A Unit of Academic Affairs Charlotte Urban Institute

In the News

Here’s how the Charlotte Urban Institute + Regional Data Trust shows up in local and national news.

Have a media request? Email Asha Ellison, director of research translation and engagement, at Asha.Ellison@charlotte.edu.

2025

Oct. 23 – “The heart of Charlotte’s philanthropy beats on — but under new pressures,” Briah Lumpkins, Catherine Muccigrosso (Charlotte Observer)
Oct. 7 – “Corporate landlords grow Charlotte market share by 65% amid housing crisis,” [VIDEO] Walker Lawson (WCNC)
Oct. 6 – “Amid Charlotte’s affordable housing crisis, corporate landlords grow single-family home market share,” Walker Lawson (WCNC)
Oct. 1 – “Study reveals corporate landlords’ growing footprint in Charlotte,” Nick de la Canal (WFAE)
Sept. 26 – “Mecklenburg sees 65% growth rate in homes owned by corporate landlords, study finds,” Desiree Mathurin (The Charlotte Observer)
Sept. 26 – “Rise of corporate homeownership impacts low-income communities, UNC Charlotte study shows,” Bonnie Zhang (WCNC)
Sept. 12 – “Charlotte area’s population growth remakes small towns,” Laura Williams-Tracy (Charlotte Business Journal)
Sept. 12 – “Charlotte demographics shift in population boom,” Laura Williams-Tracy (Charlotte Business Journal)
Sept. 3 – “‘It’s not fair’: Residents push back on longstanding narrative around Beatties Ford Road,” Elvis Menayese (WFAE)
Aug. 29 – “‘It’s safe’: Residents, advocates, business owners push back on Beatties Ford narrative,” Elvis Menayese (WFAE)
June 5 – “Analyzing News and Information Landscapes from the Ground Up,” Sarah Stonbely (Columbia Journalism Review)
May 15 – “Life inside the Charlotte region’s most densely populated neighborhoods,” Desiree Mathurin, John Marks, and Gavin Off (The Charlotte Observer)
May 4 – “How Charlotte’s Booming Latino Population Is Changing The City’s Food Scene,” Taylor Bowler (Charlotte Magazine)

2024

Dec. 2 – “Feeling slighted, residents north of uptown wonder why they won’t have a Red Line stop,” Gavin Off, Mary Ramsey (The Herald)
Oct. 9 – “A boost for minority business in Charlotte,” Eleana Teran (Capital Analytics Associates)
Aug. 15 – “Feeding the future of West Boulevard,” Asha Ellison (Inside UNC Charlotte)
July 16 – “Biden plan to cap yearly rent increase, potentially limiting ‘corporate landlords’,” Mary Calkins (WBTV)
July 15 – “Charlotte Traffic: 5 Secrets of the Anti-Grid,” Greg Lacour (Charlotte Magazine)
June 17 – “What’s the story behind this 800-year-old tree in Brunswick County?,” Jamey Cross (Wilmington StarNews)
May 14 – “Many pointing the finger at corporate landlords over lack of affordable housing options,” Jesse Pierre (WCNC)
Mar. 28 – “Former housing official expresses concern about corporate landlords,” Jennifer Roberts (Spectrum Local News)
Mar. 20 – “Lake Norman area homes aren’t affordable for most. How do officials plan to change that?,” Evan Moore (The Charlotte Observer)
Feb. 24 – “Data Driven,” Michael J. Solender (UNC Charlotte Magazine)

