Thanks to our advocacy for over a year and your critical support, a protected bike lane uptown and the re-design of Parkwood Ave and The Plaza to make them safer for all users was recommended to Charlotte City Council!
Investing in cycling infrastructure will allow Charlotte to be more competitive with peer cities.
At last week's City Council dinner briefing, city staff presented updates on the Parkwood and The Plaza Corridor Study, Uptown Connects and car share.
Read more on our blog!
UPDATE on Mecklenburg County budget vote affecting parks and greenways
Tremendous thanks to all of you who have contacted your county commissioners in support of funding greenways and parks! At Tuesday night's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, Pat Cotham (Commissioner-at-large) said that she and three other commissioners want to use the money that's proposed in the County budget for a MLS (soccer) stadium to fund parks instead.
We agree with Cotham that the $250 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2008 to buy land for park and greenway expansion should be honored. The vote on the proposed $71.25 million for the MLS stadium next year has been delayed until August. Read more in the Charlotte Observer article.
Paved walking and bicycling paths and nature trails topped the list of residents' most desired recreational facilities in Park and Rec's 2013 Community Survey. It's time to build the parks and greenways that taxpayers voted to fund nine years ago! We will continue to keep you informed about opportunities to make a difference on this important issue!
We want to hear from YOU!
Tell us how you support Sustain Charlotte's mission by replying to this email along with a photo or video! Do you show your support through following us on social media? Supporting us through membership? Or maybe you bike to work?
We hope you will take the time to submit a response as we will be using some of them in a future campaign! PLUS everyone who submits something will be entered into a chance to win a ticket to Sustain Charlotte's Biketoberfest 2017!
Want more affordable housing in Charlotte? Start with parking!
Charlotte's parking requirements contribute greatly to our affordable housing problem.
This week, a guest column from our Executive Director Shannon Binns was featured in The Charlotte Business Journal!
Affordable housing is one of Charlotte’s most vexing problems. Because Charlotte is a car-dependent city, the problem of affordable housing is magnified by the cost of owning a car. Charlotte’s parking regulations act as a catalyst for the affordable housing problem in two important ways.
Read more here!
You don't want to miss our Mid-Summer 'Mega' Mixer on July 12! 
Attendees at last year's 'Mega' Mixer had a great time networking and enjoying e-bike demos!
Join us on Wednesday, July 12th, 6-7:30pm at Free Range Brewing! We will have food, a fantastic speaker, an awesome raffle, and new incentives to join our team of Sustain Charlotte members!
We will also be celebrating our accomplishments so far this year!
Appetizers will be provided by Whole Foods Market as a thank you for all the community support that makes our work possible.
Join us and bring your friends!
* Sustain Charlotte members will receive a free raffle ticket for each friend you bring along! *
Local residents like you play a critical role in ensuring we have the resources to carry out our work in the community to inspire choices that lead to a healthy, equitable and vibrant community for generations to come! Click below to be the change and become a sustaining member today!
Join for $10/month or $120/year and you'll get one of these Sustain Charlotte T-shirts!
Volunteer for our Walk2Transit bus stop walking tour of Monroe Rd this Friday!
Walk2Transit is Sustain Charlotte's initiative that gives a voice to bus riders and transit advocates. A voice that will result in tangible improvements to the walkability of Charlotte's highest need bus stops!
On June 23rd you're invited to be an integral part of this initiative by taking part in a walking audit. The tour will be guided by Sustain Charlotte staff and you'll learn about the history and current state of Charlotte's transit system as we walk!
WHEN: Friday, June 23rd, 5:30pm - 7:00pm.
WHERE: Meet at 5:30 p.m. at the first parking lot when turning into McAlpine Creek Park (8711 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28212). You can take CATS bus 27 from Uptown.
Have a hard time walking to your CATS bus stop? Tell your story!
We'll meet you at your bus stop and feature you in a short video for our Walk2Transit project aimed at advocating for safe, dignified walking routes to bus stops If you're interested, contact Christine (our Davidson College Sustainability Scholar) at [email protected] to arrange for you to share your story in English or Spanish during your morning or afternoon commute or daily travel.
Photographer needed!
