University City Report (PDF) - Charlotte Chamber of Commerce

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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 ©PatrickSchneiderPhoto.com 8 University City Report
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 Report 9
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