Articles

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The Quality of Life Explorer: Big Value for Local Government
   April 20, 2023

Andrew Bowen, City of Charlotte

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Quality of Life Explorer is a tool that provides incredible value to our local governments, especially the City of Charlotte. At its core, it is a single location that provides consistent, reliable, and up-to-...

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Quality of Life Explorer Timeline
   April 20, 2023
Katie Zager

Although we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Quality of Life Explorer, the history of Quality of Life in Charlotte actually goes back more than 25 years. Below is a brief timeline of the development of the Quality of Life...

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Slow Birding
   April 18, 2023
Ruth Ann Grissom

Even casual birders feel the urge of spring migration.  Within a few short weeks, millions of birds will pass through our forests, parks and yards.  Many pause here only briefly to fuel up for their journey north, so this will be our...

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The Quality of Life Explorer: 10 years and Counting
   April 5, 2023
Katie Zager

Editor’s Note: We're celebrating 10 years of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Quality of Life Explorer. 
 

The...

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Quality of Life Explorer: Making data intelligible and available for journalists (like me!) who aren’t PhDs
   April 5, 2023
Ely Portillo
Ely Portillo, WFAE

What neighborhoods in Charlotte have a high share of renter...

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Affordable housing is getting harder to build in Charlotte. What's the solution?
   March 23, 2023

Danielle Chemtob, Axios Charlotte

Editor’s Note: This article is a part of a series of guest contributors considering the question, “What small tweak or large shift would you make in 2023 that would catalyze sustainable growth and ensure equitable wellbeing in our region?” 

Charlotte spends millions a year to subsidize the construction of affordable housing. But the cost to do so is skyrocketing, which poses...

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Three community leaders share their thoughts on finding solutions in 2023
   March 8, 2023

David Boraks, WFAE

Editor’s Note: This article is a part of a series of guest contributors considering the question, “What small tweak or large shift would you make in 2023 that would catalyze sustainable growth and ensure equitable wellbeing ...

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One Large Shift: A Culture of Cooperatives
   March 7, 2023

Greg Jarrell

Editor’s Note: This article is a part of a series of guest contributors considering the question, “What small tweak or large shift would you make in 2023 that would catalyze sustainable growth and ensure equitable wellbeing in our region?” 

“A nation of homeowners, of people who won a...

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Trees for Pollinators
   March 6, 2023
Ruth Ann Grissom

What sort of image comes to mind when you think of a “pollinator garden?”  I see an island of native grasses and perennials surrounded by a sea of turf.  That’s the garden I helped to install in my neighborhood park in Charlotte.  We...

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