2023

Nov. 16 – “Charlotte’s ‘violence interrupters’ expands into West Boulevard corridor,” Elvis Menayese (WFAE)
Nov. 15 – “More people are staying put around Charlotte, tightening the housing market,” Nick de la Canal (WFAE)
Nov. 8 – “Charlotte’s racial wealth gap is wide. Approaches to narrow it are varied,” Lisa Warf (WFAE)
Nov. 1 – “Corporate landlords expand home affordability inequity,” Herbert L. White (The Charlotte Post)
Sept. 26 – “Charlotte nonprofit awarded $2 million for affordable housing,” Destiniee Jaram (QCity Metro)
Sept. 11 – “Charlotte City Council votes to spend $5 million on design work for blocked Red Line,” Steve Harrison (WFAE)
July 5 – “Atrium Health, Goodwill among Charlotte groups trying to solve ‘benefits cliff’ issue,” Erik Spanberg (Charlotte Business Journal)
June 30 – “‘They’re not coming’: Grocery stores abound, but Charlotte food deserts still prevalent,” Catherine Muccigrosso, Gavin Off (The Charlotte Observer)
June 27 – “UNC Charlotte Urban Institute shares ‘Alternatives to Violence Evaluation: Year One’ report,” Erica Lunsford (WBTV)
June 26- “Charlotte City Council expected to expand youth-advocate programs,” Faith Alford (WBTV)
June 22 – “Program offers alternative in wake of Beatties Ford mass shooting,” Robin Kanady (Queen City News)
June 15 – “Home demolitions in these fast-changing Charlotte neighborhoods impact how growth evolves,” Gordon Rago, Gavin Off (The Charlotte Observer)
June 11 – “Huntersville faces growing challenges with development proposals like Lagoona Bay, Birkdale Village,” (Charlotte Business Journal)
June 1 – “7 days, 1,000 shootings: From heartache to healing to hope,” Nate Morabito (WCNC)
May 25 – “Mecklenburg County home ownership dip among largest in US. Here’s what we know.” Gavin Off, Adam Bell, Tyler Dukes (The Charlotte Observer)
May 18 – “Alternative To Violence program gets positive review in new study,” Richard DeVayne (WCNC)
May 17 – “Charlotte’s ‘violence interrupters’ show promise, study finds,” Lisa Worf (WFAE)
May 9 – “Charlotte is becoming friendlier for pedestrians but nationally ranks low in walkability,” Sam Carnes, Queens University News Service (The Charlotte Observer)
May 3 – “UNC Charlotte study sheds light on Charlotte’s struggle with corporate landlords,” Julia Kauffman (WCNC)
Mar. 25 – “Charlotte needs more housing. Could looser zoning restrictions help?” Nick de la Canal (WFAE)
Mar. 8 – “Charlotte is one of the only NC cities with partisan elections. City Council isn’t eager to change,” Steve Harrison (WFAE)
Mar. 1 – “Institute offers 5 steps for affordable housing in Matthews,” Justin Vick (Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly)
Feb. 1 – “Property values are on the rise in Mecklenburg County,” Colin Mayfield (WCNC)
Jan. 25 – “Renters confront NC Rental Homes Council in hopes of lowering Charlotte rent,” Jason Stoogenke (WSOC-TV)
Jan. 19 – “Black homeownership is Hidden Valley’s legacy. Now corporate landlords threaten that.” Dj Simmons (The Charlotte Observer)
Jan. 17 – “Charlotte ranks among cities with bad traffic,” Lowell Rose (WBTV)

