2026 ANNUAL REPORT
04 WELCOME 10 BUILDING A CONNECTED UNIVERSITY CITY 16 SUPPORTING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY 22 EXPERIENCES, PLACEMAKING AND INVESTMENT 29 LOOKING AHEAD 30 ABOUT UNIVERSITY CITY PARTNERS
T AB L E O F C O N T E N T S
FY2026: JULY 1, 2025 - JUNE 30, 2026
WELCOME
A MESSAGE FROM
Our President & CEO and Board Chair Dear Friends and Partners,
There is an unmistakable energy in University City. You can see it in the businesses investing here, the students arriving at UNC Charlotte, the employers and innovators building their futures here, families enjoying our events and public spaces, and the new development and infrastructure taking shape across the district. With nearly 50,000 residents, more than 44,000 jobs, and over $16 billion in annual economic activity generated within the heart of our market, University City continues to strengthen its position as one of Charlotte’s most important centers for business, education, employment, innovation and community life. University City has extraordinary assets. UNC Charlotte is a growing research university and talent engine. University Research Park remains one of the region’s major employment centers. Four LYNX Blue Line stations connect us to the broader city. Our neighborhoods, businesses, greenways, entertainment destinations and lake at University Place create something increasingly distinctive: a city within a city where people can live, work, learn, stay and play. At University City Partners, we are growing stronger alongside the community we serve. This year marked an important chapter for our organization; we advanced an expansion of our Municipal Service District and increased the resources available to serve a larger University City. That growth strengthens our ability to invest in the programs, partnerships, and improvements that support the district’s continued success.
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Throughout the year, we continued advancing economic development and small-business growth, mobility and infrastructure, arts and activation, marketing and promotion, and a cleaner, safer and more welcoming University City. Just as importantly, we continued bringing together businesses, property owners, developers, public agencies, UNC Charlotte, residents and community partners around shared opportunities.
Connecting people, investment and ideas to action is at the heart of what University City Partners does. We recognize that the strength of University City is bigger than any one organization, project or investment. Our role is to help connect those strengths. Infrastructure supports investment. Placemaking supports economic development. Events introduce people to local businesses and destinations. Public safety and cleanliness strengthen confidence in the district. And our relationship with UNC Charlotte creates opportunities to connect education, research and talent with employers and the broader community.
community, improve mobility and connectivity, enhance public spaces, create memorable experiences and continue building an identity that is distinctly University City. The story of University City is one of momentum. The story of University City Partners is one of growing capacity, stronger partnerships and greater ambition. We enter this next chapter with confidence and excitement about what is possible. We are grateful to our Board of Directors, staff, businesses, property owners, sponsors, UNC Charlotte, public-sector partners, residents and community leaders who invest their time, resources and leadership in University City. The progress highlighted throughout this annual report demonstrates what can happen when strong institutions, businesses, and people work together around a shared vision. University City is strong. University City is growing. And together, we are building what comes next. With gratitude and excitement for the future,
The Lake District Initiative offers a glimpse of what that approach can make possible. Around University Place, many of the ingredients of a remarkable destination already exist—the lake, Boardwalk, businesses, housing, transit, greenways and nearby institutions. By bringing partners together around a shared vision, we have an opportunity to better connect those assets and create an even stronger town center and gathering place for University City. And our ambitions extend well beyond one initiative. We see tremendous opportunity to attract investment and jobs, strengthen our business
Keith Stanley
Alex Romero
President & CEO University City Partners
Board Chair University City Partners
What is UniversityCity? University City is a major center for jobs, education and business in Charlotte — a place where neighborhoods, corporate campuses, research, higher education, shopping, dining, entertainment, and transportation come together. The district’s scale is one of its defining strengths. The expanded-district planning estimate is approximately 48,500 residents, including about 11,100 residents added through the district’s expansion. The broader University City market is larger still, and its population, employment base and major institutions create a daytime economy that reaches well beyond the people who live here.
expanded-district
48,500 residents
AERIAL PHOTO BY JASON HEDRICK
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UNC Charlotte is central to that story. Record fall 2026 enrollment reached 33,045 students, including more than 27,000 undergraduates and nearly 6,000 graduate students. More than 6,000 students live on campus. Enrollment drives district dynamics — not additional resident-population count — but the university shapes University City’s daily rhythm, workforce pipeline, transit demand, retail activity and public spaces. University City’s diversity is another defining district asset. The broader-market snapshot reflects a community made up of residents from many socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Nearly half of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, supporting University City’s ability to attract research, technology, health, professional-services and innovation employers while continuing to build pathways for residents at different stages of education and career development.
