General CIP Projects Referral to
Council Committees: Report-Out
Council Committee: Housing and Neighborhood Development
Project(s):
Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program ($120.0M)
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Prosperity Village ($30M)
o Capture I-485 development interest
o Capture value of parks and greenways
o Develop transportation solutions
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Central/Eastland/Albemarle ($20M)
o Expand momentum from close-in neighborhood revitalization
o Build on emerging neighborhood school partnerships
o Develop new neighborhood shopping districts
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Whitehall/Ayrsley ($30M)
o Leverage Ayrsley and Berewick development
o Capture value of natural amenities in the greenway and river
o Enhance employment momentum from airport and Arrowood
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Sunset/Beatties Ford ($20M)
o Enhance retail placemaking
o Capture value of parks, greenways
o Support Project Lift communities
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West Trade/Rozzelles Ferry ($20M)
o Support JCSU area transformation
o Enhance park, greenway, bike, and historic amenities
o Support Project Lift communities
Key Discussion Areas:
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The Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program (CNIP) is a new approach and combines
the City’s current Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) and Business Corridor Revitalization
Program, allowing us to comprehensively address community needs.
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The City’s existing area plans are the foundation for this work.
The proposed CNIP program allows the City to leverage its investments with other public and private
sector partners such as Mecklenburg County’s Parks and Recreation department and private
commercial real estate investors.
While there is no established methodology for estimating the potential amount of increased
property value that will be gained from CNIP investments, we have seen that work done through the
NIP and Business Corridor Program have changed the outcomes in communities and resulted in a
higher than average return on the investment.
Previous City investments have leveraged private sector investment throughout the City. Examples
of this include: Rozzelle’s Ferry Road, the Beatties Ford Road Corridor, and the North Davidson
Corridor.
Recommendation(s):
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On January 23, 2013, the Housing & Neighborhood Development Committee unanimously voted to
recommend the Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program for inclusion in the
recommended CIP.
Improving Communities
Comprehensive Neighborhood
Improvement Program (CNIP)
Continues to fund traditional NIP capital
projects, but enhances the program to
achieve even greater impact:
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Implements area plans
Enhances collaboration with public/private partners
Leverages multiple investments in a neighborhood
Seeks opportunities to catalyze change
Looks beyond boundaries of residential areas
Coordinates with public safety, code enforcement,
social services, and education to bring greater
resources to the CNIP areas
Pedestrian Lighting
Washington Heights-Booker & Redbud
Intersection/Crosswalk
West Morehead at Grandin Rd
Streetscapes
Wilkinson near Ashley Rd (Wal-mart)
Pedestrian Refuge
East Blvd
Improving Communities
Comprehensive Neighborhood
Improvement Program (CNIP)
Millbrook Rd
Selected Areas
•Prosperity:
•Whitehall:
•West Trade:
•Central:
•Sunset:
$30M
$30M
$20M
$20M
$20M
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2
area
area
area
area
area
plans
plans
plans
plans
plans
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Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program
March 19, 2012
Background
This document, outlining the thinking surrounding the Comprehensive Neighborhood
Improvement Program, was prepared as a joint effort by an interdepartmental and
intergovernmental team composed of:
Tom Warshauer – N&BS
Dan Gallagher, Steve Castognia – CDOT
Jonathan Wells – Planning
George Berger – E&PM
Diego Anselmo - CMPD
Dennis LaCaria – CMS
Lee Jones – Park and Rec
Following over a year of examining data on growth and emerging problems in our community
with the Community Cabinet, , this team met to identify where – geographically - there may be
opportunities to enrich collaboration and leverage each others’ investments. This is a first look
at those opportunities and as such much more needs to be done to determine the precise nature
of each partner’s investments and commitments, particularly in engaging the private sector and
other third parties in the effort. Looking at our community with our partners in this new light
represents a significant shift in how we work in our city.
Where will we focus our CNIP investments?
While we know that we must still devote resources to revitalization of established communities,
we are seeing challenges emerge in newer areas that we cannot ignore. Our strategy must be
comprehensive enough to successfully address problems in both areas. We have therefore
selected three established/urban areas and two newer/suburban areas for this program that we
believe have strong existing partners with which we can leverage limited resources.
Established/Urban Areas (proposed investment: $60,000,000)
The three selected were based on new and emerging neighborhood/community partnerships with
schools and the need to address areas high in foreclosures.
