CNU 31 heads to Charlotte May 31st to June 3rd featuring many of the brightest minds from the Urbanist Community.
I have the honor of participating in two sessions during the event:
Thursday at 4: Engineer’s Forum: Panel discussion on how to overcome barriers in conventional practices for development and transportation investments.
Participants: Lucy Gibson, PE, Paul Crabtree, PE, Tony Sease, PE, Phil Veasley, PE
Friday at 4: Highway Transformation Session Part 4: Equity in Highway Transformation: Panel discussion on how highways in cities can be transformed into equitable corridors.
Participants: Lanessa Owens-Chaplin, Esq, Amy Stelly, Lucy Gibson, PE, Camille Cortes, Taylor Korslin, Hayden Black Walker, Phil Veasley, PE
Outside of the sessions I’m participating in, it will be hard to decide which others I attend since they all sound so great. From housing initiatives, zoning reforms, street design, and more there’s well over 50 sessions.
Outside of the conference itself there’s a city full of exploration opportunity just a quick light rail ride away.
South End
Take the Blue Line (or walk) a few stations South from Uptown to the South End which is buzzing with shops, restaurants, and Transit Orientated Development. In just 15 years, this area has transformed from a light industrial afterthought to one of the best neighborhoods in the Southeast. Much of the new energy here is due to the Rail Trail and Blue Line light rail system. Converted warehouses have been given new life and mid to high-rise towers are being sprinkled in between.
The aerial images below represent the growth from 2002 to 2022 (GoogleEarth).
Noda
On the opposite end of Uptown sits Noda, a classic urban neighborhood featuring a varied mix of housing, restaurants and small retail. Since the extension of the Blue Line light rail system, the neighborhood has seen an explosive growth along the rail line and infill through the neighborhood.
Plaza Midwood
Take the Streetcar East to it’s terminus and walk a few blocks and you’ll find yourself immersed in Plaza Midwood’s mix of small shops and restaurants. The neighborhood is starting to see taller and denser development as well ahead of the streetcar extension.
Uptown
It’s more than just the banking capital of America. Uptown is filled with modern architecture, restaurants, and greenery. In the last 20 years, Charlotte’s Uptown has seen blocks and blocks of parking lots transformed to parks, towers, and housing and shows little signs of slowing down.
The elephant in the room however when looking at Uptown Charlotte is I-277 which completely encircles it. I’ve spent some time exploring some alternatives of what removal of the South and East Segments of I-277 would look like.
I hope to meet as many of you as possible at this week’s event!
For other ideas, articles and photos of Charlotte visit my Charlotte city page.
Phil Veasley 