An Economic Center with Regional Reach University City is more than a residential district or college town; it is a regional economic engine that houses tens of thousands of employees, generates billions of dollars in economic activity, and drives job growth. Industries in ZIP Code 28262, a core part of the University City market, generate approximately $16.17 billion in annual Gross Regional Product and support an estimated 44,626 jobs. University Research Park (URP) adds approximately 4.5 million square feet of office space and a major concentration of corporate employers, while UNC Charlotte supplies a deep pipeline of emerging talent.
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The result is a district where education, employment and entrepreneurship reinforce one another. Major employers and UNC Charlotte bring people into University City for work, education, and services. Better connections to nearby restaurants, shops, and public spaces give local businesses more opportunities to serve the people already here.
University City by the Numbers PEOPLE & ACTIVITY
33,045
44,626
$
4.5
Annual Gross Regional Product generated by industries in ZIP Code 28262
URP office inventory
47.4 million
50,000
Approximate population
UNC Charlotte fall 2026 enrollment
Estimated jobs in ZIP Code 28262
ECONOMIC MOMENTUM
16.17 billion
million square feet
Annual non-resident visits
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A City Within a City University City’s main arteries include North Tryon Street, University City Boulevard, W.T. Harris Boulevard, Mallard Creek Road, and Mallard Creek Church Road. Nestled in the heart of University City are major educational, employment and destination assets, including UNC Charlotte, URP, University Place, the University City Regional Library and Truliant Amphitheater – now part of our expanded boundary. Within the larger trade area are Central Piedmont Community College’s CATO Campus and a host of small businesses that help fuel the district’s economy. University Place sits at the heart of the district. The lake, Boardwalk, nearby Lynx Blue Line station, restaurants, retail, housing, health care, and greenway connections give University City an existing town square environment that is increasingly important to the district’s future.
Life in University City University City is a place where living, working, learning, shopping, recreation, and mobility sit close together. The experience changes from one part of the district to another — from corporate campuses and university life to established neighborhoods, apartments, greenways, the lake, and some of the region’s most recognizable destinations. That mix matters because quality of place is also part of economic competitiveness. Employers are recruiting people, not simply filling buildings. Residents are choosing neighborhoods based on access to work, schools, services, and recreation. Visitors need reasons to stay after an event or meeting. University City’s ability to connect those experiences is increasingly part of its value.
Employers are recruiting people, not simply filling buildings Artwork courtesy of Real African Art Gallery
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BUILDING A CONNECTED UNIVERSITY CITY
Learning, Connection and Opportunity University City Regional Library is a civic anchor connecting learning, workforce resources and community life. Near the lake, businesses and the JW Clay light-rail station area, it brings people together for literacy, technology, business development and lifelong learning. UCP works with the library and surrounding partners on community engagement and placemaking, connecting this public investment with the district’s broader growth. More than 41,000 residents participated in library programs and events during the year. Programming supported literacy, workforce readiness, financial literacy, technology training, arts and culture, and lifelong learning. The library also connected job seekers, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and small business owners with interview preparation, business development, networking, fundraising, grant writing, and digital skills resources. The library’s location near the lake, walking trails, community events, and other family-friendly destinations also make it a natural hub for learning, co-working, and engagement — and a partner in the larger placemaking story taking shape around University Place.
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Moving Through University City University City hosts four Blue Line stations — UNC Charlotte Station, JW Clay Blvd Station, McCullough Station, and University City Blvd Station — that connect residents, students and employees to UNC Charlotte, University Place, Uptown, and the rest of the LYNX system. About 95% of residents in our municipal service district live within half a mile of public transportation, including light rail, bus stops and microtransit. As Charlotte works to expand its public transit system, University City Partners’ (UCP) work on first mile/last mile access, pedestrian connections and station-area improvements is even more important: infrastructure must make transit practical for the trips people make every day.
Vanguard’s complimentary shuttle connects crew members between the light rail station and its campus, helping make transit a more practical commuting option.
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Greenways, the Lake and Everyday Recreation
University City offers approximately 14 miles of greenway, including Mallard Creek, Barton and Clarks Creek, and Toby Creek, which connects to UNC Charlotte.
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At University Place, the lake, Boardwalk, and business staples like Famous Toastery, Boardwalk Billy’s, Wine Vault, Sol’ Delish, and Ninety’s Ice Cream provide another kind of shared space. People come to walk, meet friends, eat, shop, attend events, or simply spend time outside. That everyday use is the foundation for the larger Lake District vision described later in this report
Building University City University City is growing and changing. The clearest evidence is visible in jobs, office occupancy, housing, public infrastructure, business activity, and the investments being made to connect the district more effectively. The role that we play in this process often varies by project. The public capital projects described in this section are not expenditures that we incur, but rather, investments led by the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte Water, NCDOT, and other public partners. University City Partners serves in the areas of advocacy, planning, coordination, stakeholder engagement, communication, and connecting individual projects to the larger district vision.
Jobs, Employers and University Research Park University Research Park remains one of University City’s most important employment and redevelopment assets. At approximately 4.5 million square feet of office space, URP includes large corporate campuses, major employers, and a diverse mix of businesses ranging from financial services to sports media and advanced manufacturing support. The District Profile reported more than 142,000 square feet of positive net office absorption over the 12 months studied, meaning more space was in use at the end of the period than at the beginning. UCP also continued landscape and tree maintenance, irrigation coordination, and work with property owners on improvements that meet the park’s standards, helping keep Research Park attractive and welcoming for businesses and employees. UCP’s University Research Park Design Committee supports that work by reviewing development and collaborating with architects, landscape professionals and local stakeholders to maintain the quality and character of URP while accommodating change.
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Planning for Growth 14
Population and housing growth are increasing demand for transportation, utilities and everyday services. UCP’s working inventory identifies approximately $258 million in public capital investment across the trade area, including approximately $155.3 million within the fully expanded MSD and $102.9 million within the broader University City trade area. These are project values across multiple public investments — not one year of UCP spending. The housing pipeline identifies 5,544 homes that are proposed, planned, or under construction across the expanded district. These projects point to continued interest in living near University City’s jobs, transit, businesses and greenways.
Infrastructure That Connects the District
See the progress of the I-85 North Bridge Connector bit.ly/UCPI85NorthBridgeConstruction
The I-85 North Bridge Connector is one of the most visible examples of the infrastructure now reshaping University City. Construction continued during FY2026 on the approximately $50.7 million project, which will create a multimodal connection across I-85 between University Research Park and the east side of University City, including connections toward the JW Clay LYNX station, UNC Charlotte and future greenways. Completion is projected for 2028. The JW Clay Boulevard streetscape project will add wider sidewalks, a two-way cycle track and intersection improvements, making it easier to move between the light-rail station, nearby businesses, homes and the lake without having to drive for every trip. The $16.2 million McCullough Drive Streetscape will fill sidewalk gaps and add bike lanes between North Tryon Street and W.T. Harris Boulevard. The separate $12.9 million McCullough Drive Extension will connect North Tryon Street with Ken Hoffman Drive. Together, these projects support access to the light-rail station and surrounding development. Connectivity also depends on the infrastructure that supports growth behind the scenes. Work at Charlotte Water’s Mallard Creek Water Reclamation Facility progressed during FY2026. The first phase is designed to increase wastewater treatment capacity from 13.1 million to 16 million gallons per day, while additional wastewater improvements are intended to prepare the basin for future demand. Taken together, these projects are not isolated improvements. They are part of a larger system connecting work, life, education, mobility, and recreation.
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SUPPORTING BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY 16
Investing in Small Business Launched in 2024, the Small Business Initiative (SBI) helps entrepreneurs within the municipal service district and surrounding trade area grow their businesses by connecting them with marketing support, educational resources, professional expertise and opportunities to reach new customers and corporate partners. Approximately 2,000 small businesses contribute to University City’s economic vitality, and University City Partners has engaged 1,821 owners and operators through this award-winning program. Through an intentional and relationship-driven approach, SBI also provides support with funding and grant resources, government and community services, legal and professional guidance, networking, visibility through UCP communications and revenue-generating vendor opportunities. During FY 2026, thirty business owners received professional headshots; two networking events were held, and $15,000 in external grant funding was secured for small businesses.
UCP’s signature events also created direct pathways to customers. Vendors gained access to thousands of attendees, while businesses at and around the Boardwalk benefited from increased foot traffic during major events. Some vendors reported grossing more than $1,000 at a single event, while nearby businesses recorded some of their strongest revenue days during the 2026 University City Wine Fest and Juneteenth Art Fest. Visibility extended beyond event days. Through UCity On Camera Day, professional video and photography, headshots, newsletter and website features, social media and business storytelling, UCP helped entrepreneurs strengthen how they present themselves to potential customers and partners. The goal goes beyond creating content: businesses leave with professional marketing assets they can use to build their brands, tell their stories, and reach new audiences. The work earned recognition locally and across the downtown-development industry. The SBI received the 2026 Crowns both locally and across the downtown development impact from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. UCP also received the North Carolina Downtown Development Association’s Downtown Excellence Award for Economic Development, Planning and Advocacy, while SBI Manager Shakira Hodges was honored with the association’s 2026 Emerging Leader Award.
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SBI CASE STUDY:
Crazy Legs CLT bit.ly/UCP26CrazyLegsSBI
Although Crazy Legs CLT opened its doors on February 6, 2026, the relationship between owner Devante Powell and University City Partners began long before opening day. Our team supported Powell as he prepared to open, made key introductions, and ensured he knew we were here to support his business needs. The sports café combines food, sports, entertainment, and live podcast programming to create an interactive dining experience in University City. University City Partners continued supporting Crazy Legs CLT as it established a presence in the community. The business participated in UCity On Camera Day, receiving professional video content that helped share its story and strengthen its brand. UCP also promoted Crazy Legs CLT through its general newsletter - reaching an audience of more than 8,000 people - and across our social media platforms. Through its community gift card initiative, UCP featured Crazy Legs CLT in giveaways and other community-facing activities that introduced the establishment to new customers. This provided direct revenue to the restaurant while introducing new customers to its food and brand.
Ahead of the 2026 Juneteenth Art Fest, the team contacted Crazy Legs CLT to help the business prepare for increased foot traffic and customer demand. Following the event, Powell reported that the business experienced its “best sales since opening.” This demonstrated how University City Partners can create real revenue opportunities for nearby businesses. Crazy Legs CLT has also participated in the SBI networking program. Powell shared,
“University City Partners has been one of the major keys to my business since day one. The partnerships and staff have patronized my restaurant, and they have helped me connect with others.” - Powell This story reflects how UCP builds ongoing relationships with business owners, combining promotion, direct investment, business preparation, networking, and community events to support sustainable small-business growth.
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Clean, Safe & Welcoming: From Listening to Action University City’s momentum depends on public spaces that are welcoming and well cared for. During FY2026, UCP strengthened partnerships with CMPD, City departments, businesses, and property owners to support lighting, maintenance and coordinated district care. Community conversations helped shape priorities and guide the next phase of investment in a growing University City Over the past year, our work focused on listening to those groups and translating what we heard into action. Two major public safety conversations, including the April 2, 2026, Public Safety Forum at The Mecklen Hotel, brought together businesses, property managers, residents, CMPD, Charlotte Fire, Code Enforcement and other partners to identify concerns and discuss practical solutions. The forum drew 122 registrants and 106 attendees, demonstrating strong interest in a more coordinated approach to safety and quality of place. That feedback was reinforced by research and community engagement. A UNC Charlotte litter study identified recurring litter hot spots and maintenance needs across the district, while our Community Investment Plan engagement placed safety presence and clean, well-maintained public spaces among respondents’ highest priorities. The result has been a more coordinated approach to the public realm. Throughout the year, UCP worked with CMPD, Code Enforcement, retailers, property owners and other partners to address lighting, landscaping, illegal yard signs, abandoned shopping carts, property maintenance and cleanliness concerns. Public safety issues raised by businesses and property managers were carried directly to CMPD and other partners, helping to improve communication, patrol coordination and follow-through at specific locations. 19
PUBLIC SAFETY / DISTRICT-WIDE CARE
WORK COMPLETED IN FY26
The larger change is structural. UCP is moving from a collection of individual cleanup and safety efforts toward a coordinated Public Safety Program that brings together Clean and Safe services, stronger partnerships with CMPD and City departments, a future Ambassador Program and dedicated public safety leadership.
The new University City Public Safety Council will bring law enforcement, major employers, property owners, corporate security, community organizations and other partners together to establish priorities and help shape that model. The MSD expansion and millage increase created the framework for UCP to begin extending this approach across a larger geography. Our goal is simple – to build a repeatable system for maintaining cleaner streets, stronger gateways, better coordinated partnerships, and a University City that feels inviting and cared for. bit.ly/UCP26PublicSafety 20
180+
2,100
property and code issues identified through district drives
unauthorized signs removed to maintain clear, welcoming corridors
100+
106
streetlights reported for repair
Public Safety Forum attendees
Bringing University City to Life Neighborhoods, shopping districts and business parks are only part of what makes University City what it is. A district becomes a place when people have reasons to experience it, return to it, and build memories there. Activation extends beyond filling an events calendar. Events,
EVENTS WITH A PURPOSE
public art, communications, mobility partnerships and community
Throughout the year, UCP activates The Boardwalk at University
engagement are tools for building identity, supporting businesses, attracting people, and making public spaces more active. They help position the district, market its assets, amplify its story, engage the community, and create opportunities for investment. The goal is to create experiences that help people experience
City, the greens surrounding University City Regional Library and other parts of the district with experiences designed for different audiences. University City Wine Fest, Juneteenth Art Fest, Charlotte Kids Fest, the Farmers Market, and other signature events create a year-round rhythm of activity.
University City differently and give them reasons to come back.
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EXPERIENCES, PLACEMAKING & INVESTMENT
The numbers demonstrate the scale of that activation. UNIVERSITY CITY WINE FEST
9,600+
107,200+
visitors on a single Saturday
visits this season (May to mid-October 2026)
CHARLOTTE KIDS FEST
DISTRICT EVENTS
10,800+ visits
83-160
minutes: typical dwell time
bit.ly/UCP26WineFest
JUNETEENTH ART FEST
19,000+ attendees 2026
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FARMERS MARKET
Across district events, dwell times generally range from approximately 83 to 160 minutes. Those longer visits matter. UCP events introduce visitors to local restaurants, retailers and entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for vendors to make sales, reach new customers and build visibility. Boardwalk businesses have reported some of their strongest sales days during major events.
Truliant Amphitheater
That is the larger mission behind activation: use experiences to bring people into the district, connect them with local businesses, create opportunities for entrepreneurs, strengthen community identity, and demonstrate that University City is a place to live, work, learn, stay and play.
UNC Charlotte
University City: One District, Many Reasons to Visit
Top Golf
University City is becoming a destination within Charlotte – a distinct part of the city where education, entertainment, food, recreation, business and community come together. Rather than relying on a single attraction, the district offers a collection of experiences that give residents and visitors multiple reasons to come—and more reasons to stay. A concert at Truliant Amphitheater, a 49ers game at UNC Charlotte, date night at Topgolf, a staycation at the Hilton University or UNC Charlotte Marriott, dinner at one of the district’s restaurants, a walk along the greenway or lake, or one of University City Partners’ signature events can all become part of the University City experience. As we continue to strengthen connectivity, walkability and wayfinding, our focus has remained on ways to increasingly support restaurants, retailers, hotels and local businesses in the process.
