Please note, the date of the awards has been moved to Earth Day EVE (Thursday), April 21. Tickets will be on sale soon!

Have you nominated a local leader yet for a 2016 Sustain Charlotte Award?

Don't miss this special opportunity to honor a local individual or organization who has demonstrated leadership in local sustainability! (Self nominations are welcomed and encouraged.)

*Nominees must live or operate in the Greater Charlotte metro area. Any organization including government agencies, businesses and nonprofits can be nominated. Deadline for nominations is February 29.

On March 3rd, join Sustain Charlotte, New York City-based research and policy nonprofit TransitCenter, and local city leaders including Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts for a special event! 

This is your chance to discuss Charlotte's transportation future, ask questions and more in a fun, engaging, and informal atmosphere! 

PLUS, attendees will hear our BIG ANNOUNCEMENT at this event!


Complimentary heavy appetizers will be provided. Additional eats and a cash bar will be available onsite for purchase. 

Many thanks to our COMMUNITY PARTNERS for this event:

AARP North Carolina - Charlotte - Green Mobility Planning Studio USA - Alta Planning + Design - 
Bike Routes 4 Fitness Inc. - NC Central Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club 

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How Should New Charlotte Apartments Fit in with Their Neighbors? [Charlotte Observer]

"Some from the Optimist Park community, where a developer is seeking City Council approval to build a new building, said they worry about feeling like strangers in their own neighborhood as changes roll through...The plan by Ohio-based developer NRP Group would allow 331 apartments on 3.5 acres bounded by Parkwood Avenue and Caldwell, Brevard and 21st streets. The site is adjacent to the planned Parkwood Station. City staff members said Monday that they are opposing the apartments because the new building doesn’t have any space on the ground floor for shops, restaurants and other nonresidential uses. The city’s plans for development around Blue Line stops call for a mix of uses so that vibrant areas can develop." We're glad city staff did not recommend this rezoning request because they believed it was inconsistent with the city's plan to create "vibrant areas" around light rail stations!

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The City is Finally Making Plans to Shape Charlotte’s Growth [Charlotte Agenda]

"The last time Charlotte really took a look at its policies on growth and development, it was the year 2011. Now, I don’t know about you but I was around here back then, and the difference in what’s happening in the city is night and day. So maybe Charlotte’s urban planners are late to the party, but they’re now crafting four detailed plans that will shape Charlotte’s development and transportation growth over the next five years." It's an exciting time in Charlotte as the city is finally updating our zoning and transportation plans to meet the new demands of a growing population!

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How Sustainable Cities Can Drive Business Growth [GreenBiz]

"The notion of sustainable cities usually conjures environmental themes, but sustainable urban design’s greatest impact could be on economic performance...The greatest competition in today’s footloose economy is the fight for human talent, and urban quality of life strongly determines whether cities can attract a smart workforce, as well as the innovative new companies employing them." Charlotte has the 2nd fastest growing population among large U.S. cities. Will we develop in a way that attracts and retains world-class talent?

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3 Big Ideas for Transforming How Charlotte Gets Around [Charlotte Agenda]

"Charlotte’s top transportation experts came up with a vision for how to use technology and data to change how people and freight move around. These ideas became the cornerstone of Charlotte’s application to the U.S. Department of Transportation SmartCity challenge." We'd love to see a more predictable and user-friendly experience for people riding public transportation! In addition, Smart Cities are also embracing active forms of transportation, including biking and walking. 

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Actions for Streets as Places: How One Makes it Happen [Project for Public Places]

"While people’s backyards are places for private gathering and recreation, the front area of a person’s house and the street beyond it can be an “urban commons” – a place where neighbors bump into each other, children play together, and friendships are forged through impromptu conversations, block parties, and all kinds of other events...Across the country, people are starting to reclaim their streets and front yards as important social places." We love this idea and encourage you to think about similar ways to promote social activities in YOUR neighborhood!

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The Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) is accepting applications to fill four vacant seats! The BAC is an advisory body to City Council. The committee reviews bicycle plans and makes recommendations on implementing the policies and policy strategies. The BAC also recommends appropriate action to the City Council and County Commission on bicycle transportation issues. Click here to apply now! Read more about the BAC.

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February 22 - Pavel Cenkl, Environmental Expert to Speak at Cannon School

6:00 - 6:45pm @ Foundation Hall (Upper School/Two-Story Building) at Cannon School, 5801 Poplar Tent Rd., Concord, NC 28027. Pavel Cenkl, a professor of environmental humanities at Sterling College in Craftsbury, VT, author (The Vast Book of Nature), athlete, and avid environmentalist, will speak to the community in an open meeting about his decision to make a 150 mile run across Iceland to raise awareness about climate change.

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* February 25 -  Thursday Night Sustainable Pint Benefiting Sustain Charlotte*

5:30 - 7:30pm @ Pint Central, 1226 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC. Celebrate the end of the month with a cheers to sustainability! Pint Central is hosting this event on our behalf. We'll receive a donation of $1 from each Lenny Boy Brewing Co. beer and kombucha sold and $2 from each Tito's Handmade Vodka Moscow Mule sold! Stop by anytime to learn more about our work, or simply come to enjoy great food and drink specials! Click here for more information. 

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* March 3 -  The Future of Transportation is YOU! *

5:30 - 8:00pm @ Sugar Creek Brewing Co, 215 Southside Dr, Charlotte, NC. Click here for more information. What are the three key ingredients needed to accelerate transportation innovation in cities? Which of them are needed in Charlotte and what role do YOU play? Join Sustain Charlotte, New York City-based research and policy nonprofit TransitCenter, and local city leaders including Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts to find the answers to these questions and more in a fun, engaging, and informal atmosphere! Complimentary appetizers will be provided. Additional eats and a cash bar will be available onsite for purchase. Click here to learn more and RSVP! Many thanks to the support of our community partners: AARP North Carolina - Charlotte, Green Mobility Planning Studio USA, Alta Planning + Design, Bike Routes 4 Fitness Inc., The Central Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club 

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March 4 - Particle Falls Grand Opening

6:30 - 9:00pm @ West wall of the UNC-Charlotte Center City Building, 320 East 9th Street, Charlotte, NC. Particle Falls is an animated light projection on the side of the UNC – Charlotte Center City building that reveals in real time, the invisible dangers in the air we are breathing. This is a dramatic public art and science project that raises awareness of the presence and impact of particulate pollution. Click here for more information.

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* March 12 - Learn to Ride Event *

11:00am - 1:00 pm @ Marion Diehl Rec Center, 2219 Tyvola Road. This is a free opportunity to learn to ride a two-wheeler! This event is geared to kids, adults who want to learn to ride, and parents of kids who haven't yet learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels. Sustain Charlotte is working with Bicycle Sport, Mecklenburg County Park & Rec and Health Departments, Trips for Kids Charlotte and AARP put on this great event! For more information, click here. 

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MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS