University City Report (PDF) - Charlotte Chamber of Commerce

University 

City Report 

University City Report 1

Reaping the Benefits of 

A Bold Vision 

It shouldn’t be hard to imagine the outskirts of 

Charlotte, N.C., back in the 1960s. If you longed to 

escape the urban confines of the Queen City, a 

short drive would have placed you alongside the 

familiar fields and pastures of the quiet, North 

Carolina countryside. Northeast of the city 

you would have found a typical rural setting, 

another large expanse of thriving farmlands. 

along with them. With countless amenities the 

area has become a haven to these residents 

and also a comfortable locale for the thousands 

of commuters who are employed there with 

companies large and small. 

University City has evolved over the years. 

But if you’re ever heading northeast of Charlotte, 

still hoping to escape the hustle and bustle of 

the big city, have no fear: you’ll still find plenty of 

green space there, and that pastoral setting you’re 

looking for is probably right around the corner. 

Higher Learning is at the 

Heart of University City 

Fast-forward 50 years, and today that same 

northeastern stretch of the Mecklenburg County 

map has been completely transformed. The area 

is still thriving, but in a new and exciting way. Half 

a century ago visionaries conceived a plan to 

transform those farmlands into University City, a 

town located on the fringe of Charlotte that has, 

over time, grown strong enough to stand on its 

own merits. Identified mostly in the past by UNC 

Charlotte and the University Research Park (URP), 

those building blocks served as a foundation 

for a surge in population that now transcends 

those two institutions. Today, if University City 

were separated from Charlotte, it would be the 

seventh largest city in North Carolina. That’s a 

fairly substantial growth rate for only 50 years of 

existence. 

Branching out from the intersection of W.T. 

Harris Boulevard and North Tryon — the nexus 

of University City — the local community has 

exploded to more than 170,000 residents, and 

a strong infrastructure has developed right 

Obviously, University City would not be 

University City without UNC Charlotte. In fact, 

it’s quite possible that the town would have 

an entirely different name had its centerpiece 

institution not matured over the past 60 years. 

Originally a small evening college center that 

opened in 1946, UNC Charlotte now boasts a 

student enrollment that exceeds 25,000 students. 

Early on, the college went through a series 

of transitions before becoming the blossoming 

educational institution it is today. When the state 

2 

University City Report

©PatrickSchneiderPhoto.com 

decided to shut down its college centers back in 

1949, the Queen City’s business and education 

leaders commandeered the center, and Charlotte 

College was formed. By 1965 the college had 

joined the University of North Carolina system, and 

today UNC Charlotte is the fourth-largest school in 

that 16-campus system. 

With a full-time faculty that is 900 strong, and 

now offering 19 doctorate, 80 graduate and 90 

bachelor programs, the institution is a valuable 

resource not only for University City but the greater 

Charlotte region as well. Obviously, the university 

has come a long way since its tiny college center 

days. But UNC Charlotte’s growth continues at a 

stunning — and extremely exciting — rate. 

Construction for the Energy Production and 

Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte 

is currently underway. The $76-million facility 

will augment the Charlotte Research Institute 

campus and will conduct research in new energy 

technologies. This is also a boon for UNC Charlotte 

students. By utilizing the EPIC building’s state-ofthe-art 

lab facilities students will receive hands-on 

experience with a laundry list of industry leaders, 

including Duke Energy Corp., Siemens Energy, Inc., 

the Shaw Power Group and AREVA. 

Across from the EPIC facility, construction also 

continues on a brand-new UNC Charlotte football 

stadium. The 49ers will begin competing in 2013 

when football returns to their campus for the first 

time since 1948. Football will join the 16 other 

UNC Charlotte varsity sports teams that currently 

compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference. 

However, when it comes to education UNC 

Charlotte isn’t the only cutting edge campus in 

University City. Like the university before it, the 

Governor’s Village, a cluster of four Charlotte- 

Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), was yet another 

feat of planning and foresight. Named after four 

N.C. governors, the schools covered every grade 

for primary and secondary students living in 

University City. The four schools are Nathaniel 

Alexander Elementary School, James Martin 

Middle School, Vance High School and John 

Motley Morehead STEM Academy (a magnet 

school that was named a School of Distinction in 

2011). 

Initiated in the mid-1990s, the campus was an 

experiment designed to provide a unified K-12 

approach to learning, a workplace magnet for URP 

employees and a new technology-based system 

to increase communication between parents 

and schools. With its close proximity to URP, the 

campus sat at the forefront of innovation as it 

received millions of dollars in technology grants 

from IBM. 

Due to University City’s population explosion, 

in 2001 CMS removed the workplace magnet 

designation from the Governor’s Village schools to 

accommodate the increasing influx of students. 

Though IBM ended its grant around the same 

time, new partnerships have formed that will once 

again connect the public school campus to area 

businesses and also to the university. 

Financial services titan TIAA-CREF and UNC 

Charlotte recently announced a partnership to 

provide additional support to the 4,700 students 

and 500 faculty members in Governor’s Village. 

Job shadowing, tutoring and professional 

development are just some of the services 

provided to the schools, enhancing the student 

experience while returning the Governor’s Village 

to its initial design of offering unique opportunities 

in conjunction with local businesses and 

institutions. 

When it comes to education, UNC Charlotte 

and the Governor’s Village might stand out, but 

they shouldn’t overshadow the myriad of other 


Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), 

arrived in University City in 1987. 


educational opportunities available in University 

City, ranging from the slew of local private schools 

to Central Piedmont Community College’s Cato 

Campus. Just by its name alone, it’s obvious that 

education has a sturdy foundation in University 

City. 

Past Visionaries Pave the 

Way for New Pioneers 

A discussion of University City would be 

incomplete without discussing W.T. Harris, one of 

Charlotte’s most important civic leaders. When he 

became president of the Charlotte Chamber of 

Commerce in 1966 no one could have foretold 

the impact he would have on the city and 

especially on University Research Park (URP). In 

the mid-1960s the land URP now sits on was only 

accessible by horseback, jeep or helicopter. Today, 

as it continues to expand wide and far across the 

boulevard named after the visionary Harris, URP 

has become home to a variety of companies that 

lead the way in cutting edge technologies. 

Like any development, URP started as a dream. 

Frustrated after continually losing high-tech 

research and development companies to Research 

Triangle Park (RTP) in the Raleigh-Durham area, 

Harris spearheaded an effort to bring a similar 

research park to Charlotte to strengthen the 

community and provide jobs for its citizens. He 

also wanted URP to complement UNC Charlotte, 

which at the time had recently joined the 

University of North Carolina system. Harris, along 

with a group of community leaders, first pushed 

to provide the rural area with the necessary 

infrastructure to house tenants. Next came the 

need to provide the proper governance, financing 

and covenants for the property, so recruiting could 

begin in earnest. 

The URP ultimately broke ground on January 

11, 1968. Collins & Aikman Corporation, which 

produced automotive fabrics, became the 

research park’s first tenant. Shortly thereafter 

Reeves Brothers, another textile manufacturer, 

joined them. But a couple of years later, when a 

tech giant came calling, URP’s first seeds of true 

development were planted. 

In 1970 IBM took an option on 450 acres 

of land, which initially served as a ringing 


4 


endorsement for what was, at the time, a nascent 

endeavor. Unfortunately, IBM’s plans were slow 

to develop. When the company considered 

selling some of its acreage to the Billy Graham 

Foundation in 1972, URP organizers flew to New 

York to meet with IBM leaders in an attempt to 

gauge the company’s support and to provide 

a push to move forward with their plans. URP 

organizers’ persistence was rewarded: after 

making minor concessions to the covenant, 

IBM announced in 1978 that it would begin 

construction on a facility. By 1979 the company 

had arrived in URP, and the research park finally 

had its flagship tenant. 

Other companies followed. By 1987 URP had 

12 tenants that employed 8,000 people. Another 

significant tenant, Electric Power Research Institute 

(EPRI), arrived during that timeframe. This was a 

major coup for the research park, since EPRI chose 

URP over a location in RTP or Atlanta, Ga. Electronic 

Data Systems (EDS) and Verbatim also arrived 

during this build-up, and soon URP had become 

exactly what Harris and his fellow civic leaders had 

envisioned: a hotbed for technology pioneers with 

a community steadily growing around it. 

The middle years of URP’s existence saw a 

shift to back offices and call centers. Though 

not necessarily rooted in technology, this 

development gave rise to large opportunities for 

the research park, as financial firms Wells Fargo 

and TIAA-CREF built self-contained facilities on 

URP’s acreage. Wells Fargo’s Customer Information 

Center (CIC) is often mentioned in the same breath 

with the Pentagon simply due to the size and 

scope of the building, along with the amenities 

offered inside. TIAA-CREF’s facility sits on the other 

side of W.T. Harris Boulevard and also boasts an 

impressive site that seems more like a college 

campus than an office complex. The company 

maintains strong ties to UNC Charlotte, which 

would certainly please Mr. Harris himself. 

But as the new millennium has progressed, 

URP has seen a return to its technological 

beginnings. DigitalOptics Corporation is a microelectronics, 

imaging and optics company based 

in San Jose, Calif., that built a gigantic office 

facility on-site. SPEED purchased the old Verbatim 

building and transformed it into a high-tech 

broadcast center. In 2009, global appliance-maker 

Electrolux announced its plans to move its North 

American headquarters to URP, making it the 

largest corporate relocation to Charlotte since 

1984. And though IBM relocated to URP’s recently 

erected Enovia building, its former facility, now 

called Innovation Park, is currently undergoing a 

facelift. The multi-tenant and 12-building facility 

will soon have a renovated site built in the mold 

of the campus located at Google’s headquarters 

in Mountain View, Calif. 

With its proximity to uptown and Charlotte 

Douglas International Airport, its redundant power 

infrastructure and its campus-style setting, URP has 

proved to be a success after 50 years of existence. 

More importantly, it is now poised to grow and 

attract new companies — and their employees — 

well into the future. This impact on University City 

cannot be understated and is evidenced by the 

community that now surrounds and supports it. 

Companies From Across 

The Globe Call University 

City Home 

Charlotte has certainly seen its share of growth 

over the last 20 years. With a population that has 




almost doubled in that timeframe, the influx of 

new residents has been staggering. University City 

has also grown dramatically, as more and more 

people have flocked to the fringe city. Like these 

citizens, many companies from across the globe 

have made University City home. 

The Queen City is the country’s second-largest 

banking center behind New York City, and two of 

the world’s financial giants have a large presence in 

the University area. On any given day Wells Fargo 

has roughly 14,000 employees coming and going 

in its Customer Information Center (CIC) if support 

staff, trainees and visitors are included in the count. 

The facility was built in 1995 and has grown to 2 

million square feet in size. The campus is home 

to the bulk of the bank’s information technology 

and customer support units, and while many call 

center employees call the CIC home, plenty of 

senior executives work within its walls as well. 

