Uptown will get cleaner, brighter and safer, city leaders promise
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Uptown Charlotte on a Thursday afternoon. Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
Charlotte leaders say residents will soon notice Uptown appears cleaner, brighter and hopefully, safer.
Why it matters: Uptown is the face of the city, but it's developed a rough reputation after a streak of shootings, on top of the nearby Aug. 22 light rail stabbing. That notoriety is a threat to businesses, potentially scaring off visitors.
- Boosters say they hope that sprucing up the center city's appearance will help improve overall safety in the area.
The latest: At a second press conference on the issue Thursday, representatives from City of Charlotte departments explained the individual efforts they are undertaking to redeem Uptown by making it safer and more inviting.
1. Solid Waste Service is expanding its trash collection, sending teams of five out to high-traffic areas from 2-5am to start cleaning. This is only a pilot program, for now, to see what difference it could make.
- Shawn Heath, a deputy city manager, acknowledged this change may seem insignificant, but "having a clean, well-maintained city is, in fact, important to public safety."
- "Subtly, we're also trying to encourage folks, 'Hey, the bars are closed. It's time to go home,'" Heath added.
2. The planning department is leading an effort to make the streetscape, or the areas between buildings, "more attractive and stylish." They're calling it a "Tryon Street refresh."
- Over the next two months, the city is replacing kiosks, benches and trash bins while removing outdated fixtures like phone booths.
- Interim planning director Monica Holmes explained that many of Uptown's structures are over 40 years old and were placed in the mid-1980s.
- "It's going to happen quick, and it's going to be very exciting," she said.
3. The transportation department is "accelerating" its annual inspection of center city's roughly 3,00 streetlights before all the leaves fall.
- They'll fix outages, trim trees where existing lights are blocked, and upgrade more brighter, longer-lasting LED bulbs, said David Smith, the department's engineering and operations division manager.
- Longer term, CDOT will identify areas with low lighting, Smith said.
Catch up quick: Stakeholders also highlighted other ongoing initiatives intended to improve Uptown.
- CMPD's Connect Charlotte program lets residents and business owners give police limited or full-time access to their Ring and security cameras.
- The safety ambassador program will grow from 14 to 23 team members by the end of November.
- Charlotte Center City Partners noted the new McColl Park and new events, like the Wells Fargo Plaza beer garden, are designed to keep Uptown lively.
The bottom line: "This issue of public safety ... specifically in Uptown Charlotte, is a marathon. It is not a sprint," city council member Malcolm Graham said.