Future Developments
University City came about because visionaries made plans and then made them happen. We continue that tradition with boldness and optimism. Here are numerous plans, both public and private, for University City’s continued success.
Community public-private growth plans
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have created many plans to guide both public and private decisions about future development. The plans seek to envision what each community hopes to become, and then provide the framework for making that future possible. Plans typically suggest appropriate places for employment centers, shopping centers, and neighborhoods including recommendations for public investments in roads, transit, schools, and parks. You can find additional information on these and many other plans at the website below:
Website: City of Charlotte Area Planning
University Research Park Area Plan – University City Partners funded the creation of this public-private development plan for University Research Park. The city of Charlotte adopted the plan in 2010. The goal of the plan is to provide a blueprint for continued development of the park while preserving its valuable natural areas for public enjoyment. You can download the final plan along with a preliminary plan, also funded by University City Partners, that a nationwide team of experts from the Urban Land Institute created in 2008. Many of their ideas shaped the subsequent Charlotte plan.
University City Area Plan – University City Partners funded the creation of this public-private development plan for our core business district. The goal of the plan, adopted by the city of Charlotte in 2007, is to create a walkable urban center along North Tryon Street. A network of side streets is already beginning to emerge as a result of the plan.
Prosperity Church Road Villages (north and south of the I-485 interchange at Prosperity Church Road) –More than a decade ago, a creative Charlotte planner succeeded in getting Charlotte and North Carolina to adopt his vision for creating urban centers at the future I-485 interchange with Prosperity Church Road. A few pieces of that plan have been enacted over the years, but the state’s decision to finally complete this last stretch of I-485 means that we may soon see much more of the plan come to fruition – including urban-scale streets lined with shops, offices and multifamily housing, and an interchange serving not one but three parallel streets.
Other approved Charlotte-Mecklenburg district and area plans – Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have adopted numerous public-private growth plans are all and parts of University City. The following plans are available at the website below.
- Newell Area Plan (2002)
- Northeast Area Plan (2000)
- Rocky River Area Plan (2006)
Website: City of Charlotte Area Planning
UNC Charlotte plans
Campus Master Plan – UNC Charlotte enrollment recently topped 25,000 for the first time. A new student union, dorms, parking decks and classroom buildings have popped up across the campus to accommodate the additional students. And more are coming. The university expects to have 35,000 students within a decade. The university is creating new master plan for how the campus and programs should evolve to keep pace. The document available here is a recent draft of the nearly finished plan. The website holds other materials and will have the final plan, once approved.
Website: UNCC Master Plan
49er football program – UNC Charlotte has gotten approval at long last to launch a football program in 2013. Get all of the details at the website below, including how you can secure a seat. See the latest drawings of the future stadium at the renderings website.
Football website: Charlotte 49er Football
Renderings website: Charlotte 49er Football Stadium
Transportation projects and plans
I-485 Charlotte Outer Loop through University City – The state of North Carolina will construct the final leg of Charlotte’s outer belt in the next few years. The website provides the latest information regarding the project, including video simulations of how the project will look when finished.
Website: Charlotte Outer Loop
LYNX Blue Line Extension – Charlotte Area Transit System continues development of plans for extending Charlotte’s LYNX light-rail line from center city to just north of UNC Charlotte. The document available here is a recent report on the project’s status. The main website provides much more information about the project and funding. The station-plans website provides detailed plans for key light-rail stations in the heart of University City.
Main website: CATS Planning Blue Line Eextension
Station plans website: Transit Station Area Plans
Greenways – Mecklenburg County has developed more than 30 miles of greenways since adopting its first greenway master plan in 1980. University City is blessed to have 12 miles of connected greenways. Yet this is a fraction of the 220 miles of greenways the county now hopes to build. This network of non-auto pathways will also tie into the emerging 15-county Carolina Thread Trail system. The two documents below lay out Mecklenburg Park and Recreation plans for the next decade. The websites provide much more information about current and future greenways.
Greenway Action Plan
Greenway Master Plan
Website: Park and Rec Greenways
Website: Carolina Thread Trail
Significant road projects
The following road projects are pieces of the same puzzle. When all are finished, new four-lane roads will link North Tryon Street, University City Boulevard, I-85, Graham Street and Mallard Creek Road.
U.S. 29-N.C. 49-I-85 makeover (The Weave) – Work is under way on the most significant road project in University City outside of I-485. The document shows in detail how the three roads will look when the project ends around 2012. Besides eliminating the dangerous crisscrossing where the three roads now meet, this project will provide room for the future light-rail line along North Tryon Street. The project will also redirect University City Boulevard so it flows directly into City Boulevard (the I-85 exit for IKEA).
Website: Projects Transportation
New Mallard Creek Road connector – North Carolina plans to build this new roadway, which eventually will create a direct four-lane link from the end of Graham Street (at Sugar Creek Road) to about where Nevin and Mallard Creek roads meet.
Website: Roadway_Information
City Boulevard Extension – Charlotte plans to extend City Boulevard (the I-85 exit for IKEA) from where the road now ends, at Neal Road, to the future Mallard Creek Road connector.
Website: City Blvd Project
Business development plans
The following downloads and links are for major commercial developments in University City.
Belgate – This master-planned development by Crescent Resources covers more than 200 acres surrounding the IKEA store near I-85 and City Boulevard. The plan calls for new streets, two apartment communities and walkable retail centers. You can download a site plan for Belgate and a marketing brochure.
Website: Crescent Resources Belgate
Bank of America office center – Buildings up to 240 feet in height could tower above North Tryon Street and Mallard Creek Church Road. Charlotte City Council approved the development plan in 2009 to allow up to a million square feet of offices and related services on 24 acres owned by Bank of America. The document available here is the approved development plan. The website provides additional documents, such a staff reports on the project’s impact on traffic.
Website: Rezoning Petitions 2009
Innovation Park – IBM launched University City when it began building a manufacturing facility here in 1979. Now BECO Management hopes to spark a new era of growth on the same spot. The company bought the former IBM facility and 200 acres in 2010 and has ambitious plans for the campus as a multi-tenant office park. The website tells more about BECO and offers a first glimpse at what BECO hopes to accomplish.
Website: My Innovation Park