Nearby, TIAA-CREF boasts an impressive 

workplace of its own. Headquartered in New York 

City, the financial services firm is one of the nation’s 

leading retirement providers. Its University City 

campus opened in 2000 and today houses around 

2,500 employees. The operation is one of the firm’s 

largest, proving that University City has become a 

haven for large financial institution facilities. 

Other companies contribute to the financial 

industry as well. URP neighbor IBM, though 

known primarily for its technological prowess, 

now provides support for local mortgage 

industry clients. And financial firms aren’t 

the only ones with operations in the area; 

Convergys and AT&T Communications also have 

facilities close-by. 

Industry also has an international flavor in 

University City, as many foreign-owned firms 

have moved in. The largest is AREVA, which 

has more than 700 employees in University 

City. Based in France and headquartered in 

Paris, the company prides itself on supplying 

low-carbon energy solutions to North America. 

Since AREVA is the largest engineering firm 

in town, most of the local staff is engaged in 

engineering for its nuclear energy business. 

Two Swedish firms have gone as far as to place 

their North American operations in University 

City: Electrolux, an appliance maker, and The 

Husqvarna Group, which manufactures outdoor 

power products. These recent developments 

have stamped University City as a thriving 

market for employers from near and far, even 

as the global economy has suffered through a 

number of ups and downs over the last decade. 

Business is booming in University City as 

industry stalwarts have remained and new 

companies have arrived. In fact, for many years 

local commuters converged on the center city of 

Charlotte, aiming toward the cluster of skyscrapers 

in the distance before beginning their workdays. 

Now many University City residents are sticking 

closer to home as their fringe city provides plenty 

of employment opportunities. Others are still 

making the commute, but now the skyline of 

uptown is in their rearview mirrors instead. 

An Abundance of Alternatives 

for a Healthy Lifestyle 

When it comes to health and fitness, University 

City stands strongly on its own two legs. With an 

award-winning hospital, numerous fitness options 

and plenty of green space, health-conscious 

citizens have countless ways to continue their 

active lifestyles. 

A community’s health needs start with the 

availability of world-class health care. Since 

Carolinas Medical Center-University serves as 

one of the anchors for University City’s “town 

square” (the intersection of W.T. Harris Boulevard 

and North Tryon Street), that need is definitely 

6 


satisfied. The hospital, which opened as University 

Memorial Hospital in the mid-1980s, is by far 

the largest in the university area, and also serves 

northern Mecklenburg County and southwestern 

Cabarrus County. Serving a wide group of patients 

is one thing, though; providing those patients 

with award-winning service is another. J.D. Power 

and Associates has named CMC-University a 

“Distinguished Hospital” and also recognized 

the hospital’s maternity center for “Outstanding 

Patient Experience” for three years running. 

Aside from its first-class service, CMC-University 

also offers a wide range of surgical specialties, 

ranging from orthopedics to urology. With 

more than 8,700 surgical procedures performed 

annually, patients receive not only expert care 

but also a wide breadth of care. Adjacent medical 

offices only strengthen CMC-University, as does 

being affiliated with one of the strongest health 

care systems in the Southeast. But what makes 

the hospital even more impressive is the fact that 

it promotes health and wellness beyond its own 

doors. Partnering with the University City YMCA 

and organizing the LiveWell Carolinas! Program 


in Northlake Mall, CMC-University is involved in 

the community in an effort to keep residents 

educated and informed. 

Of course, many Americans exercise daily 

with the hope of avoiding a trip to the hospital 

altogether. Enter the University City YMCA, which 

offers more than just a typical fitness center filled 

with cardio equipment. The facility also has an 

outdoor water park, an indoor pool, a sports fields 

and an indoor track. Personal health coaching 

is also available, be it fitness assessments, diet 

consultations or personal training sessions. Adults 

and children alike can choose from a wide variety 

of group exercise classes, such as yoga, dance or 

water aerobics, or play traditional team sports like 

basketball, soccer and flag-football. 

If you’re the type that strictly prefers the great 

outdoors, then there are plenty of options in 

University City that supply open space and fresh 

air. Together Clark’s Creek and Mallard Creek 

Greenways make up the longest stretch of 

Mecklenburg County’s greenways, providing 

more than seven miles of trails. Those seven miles 

offer various backdrops for athletic endeavors, 

such as university neighborhoods, University 

Research Park (URP) and a mature floodplain 

forest. But that’s just one option for the outdoor 

enthusiast. 

The Toby Creek Greenway not only links 

up with the previous two greenways but also 

connects with the UNC Charlotte campus, 

which offers fitness trails and bike paths of its 

own. Nearby Ribbon Walk Nature Preserves is a 

188-acre urban forest with three miles of hiking 

trails. Regional and community parks are located 

throughout University City’s neighborhoods. And 


avid golfers can choose from The Tradition Golf 

Club or Highland Creek Golf Club to fine-tune 

their games. 

With a top-notch health care facility 

nearby and multiple options for every fitness 

undertaking, a University City resident has plenty 

of amenities to choose from when it comes to 

leading a healthy lifestyle. 

On the Fast Track 

To the Future 

One obvious signal of University City’s 

transformation from farmland to fringe town is the 

transportation infrastructure that has developed 

to support it. With two major thoroughfares in 

W.T. Harris Boulevard and North Tryon Street, 

along with the development of the I-485 beltway, 

University City is more accessible than it ever has 

been. But even more changes are coming, and 

they are changes that will position the suburban 

community perfectly for the future. 

