1. travel
2. tourist facilities
3. hotel

2015 ANNUAL REPORT
CHARLOTTE CENTER CITY PARTNERS
YEAR IN REVIEW
This was a very productive year for our work at Charlotte Center City Partners. Because of the development velocity Uptown and South End, we
were provided rare opportunities to advance the priorities of the 2020 Vision Plan.
Our program of work focused on long term planning, research, recruiting, placemaking, sustainability, programming and with a coalition to house
the chronically homeless.
Charlotte continued to be a preferred market for investors and developers, both in South End and Uptown. Cranes dot the skyline once again,
creating new infrastructure for job growth, more residents and more guests. Four new office towers and several mixed-use projects are in various
stages of planning or construction, twenty residential projects are under construction and soon 25,000 residents will call Uptown and South End
home. Demand for hotel rooms is on the rise as the hospitality industry strengthens, and with more than 2,000 hotel rooms proposed or under
construction.
We convened thought leaders and partners to create shared visions for multiple mixed use projects, including the North Tryon district in
partnership with Foundation for the Carolinas and Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning. The Rail Trail Plan was completed and was awarded
$430,000 in grants to support public art. We activated our strategic retail plan through efforts to recruit new and support existing retailers and
we launched a series of pop-up “Shop Uptown” events.
Charlotte made substantial progress towards the 2030 Transit Plan, which has been a powerful tool for recruiting private investment and shaping
development. The streetcar starter line is in test mode, and work on the Blue Line extension is well underway.
Highlights across a handful of initiatives are:
•
Pairing Romare Bearden Park and BB&T Ballpark has driven over $700 million in new development in the Third Ward.
•
South End is booming, with retail and new craft breweries continuing to help define this uniquely Charlotte neighborhood.
•
For the second year, we produced the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade.
•
We saw continued strong growth for the 7th Street Public Market and Charlotte B-cycle.
•
Envision Charlotte announced 8.4% in energy reduction, which will save Uptown buildings $10 million annually.
•
We convened a collaborative called Housing First Charlotte-Mecklenburg, to end chronic homelessness in our city by the end of 2016.
This has been a defining year for Center City. All of us are fortunate to have played a role in
shaping this era, as we create one of the greatest downtowns in America. We believe that
a great city and region are built upon the foundation of a vibrant downtown. In Charlotte,
this is truer today than since the inception of CCCP 37 years ago. We are proud to serve
Charlotte in this contagious urban movement and support this legacy of smart, visionary city
building. Follow along with our story by visiting charlottecentercity.org.
Ernie Reigel
Chairman
Board of Directors
Michael Smith
President and CEO
WHO WE ARE
2015 BUDGET
CCCP is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization that envisions and
Charlotte Center City Partners and the CCCP Community Trust
implements strategies and actions to drive the economic,
have a consolidated budget of $6 million. The following charts
social and cultural development of Charlotte’s Center City.
illustrate the sources and uses of funds for our work.
CCCP Community Trust (CCCPCT) is the 501(c)3 foundation
that provides a platform for economic development, city-
SOURCES:
wide community-building arts, education, sustainability,
76% MSD
placemaking, health and wellness initiatives.
3% Sponsorships
1% Grants & Other
CREDO
3% Gold Rush
We believe in:
•
The value of great urban places
•
Acting with integrity
•
The power of diversity & collaboration
•
Approaching all we do with passion, innovation, tenacity and excellence
FOCUS AREAS
Planning & Development
Economic Development
Business & Retail Recruitment
Research
Transportation
Sustainability
8% Charlotte B-cycle
9% Charlotte Artsfest
USES:
8% Planning & Development
2% Transportation
9% Economic Development
12% Programs & Events
17% Historic South End
7% Neighborhoods
15% Marketing & Communications
5% Sustainability
5% Operations
3% Gold Rush
Neighborhood Support & Development
8% Charlotte B-cycle
Programs & Events
9% Charlotte Artsfest
Marketing & Communications
2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Business recruitment and office absorption
Cranes are up and more are coming. 4 new office towers and 2 additional
mixed use projects mean 2.9 million square feet of office space under
construction or proposed in Center City. New product for recruiting new
jobs.