2022

Dec. 14 – “From Countryside to Bustling Suburb: Steele Creek’s Rapid Evolution,” Tess Allen (Charlotte Magazine)
Nov. 28 – “Charlotte nonprofit seeking solutions for rising rents pricing out artists,” Michelle Boudin (WCNC)
Nov. 17 – “Here are 3 ways Charlotte found that could improve its transportation connections,” Gordon Rago (Charlotte Observer)
Nov. 12 – “Corporate housing purchases on the rise in Mecklenburg County,” WSOC News Staff
Oct. 17 – “Charlotte and the state’s ‘difference of philosophies’ on addressing affordable housing,” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Oct. 15 – “Transit CEO’s report card: How will Charlotte grade John Lewis’ tenure leading CATS?” Genna Contino, Evan Moore (Charlotte Observer)
Oct. 13 – “These 4 big transit issues await whoever takes over as the next CATS leader,” Gordon Rago (Charlotte Observer)
Oct. 9 – “Charlotte homeowner says corporations forcing neighbors out,” Rachel Loyd (Spectrum News)
Sept. 23 – “Party and power: Are Charlotte’s leaders fixing the city’s most troubling issues?” Will Wright (Charlotte Observer)
Sept. 18 – “Addressing CATS’ long-term transit plan,” (WCNC)
Sept. 7 – “Too few people in Charlotte interact across class lines. That hurts everyone.” Sherri Chisholm (Charlotte Observer)
Sept. 6 – “City incentives for affordable housing near transit only led to 8 units,” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Aug. 30 – “With the UDO approved, we discuss the future of development in Charlotte,” Jesse Steinmetz (WFAE)
Aug. 18 – “Your Mecklenburg property values are rising. That’ll factor into your next tax bill,” Gordon Rago (Charlotte Observer)
Aug. 14 – “As Wichita embraces efforts to reduce homelessness, profound challenges remain,” Lily O’Shea Becker (Kansas Reflector)
Aug 12. – “Downtown Kannapolis readies for next phase of development,” Collin Huguley (Charlotte Business Journal)
Aug 1. – “Where pedestrians are being killed on Charlotte’s streets,” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Aug. 1 – “Charlotte agency needs more landlords for people with rental subsidies,” Nick de la Canal (WFAE)
July 25 – “Corporations that buy starter homes make it harder for first-time buyers, analysts say,” Jason Stoogenke (WSOC)
July 22 – “Charlotte hires outside review of CATS bus problems; oversight chair demands answers,” Blake Douglas (Charlotte Observer)
July 11 – “Corporate landlords use exclusionary language in rental listings, UNC Charlotte study finds,” Payton Guion (Charlotte Observer)
June 24 – “CATS ridership rises, but so does frustration over bus driver shortages around Charlotte,” Gabe Castro-Root (Charlotte Observer)
June 6 – “Part of Brookhill will be torn down after years of failed plans,” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
June 1 – “Charlotte aspires to be bike friendly, but it’s a bumpy road ahead,” Jesse Steinmetz (WFAE)
May 31 – “Charlotte’s population isn’t the only thing growing. Houses are getting bigger, too.” Gordon Rago (Charlotte Observer)
May 25 – “Charlotte’s Strategic Mobility Plan: Making the city less car dependent and improving transit,” Lowell Rose (WBTV)
May 19 – “First of 2 deadlines pass for families being forced out of homes in south Charlotte,” WSOC
May 11 – “Corridors of Opportunity Brings Bike Safety to Historic West End,” Kylie Marsh (QCity Metro)
May 4 – “5 things we learned investigating the rise of corporate landlords in North Carolina,” Tyler Dukes and Payton Guion (Charlotte Observer)
May 3 – “Booming South End is becoming a hub for office space, but infrastructure challenges remain,” Erin Keever (WFAE)
May 1 – “Corporations turn tens of thousands of NC homes into rentals,” Charlotte Observer
April 26 – “Brookhill residents hopeful upgrades will come with new owner,” Rachel Loyd (Spectrum News)
April 22 – “Thousands joined the Great Resignation in Charlotte. It’s changing how we think about work,” Hannah Lang (Charlotte Observer)
April 19 – “Charlotte wants to be a bike-friendly city,” Amanda Harry (QCity Metro)
April 14 – “Local leaders weigh investor impact on housing market,” Jen Wilson (Charlotte Business Journal)
April 12 – “Corporate landlords own thousands of homes in Mecklenburg. What can leaders do?” Payton Guion (Charlotte Observer)
Mar. 29 – “Hunt for a home: Mortgage and home price increase,” Taylor Young (Queen City News)
Mar. 29 – “Charlotte’s first parking-free apartment community opens Friday,” Joe Bruno (WSOC)
Mar. 15 – “A developer had big plans for Brookhill. Now he’s backing out,” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Mar. 9 – “EQUALibrium: A public conversation on race and equity in Charlotte,” Dante Miller and Wendy Herkey (WFAE)
Mar. 7 – “North Carolina set to lift decades-old black bear hunting ban,” Shirin Ali (The Hill)
Mar. 6 – “Investors are squeezing out middle-class homebuyers in Charlotte,” Charlotte Observer
Mar. 3 – “A new local food distribution center in west Charlotte aims to change lives,” Ashley Mahoney (Axios Charlotte)
Mar. 2 – “Taking stock of Charlotte’s efforts to increase affordable housing and expand pre-kindergarten,” Lisa Worf (WFAE)
Mar. 1 – “Charlotte struggles to measure progress 8 years after study ranked it 50 out of 50 for economic mobility,” Lisa Worf (WFAE)
Feb. 20 – “The ‘ghost buildings’ of Charlotte: 12 iconic sites lost to demolition over the years,” Gordon Rago (Charlotte Observer)
Feb. 16 – “As tenants face continually rising rents, could Mecklenburg make rent relief permanent?” Lauren Lindstrom (Charlotte Observer)
Feb. 14 – “Sidewall restrictions questioned as city aims for more duplexes and triplexes in Charlotte,” Joe Bruno (WSOC)
Feb. 6 – “Single-family rental companies are acquiring thousands of Charlotte-area homes,” Nate Morabito and David Griffith (WFAE)
Jan. 26 – “The new strategy for fixing homelessness in Charlotte,” Ashley Mahoney and Michael Graff (Axios Charlotte)
Jan. 24 – “20% of Black mortgage applicants in N.C. denied,” Michael Graff (Axios Charlotte)
Jan. 3 – “What’s ahead for Charlotte in 2022?” Wendy Herkey (WFAE)

