University City Vision Plan – Connecting: People. Places. Nature.

The growth and development being realized in University City is nothing short of transformational.  Major investments in transportation and mobility infrastructure, thousands of new rooftops, new businesses and HQs bringing thousands of job opportunities, and steadfast growth at UNC Charlotte has catapulted this edge city toward its new identity of a leading urban center that delivers suburban charm.

I am excited to share the University City vision plan, Connecting: People. Places. Nature., with you. Imagine a place where urban streets intersect with greenways, trails, and nature.  Imagine getting to and from your destination in an easy and enjoyable walk, ride, or drive.  Imagine a community with a vibrant pulse.  Everywhere you go, every experience you seek is a sensory blast of people of all backgrounds, enticing food, and beverage, recreation, art, culture, and nature.  This is the vision for University City that you can explore in “Connecting: People. Places. Nature.”

The vision plan prioritizes four areas:

• Developing an urban spine and core,
• Investing in the greenbelt for recreation and transportation,
• Expanding our robust transportation system with next-generation multimodal mobility options, and
• Enhancing the area’s innovation, education, natural landscape, and diversity through art, entertainment, culture, and placemaking.

The University City vision plan identifies strategic initiatives to be executed collaboratively by University City Partners, local business and government partners, and the university.  We hope you will follow targeted projects outlined in the plan that will help to build the connective fabric that will turn our shared vision into reality.

Thank you to the many community residents, business leaders, community partners, and government leaders that made Connecting possible for one of the fastest-growing parts of Charlotte.  Our collective goal is to support the growth of University City as it meets the demands of tomorrow while retaining and enhancing the amazing community it is today.

Sincerely,

Darlene Heater