Light rail arrived in Charlotte in 2007 and 

has been hailed as a great success; ridership has 

already exceeded long-term expectations. Now 

the light rail service is on its way to University City 

as well. The Charlotte Area Transit System’s (CATS) 

LYNX blue line will connect the Queen City’s 

uptown to UNC Charlotte, stretching almost 10 

miles from center city to the campus. 

Local employers, along with their employees, 

will benefit greatly from the proposed expansion, 

which is slated for completion in 2017. Soon it will 

only take commuters a projected 22 minutes to 

get from the university to uptown Charlotte. Aside 

from the obvious business impact, University City 

residents will also have a means of alternative 

transportation to attend center city’s multiple 

entertainment attractions, be it a concert at Time 

Warner Cable Arena, a Carolina Panthers game at 

Bank of America Stadium or a performance at the 

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. And students 

will be able to travel easily between the main 

and uptown campuses, while citizens living in 

Charlotte proper who want to catch a 49ers game 

will have a new transit option as well. 

Eleven new stations are planned for the 

expansion, which will extend from center city to 

North Davidson, then follow North Tryon Street 

(US 29) as it cruises all the way into UNC Charlotte’s 

campus. With a cost no greater than the average 

bus fare and trains running every day (and every 

10 minutes during the weekday rush hour), transit 

will be cheaper and more convenient than it has 

ever been along the “Northeast Corridor.” 

However, the blue line extension isn’t the only 

major transportation change coming to University 

City. The long-delayed completion of the I-485 

beltway is another huge piece of the area’s 

transportation puzzle. Budget cuts had delayed 

construction, leaving a gap in the beltway in 

northeast Charlotte. But construction to complete 

this 5.7-mile void is already underway and is 

scheduled for completion in 2014. 

Along with finishing I-485, the construction 

team will also tackle the widening of I-85 all the 

way out to Cabarrus County and create a number 

of new exchanges along the new section of the 

beltway to aid the flow of traffic and improve 

driver safety. The project will include cuttingedge 

designs that have not been utilized before 

in the state of North Carolina: a split diamond 

interchange at Prosperity Church Road, a diverging 

diamond interchange for Mallard Creek Road 

and the conversion of the I-85/I-485 trumpet 

interchange to a turbine exchange. Those three 

endeavors will make entering and exiting I-485 a 

breeze, keeping the flow of traffic steady on what 

will certainly be high-traffic ramps. 

Throw in the recent completion of the US 29/ 

NC 49 connector — which eased traffic for the 

70,000 vehicles that pass through the quarter-mile 

stretch of North Tryon Street between the end of 

University City Boulevard and the I-85 exchange 

— and an amazing transportation facelift has 

already occurred in a short period of time. In 

fact, the US 29/NC 49 connector project was 

completed nine months early and under budget. 

As stated previously, University City is exploding in 

population and in the number of commuters and 

visitors coming and going each year. Soon, all that 

coming and going will be a whole lot easier. 

Bright Lights, Little City 

Whether you’re a resident living nearby or a 

visitor passing through, you definitely will not be 

bored in University City. The area has a multitude 


8 


of shopping destinations, diverse restaurants and 

engaging attractions to occupy your time. 

One favorite spot amongst locals is the 

Shoppes at University Place. If the intersection of 

W.T. Harris Boulevard and North Tryon Street is the 

University City’s “town square,” then the mixed-use 

shopping center is certainly one of the area’s most 

popular gathering places for friends and family. 

Aside from its assembly of stores and 

restaurants, the Shoppes at University Place offer 

a family-friendly and open-air environment. With 

a lake rippling in the heart of the shopping center, 

pedestrians can take to “The Boardwalk” or the 

two-mile trail that surrounds the lake, while others 

can churn their legs in paddle boats out on the 

lake’s tranquil surface. Afterward a bite to eat at 

the popular Boardwalk Billy’s or a drink at local 

haunt The Wine Vault can cap off a day perfectly. 

There are plenty of other shopping options 

nearby. North Carolina’s Concord Mills, a 

behemoth of a mall that is the state’s #1 tourist 

attraction, is just a short drive up I-85 and offers 

a full host of shopping options, ranging from a 

Bass Pro Shops location to a Polo Ralph Lauren 

Factory Store. The world’s number one homefurnishings 

retailer, IKEA, has its own boulevard 

right off North Tryon Street — and it’s the only 

IKEA between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, Ga. 

And grocery-wise there are typical options like 

Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Trader Joe’s, as well as 

LEGEND 

MSD Boundary 

Edge Areas 

Proposed Station Location 

Existing Streets 

Proposed Streets 

Office 

Mixed Use with 

Ground Floor 

Retail 

Single 

Family Residential 

Edge Area 

A-1 

Institutional 

Open Space/Park 

ark 

an increasing number of specialty stores selling 

ethnic foods. 

When it comes to dining, ethnic fare is 

available in specialty stores and full-fledged 

restaurants. A myriad of cuisines are represented 

in University City, such as Thai by Thai Taste, 

Vietnamese by Pho Real, Moroccan by Casablanca 

Café or Italian by Amalfi’s Pasta ’n’ Pizza. And 

those are only a small handful of ethnic eating 

alternatives that are available. 

For a fine dining experience, Firewater offers 

eclectic American cuisine in a modern, romantic 

setting. The menu is far-reaching, including 

steak and seafood, and is accompanied by a 

comprehensive wine list. But those craving good 

old-fashioned Southern BBQ can visit Farmer’s BBQ 

on Mallard Creek Church Road where they’ll find 

meats smoked in-house, while vegetarians are 

covered by Zizi’s Vegetarian Restaurant at Gold Hill 

Pavilion, where 100 percent vegan fare is offered 

for take-out. 

