Opinion
The PlanCharlotte.org Opinion page is open to a wide range of views. Opinion pieces are labeled as commentary and are the opinions of the writers, not necessarily those of PlanCharlotte.org, the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute or the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A PlanCharlotte link to another website does not mean we or the university endorse the opinions expressed or take any responsibility for content on outside websites.
Want to submit? PlanCharlotte.org is open to considering content from outside writers. We require factual accuracy and civil discourse. To learn more, contact Mary Newsom, mnewsom@uncc.edu or 704-687-1203, or mail to Mary Newsom, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte NC 28223.
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Mecklenburg parks’ big budget boost isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
At first glance, the proposed fiscal 2020 budget for Mecklenburg Park and Recreation looks like a slam dunk. With the clarity of a slow-mo replay, however, stripped of its glitter and pizzazz, the budget looks a lot more like a mediocre layup. -
Here’s what Charlotte really, really needs from its 2040 plan
We asked a dozen Charlotte community leaders from different walks of life one question: What does the city need more than anything in its new vision for growth? From designing for people instead of cars to building more equitably to not imposing too many regulations, here’s what they had to say. -
Don’t design the church for Easter Sunday - and other ways to reduce our impact
Responsible and thoughtful design entails understanding the relationship between the built environment and its impact on ecological systems. With 6.7 billion people projected to live in urban areas worldwide by 2050, there are many achievable strategies that should resonate with architects, developers and local governments to sustain the natural environment even as growth and development continue. -
Uber and Lyft are clogging cities, hurting transit
Despite rosy predictions, it seems ride-hailing companies are displacing trips by transit, bike and on foot. Cities like Charlotte need to work actively to keep them from worsening congestion. Commentary. -
Can we revive real meaning of ‘affordable housing’?
Does using the term “affordable housing” to mean subsidized housing lead us to stop considering housing affordability across the community? Commentary. -
Parks not keeping pace with Charlotte growth
Moving back to Charlotte after 10 years away, I noticed changes in Latta Park. Were my memories idealized? Had it always looked like this? Or had it been neglected in my absence? Commentary. -
Why does greenway vision remain unfulfilled?
Since at least 1980 Mecklenburg County has had a vision for greenways. But where are they? Why, despite big visions, do we have less than 50 miles? Commentary. -
An almost car-free suburb, where kids roam free
Can a suburban area be truly green? One city in Germany offers lessons in building a family-friendly environment with a small carbon footprint. Commentary. -
Storm clouds over Charlotte? A Richard Florida page-turner
Today’s urban crisis, writes Richard Florida, is as bad as the era of white-flight suburbanization and central city decay of the ’50s and ’60s. Book review. -
Is Charlotte’s bike plan update good enough?
A proposed new bicycle plan for Charlotte hits the mark in many ways. But without dedicated funding, will it be merely a feel-good exercise? Commentary.
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