• West Trade/Rozzelles Ferry ($20,000,000)– JCSU’s strong interest in impacting the
neighborhoods and commercial districts surrounding its campus combined with CMS’s
partnership with Project LIFT make this area ripe for transformative change.
Additionally, the Charlotte Historic Trolley is interested in reactivating the old trolley line
to the Lakewood community. This route would follow the future route for the Carolina
Thread Trail along the Stewart Creek Greenway, adding important partners and
opportunities to the revitalization efforts in this area.
• Central/Eastland/Albemarle ($20,000,000)– Neighborhoods along Central Avenue to
Farm Pond Road have been partnering with their CMS schools in creative new ways. As
well, the International House, with the Latin American Coalition, is planning to move into
the former Midwood School building on Central Avenue. Neighborhoods in this area are
showing positive momentum for change and creative partnerships that merit support.
• Sunset/ Beatties Ford ($20,000,000) – This area has seen new suburban growth,
although destabilized by relatively high foreclosure rates. Despite new commercial
development, schools and parks, the area’s neighborhoods are experiencing early issues
worthy of attention. Stabilizing this important transitional area is critical to the success
of the NW area of Charlotte.
Newer/Suburban Areas (proposed investment: $60,000,000)
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Two suburban areas were selected based both on school partnership opportunities and the likely
availability of strong private sector development partners whose plans could be leveraged to
create more compelling, competitive and marketable communities. Our studies are showing
stresses in many new single family neighborhoods, with many middle-income families choosing
to go over the county line and to other areas in Mecklenburg County rather than raise their
families in these areas. By investing in an economic development strategy for these
communities now, it is hoped that the perception of these communities can be lifted whereby a
mix of income groups are encouraged to call these neighborhoods home.
• Prosperity Village ($30,000,000)-With the I-485 loop construction coming to this
quadrant, the time is now to put in place the needed infrastructure and development
vision to make this area memorable and competitive. With some strong communities,
new schools, and a good park network upon which to build, this area has the potential to
emerge as an increasingly stable community with a mix of incomes.
• Whitehall/Ayrsley ($30,000,000) - Proximity to the river and other natural resources, the
airport, and south Charlotte give this area a strong set of amenities to build upon. This
area is ripe for continued private investment but will require a fresh approach and
guidance to be fully implemented.
How will we work to implement the CNIP?
In an era of limited governmental resources we must work more collaboratively with our public
and private sector partners. We must find and seize value in all our physical assets, including
our parks, greenways, natural areas, rivers, schools, transportation and street systems. We
must also catalyze our human assets to action, working with neighborhood residents,
entrepreneurs, business owners, developers, and non profits.
Using the Area Plans as a foundation, we plan to work in conjunction with citizens, public
partners, and private sector business owners and developers to seize opportunities to catalyze
change. We will use CNIP for physical investments, and coordinate other governmental
programs related to public safety, code enforcement, social services, planning and education to
bring all our resources to bear in these areas.
How will we move forward?
Developing plans and partnerships in these areas will take some time. We will begin with these
areas, assembling public and private sector partners to develop strong action agendas and
economic strategy plans to achieve the desired futures. Additional market research may be
needed, particularly in the newer/suburban areas to better understand emerging issues and
opportunities. While Area Plans will remain a key foundation, the CNIP process will provide a
greater degree of detail with respect to more targeted and strategic investments. This new work
represents a shift in how we develop our Plans, toward a more tangible, targeted and
economically competitive strategy.
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Prosperity Village
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Adopted Area Plans with capital recommendations:
 Prosperity Church Road Villages Plan (1999) recommends development of a strategic
network of neighborhood “squares” and greenway connections to link the area to the
larger greenway network. This is a growing area with exisiting retail and with the
potential to be high quality place to live, work, play.
 I-485 Interchange Analysis (1999) recommends providing bike/ped crossing across I485 between Highland Creek & Mallard Creek Park, widening of Odell School and
Mallard Creek Roads to 4 lanes from I-485 to Prosperity Church Rd., completion of
improvements to access between the interchange & Concord Mills Mall, and alignment
of Salome Church Rd w/ Pavilion Blvd @ US29.
 Geography partially coincides with Prosperity Village Area Plan (started in early 2012)
CDOT projects: Proposed CDOT overpasses and street network to reinforce town center
development and help implement the Prosperity Village Plan:
 Prosperity Church Rd NW arc, SE arc, and widening from NW arc to Eastfield
 Misc street segments to be completed
 Johnson-Oehler Rd Farm-to-Market
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There are also needed pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic calming improvements in this
focus area.
