Welcome to the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute

We are a nonpartisan, applied research and community outreach institute at UNC Charlotte, seeking solutions to the social, economic and environmental challenges facing our communities.

Latest Articles & Publications

Volunteers pack food at Reeder Memorial Baptist Church in West Charlotte

Community well-being

Join us for a virtual panel about health disparities in Charlotte

Ely Portillo August 2, 2021

Housing

Data that show why Charlotte houses are so expensive - and scarce

Ely Portillo July 28, 2021

Transportation & Planning

What impact will ‘disruptive innovations’ have on Charlotte’s transportation system?

Ely Portillo July 28, 2021

Podcast

Building Charlotte's future (literally) with the construction industry

Ely Portillo July 26, 2021

Planning & Development

Five interesting ideas from Charlotte's draft Center City plan

Ely Portillo July 26, 2021

The Blue Line Extension in University City, Charlotte

Transportation planning

A regional transit plan takes shape, but questions remain

Ely Portillo July 22, 2021

Our Work

Programs

From mapping key community indicators to hosting walks that help local residents explore pressing social issues, our programs focus on building regional understanding and connections.

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Data

Housing

Data that show why Charlotte houses are so expensive - and scarce

Ely Portillo July 28, 2021

Equity

Supporting Charlotte’s minority-owned small businesses

Angelique Gaines June 29, 2021

Transportation & Economic Mobility

Poverty suburbanization and job access: A new study tests ‘spatial mismatch’

Ely Portillo June 16, 2021

Housing

Wall Street-backed landlords now own more than 11,000 single-family homes in Charlotte

Ely Portillo, Justin Lane June 9, 2021

Coronavirus

Tracking confirmed coronavirus cases in our region

Clayton Hanson, David Hill December 14, 2020

Housing & Homelessness

New report release: Single adult homelessness integrated data

Courtney LaCaria Bridget Anderson December 10, 2020

Issues

The Charlotte region is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic areas in the nation, with rural counties, bedroom communities and suburbs, as well as the largest city in North Carolina and rapidly changing areas in upstate South Carolina. The UNC Charlotte Urban Institute focuses on issues of growth, change and equity in this complex region.

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Researcher Spotlight

Providence Adu is a doctoral student in geography at UNC Charlotte and a former planner for the city of Charlotte. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana and a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University. Adu's interests and work include mapping, GIS systems, data visualizations and data management.
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Support Our Work

If you value the work of the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute as we analyze trends in the Charlotte region and the Carolinas, consider a tax-deductible gift to help sustain our operations. We appreciate your support.

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Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement

The Urban Institute is a part of the Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement (formerly known as Metropolitan Studies), which is a unit of Academic Affairs. Our mission is to provide community-based research services to local, regional, and state-level clients. Off-campus partners include local governments, non-profit organizations, and community groups.

Programs

Center for Transportation Policy Studies (CTPS)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Annual Survey
Institute for Social Capital, Inc.
Transportation Information Management System (TIMS)
Quality of Life Explorer
The Carolinas Urban-Rural Connection

Articles & Publications

Articles Archives
Research Publications & Reports
Photo Essays and Galleries

Data

Regional Data
Interactive Maps

Issues

Arts & Recreation
Economy
Education
Environment & Planning
Government & Civic Engagement
Health & Well-being
Housing & Homelessness
Public Safety
Transportation

Our Region

Explore our region

About Us

Who We Are
Contributing Writers
Staff
Need a Speaker?
Partners
Support Us
Contact Us

UNC Charlotte Urban Institute