Martin Zimmerman

Biography

Martin is a planner, architect, urban journalist and principal of City Wise Studio USA, an urban research and communications firm. He writes about sustainable cities and livable neighborhoodsand he travels frequently to communities in the USA, Canada and abroad in search of innovative models for Charlotte.  His articles and reviews have appeared locally in the Charlotte Observer and Axios / Charlotte Agenda.com, and nationally in Urban Land.orgAPA Planning, National Building Museum's Blueprints Journal, ASLA DIRT.org, Architectural Record, Washington TimesAtlanta Journal-Constitution, and other print and on-line media. As the first architect to lead the Office of Facilities Planning for the Charlotte campus of the University of North Carolina (1992-2001), Martin and his team created campus-wide design guidelines, updated the master plan, and launched corridor studies for light rail transit link to Center City Charlotte. As ED for the Charlotte Area Bicycle Alliance (2003-2012), he campaigned successfully to redirect the arc of Charlotte's auto-centric travel culture. His vehicle of choice has two wheels and a bell. He can be reached at martin@citywisestudio.us.

Stories by Martin Zimmerman

Has Charlotte shifted toward welcoming cyclists, pedestrians?

It’s been six weeks since “complete streets” advocate Gil Penalosa arrived in Charlotte for a visit and multiple presentations. And I got a sense that an important corner had been turned for this...

Will tactical urbanism find a home in Charlotte?

Is tactical urbanism gaining a toehold in Charlotte? Recent events bode well. (Commentary)

Charlotte needs bike metrics: If you don't count it, it doesn't count

Charlotte's bicycling community has seen indications of an evolving bicycle culture and strong public support. It is time for the city to collect the data needed to understand and...

For a greener, cleaner Charlotte, look to Sweden's example

Charlotte can learn a lot from Malmo, Sweden, which has steered residents away from cars to bikes, buses and high-speed trains. Commentary. (Photo: Martin Zimmerman)

Don’t derail transit areas with an auto mall

A University City-area rezoning petition up for a public hearing Monday raises serious questions about whether the city can stand behind its plans for transit-friendly development along the proposed...