Neighborhoods/CMPD: Highland Creek (HC) doing well, but outside HC there is stress.
There is major growth along this corridor resulting in some concentration of crime. There
are some burglaries and larceny from autos concentrated in the Highland Creek
community. The commercial growth in this corridor has resulted in some property crime
concentration in this area. The majority of the crime is larceny from autos.
School partnerships: Inside Highland Creek are green, but outside David Cox and Mallard
Creek are red. New ES at Johnston Oehler (near Mallard Creek HS) part of 2007 Bonds,
but no anticipated delivery date. Mallard Creek received an LI/TD (Learning
Immersion/Talent Development) partial magnet program in the 2011-2012 school year.
Partner with CMS to increase student and community access to schools, and improve the
economic diversity within the attendance zones.
Park/Greenway opportunities: Mallard Creek High School is located within Mallard Creek
Park as a joint use undertaking. Tradition Golf Course (CMPR) is underdeveloped on the
northern edge. Greenway potential to connect to UNC-C.
Recommendation: This area could become an important node of quality development
in the north. Investment now could be critical in positioning the area for the future. The
Prosperity Village Area Plan could serve as a means of seeking public input and
identifying needed infrastructure improvements and other related interventions in this
area. The CNIP investments in this area would likely respond to the strengths of this
area, which include the generous number of parks, schools, greenways, and employment
centers, and the means developing and strengthening the connections between and
among these community elements. A major challenge in this regard is to address the
potential impacts on the community that could be caused by construction of I-485 that
will bisect the area during the next several years.
Recommended for $30,000,000 investment.
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Whitehall/ Ayrsley
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Adopted Area Plans with capital recommendations:
Steele Creek Area Plan (2012) recommends 25 capital projects, including:
 Upgrade several Farm to Market roads
 Increase capacity of key thoroughfares
 Enhance key intersections (principally along S. Tryon St. and Steele Creek Rd.)
 Make ped/sidewalk/greenway enhancements/connections at strategic locations
 Enhance public access to the river
Dixie-Berryhill Strategic Plan (2003) recommends 20 capital projects, including:
Invest in pedestrian enhancements (network connectivity) at key pedestrian crossing
points of major roadways (as reflected in a comp. ped plan)
 Include bicycle lanes and facilities as reflected in a developed comp. bike plan
 Complete thoroughfares as reflected in Thoroughfare Plan
 Develop public utilities on concurrency schedule with planned private development
 Make strategic pedscape improvements at key locations
 Integrate bike/ped system with greenways (notably Long Creek Greenway)
CDOT projects:
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Proposed CDOT I-485 overpass between Arrowood and Whitehall to better connect
existing and proposed development and create a synergy between employment
centers
 Brown-Grier/Steele Creek intersection
 Sam Neely/Steele Creek intersection
 There are also needed pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic calming improvements in this
focus area
Neighborhoods/CMPD: Mix of housing types, from upper to starter price points. Some
foreclosures. Good market potential with proximity to Catawba River, airport, and south
Charlotte. This area is densely populated with both commercial and residential
development. The crime driver in this area is larceny from autos at apartment complexes
and shopping centers, shoplifting at the retail locations (specifically Wal-Mart) and finally
burglaries especially targeting the apartment complexes
Retail/Employment placemaking: Existing office employment center to be supplemented
with proposed new town mixed-use development (almost 2 million SF). Possible city
market site with existing CATS commuter lot.
School partnerships: Berewick Elementary is a joint use site with a Mecklenburg County
Park & Recreation center attached. Lake Wylie, Winget Park, and River Gate elementary
schools serve this area. With the exception of Steele Creek ES and Lake Wylie ES, these
schools are less than 10 years old. New Palisades ES part of 2007 Bond; expect
completion 2014. Improvement in school performance will be key to marketability of this
area.
Park/Greenway opportunities: Steele Creek and Coffey Creek Greenways are planned.
Berewick Regional Park has a new, full size Recreation Center within the Elementary
School.
Recommendation: The key to this area’s success is its proximity to the river, airport,
employment centers and south Charlotte. In order for the area to maintain its existing
momentum and to become a more significant employment center, a strategy building on
relevant portions of the Area Plans is needed. Focusing on Whitehall/Ayrsley and
Berewick and looking at the implications of new development on existing infrastructure is
critical to its future.