We're in need of a volunteer with photography skills to join us at an upcoming Monthly Mixer (every second Wednesday of the month) to take photos! If you or or someone you know is experienced in taking event photos, please email [email protected]
Take Charlotte Center City Partners' bike survey!
Complete their survey about how you ride a bike in Charlotte and what would encourage you to bike more and you'll be considered for the $100 Charlotte Knights Gift Card drawing!
How Do We Develop Greenways Without Spurring Gentrification in Charlotte? [The Charlotte Observer]
"As Charlotte looks to grow its greenway system, especially through economically distressed areas north of uptown, the benefits are clear: Higher property values, more access to transportation alternatives and exercise, an incentive for developers to build. What’s less clear: How to stop such investments from spurring gentrification and displacement of residents who already live there." We share this concern about displacement if the City does not take steps to avoid it!
Gentrification, for Better and Worse [Planetizen]
"Affordable infill housing strategies include rent controls, subsidies, affordable housing mandates (“inclusionary zoning”), and policies that allow and encourage more moderate-priced housing development. Most communities require a combination of these strategies, and in many situations, gentrification can help make these possible by stimulating the development with affordable housing mandates, and providing additional tax revenue to finance affordable housing subsidies." We are strong proponents of urban redevelopment. Done correctly, it's the most sustainable form of development and the solution to avoiding continued sprawl and making biking, walking, and transit more viable. It is incredibly important that Charlotte acts to ensure affordable housing exisits in the areas where infill is happening.
* July 12: * Join us for an informal and fun evening of conversation and networking at Sustain Charlotte's Mid-Summer Mega Mixer! Enjoy appetizers provided by Whole Foods Market, be inspired by a fantastic speaker, and enter an exciting raffle! This is a family-friendly event and everyone is warmly welcomed.
June 25: Join the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association and Alexys Taylor from the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture for the Plaza Midwood Art Ride! You'll stop at nine locations to enjoy the art and hear the stories of the artists who created them!
We're happy to announce that ROOTS Catering has joined the Sustain Charlotte Partner Network at the Platinum level!
ROOTS Catering is dedicated to providing the best locally sourced food across the Charlotte area. They have donated their services for our last two annual awards events, and we highly recommend them for your next catered event! 
MANY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS
Is your company interested in joining the Sustain Charlotte Partner Network? Our generous partners play a critical role in supporting our work. Through our corporate membership program, we provide year-round brand exposure, positive publicity, and business development opportunities to those businesses and nonprofits that are helping make our community more sustainable through their products, services, or commitment to move their organization towards greater sustainability. Become a partner today!
The Center for Intentional Leadership - Free Range Brewing - ROOTS Catering
Scalable Consulting - Shook Kelley - TreeCycle America
GOLD
Abundant Power Group, LLC - Alta Planning + Design - Boingo Graphics - DPS Construction - Epic Capital Wealth Management - Integra Design Group - Leaf Burrito - Little - Logan Community Music School - National Gypsum - Natural Awakenings - Optima Engineering - S&D Coffee & Tea
ULI Charlotte - Weeklyrides.com - Wooden Robot Brewery
SILVER
Bike Source - Blue Blaze Brewing - Google Fiber - The Home Collection - Javesca Coffee - Neighboring Concepts - O2 emc
Overcash Demmitt Architecture (ODa) - Pasta & Provisions - Radiator Specialty Company - RED Group - Stantec - USGBC North Carolina
BRONZE
AT&T - Barrett G. Moore, DDS, PA & Associates - Carolina Urban Lumber - Charlotte Agenda - Choices Do Matter - Craft Growler Shop and Tasting Room - Dharma Construction Group, LLC - Domtar - Duke Energy - Flywheel Group - Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont - Greater Charlotte Apartment Association - Green LED Efficiency - Greffen Systems - HDR - Healthy Home Market - HNTB - Insight Architects - Interstate All Battery Center - Charlotte - Moore & Van Allen - NC Sustainable Energy Association - Okra Charlotte / Gumbo: The Store - Queen City Bicycles - Renewable Energy Transition Initiative - SAROS Desalination - Studio Cellar - STV Engineers, Inc. - TC Lifestyle Fitness - Whole Foods Market - WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
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