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UNC Charlotte is no “miner” university. The institution has grown more than 50% while the university system average is 30%.
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The idea of creating a “University City” in northeast Charlotte was conceived in the late 1960s, a time when most eyes were on newly developing areas to the south and east of Charlotte’s urban core. As envisioned by its pioneering planners and advocates, University City would become a magnet for growth, including the development of the multi-acre University Research Park and a uniquely designed mixed use “town center” that would be accessible to both the Research Park and UNC Charlotte. Local planners saw the development of University City as an opportunity to help counterbalance the fast-paced growth occurring in south Charlotte, which was clearly outstripping that area’s infrastructure of roads and utilities. It was also an opportunity to assemble large tracts of land and do a master plan to guide the anticipated growth.
Major investments in infrastructure were made in the 1970s and early 80s to attract development to the area, including the expansion of Harris Boulevard and extension of water and sewer lines. While companies trickled into the Research Park in the early years, development activity surged in the late 1970s and early 80s. IBM’s decision to build a plant and laboratory in the park sparked this growth, along with Phillip Morris’s decision to build a major plant just north of the Mecklenburg County line. Other companies soon followed and the plans for the Research Park were at last coming to fruition.
The planning and ultimate development of University Place in the mid-1980s furthered the vision of University City becoming a major hub. Construction of the Hilton Hotel, the Shoppes at University Place, University Memorial Hospital, University City Regional Library, the Oasis Shrine Temple and a number of new office buildings and residential developments helped put University City on the map. Since the late 1980s, and most notably in the last five to ten years, University City has continued to flourish. New retail and office development spawned by increasing demand from surrounding residential growth has emerged. In addition, UNC Charlotte has begun development of its new Charlotte Research Institute fronting on US 29, and close-by Lowe’s Motor Speedway has grown into a major national sports attraction. Designation of the North Tryon/US29 as a future light-rail corridor is also drawing attention to the area.
Take the University City Test