Vision Plan

Connecting

People. Places. Nature.

University City will be a vibrant, people-oriented place that is urban in scale and design. Energized by light rail, it will be a popular and accessible destination for everyone. It will offer diverse and unique choices to LIVE, WORK, PLAY, LEARN and INVEST.

Currently, University City is a diverse ecosystem that, as the second largest employment center in the city, is a significant driver to Charlotte’s economy. The plan that follows is a road map to University City’s next 20 years of development. It is built on the foundation of four themes:
• An urban north-south axis focused on transit-oriented development
• An East-West Greenbelt for mobility and recreation
• Building Character and Culture
• Providing 21st Century mobility

How the Vision Plan Works with the Area Plan

University City is guided by two primary plans, the University City Area Plan and the University Research Park Plan. These plans serve as excellent guides to public investment and general land use policy, but the pace of change has been swift causing opportunities to come and go, which created gaps in our past development.

This Vision Plan seeks to consolidate those efforts and to update and add further details that will guide our community as it changes more than anywhere else in the City of Charlotte over the coming years–adapting from an auto-dominated suburban place to a walkable community served by transit and home to Charlotte’s local talent generator, UNC Charlotte.

How the Vision Plan will be Implemented

Outlined within the Implementation chapter of the University City Vision Plan are the recommendations, actions and partners needed to work towards meeting the goals listed in this Vision Plan. These strategies have been created as a part of our plan for work and aligned with our current four vision elements.

The matrix below identifies the strategies necessary for meeting each element of the Vision Plan. Additionally, the strategies align with one or more of the goals listed in the 2040 Charlotte Comprehensive Vision Plan, as the City of Charlotte’s vision goals guide much of the work planned for University City.

Program of Work
UNC Charlotte Research Plan

For more information on the University City Vision Plan, and to read the Executive Summary click here.
For more information and ways to contribute to our efforts:

News

Healthy Choices in University City

From choosing healthy foods to taking time to enjoy nature and connect with community, here are a few ways to make healthy choices in University City. Choose healthy food. Learn more about University City's newest prepared health food store, Project LeanNation. Help a...

Spotlight On: Project LeanNation University City

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Ted Williams, along with Domonique Williams, who's originally from Columbus, Ohio, opened Project LeanNation University City in September 2023. Though the two share a last name, there's no relation. They met through a group of...

Cybersecurity Tips: How to Keep Your Network Secure

By Nate Delanoy, Sr. Director of Product Management, Segra In Charlotte, NC, 100 business owners participated in a recent Travelers Institute survey giving their perception of cyber threats. Over half (51%) of them view cyberattacks as inevitable, while just under a...

5 Questions With: Chef Tara Quinones, Papi’s Puerto Rican Cuisine

Where are you from and when did you open Papi’s? I was born in Manhattan and raised in the Catskill Mountains of New York. I opened Papi's four years ago in June. Our family has been in the restaurant business sharing Puerto Rican cuisine for generations. My...

Get to Know Rob White, Owner of University City Axe House

Why did you decide to open Axe House in University City? We opened in February in University City, because it’s growing and expanding exponentially. I saw a niche for more diverse entertainment. There’s a lot for kids, but I wanted to create a live entertainment venue...

What will microtransit mean for University City?

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) plans to launch a new microtransit pilot program this year that removes the rigidity of bus stops and schedules from the transportation equation in University City.  For years, University City Partners, CATS, and other invested...

University City Real Estate: What’s the Outlook? 

Ellen Morgan has worked in Charlotte real estate since 1999. About a year ago, she joined Allen Tate’s University City office as the branch leader and broker-in-charge. As we move into the second quarter of 2023, we asked her to break down University City’s real...

2023 Charlotte NYD 5K

Photos by Mariah Graham and Tracy Watts.

Albemarle Technology Park: 5 Questions with CTO Glen Merfeld 

In mid-December, Albemarle Corporation announced a $180 million plan to establish a major technology campus in University City. Albemarle Technology Park expects to create 200 jobs and provide a $644.5 million boost to North Carolina’s economy over 12 years. Here, we...

University City Multifamily Development News, November 2022

November 29, 2022 Miami-based Related Group purchased 64 acres at 6540 University City Blvd. from IBM Corp. for $14.5 million, with plans for a multifamily development of 450 apartments and up to 150 townhomes. Pennsylvania-based High Associates is filed a petition to...