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Key Hotel Space Breakdown: An area of opportunity within our district is to grow the number of small-to-mid-sized meetings and regional overnight hotel guest bookings. University City offers more than 44,000 square feet of meeting and event space across three major hotels, complemented by Oasis Shriners, whose auditorium accommodates nearly 1,000 guests. Together, these venues give the district the capacity to host conferences, corporate meetings, conventions, celebrations, and other gatherings. The hotels make up a total of 821 guest rooms, adding another dimension to University City’s growing identity as a destination within Charlot te.
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Hotel Name
Number of Guest Rooms
Meeting/Event Space
Hilton Charlotte University Place
393
20,366 sq. ft.
UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
226
19,400 sq. ft.
The Mecklen Hotel, Charlotte, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
202
4,418 sq. ft.
CAMPUS / COMMUNITY
Placemaking Beyond the Event Day Activation also means creating reasons to engage with University City when there is no festival on the calendar. The University City Regional Library became home to University City’s first permanent public-art collection: storybook sculptures inspired by classic children’s books. The project connects art, literacy, families and public space while adding another reason to explore the library and Lake District area. The sculptures are a first step in a longer-term placemaking vision. Lighting, signage, landscaping, public art and better connections between destinations can help turn individual assets into a more recognizable district experience.
Connecting Campus and Community UNC Charlotte is one of University City’s greatest assets, and UCP’s engagement strategy increasingly focuses on strengthening the connection between the university and the surrounding district. That means helping students see University City as their backyard — a place to gather, eat, shop, attend events, gain professional experience and build memories off campus. It also means connecting businesses and employers with emerging talent and creating more opportunities for university research; student engagement and community needs to intersect. Student interns have supported business outreach by conducting assessments on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and other UCP work, gaining meaningful professional experience while increasing UCP’s capacity to engage local businesses. That supports a broader workforce vision: students can learn here, gain experience here, and build careers here. 25
STORYTELLING / ENGAGEMENT
Storytelling That Leads to Action Marketing and communications are part of the same placemaking strategy. Newsletters, webpages, emails, media relations, social media, video and business storytelling help people understand what is changing in University City and how to participate. The measure of that work is not simply impressions. The stronger question is what communications help people do: attend an event, discover a business, subscribe for information, use a resource, participate in a program, inquire about investment or sponsorship, or see University City differently. That is why UCP increasingly connects storytelling with on-the-ground experiences.
The Work Between the Lines Much of UCP’s impact happens by connecting the people who can make change happen. We act as a local connector, bringing together public agencies, institutions, businesses, property owners and residents around specific needs and opportunities:
CITY + TRANSIT
CAMPUS
City of Charlotte, CATS and NCDOT
UNC Charlotte connects academic
help coordinate communication and
research and student talent to practical
stakeholder engagement around major
community needs.
infrastructure projects.
Event promotion drives attendance. Smallbusiness storytelling gives entrepreneurs
PUBLIC SAFETY
EXPERIENCES
reusable marketing assets. Construction
CMPD, property owners and businesses
Mecklenburg County and the library,
communications help residents and
help move public-safety concerns from
public art and placemaking add new
businesses understand major public projects.
conversation to follow-up.
experiences to shared spaces.
Public-safety engagement connects
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stakeholders with agencies that can respond.
Property owners are not simply stakeholders; they are implementation partners we work with on
The channels may be different, but the
lighting, landscaping, development, construction impacts, public safety, public-art easements,
objective is the same — turn information into
and maintenance. Residents also help shape priorities through public-safety forums, Community
useful action.
Investment Plan engagement, and neighborhood conversations.
UCP Funding How We Invest in University City UCP advanced a new phase of Municipal Service District expansion and additional resources to serve a larger University City. Building on earlier boundary growth, this next chapter strengthens our ability to invest in district programs, partnerships, and improvements. Our investments touch everything from economic development and small-business support to cleaner public spaces, community events, marketing, planning and public safety — areas prioritized by people and organizations across the district.