2021

Dec. 7 – “As Charlotte’s goal for zero traffic deaths by 2030 inches closer, traffic fatalities only increase,” Jesse Steinmetz (WFAE)
Dec. 2 – “Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg tout Biden infrastructure law during Charlotte visit,” Hank Lee, Mikaela Thomas, Hunter Sáenz, and Briana Harper (WCNC)
Nov. 17 – “Charlotte rents, home prices rose by more than 16% during pandemic, report finds,” Nick de la Canal (WFAE)
Nov. 16 – “A pedestrian promenade along North Tryon Street. A lakefront town center. A rail trail for north Charlotte.” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Nov. 9 – “Charlotte must not squander $700 million in pandemic relief money,” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Oct. 22 – “Segregated by Section 8: Federal Program Reinforces Racial Discrimination,” Fred Clasen-Kelly (USA Today)
Oct. 20 – “The state of housing insecurity grows in Charlotte-Mecklenburg,” Herbert L. White (The Charlotte Post)
Oct. 20 – “Section 8 housing in the Southeast is broken, USA Today reporter says. How do we fix it?” Wendy Herkey (WFAE)
Oct. 19 – “UNC Charlotte researcher is ‘very confident’ of plan to bring co-op grocery store to West Boulevard,” Sarafina Wright (QCity Metro)
Oct. 14 – “Homelessness In Charlotte On The Rise, As Affordable Housing Plan Gets $2 Million Dollar Investment,” Drew Bollea (WCCB)
Oct. 14 – “Housing crisis, homelessness at ‘inflection point’ in Mecklenburg,” Lauren Lindstrom (Charlotte Observer)
Oct. 14 – “Mecklenburg County is in dire need of more affordable housing, county report finds,” Nick de la Canal (WFAE)
Oct. 1 – “With investors knocking, Charlotte HOAs are starting to change their rules.” Lauren Lindstrom (Charlotte Observer)
Sept. 30 – “Life Trickles Back Into Uptown Charlotte, But Full Recovery Is Still A Ways Off,” Erin Keever (WFAE)
Sept. 28 – “High-priced Homes: Carolina Impact,” PBS Charlotte
Sept. 27 – “New light rail would drive development. But what about moving people?” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Sept. 26 – “1 big thing: A controversial apartment plan,” Katie Peralta Soloff (Axios Charlotte)
Sept. 9 – “The Future Of Transportation In Charlotte,” Alexandra Watts (WFAE)
Sept. 3 – “These Charlotte ZIP codes saw high evictions, despite federal moratorium,” Lauren Lindstrom (Charlotte Observer)
Aug. 25 – “Business Alliance Study Says Transit Plan Would Ease Congestion, Generate Billions. But There Are Hardly Any Details.” Steve Harrison (WFAE)
Aug. 23 – “Hydrogen-Powered Trains, Tunnels And Flying Cars: The Future Of Transportation In Charlotte,” Marshall Terry (WFAE)
Aug. 16 – “Digital real estate platforms make it easier to sell your house — and for Wall Street to buy it.” Danielle Chemtob (Axios Charlotte)
Aug. 15 – “Corporate landlords are gobbling up Charlotte’s affordable homes and there’s little the city can do to stop them,” Ben Thompson (WCNC)