As far as local attractions, University City 

certainly comes alive during race season. Just up 

the road is Charlotte Motor Speedway, which plays 

to hosts to several NASCAR events throughout 

the year. The 1.5-mile super speedway is a blessing 

for local fans but attracts tourists from across the 

country not only to University City but also to 

Charlotte. Aside from having the opportunity to 

watch drivers in action, fans of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie 

Transit Oriented Residential 

I-85 

McCullough 

Harris Blvd. 

Proposed Harris 

/N. Tryon 

Station 

Proposed City 

Boulevard 

Station 

Edge Area 

A-2 

JW Clay 

Proposed 

University City 

Station 

Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. can also visit the 

nearby Hendrick Motorsports Museum and Team 

Store for free. 

Music-lovers are also covered by nearby Verizon 

Wireless Amphitheater. Operated by LiveNation, 

the outdoor amphitheater is considered one of the 

premiere concert venues in the Metrolina region. 

With reserved seating or lawn seating and a variety 

of acts including country, rock, alternative, pop 

and hip-hop, the amphitheater can provide a full 

evening of entertainment. 

For visitors seeking a place to stay, plenty 

of options are convenient to the attractions 

and businesses nearby. Boasting more than 17 

combined hotels and motels with more than 

2,100 guest rooms, finding accommodations in 

the University City area will definitely not be a 

problem. One standout is the Hilton Charlotte 

University Place, which is directly beside the 

Shoppes at University Place. The Hilton has 393 

recently renovated deluxe guestrooms and suites, 

some of which overlook the nearby lake. This is but 

one option, as a slew of national chains provide 

comfortable places to lay your head too. 

Those living in neighboring developments 

know they want for nothing; University City 

provides plenty of activities and entertainment to 

keep its residents busy. For visitors, the attractions 

and amenities hold their attention and quite often 

lead to an extended stay. 

Edge Area 

B 

N. Tryon 

E. Mallard Creek 

Church Road 

Proposed 

UNC-Charlotte 

Station 

Proposed 

Mallard Creek 

Church Station 

Road 

John Kirk 

US 29/NC49 

Proposed 

Rocky River 

Station 

0’ 700’ 1400’ 

Rocky River 

University City Boulevard 

Edge Area 

C 

Edge Area 

C 

University of North Carolina 

at Charlotte 

Carolinas Medical 

Center 

Potential Development Scenario of the MSD Edge Areas 


University City Area 

RIDGE 

BEARD 

PROSPERITY CHURCH 

STATESVILLE 

OLD STATESVILLE 

HUCKS 

DAVID COX 

85 

MALLARD CREEK 

GIBBON 

OLD STATESVILLE 

2 8 2 6 9 

TRYON 

2 8 2 6 2 

PAVILION 

485 

BACK CREEK CHURCH 

NEVIN 

UNIVERSITY CITY 

CINDY 

85 

GRAHAM 

SUGAR CREEK 

2 8 2 1 3 

OLD CONCORD 

ROCKY RIVER 

NORRIS 

2 8 2 0 6 

DALTON 

CALDWELL 

10 


University Area Demographics 

University Zip Code Zip Code Zip Code Zip Code 

Area Total 28206 28213 28269 28262 

Population 

2000 Total Population 102,313 12,508 25,891 42,430 21,484 



2010-2015 Annual Rate 3.50% 1.26% 2.78% 4.11% 3.76% 

Households 

2000 Households 37,149 4,347 9,542 16,142 7,118 

2010 Households 63,659 4,876 14,579 29,458 14,746 

2015 Households 76,418 5,237 16,877 36,193 18,111 

Housing Units 

2010 Housing Units 69,679 4,867 15,975 31,858 16,179 

Owner Occupied Housing Units 54.4% 29.9% 52.9% 64.3% 47.4% 

Renter Occupied Housing Units 37.0% 62.4% 38.4% 28.1% 

Median Household Income 

2000 $48,733 $25,504 $41,432 $60,955 $53,130 

2010 $67,590 $29,563 $61,556 $77,153 $70,388 

Median Home Value 

2000 $132,190 $64,032 $103,465 $147,933 $136,404 

2010 $173,562 $80,169 $142,161 $187,786 $186,830 

2010 Household by Income 

Household Income Base $63,659 $4,876 $14,579 $29,458 $14,746 

Profiles of 

University City 

University City Partners 

University City has its own chapter within 

the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, so the 

fact that it also has its own municipal service 

district only gives it an additional edge 

when it comes to leveraging local resources. 

While the Charlotte Chamber University City 

Chapter provides businesses support by 

sponsoring events to build and strengthen 

relationships among its members, University 

City Partners (UCP) is a focused entity that 

helps chart the commercial course for this 

suburban community. 

Mary Hopper 

University City Partners (UCP) is one 

of only three municipal service districts in Charlotte, with the other two 

located in Center City and South End. Founded in 2003, UCP was created to 

contribute additional resources to University City’s commercial core. Property 

tax revenues generated within the district are used, specifically, to enhance 

the area. With a steadily climbing population and its emergence as a growing 

business hub, University City fits the bill for this special status and, more 

importantly, benefits greatly from the additional support. 

