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Ely Portillo

Ely Portillo
UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
Assistant Director of Outreach & Strategic Partnerships
Sycamore 310-G
704-687-1203
eportill@uncc.edu

Stories by Ely Portillo

As development booms, Charlotte still wrestles with density

May 21, 2019
With Charlotte’s population growing by more than 60 people a day, planners, politicians and many residents agree that denser development is inevitable in the city’s future. But just how dense - and...

Charlotte is backing off its goal of 50 percent tree canopy by 2050
May 20, 2019
Eight years ago, Charlotte set a goal for itself: 50 percent tree canopy coverage across the city by 2050. But because of rapid development and an aging tree population, the city likely won’t reach...

Charlotte is ‘on the cusp’ of its first true regional transit plan
May 15, 2019
The Charlotte region is taking concrete steps towards building a regional transit system, and, in a local first, the proposed Silver Line could run through three counties. But plenty of big questions...

People assume transit causes displacement. Does it really?
May 14, 2019
It’s a familiar story: A new transit line opens, spurring gentrification in nearby neighborhoods and pushing out long-time residents.  But is that always what happens? New research from UNC...

Offices in South End, apartments in Ballantyne? Lines are blurring.
May 13, 2019
Is Ballantyne about to become South End, or vice versa? Probably not - but lines in Charlotte that were once razor-sharp are starting to get a lot blurrier.