Residential growth
25,000 residents by 2016. 20 residential projects are currently under
construction. 7,749 housing units are under construction or proposed. To
put it in perspective: that’s a 250 percent increase in the number of housing
units since 2004.
Hotels and hospitality
Hospitality is a major economic engine for our Center City. We have 2,048
hotel rooms under construction or proposed. That’s a 36 percent increase
since 2014.
Ballpark neighborhood
BB&T Ballpark has unlocked more than $700 million in new development,
either underway or in the pipeline. Paired with Romare Bearden Park, this
ballpark neighborhood is transforming Third Ward.
South End Strategic Plan Implementation
The Edge of Town has its own vibe with retail wins in a new Publix and
Anthropologie, thousands of new residents on the way, new park land, a
parking study and strategies, cultural preservation, the creation of an arts
district, and the Rail Trail.
Rail Trail Initiative
Charlotte’s Urban Greenway. This linear park is taking shape as the
framework plan implementation begins. Public art is popping with
guerilla installations and the work of two major grants to support public
art: a $412,000 grant from ArtPlace America and a $20,000 grant from
Foundation for the Carolinas.
Retail Initiative
Ready for retail! We hired a new Director of Retail and brought our draft
retail strategy to City Council. Strategies include launching pop-up retail
events, promoting existing and recruiting new retail. Wins include Whole
Foods Uptown and Publix and Anthropologie in South End.
N. Tryon Vision Plan
The wins are already coming…Levine Properties has broken ground on First
Ward Urban Village and First Ward Park, and Novare’s Skyhouse has topped
out at 10th and Church St. The strategic planning initiative with two dozen
partners led by CCCP and FFTC to vision and redevelop N. Tryon will be
completed this fall.
Transit
We “dug” transit throughout 2015! Construction on the CityLYNX Gold Line
Streetcar is nearly done and it continues on the Blue Line extension. We’re
working with our City partners mitigate the impact on stakeholders.
Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade
More floats and segwalloons, new and national entertainment, more valued
sponsors, more people on the street and more eyes on TV in our second
year of production. More surprises for 2015’s parade…stay tuned.
Research
Numbers help tell the story of our Center City. We have raised the bar,
becoming a resource for Center City stakeholders, brokers and media.
There’s actionable research in our fifth annual State of the Center City
Report, presented at our third State of the Center City event.
2016 PROGRAM OF WORK
Business Recruitment & Economic Development
Retail Strategy
2020 Vision Plan Implementation
North Tryon Vision & Master Plan
Historic South End Strategy
Charlotte Rail Trail Implementation
7th Street Public Market
It’s a “must see” destination and Uptown’s third place. The 7th Street Public Market
is now at full capacity in its third year and sales are up 70%. There’s a cooking demo
station and a community room for the use of nonprofits. The Market was featured in
the New York Times article, “36 Hours in Charlotte.”
Charlotte B-cycle and City of Bikes
Bike sharing is hot! 100,000 people have ridden a Charlotte B-cycle since we
launched three years ago. Charlotte B-cycle has secured two grants from the Knight
Foundation and People For Bikes to ramp up outreach to get more people engaged
and riding.
Housing First Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Homelessness is an urban issue. With the Urban Ministry Center and nearly 30
corporate, non-profit, academic and public partners our plan is focused on a Housing
First approach. The goal is to provide all of the chronically homelessness in our
community with permanent supportive housing by 2016.
Envision Charlotte
Over $10 million. That’s what Envision Charlotte efforts have saved Uptown
businesses in energy costs. It’s a 8.7% reduction in energy usage. Envision Charlotte’s
efforts were honored at the Smart City World Expo in Barcelona, Spain. Programs in
water reduction and waste reduction are underway.
