Ely Portillo

Stories by Ely Portillo

Coronavirus resources: Data, maps and more

The coronavirus pandemic has generated a flood of data, maps and other resources to track the spread — and places to get help — throughout the region. Many of these resources are scattered across...

Keeping the conversation about public space alive past coronavirus

Projects that usually take years are happening in weeks during the coronavirus pandemic: Cities are closing streets to cars, opening public space for sidewalk cafes and investing more in pop-up parks...

Gambrell Faculty Fellows program returns to fund studies of the Charlotte region

The UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, with support from the Gambrell Foundation, is preparing to launch the second cohort of faculty fellows to study pressing issues in the Charlotte region. 

New toolkit lets you probe Charlotte history

Who used to live in your house? When was your neighborhood built? Was your subdivision legally segregated? How’d your street get its name?

Adding open space: How other cities are opening streets to pedestrians during coronavirus

Across the Charlotte region, parks have been full and streets largely empty for the past several weeks, as people try to get out of their houses for fresh air and exercise while staying...