COURTESY OF MARY HOPPER 

“We have an active board of directors that has put a lot of energy behind 

reshaping the area to be transit-supportive because they know that will 

further enhance what is already up here,” said Mary Hopper, UCP’s executive 

director. “It was the forward thinking of the property owners, led by the 

University City chapter of the Charlotte Chamber, who created University City 

Partners eight years ago. The City Council felt good enough about what we 

had accomplished in our first five years that they unanimously approved our 

expanding to include the University Research Park.” 

University City already has so much going for it, so the fact that it has a 

dedicated advocate like UCP only enhances its appeal. Though certainly biased, 

Hopper is bullish about the future of the area in which she lives and works. 

“Opening this leg of I-485 and getting light rail will be the icing on the cake 

by increasing our accessibility,” she said. “People are understanding perhaps 

for the first time that UNC Charlotte is an enormous asset, so we are proud to 

share its name.” 


12 


Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), 

arrived in University City in 1987. 


Company Profile: Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) 

Located at 1300 W.T. Harris Boulevard, EPRI has been a University City 

mainstay for many years. In the early 1980s the independent, nonprofit 

organization established its Nondestructive Evaluation Center in URP, but 

over time EPRI has expanded its operations to include additional research 

and new testing laboratories and facilities. 

The organization assembles a team of its scientists and engineers as well 

as experts from academia and industry in an attempt to address challenges 

associated with electricity. When it comes to electricity, EPRI tackles a variety 

of issues, such as reliability, efficiency, health and safety. 

EPRI was initially drawn to Charlotte for its proximity to nuclear 

generation, which is the main subject of the center’s research. With UNC 

Charlotte also nearby, this made University City, along with its accessibility 

to the interstates and airport, an ideal location. 

“In recent years, with the emergence of Charlotte and the Carolinas as a 

center for the nuclear industry and the energy sector, we continue to see this 

location as one that brings great synergy among many of the energy and 

electricity companies in the world,” said Jeremy Dreier, the senior manager of 

EPRI’s corporate communications. 

While Dreier noted the ease of access 

to the facility, he also pointed out that employees dine and shop in University 

City and on some occasions make use of the greenway during lunchtime 

breaks. For a unique organization like EPRI, which needs office space as well as 

laboratory space, URP was a perfect location. 

“The area, including UNC Charlotte, offers a good mix of companies and 

research organizations that are progressive, sophisticated, forward-thinking 

and generally very good for the Charlotte region,” he said. 

University City Report 

13

Company Profile: Electrolux 

Electrolux is one of URP’s newest members, having chosen the 

research park as the home for its North American operations in 2010. The 

216,000-square-foot facility is located at 10200 David Taylor Drive, and the 

company spent $13 million to renovate the building. 

Electrolux touts itself as the global leader in home appliances and 

appliances for professional use. The company has many familiar household 

brands that reside under its banner, including Frigidaire and Eureka. 

The Charlotte headquarters is home to approximately 450 employees, a 

number the company expects to grow over the next five years. Electrolux’s 

relocation should not be downplayed — it’s the largest corporate 

relocation to Charlotte since insurer Royal & SunAlliance pulled up its 

stakes in 1984. 

The decision to place the headquarters in Charlotte was based 

on a number of factors: the skilled labor pool, access to a variety of 

transportation options, local educational capabilities, incentives that offset 

relocation costs, local government and business support, and numerous 

other quality-of-life elements. With these priorities in mind, University City 

was an obvious choice. But location continues to plays a huge part in 

attracting businesses to the area. 

“Availability of transportation — road, rail and the nearby international 

airport — allows easy access for traveling to other business units globally 

and was an important factor in the decision to consolidate Electrolux 

North America operations in University City,” said Caryn Klebba, the director 

of the company’s corporate communications. 

Klebba cited Charlotte’s consistent ranking as a great place to live 

and work. She also pointed to the outstanding educational and housing 

resources, along with the strong local talent pool. But again, sometimes it’s 

about location, location, location. 

“We’re only a short drive from the many offerings the wider region 

boasts of,” Klebba said. 

Caryn Klebba, director of Electrolux 

corporate communications. 


14 University City Report

John Marchionda, Husqvara’s 

Vice President of Marketing 


Company Profile: The Husqvarna Group 

The Husqvarna Group has an interesting history as it was initially founded, 

in 1689, with a focus on making muskets. While the company also has a long 

history in the Charlotte market, 2009 marked a new era as University City 

became home to Husqvarna’s “Headquarters for the Americas.” The company 

also has another local historical connection: Husqvarna was spun off from 

University City neighbor Electrolux in 2006. 

The company has come a long way since its musket-making days. 

Husqvarna is now the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products. 

Many Americans are familiar with their offerings, which range from chainsaws 

to lawn mowers to garden tractors. Poulan and Weed Eater are just two of the 

brands that fall under the Husqvarna name. 

Before the 2009 headquarters relocation announcement, the company 

already employed roughly 160 people at its Professional Products 

headquarters stationed at 7349 Statesville Road. But when the time came to 

move from their main location in Augusta, Ga., other suitors came calling — 

some at the eleventh hour. But the N.C. Economic Investment Committee 

bestowed the company the state’s Job Development Investment Grant right 

before the headquarters announcement. Since the grant money is tied to 

performance targets, Husqvarna has to deliver on its promise of creating new 

jobs over the next nine years, which is a boon for employment in the area. 

In 2010 the company announced its plans to relocate its American 

headquarters to Harris Corners Corporate Park, which is located right off 

I-77’s Exit 18. According to a company spokesperson, University City — and 

Charlotte in general — provides the perfect setting for many companies who 

are based overseas. 