Recommended for $30,000,000 investment.
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West Trade/ Rozzelles Ferry
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Adopted Area Plans with capital recommendations:
West End Land Use & Ped Plan (2005) recommends 17 capital projects, including:
 Intersection improvements at W. 5th St. at I-77
 Streetscape improvements at key locations
 Strategic safety and aesthetic improvements on Beatties Ford Rd.
 Intersection reconfiguration/improvement at W. Trade St. & Wesley Heights Way
 Various pedestrian enhancements (intersection and mid-block crossing areas)
Lakewood Neighborhood Plan (2006) recommends 24 capital projects including:
 Make landscape/streetscape preservation/enhancements at key locations
 Emphasize community gateways, key linkages and perimeter image enhancements
 Reconfigure park/road network to create perimeter roadway/”eyes on park”
 Make pedestrian improvements in key areas
 Complete roadway connections including Lakewood/Lakeview St. and Norwood Dr.
near pre-school
CDOT projects:
 Ashley/Freedom/Tuckaseegee Intersection Improvement
 Tuckaseegee Farm-to-Market (Ashley to Mulberry)
 Ashley Road Traffic Calming Implementation
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There are also needed pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic calming improvements in this
focus area
Neighborhoods: Neighborhoods close to JCSU and uptown are seeing renewed interest,
while neighborhoods along Tuckaseegee and Glenwood have not comparatively thrived.
Lakewood, with its strong CDC, has become more stable, but lacks momentum to sustain
itself without assistance. With the strong partnership with JCSU and Project LIFT, this is
a good time to leverage investments to create sustainable change.
Retail/Employment placemaking: JCSU has been reaching outside its fence to impact the
West Trade corridor, working to make the area a center for student, cultural and
commercial life.
School partnerships: Irwin Avenue elementary school is the new site for the full
Learning Immersion/Talent Development magnet school that had been previously housed
at Villa Heights elementary school. Lincoln Heights elementary school will become a
Morgan School. The remaining schools listed have become pre-kindergarten through
grade 8 schools in the 2011-12 school year. These schools are feeder schools for Project
LIFT.
Park/Greenway opportunities: Stewart Creek is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, with
active interest in completing this section from uptown to Lakewood. The Historic
Charlotte Trolley is planning to move its operations to the abandoned trolley line from
Panther’s Stadium to Lakewood. Duke Energy, Clt Stormwater, and the Carolina Thread
Trail are partnering on water quality and park initiatives in Lakewood. There are at least
6 parks within this zone that provide much needed recreational amenities to the
surrounding neighborhoods. The area could be viewed as The Park neighborhoods of
Enderly Park and Ashley Park.
Recommendation: The schools in this area are part of the Project LIFT feeder schools,
with important community assets focused on helping the schools and their students
succeed. With JCSU’s strong interest in reaching outside their fence, and other partners’
interest in completing the greenway and moving the trolley, the area is ripe for
partnerships that leverage these public and private investments.
Recommended for $20,000,000 investment.
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Central/ Eastland/ Albemarle
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Adopted Area Plans with capital recommendations:
Rocky River Area Plan (2006) recommends 22 capital projects, including:
 Increase street capacity & connectivity as area continues to develop (includes
bike/ped and greenways/parks)
 Develop stormwater management facilities that recognize environmental quality and
recreational amenities
 Design and develop improvements that facilitate expansion of transit service as need
dictates
Eastside Strategy Plan (2001) recommends 74 capital projects, including:
 Encourage revitalization of commercial centers, corridors & gateways
 Improve thoroughfare capacity, paying attention to aesthetics (landscaping,
decorative lighting) at key locations & include completion of Eastern Circumferential
Road
 Improve bike/ped facilities, accessibility, safety, especially as prescribed by Bicycle
Plan
 Enhance “streetscape image” on Monroe Road west of Sharon Amity Road
“Central/Lawyers/Albemarle” Area Plan may be undertaken in the future. Among other
community issues, the Plan would likely address the older strip centers in the area that
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are aging and in need of renovation. Opportunities may exist to improve these assets
with markets and grants. One strategy may be to work with the private sector to identify
a select number of areas in which to leverage investment.
