Community Character

Community Character refers to the distinct qualities and features of a place and may encompass aspects from the physical environment or the people who live in the community. For the Community Area Plans, community character is focused on placemaking, which includes common characteristics and distinctive elements and amenities within the public realm that contribute to vibrant and unique neighborhoods and destinations. As mixed-use Place Types are expected to accommodate the most change and growth, it is important that they provide a high-quality public realm to support higher population and visitation levels, for which specific aspirations are outlined in the Placemaking Aspirations Table. The CAP placemaking assessment for South Outer (illustrated in the Placemaking Assessment Map and Table) documents how well these mixed-use Place Type geographies (Neighborhood Center, Community Activity Center, Regional Activity Center, and Innovation Mixed-Use) align with their placemaking aspirations based on current conditions. This information helps to identify each geography’s greatest placemaking needs and will help guide placemaking-related decisions as development and redevelopment occur in these places, including through private and public investment.

Placemaking Trends

The most common urban typology in the existing South Outer area are strip malls, shopping centers, and large surface parking lots. Most of the existing placemaking elements identified throughout these areas are larger-scale public plazas within these shopping spaces, most often set far off of the street. Many include public amenities such as seating areas, creative paving, or public art pieces. Many of these larger plazas also included large parks or green spaces.

Table 7: Placemaking Aspirational Elements

Placemaking Aspirational Elements
Mixed-Use Place Type	Public Spaces	Public Play Areas	Amenities & Furnishings	Branding	Public Art	Signage	Property Ownership Patterns
Neighborhood Center (NC)	Active and passive community gathering spaces are provided, including plazas, patios, courtyards, and parks.	Formal and informal amenities that encourage multi-generational play or physical activity are provided, including playgrounds, climbable sculptures, sports facilities, etc.	The public realm is highly amenitized, with frequent provision of benches, planters, tables, waste receptacles, lighting, bike racks, and bus stops with shelters.	Public and/or private branding contributes to the unique character and identity of the hub. These features help people remember and reference the hub, and often helps to establish hub boundaries.	Public art is present to support vibrant spaces and contributes to the unique character and identity of the hub.	Wayfinding is provided to support a well-connected, walkable, and easily navigable environment.	A diversity of property owners allows for a greater array of business and building types and provides greater opportunity for the creation and operation of a Special District to support local placemaking efforts.
Community Activity Center (CAC)
Regional Activity Center (RAC)
Innovation Mixed-Use (IMU)

Table 8: Placemaking Assessment

Placemaking Elements
Mixed-Use Geography	Public Spaces	Public Play Area	Amenities/Furnishings	Branding	Public Art	Signage	Property Ownership Pattern
C1) NC - Old Lancaster Town Center							Few
C2) CAC - Ballantyne Commons Pkwy							Multiple
C3) CAC - Ballantyne Commons Pkwy/Rea Rd							Few
C4) NC - Rea Rd/Williams Pond Ln							Few
C5) NC - Ardrey Kell Rd/Marvin Rd							Multiple
C6) CAC - Ardrey Kell Rd/Rea Rd							Multiple
C7) NC - Ardrey Kell Rd/Tom Short Rd							Few
C8) CAC - Ardrey Kell Rd/Providence Rd							Multiple
C9) CAC - Providence Rd/I-485							Few
C10) CAC - Weddington Rd/I-485							Multiple

Legend

Aligned with Aspirations

Somewhat Aligned with Aspirations

Not Aligned with Aspirations

Aspirations are outlined in Table 7

* These geographies are within a Corridor of Opportunity.

Community Character Recommendations

CC-1

To reduce the loss of historically and culturally significant structures and spaces and to advance the City’s sustainability and affordability
goals, Charlotte should prioritize the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic or pre-1970s structures. When demolition is necessary, the
City should encourage deconstruction practices to maximize material reuse.

CC-2

To encourage the preservation and adaptive reuse of historic or pre-1970s structures, Charlotte should survey Community Area Plan
geographies with pre-1970s development to identify key resources and implement appropriate preservation strategies.

CC-3

To ensure major redevelopment projects adjacent to established neighborhoods are compatible with their surroundings, Charlotte should
develop an Urban Design Standards Manual to guide the integration and transition of new development in a manner that respects the scale,
character, and context of existing communities.

CC-4

To retain neighborhood culture and identity, Charlotte should use pattern books and regulatory tools such as neighborhood character
overlays, historic districts, and other community-driven strategies to guide residential infill development.

CC-5

To celebrate neighborhood identity and strengthen the sense of place, Charlotte should support placemaking efforts such as customized
crosswalks, wayfinding signage, public art, and gateway elements at key intersections. Additionally, the city should integrate art and design
into infrastructure and public spaces whenever possible. When feasible, local artists should be commissioned to design the improvements.
Priority should be given to placemaking efforts in mixed-use areas classified as “Not Aligned” or “Somewhat Aligned” in Table 8: Placemaking
Assessment or identified in the Corridors of Opportunity Playbooks. (Cross reference with OS-5)

CC-6

To create vibrant public spaces that foster community gatherings, Charlotte should explore partnerships with private property owners to
temporarily or permanently transform underutilized areas, such as vacant lots or parking lots, into active public spaces. These spaces should
be programmed with community-driven activities, including community gardens, parks, festivals, and pop-up events.

CC-7

To create vibrant public spaces that foster community gatherings, Charlotte should repurpose underutilized rights-of-way and city-owned
land into active public spaces. Additionally, the City should establish a long-term strategy for the maintenance, funding, and programming of
all city-owned public spaces and complete the Urban Arboretum Trail. (Cross reference with OS-5)

CC-8

To enhance public realm amenities in mixed-use places, Charlotte should explore the creation of a fund that supports community-driven
improvements that further the goals of the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan and Community Area Plans.

CC-9

To support and enhance community character within areas recommended to evolve, Charlotte should survey various aspects of the physical
environment beyond placemaking elements—such as lot size and block structure—within mixed-use areas. The findings should inform land-
use decisions.