“Charlotte is comfortable with its role as a major hub for multinational 

firms,” said John Marchionda, the vice president of marketing at Husqvarna. 

Marchionda noted University City’s central location as a huge selling 

point for businesses relocating or expanding to the region. Infrastructure is 

also a crucial determining factor. The area has a competitive edge due to site 

availability and operating resources that don’t exist elsewhere. Marchionda 

also pointed to University City’s cultural and social strengths, which benefit 

the company’s employees. 

“The area provides great amenities and services that increase one’s quality 

of life,” he said. 


15

Personal Profile: 

Tim Wallace 

Every town needs its own watering hole, a 

place for locals to gather and share a drink (or 

two) as they unwind after a long day of work. For 

University City, The Wine Vault is just such a place. 

Tucked away in The Shoppes at University Place, 

this haunt has been a favorite of locals for the 

past 25 years. While old-timers may remember 

the location as Slug’s Wine and Cheese, the store 

became The Wine Vault 18 years ago. With an 

excellent selection of wine and beer, and a patio 

overlooking the neighboring lake, it’s easy to kill 

an hour (or two) as you relax with your beverage 

of choice. 

Tim Wallace, who purchased The Wine Vault 

along with his three business partners 10 years 

ago, has also lived in the university area since 2003. 

Currently he resides close to his business — in 

fact, his home is right behind the shopping center 

in the Welwyn neighborhood. For Wallace, this 

set-up, along with University City itself, couldn’t be 

more convenient. 

“Everything’s here,” he said. “I don’t have to go 

anywhere. And I love that.” 

Wallace has a long history with The Wine 

Vault and with the area. Born in nearby Gastonia, 

Wallace graduated from UNC Charlotte in 1998 

and worked at The Wine Vault during his college 

days. After graduation Wallace moved away, but 

ultimately he returned to University City because it 

was where he was most comfortable. 

“We’ve looked at other parts of the city to live 

in and to open other stores in, but the people 

out here are much more relaxed, laid-back, 

comfortable,” he said. 

Not surprisingly, when asked to name a few of 

his favorite local restaurants, many of his University 

Place neighbors were mentioned: Boardwalk Billy’s, 

Ciro’s and Zapata’s. But for Wallace, the strength of 

the area lies in its people. 

“I have a lot of customers who are retired. I have 

a lot of customers who are college kids,” he said. 

“And I have a huge amount of people who are in 

business at University Research Park that live out 

here. You know, I like that. It’s extremely diverse.” 

But Wallace took the time to point out that 

University City has a special kind of diversity. 

“Everybody thinks diversity is just a color 

thing,” he said. “But it’s also an age thing. It’s also 

an experience thing, an education thing. Out 

here you’ve got it all. There are still farmers that 

live out here.” 

16 


©PatrickSchneiderPhoto.com


Personal Profile: Sonja Gantt 

Most Charlotteans know who Sonja Gantt is. As an anchor for local NBC 

affiliate WCNC-TV’s evening newscasts, she is welcomed into many local 

living rooms throughout the week. She’s worked for the station in that 

capacity since 1997. 

A local joke is that no one lives in Charlotte was actually born in Charlotte. 

In Gantt’s case this couldn’t be further from the truth. A Charlotte native, she 

grew up on the city’s North Side in the Hidden Valley neighborhood. She later 

attended East Mecklenburg High School before heading to UNC Chapel Hill. 

Gantt has also lived in University City — twice. She lived there for five 

years before moving to Chicago. But she moved back four years later, and has 

remained there for the last 14 years. 

“I like the feel of the area, and I think there’s a certain wonderful spirit 

over here,” she said. “And there’s a good mix of young and old. You know, I’m 

usually up at the University Y in the morning, and I love the fact that there are 

retirees up there. Sometimes there will be people like me who work a different 

schedule. It’s just a great mix.” 

In talking with Gantt, it’s very obvious that she loves the University YMCA, 

citing her affinity for working out and the classes the facility offers. Of course, 

all that working out certainly works up an appetite. Though she doesn’t get 

to visit as often as she likes due to her schedule, she pointed to Nona’s Sweets 

Bakery Café, a family-owned and operated bakery in the university area, as one 

of her favorite places. 

But she didn’t limit her smaller local finds to food. One of her latest 

discoveries, The Last Word, is a used bookstore located in the Grand 

Promenade Village. 

“It’s such a cute little place,” she said. “I mean, I’ve found bestsellers up 

there for five bucks, six bucks. So it’s such a great resource for people who 

love reading, or my son who found video games in there. I think that’s a little 

hidden treasure.” 

Married with two children, Gantt believes anyone with a family looking 

to move or relocate to the Charlotte area would not be disappointed with 

University City. 

“When you move someplace and you have children, you’re always looking 

for things for them to do, and it’s definitely alive with plenty of children here. 

If you go up toward Mallard Creek Park on a Saturday — my son was playing 

soccer up there — I mean, there are just kids everywhere. And so I do think it’s 

a very welcoming place for families.” 


17

Personal Profile: Paul Petr 

A first-generation American, Paul Petr has a unique 

backstory that brought him to University City. The youngest 

of eight children, Petr’s parents immigrated from the Czech 

Republic to the United States after World War II as displaced 

refugees. Though a much smaller move, two years ago Petr 

and his family relocated to University City so he could be closer 

to the YMCA, where he serves as the executive director. 

