By Janelle Goodrich, Director of Operations, University City Partners

After more than 25 years of living in the “suburbs” of University City and over 16 years working with University City Partners, I’ve seen our community grow in ways that still amaze me. I’ve witnessed the completion of the I-485 loop, the extension of the Blue Line, UNC Charlotte launching its football program (Go Niners!), and the birth of University City Partners itself.

While University City was well established before we came along, the formation of the 5th Municipal Service District (MSD) for Charlotte helped solidify what many of us already knew: this community is here to stay — and worth investing in.

A few years ago, we started hearing from residents and businesses alike that University City was beginning to feel… less cared for. More trash. More weeds in the medians. And no clear system in place to address it. So, with the support of our board and community partners, we launched our Clean & Safe program — hiring a landscape contractor to pick up litter, trim edges, mow when needed, and simply help this place reflect the pride we all feel for it.

But it wasn’t enough.

So I started driving the district — every other week — covering all 10 square miles of University City. I report code violations, document graffiti and broken signs, and collect abandoned shopping carts and those all-too-familiar illegal yard signs (over 6,200 of them and counting). It’s exhausting, sometimes frustrating, but above all else, it’s rewarding. Because for me, this work is personal.

But even with all that, it still felt like something was missing. And that something… was us. The people.

So last fall, we hosted our first UCity Public Safety Collaborative Forum, bringing together Charlotte Code Enforcement, CMPD, Charlotte Fire, residents, businesses, hospitality leaders, and apartment managers. The message was clear: public safety and cleanliness don’t happen in silos — they require collaboration.

From that event came the idea to hold focused meetings tailored to specific sectors of our community. Last month, we hosted our first UnivCity Public Safety Forum for Apartment Property Managers, and it was an amazing experience. I want to thank the passionate professionals from CMPD, CFD, Code Enforcement, and the City’s Solid Waste and Bulk Items team for showing up — even while short-staffed and stretched thin. And to Vanessa Vaughn Mathews and Venus McMillan of Asfalis Advisors, thank you for facilitating a conversation that was anything but typical.

We were also honored to have City Council District 4 Representative Renee Perkins-Johnson join us for the apartment managers’ meeting. Renee didn’t have to be there — but she chose to be, and her presence spoke volumes. Her ongoing support of our Clean & Safe initiatives, and of the broader work happening across University City, is crucial to our success. Having her there to listen and engage directly with property managers showed just how seriously she takes the concerns and hopes of our community.

Their method — rotating small-group discussions — kept people moving, engaged, and connected. As one City staffer told me, “I’ve never experienced anything like this anywhere else in Charlotte — and I wish we had more of it.” That’s the kind of feedback that keeps us going.

This is just the beginning. In the fall, we’ll host a similar session for multi-tenant and single-tenant property managers and their security staff, and we’re planning our next larger community-wide public safety meeting for late November or early December.

Because this work doesn’t stop. Keeping a community clean and safe is a daily commitment. And no one — not a property manager, not a City department, not even someone like me who drives 10 square miles every other week — should have to do it alone.

The truth is, University City is one of the safest areas in Charlotte. We consistently rank low in serious crime. But like any urban area, we see our fair share of vehicle break-ins and traffic incidents. And we are home to a growing population of unhoused neighbors — individuals we continue to support in partnership with the City and CMPD as they seek the services they need.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that our shared voice matters. And that’s why we’re asking for your help.