Investing in Our Mission
UCP also uses those dollars to bring additional partners and resources to the table, helping connect City agencies,
University City Partners strategically invests its resources in the people,
businesses, institutions, property owners, and residents
programs and initiatives that strengthen University City and advances our
around shared priorities. The result is investment that can
mission. Personnel and benefits represent the largest share of expenditures at
extend beyond UCP’s own budget and help move larger
40%, reflecting the staff capacity needed to lead district initiatives, cultivate
community goals forward.
partnerships, engage stakeholders and deliver programs throughout the year.
As an MSD, University City is primarily funded through
Another 27% supports general marketing, helping UCP promote University
property taxes from commercial and residential property
City, connect residents and businesses to district opportunities, and strengthen
owners within its boundaries. Other funding comes
the area’s visibility and identity. Economic development accounts for 17% of
from private investment, sponsorships, grants, and local
expenditures, supporting efforts to attract investment, encourage business
government funding where applicable.
growth, and advance University City as a destination for innovation and opportunity. The remaining investment supports the infrastructure behind this work, with 13%
See how we’re strategically investing in our district bit.ly/UCPCommunityInvestment
dedicated to office support and 3% to travel and staff support. Together, these investments provide the capacity, visibility and resources needed to advance a more connected, vibrant and economically competitive University City.
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LOOKING AHEAD
University City Foundation The University City Foundation gives businesses, donors and
planning and activation, signature community experiences,
community partners another way to invest in University City’s
small-business and economic-mobility support and other strategic
future. As UCP’s 501(c)(3) partner, it helps bring philanthropic
investments that advance the district.
and sponsorship support to placemaking, public art, signature community experiences and broader community priorities. Its role is to connect generosity with visible impact and help advance the shared vision for University City.
That distinction matters as University City’s ambitions grow. Public dollars, private investment, philanthropy, and corporate partnership can play different roles in the same larger vision. The Foundation provides another vehicle for organizations and individuals that want
UCP provides district management, economic development, and
to participate in University City’s future.
MSD services. The Foundation helps unlock private, philanthropic and other funding for broader community and transformational priorities — including placemaking and public art, Lake District
THIS YEAR, THE FOUNDATION WELCOMED THE FOLLOWING BOARD MEMBERS:
Ulunda Baker
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Bryan Holiday
Ryan Marshall
Alexanderia Wallace
LOOKING AHEAD
The Lake District: Connecting What Is Already Here University City’s next major placemaking initiative is centered around one of the district’s biggest draws: the lake at University Place and the surrounding Boardwalk area.
The ingredients to move the initiative from planning toward reality are already present. We have shared some of the major anchors that call University Place home, and have outlined our dining, retail, housing, greenways and employment hubs. The Lake District Initiative is intended to take assets that are already strong separately and connect them in a way that makes it easier for people to move between them. Ongoing projects such as the JW Clay Boulevard streetscape and I-85 multimodal North Bridge connection provide the long-term transportation framework, while improvements such as lighting, signage, landscaping, and public art can strengthen the experience at a more immediate scale.
During FY2026, UCP began bringing Lake District property owners and developers together to reimagine the lake and surrounding public spaces. Our organization is leading the planning effort, investing in the work and coordinating with property owners, developers, and the design team.
Priorities include completing the Lake Loop, activating the waterfront, reimagining JM Keynes Drive, strengthening the connection from JM Keynes to the lake, improving connections to the JW Clay light-rail station and creating a route that can better support festivals and public activity. Private investment is already reshaping the area. Red Hill Ventures acquired The Shoppes at University Place in 2025 and rebranded the property as The Boardwalk at University City. The Charlotte-based real-estate firm is investing more than $5 million to reposition the property through refreshed façades, upgraded landscaping and lighting, improved Boardwalk connectivity, renovated office space, event infrastructure, and tenant improvements.
