SUMMARY
What Master Plan aimed at delivering - A walkable, mixed-use downtown in the heart of University City anchored by UNC Charlotte and University Research Park - Civic anchors including a park and an updated library branch - A college Main Street to build identity for one of NC s largest public education institution - A suburb that connects people to nature, a variety of housing, shopping, transit, entertainment and education options
Where North Tryon St. and W. T. Harris Blvd. - An area spanning the Shoppes at University Place, Mallard Point Shopping Center, the J. W. Clay Light Rail Station and CHS University - Charlotte s 2 nd largest employment center - High traffic volume (94k AADT) - Booming university - High volume hospital - Connected to the University Research Park by a bridge over I-85 in 2022
Why University City has no city. It was built as a. - Car friendly retail destination with - Large box stores and excess parking It needs. - A place to gather, celebrate and enjoy public life, and - A classic college main street, where students, alumni and visitors make and relive memories - A walkable place for people
When Now - Light rail delivers in 2018, offering a 20 minute train ride to Uptown 110 times a day - Low vacancy and rent growth in office space and apartments - In a survey of 1,200 Mecklenburg County residents, the most important asset to a home, behind safety, was walkability - UNC Charlotte accounts for 41% of total system growth, with current enrollment at 29,000 students
How Imagination & Collaboration
About the site LIGHT RAIL STATION - 11,000 square feet of ground floor retail - 800 space parking deck - 110 trains per day - Across from UNC Charlotte s future conference center UNBALANCED MIXED USE - Big boxes and outparcel retail dominate the XX acre site - Complemented by XX condos, the Hilton and a small office building, recently renovated to Class A space CENTRAL WATER FEATURE - XXXXX Largest - Provides views etc
U City Market FORMER - Big box s at height of success - Limited competition and rooftops - Convenience, auto-centric economy PRESENT - Transit = Paradigm shift - Potential for a connected, convenient suburb - High income households - Demand for walkability - Demand for family housing - Interest in local retail that compliments traditional shopping
Site Ownership IDEAL - Limited ownership - Large tracts - Parallel reinvestment/ redevelopment
Bike Ped Amenities EXPANDING - Multi use paths on J.W. Clay - Bike-ped access on the north bridge (delivering 2022 over I-85) - The 26-mile Cross Charlotte Trail will connect to U City s 14-mile network by 2025
Regional Open Space CONNECTED and GROWING - Links with a regional open space network including the Cross Charlotte Trail, Mallard Creek Greenway, Toby Creek Greenway, Barton Creek Greenway - Significant existing greenway miles - The lake offers an amenity that might is not fully leveraged
Connectivity HIGH VOLUME and EVOLVING - Current streets carry 94,000 cars daily - Busiest Intersection in NC - Connector streets are being adapted to carry other modes - Blue Line 15,000 riders in 2015 35,000 riders in 2018 50,000 riders by 2035 - Uptown Charlotte and Concord within 20 minutes
Neighbors MEDS & EDS, ENTERTAINMENT, BUSINESS University Research Park Education - UNC Charlotte - 28,000 students Meds - 130 bed hospital - Highest volume ER - Capacity for medical office Wells Fargo CIC Innovation Park 10 Minute 5 Minute Carolinas Medical Center JW Clay Lightrail Station UNC CLT Hotel / Conf Center UNC Charlotte Business - University Research Park - Innovation Park McCullough Lightrail Station Tourist Magnets - 16,000 Seat Amphitheater, Charlotte Motor Speedway - Concord Mills & IKEA
Process STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION - University City residents via the University City Area Plan - 1,200 Mecklenburg County residents - UNC Charlotte - Casto Lifestyle Centers - Tricor - Hilton Hotel - AEGON - Carolinas Health Care - UNC Charlotte students and administrators - City of Charlotte - Mecklenburg County UNC Charlotte
Process SURVEY - 1,200 evenly distributed responses from across Mecklenburg County - Questions related to area perception, housing preferences, shopping preferences - Corroborated traditional retail / residential market analysis MARKET STUDY - Performed by the Chesapeake Group - Market Gap analysis - Cluster Analysis Wells Fargo CIC Innovation Park University Research Park McCullough Lightrail Station 10 Minute 5 Minute Carolinas Medical Center JW Clay Lightrail Station UNC CLT Hotel / Conf Center UNC Charlotte DENSITY STUDY IMPROVE CIRCULATION PATTERNS
Density Study Surface Parked Development in South End - 31 units an acre Deck Parked Development in South End - 53 units an acre Higher Density Housing: Transform Suburban to Urban Structured parking is an investment that will pay dividends well into the future
Concept Planning - Broad mix of uses can be created - A new park and promenade along the western edge of the lake can pull visitors deeper into the development - Prominade shopping street creates pedestrian movement which can activate retail - A core for University City will create the catalyst for the surrounding properties
Circulation Improvements TRANSFORM SUBURBAN to URBAN - Transform existing major street patterns and cross sections - Create pedestrian stroll street using the existing promenade that goes across the lake - Connect greenways to site - Establish an urban street network of complete streets within the large parking areas. Future J.W. Clay Street Section
Draft Plan Primary Use Green = Trees and open space Orange = Residential Red = Ground Floor Retail Brown = Office Purple = Civic space / Use
A STREETS Focus of Retail and Life
B STREETS Flexibility of Uses
ARTERIALS High Traffic Volume
Establish Design Guidelines
Final Plan
Final Plan: Primary Uses Uses
Final Plan: Block Structure
Final Plan: Circulation Primary Uses
Final Plan: Connectivity
Final Plan: Community Assets
Final Plan: Community Assets
Final Plan
Final Plan