CDOT projects:
 Shamrock Farm-to-Market (Plaza to Eastway)
 Eastway/Shamrock intersection
 Parkwood/Pegram intersection
 Matheson/The Plaza intersection
 There are also needed pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic calming improvements in this
focus area
Neighborhoods/CMPD: Neighborhoods are undergoing change and stress in this area.
Closer in neighborhoods are revitalizing, but some lack significant infrastructure.
Neighborhoods further out are not thriving (Farm Pond). There are some significant
crime issues along this corridor (Albemarle Road) including concerns that the crime
issues associated with Albemarle and Farm Pond are extending west. This area has some
established neighborhoods that are on the verge of being considered fragile. There has
been limited investment along the Albemarle corridor with the Eastland Mall closure
illustrating the changes to this area. There are significant crime issues, both property
and violent crime, concentrated from Eastway and Central area to Albemarle/Farm Pond,
just beyond Eastland Mall.
School partnerships: Shamrock Gardens, Merry Oaks, Winterfield, and Albemarle Road
are all red and crowded, but all have strong neighborhood, school, and community
partnerships that should be supported. There is a need to support neighborhood school
accessibility, particularly at Shamrock and at Garringer.
Park/Greenway opportunities: Kilborne Community Park and Evergreen Nature Preserve
are good assets that should be capitalized upon.
Recommendation: While the Plaza Central area is doing well, areas further east are not
thriving to the same degree. Opportunities exist with new facilities for N&BS and CMPD,
new Latin American Coalition offices, and new Fire Station 42. But a viable plan and
stronger town center around Albermarle/Central could help give this area a better
perception. The Central/ Lawyers/ Albemarle Area Plan could be used to seek important
public input that would identify needed infrastructure improvements and other related
interventions in this area.
Recommended for $20,000,000 investment.
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Sunset / Beatties Ford
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Adopted Area Plans with capital recommendations:
Most of the area falls within the Westside Strategic Plan (2000) boundaries. Key issues
for the City include:
 Provide utility service throughout the area
 Open the riverfront to public access via greenways/open spaces
 Strategic noise abatement between I-485 and sensitive land uses
 Undertake streetscape improvements along major corridors
 Expand roadway capacity to respond to existing and anticipated demand
 Enhance bike/ped facilities especially near significant generators (parks, schools,
retail)
A small portion falls within the boundary of the Northlake Area Plan (2008). Key issues
for the City include:
 Install bike/ped facilities in key locations along thoroughfares; link to extensions of
Dixon Branch/Long Creek and Mallard/Clarks Creek Greenways
 Make key intersection improvements on thoroughfares
 Make critical network improvements to support Eastfield station area
CDOT projects:
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W. Sugar Creek Road reconstruction (Graham to Mallard Creek): planning & design
previously funded
 Development of W. Sugar Creek Rd. extension from Browne Rd. intersection to Old
Statesville Rd. (on Thoroughfare Plan)
 Gibbon Road sidewalks and miscellaneous connectivity retrofits needed
 Graham Street extension and City Blvd. extension: funded
 There are also needed pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic calming improvements in this
focus area
Neighborhoods/CMPD: New starter home subdivisions with high foreclosures. This area is
plagued with residential burglaries and some concentration of larceny from autos.
Retail/Employment placemaking:
 Oakdale is an historic community center needing reinforcement and preservation
 Sunset Road is an emerging suburban style shopping center with little character or
place
School partnerships: Ranson Middle School is red , with an emerging partnership with
the Chamber of Commerce and Community Building Initiative. Also major
renovation/addition project at Ranson part of 2007 Bond. Statesville Road (red) is
identified for capital funding in the ten year plan. Winding Springs elementary school is a
“new” home school (ie. includes an attendance area around the school) and provides
substantial relief to previously-crowded Hornets’ Nest elementary school. Project LIFT
geography includes Ransom and Statesville Road feeder schools, both of which have IB
programs.
Park/Greenway opportunities: Hornets Nest Park well utilized. Nevin Park largely built out
on perimeter. McIntire Greenway in Master Plan but not funded.
Recommendation: This is an area with high foreclosures, but strong assets. Among
these are feeder schools for Project LIFT, involved communities, and good parks.
Interventions are needed to stabilize the area and create a stronger, more sustainable
mix of housing; attractive, viable commercial and employment areas; and strong
neighborhood schools.
Recommended for $20,000,000 investment.
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