Mae Israel

Mae Israel

Stories by Mae Israel

Charlotte’s I-485 lures growth, and with growth comes traffic

When the final leg of I-485 opened in June, motorists cheered its unclogged lanes. But a look at traffic count data for the outerbelt segments that opened 20 years ago in south Mecklenburg indicates...

Your neighborhood has a story; learn how to tell it

At free, public workshops March 3 and March 7, experts will show residents how to become savvy neighborhood sleuths and discover more about the places where they live.

Hitting the bottle: Do drink sales shape where growth goes?

Planners and others say alcohol sales are a primary catalyst for attracting the development of restaurants and stores. Government officials like the extra tax revenue. But in some places, voters...

Some suburbs facing the dilemma of high growth vs. low taxes

In cities and counties surrounding Charlotte, tensions are swirling over rapid residential growth and – especially – how to pay for it. Can their low tax rates support urban services new residents...

Lacking incentives, some Mecklenburg businesses lag in recycling

Charlotte-Mecklenburg ordinances do not require all businesses to recycle, and officials are unable to determine how much they do recycle. (Photo: Nancy PIerce)