Aug. 12 – “Fast-growing Hispanic population helps drive Charlotte-area growth, new census data show,” Will Wright and Gavin Off (Charlotte Observer)
Aug. 10 – “Charlotte’s new starter home? Some buyers shift to condo, townhouse market,” Lauren Lindstrom (Charlotte Observer)
Aug. 10 – “Outside investors eat up housing inventory in Charlotte,” Brianna Crane (Axios Charlotte)
Aug. 3 – “Charlotte’s Real Estate Market Is So Hot, Investors Want In Too,” Erin Keever (WFAE)
Jun. 18 – “VERIFY Yes, Wall Street rental companies own thousands of homes in the Charlotte area,” Meghan Bragg (WCNC)
Jun. 16 – “Housing supply causes frustration for home buyers,” WBTV
Jun. 15 – “Bridging the Great Health Divide with access to healthy food in rural America,” WBTV
Jun. 13 – “1 big thing: Wall Street landlords,” Katie Peralta Soloff (Axios Charlotte)
Jun. 10 – “Report: Wall Street-back landlords own thousands of home in Charlotte,” John Paul (WSOC)
May 24 – “Charlotte Talks: 2040 plan inches towards a City Council vote,” Chris Miller (WFAE)
May 23 – “Addressing the ordeal of homelessness,” Mary Raffalli (CBS)
May 14 – “The racial history of housing in Charlotte. Has much changed?” Spectrum News
May 6 – “Self-guided walking tours tell history of Charlotte,” WBTV
May 1 – “Brush up on your Charlotte trivia (while closing your rings) with these City Walks,” Melissa Oyler (Charlotte Observer)
April 30 – “Neighborhood nonprofits earn SAFE Charlotte grants to address violence,” Ashley Mahoney (Charlotte Post)
April 28 – “Driven by housing shortage, some new homes in Charlotte will be built as rentals,” Danielle Chemtob (Charlotte Observer)
April 27 – “Building History: Inside Urban Institutes’ City Walks,” Tom Hanchett (Charlotte Magazine)
April 22 – “City Walks Connect a COVID-fatigued Queen City,” Alexis Zarycki (Power 98)
April 22 – “Initiative goal: Address housing insecurity in Mecklenburg County – Consortium tasked with developing long-term plan,” Herbert L. White (Charlotte Post)
April 2 – “Collaborative seeks input for Minority-Owned Businesses Ecosystem project,” Katrina Louis (QCity Metro)
April 1 – “Charlotte Talks: How did Uptown businesses fare during the pandemic, and what’s Uptown’s Future?” Dante Miller (WFAE)
Mar. 19 – “New Community With Affordable Rent Prices Helps Neighbors in Need,” Estephany Escobar (Spectrum News)
Mar. 10 – “What’s the future of offices?” WBTV
Mar. 2 – “Charlotte could eliminate single-family only zoning | What it means for your neighborhood,” Hunter Sáenz (WCNC)
Mar. 1 – “The triplex next door: You might want to tune in to the city’s land-use conversation before it’s too late,” Cristina Bolling (The Charlotte Ledger)
Feb. 22 – “How Will Once-Booming Uptown Come Back After The Pandemic?” Steve Harrison (WFAE)
Feb. 22 – “A celebration of Charlotte’s historic Black neighborhoods and honoring the fight to preserve its history,” Briana Harper (WCNC)
Feb. 18 – “Will Uptown bounce back after Coronavirus pandemic?” WBTV
Jan. 25 – “Ely Portillo talks the “Future Charlotte” podcast,” WBTV

2020

Dec. 18 – “As one Charlotte prospers, another struggles: How Covid will shape our economic recovery,” Katie Peralta Soloff (Axios Charlotte)
Dec. 16 – “Gas Station Workers Face Safety Challenges During Pandemic,” Gracyn Doctor (WFAE)
Dec. 9 – “Charlotte Talks: What’s the next stop for Charlotte’s Public Transit?” Jesse Steinmetz (WFAE)
Dec. 8 – “Two Models for Successful Intergovernmental Data Sharing,” Jane Wiseman (IBM Center for the Business of Government)
Nov. 29 – “Outside investors are buying up Charlotte’s affordable apartments,” Katie Peralta Soloff (Axios Charlotte)
Nov. 17 – “Charlotte Talks: An Uphill Battle for Charlotte’s Black and Latino Businesses,” Jesse Steinmetz (WFAE)
Oct. 7 – “Charlotte Talks: The Toll of a Pandemic on Mecklenburg County’s Housing Crisis,” Jesse Steinmetz (WFAE)
Sept. 25 – “Center for Employment Opportunities is increasing jobs and reducing recidivism for returning citizens,” Janey Tate (QCity Metro)
Sept. 24 – “Report Finds Affordable Housing Disappearing, Homelessness Rising In Charlotte,” David Boraks (WFAE)
Sept. 20 – “45 years after it closed, the historic Johnston Mill building in NoDa will soon get new life,” Katie Peralta Soloff (Axios Charlotte)
Sept. 17 – “‘It’s critical that you do so’ | Census deadline fast approaching as Carolina’s response lags behind in US,” Lexi Wilson (WCNC)
Sept. 7 – “Voter advocates reach out to poor and underrepresented groups,” Herbert L. White (Charlotte Post)
Aug. 24 – “Historic Preservation in Charlotte,” WBTV
July 29 – “Charlotte Talks: How To Preserve Our Trees In A Growing City,” Jesse Steinmetz (WFAE)
July 20 – “Charlotte’s losing its iconic tree canopy,” WBTV
July 17 – “Study looks into racial wealth gap in Charlotte,” WBTV
July 15 – “Study: Charlotte Had Significant Tree Canopy Loss Between 2012 And 2018,” Michael Falero (WFAE)
June 21 – “Is Charlotte ready to start ditching cars?” Katie Peralta Soloff (Axios Charlotte)
June 21 – “Ely Portillo on Charlotte’s Wealth Gap,” Charlotte Newsmakers Podcast
April 17 – “North Carolina Families Hoping for Rental Assistance Once Economy Reopens,” Tim Spears (Spectrum News)
Mar. 27 – “‘No pay, no stay.’ Coronavirus may force renters from their homes,” Fred Clasen-Kelly and Lauren Lindstrom (Charlotte Observer)
Mar. 8 – “It impacts everything from bus routes to new grocery stores. Here’s why you should care about the census,” Katie Peralta Soloff (Axios Charlotte)
Feb. 21 – “Author Interview: Thomas Hanchett on Sorting Out the New South City,” Anna Faison (UNC Press)
Feb. 7 – “Houser honored for time spent in soil and water conservation,” Michelle T. Bernard (Lincoln Times)
Feb. 7 – “He guards his ‘own crib’ near Charlotte’s most murderous street. Can area be saved?” Ames Alexander and Gavin Off (Charlotte Observer)
Feb. 5 – “Report of hometown’s demise greatly exaggerated,” Stephen Harris (Elkin Tribune)