UCP is working with the multidisciplinary design firm LandDesign to develop and implement the framework for the Lake District. We are not creating a destination from scratch; we are connecting and strengthening the assets that already draw students, employees, residents, and visitors — and creating a town-square environment that is easier to access, walk, bike, experience and enjoy – time and time again. The Lake District is the signature future-facing story, but it is not the only one. Our next chapter also includes stronger economic development and business recruitment, a coordinated public-safety and cleanliness model, improved mobility and connectivity, expanded small-business support, more intentional district activation, and partnerships that bring additional resources into University City.
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ABOUT UNIVERSITY CITY PARTNERS
Sponsor Thank Yous University City Partners is grateful to the corporate, institutional, philanthropic and community partners whose investments help make signature events, placemaking, small-business support and community experiences possible.
A Bridge to Achievement
Golden Steps ABA
A.C.E. Academy
Greystar
AT&T
Kemp Management Solutions
Atrium Health
Live Nation
BOOM Charlotte
Mi Campo
BridgeCare ABA
NOVEL University Place by Crescent Community
Capital One Capital Vacations Charlotte Area Chamber Charlotte Area Transit System Charlotte Arts & Science Council Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Charlotte Water City of Charlotte Duke Energy Electrolux First National Bank Foundation For The Carolinas Freedman Law Group
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About University City Partners and Our Team We work to advance University City as a place to live, work, learn, stay and play. As the organization serving the neighborhoods that make up the municipal service district in Charlotte’s University City, we connect economic development, district management, public safety and cleanliness, mobility, placemaking, marketing and community engagement around a shared vision for the area.
Parks Chevrolet
The expanded service area gives University City Partners a larger jurisdiction to deliver services and coordinate with the public agencies, institutions, employers, businesses, property owners and residents shaping University City.
Renewal by Andersen
Our work is organized around five connected priorities:
Robertson & Associates
•
Arts & Activation — building identity and public life through experiences, placemaking and shared spaces.
•
Connectivity & Mobility — improving access to jobs, education, housing, businesses and destinations.
•
Economic Development & Land Planning — supporting investment, business growth, development and long-range planning.
•
Marketing & Promotions — telling University City’s story in ways that lead to awareness, participation and investment.
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Public Safety & Cleanliness — strengthening the public realm through coordinated safety, maintenance and quality-of-place strategies.
Ryan Homes Sol’ Delish Springhill Suites Super Eagle Auto Care Tito’s Handmade Vodka Truliant Federal Credit Union Vanguard Veg ER for Pets Veterinary Emergency Group Walmart
GENERAL BOARD MEMBERS
GOVERNANCE
Board & Leadership EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Alex Romero
Board of Directors
Richmond Bake
Vice President-Elect
Marcus Smith
Treasurer, Committee Chair
Lee Robertson
Secretary
Our Team Keith Stanley
President & CEO
Janelle Goodrich
Director of Operations
Loán Lake
Director of Communications & Engagement
Tiffany Jordan
Director of Economic Development & Land Planning
Mya Allen
Manager of Data Analytics & Insights
Shakira Hodges
Manager, Small Business & Community Initiatives
Amie Guy, Electrolux
Board of Directors
Maj. Bradford Koch, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Board of Directors
Curtis Bodison, TIAA
Board of Directors
Erick Miller, Red Hill Ventures
Board of Directors
Javier Salazar, Keith Family YMCA
Board of Directors
Jerry Boggs, Duke Energy
Board of Directors
Joe Lebovitz
Board of Directors
Katie Maloomian, Crescent Communities
Board of Directors
Kevin Bailey, UNC Charlotte
Board of Directors
Lauren Erickson, Vanguard
Board of Directors
George Dunlap, County Commissioner District 3
Board of Directors
Rebecca Hefner, City of Charlotte
Board of Directors
Renee Perkins Johnson, City Council District 4 Rep
Board of Directors
Leslie Johnson, Mecklenburg County
Board of Directors
EMERITUS STATUS Stuart Parks
Chairman Emeritus
Ulunda Baker
Board of Directors
Bryan Holladay
Board of Directors
Ryan Marshall
Board of Directors
Alexanderia Wallace, TIAA
Board of Directors
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University City Partners 8801 JM Keynes Drive Suite 410 Charlotte, NC 28262 www.universitycitypartners.org