The City of Charlotte is taking concrete steps to mend the fractured relationship between West End and the rest of the city with a federally funded initiative aimed at infrastructural healing and community reintegration. Local entrepreneur Coretta Livingston, owner of Venue 1801 and several other West End businesses, expressed optimism for the project. "I want people to think of this area like they think of NoDa or South End," she told the City of Charlotte during a recent community engagement event.
Charlotte's rapid expansion in the 1960s and subsequent highway construction disproportionately affected minority neighborhoods, leaving behind a legacy of disconnection and displacement—a history not lost on participants in a project designed to bring some form of redress. The "Reconnecting Communities" grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation two years ago, allocated $1 million for a city study centered on the West End, particularly the I-77 interchanges and adjacent streets. The aim is to reforge ties with Uptown and improve transport accessibility. In a statement obtained by the City of Charlotte, Cathy Morrison, CEO of Neighboring Concepts, emphasized a vision to "righting the wrongs" of the past through this initiative.
Community engagement being central to this endeavor, design charrettes held on March 25 and 26 provided a platform for residents to review, question, and provide input on five proposed concepts for the affected areas. These sessions are essential steps in narrowing down to a final implementation plan. Julian Burton of the Charlotte Department of Transportation stressed the importance of balance and informed community involvement. "We’re thinking beyond cars," Burton remarked on the City of Charlotte, indicating a broader approach to the West End's future with considerations for streetcars, bicycles, and pedestrian networks.
At the core of the conversations, issues like affordable housing, accessibility, and community spaces are being addressed. With infrastructure improvements on the horizon, a concerted effort is being made to adjudge housing and public spaces in a way that promotes a sustainable community, mitigating the risk of displacement due to gentrification. Burton and Morrison are seeking to "enhance the assets we already have and explore new connections," according to what they told the City of Charlotte.