Mixed-Use Development
Transit
Ballpark Neighborhood
Programs, Marketing & Events
Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade
Neighborhood Development
Housing First Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Sustainability
7th Street Public Market
Charlotte B-cycle
BUSINESS CASE FOR CENTER CITY OFFICE
Strength of recruiting and retaining talent
FAST FACTS
OFFICE (Center City)
21.6M sq. ft. office space
Center of regional transit network
51% of County Class A office space
Premier hospitality & entertainment destination
115,000 employees
Best geographic access to the workforce of the region
GETTING AROUND
“Park once” workday
5.6 miles to CLT Douglas Int’l Airport
Transit System:
Urban living
• 427K monthly LYNX riders
Offers the ideal location for sustainability
• 45K monthly Gold Rush riders
• 46+ bus routes serving Uptown
Highest visibility as a leader in Charlotte
50,000+ parking spaces
HOSPITALITY
12M visitors annually
18 cultural venues
298 restaurants & clubs
169+ pro/college sporting events
1,065+ cultural performances / year
LIVING & EDUCATION
Nearly 20,000 residents
12 colleges / universities
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ernie Reigel, Chairman, Moore & Van Allen
Dr. Claude Alexander, The Park Ministries
Pierre Bader, Sonoma Restaurant Group
Michael Barnes, Charlotte City Council
Robert Bush, Arts & Science Council
Debra Campbell, City of Charlotte
Ron Carlee, City of Charlotte
Dr. Ronald Carter, Johnson C. Smith University
Dr. Ann Clark, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Rob Cummings, Falfurrias Capital Partners
Al de Molina, Investor
Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County
David Dooley, CBI
Dr. Phil Dubois, UNC Charlotte
Trevor Fuller, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
Harvey Gantt, Gantt Huberman Architects
Patsy Kinsey, Charlotte City Council
Lynne Tatum Little, Consultant
Tarun Malik, Johnson & Wales University Charlotte
Todd Mansfield, Crescent Communities
Dr. Michael Marsicano, Foundation For The Carolinas
Melissa McGuire, Sherpa
Bob Morgan, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
Katie Morgan, Bank of America
Danny Morrison, Carolina Panthers
Tom Murray, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority
Pat Riley, Allen Tate Realtors
Laura Schulte, Wells Fargo
Tom Skains, Piedmont Natural Gas
Doug Stephan, Vision Ventures
Rick Thurmond, Charlotte Magazine
Krista Tillman, Consultant
Eulada Watt, UNC Charlotte
Lloyd Yates, Duke Energy
Dr. Tony Zeiss, Central Piedmont Community College
STAFF
Charlotte Center City Partners
Michael J. Smith, President & CEO
Robert Krumbine, SVP of Events, Chief Creative Officer
Cheryl Myers, SVP and Chief Planning & Development Officer
Moira Quinn, SVP of Communications, Chief Operating Officer
Allison Billings, VP Neighborhood Development, Transportation & Sustainability
Eleni Saunders, VP of Finance
David Snapp, VP of Marketing
Maggie Collister, Director of Research
Megan Liddle Gude, Director of Uptown Neighborhoods
Chris Hemans, Director of Retail
Lynn Henderson, Director of Programs & Events Operations
Tobe Holmes, Director of Historic South End
Lelia King, Director of Communications
David McConnell, Director of Business Recruitment & Retention
Damon Phillips, Director of Event Management
Mike Rumph, Design Director
Cherie Grant, Office Administrator & Project Manager
Jessica Jones, Executive Assistant to the President
Steve Martin, Accountant
Dylan McKnight, Planning & Development Associate
Klint Mullis, Planning & Development Associate
Center City 2020 Vision Plan
7th Street Public Market
Chris Clouden, Executive Director
David Johnson, Market Manager
Charlotte B-cycle
Dianna Ward, Executive Director
Kimberley Butterworth, Operations Manager
Marion Morley, Fleet Manager
Envision Charlotte
Amy Aussieker, Executive Director
Sean Flaherty, Program Manager
200 SOUTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 1600 CHARLOTTE, NC 28202 704.332.2227 CHARLOTTECENTERCITY.ORG