Articles

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Charlotte rolls toward N.C.'s first bike-share system
   March 19, 2012

If all goes as hoped, paying users could access 200 high-tech bikes at 20 stations in and around uptown Charlotte by this summer. Read more


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Transit station futures: Gloomy or bright?
   March 9, 2012
Mary Newsom
Is it prescient and forward-thinking for the city to encourage subsidized housing at rapid transit stations in coming decades? Or would that kill any near-term chance to halt a pattern of sinking property values near some of those stations, especially in east and northeast Charlotte? Read more


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CMS: Mapping measures of progress and pain
   March 7, 2012

Data on schools and school districts are abundant.  Both the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s websites hold a wealth of data at both levels.  But with a district as large as CMS, it is painstaking work to analyze school-level data in a meaningful way. 

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Two secrets to city success: Trust and explore
   March 7, 2012

Tim Campbell
Smart cities around the world use two secret weapons to form leadership and stay ahead of the pack in planning and economic development.  One mechanism is internal, an informal, diverse but cohesive planning elite. Another is external, an outward-looking and systematic search for new knowledge, often by visiting other cities. Read more


'Green' author: Redevelop in increments
   March 5, 2012
Mary Newsom
Architect, planner and author Stephen Mouzon, did more than just give some lectures from his book, Original Green: Unlocking the Mystery of True Sustainability, when he was in town recently. He also took a look at a section of south Charlotte that he thinks might be ripe for a different kind of long-range plan: the Park Road-Woodlawn Avenue neighborhood. Read more


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Low Water Bridge recreational access improvements
   March 5, 2012
Crystal Cockman
If you’ve driven by the Low Water Bridge recently, you probably have seen a good bit of bulldozer activity and wondered what exactly was happening to this beautiful natural area. The LandTrust of Central N.C. is partnering with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to create a recreational amenity that will improve access to one of the region’s precious natural resources. Read more


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Some react to freight resurgence with ‘Not In My Back Yard’
   February 29, 2012

A railroading resurgence is rolling into the Charlotte region – and through some people's back yards. From Davidson to Harrisburg to Gaston County, efforts to capture some of a national increase in freight rail traffic have upset some residents. And the possibility of freight NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) might create another obstacle for commuter rail from Charlotte to Iredell County. Read more


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Research looks at Triangle development patterns, foresees increase
   February 28, 2012

Sara Gleave
From 1976 to 2005, developed land in the 16-county Greater Triangle and Rocky Mount region increased nearly 570 percent, from 39,743 developed acres in 1976 to 264,883 acres in 2005. By 2040 this figure is expected to increase nearly 150 percent or an additional 393,925 acres, according to projections just released from a forthcoming study by researchers at the Renaissance Computing Institute (... Read more


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United Way announces new Collective Impact project
   February 24, 2012

Only 65 percent of economically disadvantaged students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools graduate on time, compared to 74 percent of all students.  United Way of Central Carolinas aims to diminish this disparity with a new, innovative program. United Way of Central Carolinas announced Thursday, Feb. 23, the beginning of a new initiative to improve academic success for at-risk students.... Read more


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Boosters: Downtrodden downtowns can thrive
   February 24, 2012

Around the Charlotte region, many downtowns share similar histories: A long-ago heyday followed by decay as dollars and foot traffic flowed to suburban malls and interstate eateries. Read more