Articles

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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


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Jobs not jails: Helping youth turn their lives around
   February 23, 2012

Children without hope can be found in every community.  Father Greg Boyle has been working on this issue for decades through Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.   He spoke in Charlotte this week about Homeboy, which is recognized as the largest gang intervention program in the country.  Homeboy Industries' slogan is, “nothing stops a bullet like a job.” Read more


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No, greenways are not a U.N. conspiracy
   February 22, 2012

There I was, pencil poised over a large drawing of Gastonia. It was 1997 and I was running a public workshop to design a network of greenways and open spaces for residents to enjoy as recreational and natural amenities.  Someone in the background was fiddling with a radio. Then, as I remember the moment,  the strident sounds of a local radio station blared through the room. “Did you... Read more


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Affordable housing policy: voluntary or mandatory?
   February 15, 2012

Dustin Read
Studies of programs like the one the City of Charlotte is considering, which use incentives to encourage developers to include affordable housing units in new development, suggest that voluntary programs aren't as likely to create as many affordable units as mandatory programs do, and may not be as likely to spread affordable housing into more affluent areas. On the other hand they're not as... Read more