Articles
This article first appeared in the spring 2000 issue of “The LandMark,” the newsletter of The LandTrust for Central North Carolina. It is reprinted with permission of the author and the LandTrust. When European explorers and colonists, African slaves and their descendants were discovering and settling America, they confronted a vast, unknown wilderness. Trying to […]
For those seeking an autumn day trip, a new exhibit at the Stanly County Museum in Albemarle, paired with a visit to an old family homestead in nearby Morrow Mountain State Park, will reward visitors with a unique blend of regional history and natural beauty. And taken together they may inspire deeper thinking about issues […]
Can Charlotte do a better job of making its humble bus stops a bit less humble? A Charlotte city official posed that question Tuesday, saying Charlotteans should not ride by a bus stop and think, “I’m so sorry for that person.” Tom Warshauer, community engagement manager for the Charlotte Department of Neighborhood and Business Services, […]
UNC Charlotte Urban Institute staffers are experienced speakers and presenters on a variety of topics. In order to assist civic groups or others who may be seeking someone to give a talk or presentation, we’ve created a list of the staff members who are available, their areas of expertise, and how to contact them. Click […]
Those of us who knew Al Stuart are saddened by his passing on Nov. 1. Dr. Alfred Stuart, professor emeritus of geography and earth sciences, had a long and distinguished career at UNC Charlotte. I had the good fortune to work with him for more than 40 years, and I believe we should take a […]
To be truly walkable, a neighborhood needs more than sidewalks and safe street crossings. Those are important, but an often overlooked factor is whether it has places to walk to, such as stores, coffee shops, schools and parks. An event this weekend called Walk Your Neighborhood aims to show residents of six neighborhoods that—perhaps surprisingly […]
A proposal working its way through the city zoning process could create something new for Charlotte: a special kind of zoning designed specifically for one neighborhood. The proposed Gold District would give a section of the larger South End area its own zoning standards, tailored to what businesses and property owners in the area say […]
We feed them in our backyards, thrill to their springtime calls and watch with wonder as they flock in the fall. But for scientists, the birds of the Piedmont Carolinas also serve as messengers of the health of the region and as evidence of changes in the landscape. Now, for the first time, a mostly […]
With the arrival of fall, one of the most abundant wildflowers around is the yellow goldenrod. It is also one of the favorite hunting grounds of the unique crab spider (Misumena vatia), sometimes called the goldenrod crab spider. Although crab spiders occur all across the world, Misumena vatia is a Holarctic species, meaning it is […]
As the Chicago Cubs began their historic run in the major league baseball playoffs, I realized I had built my own field of dreams this season – a backyard pollinator garden at my house in Charlotte – and the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds had come. After clearing a tangle of invasive plants last winter – […]
Richard Fry, featured speaker at Charlotte Data Day 2015, asserted that Millenials (born 1981-96) are the most diverse and best educated generation but also face a tougher economy at the start of their careers than previous generations. Fry, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, spoke October 7 at the third annual Charlotte Data […]
The following is an edited version of a talk I gave Sept. 23 to a gathering of folks concerned about changes in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. The event was organized by the group Plaza Midwood Shows Up in cooperation with the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association and the Charlotte section of the American Institute of Architects. […]