Petr grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He graduated 

from Northern Michigan University with a degree in recreation 

administration and then put that degree to use for many years: 

he has worked for the YMCA in a variety of capacities for two 

decades. After stints in Michigan, Kentucky and Wisconsin, 

the University City YMCA was lucky to find someone with his 

enthusiasm and experience. 

Petr started at the bottom and worked his way up through 

the YMCA ranks, enjoying the camaraderie he developed with 

volunteers and staff. Early on he worked in various entry-level 

positions, slowly climbing toward the leadership role he has 

today. He credits his success in part to his upbringing. 

“My parents taught me some great life lessons about hard 

work, giving your best, compassion for others and sticking to 

your goals,” he said. 

Petr, his wife and three daughters live in Highland Creek. 

All three of his daughters attend nearby Highland Creek 

Elementary School. The husband and father listed Rita’s Italian 

Ice and Ciro’s Italian Restaurant as local favorites, but it’s easy to 

tell that this is one active family. 

“When we have time on our hands we like to visit Reedy 

Creek Park, catch a Charlotte 49ers athletic event and 

participate in all the offerings of the University City YMCA,” 

Petr said. 

When you live in close proximity to your workplace, it 

doesn’t get much more convenient than that. But for Petr, 

University City itself provides conveniences all on its own. 

Like most residents, Petr enjoys having whatever he needs at 

his disposal. 

“The University City area is close to all the major 

amenities but still provides a great quality of life for a young 

family,” he said. 

But no matter whom you ask, the strength of University 

City seems to be in the people who live and work there. Petr 

isn’t the first person to say that, and he probably won’t be 

the last. 

“The people always make the difference,” he said. “There 

is an extremely diverse talent pool of people who want to 

get to know you and truly care how you are doing. Besides 

the larger international companies, we have some extremely 

strong smaller businesses all of which are on the cutting edge 

of their industries.” 

Coming from Petr, that’s really saying something. Don’t 

forget: this is a man who has lived in plenty of other places. 


18 


Personal Profile: George Battle 

George Battle, III is another Charlottean who hasn’t strayed very far 

from home. He has lived in University City off and on for 26 years. More 

importantly, he has worked behind the scenes at two of the most important 

institutions in town. 

Battle moved to University City in 1985 when he was only 12 years old 

and later attended West Charlotte High School. The “off and on” aspect of his 

University City tenure was only due to higher learning, as he attended UNC- 

Chapel Hill and UNC School of Law. Currently he works as general counsel for 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), a position he has held for 15 months. 

In that role one of his main duties is serving as the chief legal counsel for 

the board of education. Prior to that, Battle was an in-house attorney with 

Carolinas HealthCare System for 11 years. Needless to say, he carries a huge 

burden of responsibility, and has for some time. 

Battle currently lives with his wife and daughter in the Fox Glen 

neighborhood near Highland Creek. After his impressive scholastic career, 

Battle returned to his old stomping grounds. A huge reason for that decision 

was the opportunity to be involved in the development of an area that has 

experienced — and continues to experience — a steady growth rate. 

“There’s some established areas of town where you go and, you know, 

you’re the latest wave of people just to be there,” Battle said. “With University 

City, even moving out there in ’85 — and I know this sounds kind of strange 

— but you still have the sense that it’s growing. And you still have the sense 

that you’re part of building a community as opposed to following someone 

who’s already built a community, or just moving in there. You feel like you 

have a part in shaping it.” 

Aside from this pioneering spirit, Battle also likes that he has the best of 

all worlds. He touched on the area’s diversity, and he loves the conveniences 

that come with living in a fringe city. 

“The real strong point for me is that you have all the benefits of the city,” 

he said. “You know, proximity to downtown, proximity to different types of 

amenities with the feeling of actually being outside of the city, being in the 

suburbs. And that’s a difficult combination to muster, I think.” 

When it comes to naming some of his favorite local places, Battle quickly 

pointed to Golden Taipei, a Chinese restaurant in the Davis Lake community, 

as a family favorite. He claimed that he and his family typically eat there once 

a week, and it’s the place they take guests who come into town for a visit. He 

also noted that his wife and daughter, of course, love nearby Northlake Mall. 

As Charlotte and its fringe cities continue to grow, people who are 

moving or looking to relocate have many more choices than they did when 

Battle moved to the area as a child in 1985. But to Battle, anyone who is faced 

with that decision has an easy choice. And that pioneering spirit of his shone 

through once again. 

“The same spirit that would drive you to move or to seek out a new place 

is the type of attraction, I guess, that University City would have for you,” he 

said. “Just that sense of adventure and starting a new life, so to speak, and 

building something that’s all your own.” 


330 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202 

(704) 378-1300 

twitter.com/cltecondev 

CharlotteChamber.com 

Photography by PatrickSchneiderPhoto.com 

Written by Patrick Saleeby 

Design by Andrea Ware 

1/12 1M 

Copyright 2012 by Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any 

form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without 

permission in writing from the Charlotte Chamber. The information in this publication is carefully gathered and compiled in such a way as to ensure 

maximum accuracy. The Charlotte Chamber cannot, and does not, guarantee either the correctness of all information furnished them nor the 

complete absence of errors and omissions. Hence, responsibility for same neither can be, nor is, assumed. 


19

Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. 

With our great location, world-acclaimed international hub airport, 

professional sports, low energy costs, diverse and talented labor, 

and a nationally ranked education system, it’s easy to see why 

more businesses are flocking here every year. 

Visit BOOMcharlotte.com 

©PATRICKSCHNEIDERPHOTO.COM

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