06, 2017 What kind of city is Charlotte? If we had a shared story, what would it be? As the City of Charlotte explores how to reorganize and update its various overlapping development ordinances into one Unified Development Ordinance, the question arises whether Charlotte also needs a comprehensive plan – or at least a refreshed …

Charlotte has 45 ideas to help make SouthPark area better for pedestrians, cyclists

BY STEVE HARRISON sharrison@charlotteobserver.com February 14, 2018 10:39 AM Updated February 18, 2018 05:20 PM SouthPark was built for cars, but the city wants to remake it for pedestrians and bicyclists. Charlotte has unveiled 45 new projects to transform the businesses and neighborhoods surrounding SouthPark mall, including a new trail along Fairview Road and a “Backlot Trail” that would link …

Planning to Win: Charlotte’s Vision with Mitchell Silver

Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, PP, RTPI (hon.), FPIA (hon). Mitchell Silver became Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks in May 2014. Commissioner Silver is also the immediate past president of the American Planning Association (APA). Mitchell is an award-winning planner with over 30 years of experience. He is internationally recognized for his leadership in the planning profession …