Our long awaited light-rail line got a 25-gold-shovel groundbreaking last week. Hundreds gathered on the future line’s gravel bed near Ninth Street to hear Gov. Pat McCrory, Mayor Patsy Kinsey and others praise the 19-year bipartisan regional effort to build the line,...
Economic Development
Yes, Virginia, light rail IS coming to North Tryon
For a number of folks, the fact that the Blue Line Extension (BLE) will be open in spring of 2017 will not come as news. However, a surprising number of folks got confused by the streetcar debate or by having heard promises of light rail for so long that they have...
Our growing street grid offers great escapes!
I rode from Kohl’s to IKEA the other day without using Tryon Street or I-85. Travel through our “downtown” on back streets? I’ll bet YOU have never done it. But you will. With all the Tryon-Harris traffic congestion – and more coming when light-rail construction...
Our popular greenways keep growing!
Anyone who’s walked the Toby, Mallard and Clark’s Creek greenways knows how popular our 9-plus miles of creekside trails have become. Good news, all you walkers, joggers, cyclists and non-car commuters: We’re getting more, including a trail linking University Place...
University City Blvd getting bike-ped “Pathway”
What do you get when you combine a bike path and a sidewalk? The answer is the 10-foot-wide University City Boulevard Pathway. Work will begin this summer on the multi-use path along Hwy. 49 from the main campus entrance to Mallard Creek Church Road, The first...
University City will be growing once again
Several rezonings on City Council’s agenda again indicate University City’s desirability as a place to do business. Two rezonings prepare station areas for the 2017 opening of the light-rail line. Another near IKEA makes room for businesses disrupted by the rail line....
University Research Park enjoys its growth spurt
For a 45-year-old, the University Research Park is showing a lot of youthful vigor. Since January, the addition of an estimated two thousand jobs, around $100 million in new investment and the landing or expansion of nine firms were announced for the 2,200-acre park...