General News
Kron sisters’ botanical explorations left an important legacy
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 […]
From Paris to backcounty Stanly County: the Kron family tale
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 […]
Imagine treating bus riders as well as light rail, car commuters
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, […]
Need a speaker? Institute offers speakers list
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 […]
Geographer Stuart helped put ‘region’ in Charlotte regionalism
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 […]
Signs, festivities aim to get people walking in Charlotte
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 […]
South End area with unique history wants new, unique zoning
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 […]
What birds tell us about Mecklenburg’s environment
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 […]
A spider of a different color
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 […]
A backyard field of dreams
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 – […]