Sustain Charlotte

06/11/2026

🌿 Our next Discover Charlotte takes us to Commonwealth — the new mixed-use development in Plaza Midwood!

Sustain Charlotte and AIA COTE are partnering on a guided walking tour on Saturday, June 20 from 10am–12pm. We'll explore one of Charlotte's most exciting new developments and hear from residents and community planners about the design decisions that make it a model for sustainable urban development — from street design and land use to parking and walkability.

We'll take a leisurely pace with stops along the way, including one for ice cream or a smoothie 🍦. The tour ends in the heart of Plaza Midwood's business district just in time for the opening ceremony of the Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas.

Come a little early! Join us at 9:30am at Maman for a complimentary coffee before the tour begins.

🚶 Carpooling, biking, and walking are encouraged. Parking validation in the deck is available at check-in. CATS bus routes #9, #17, and the CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar serve the area.

🎟️ Tickets are $19 and support Sustain Charlotte's work. A "Choose Your Price" option is available for those who need it — or want to give a little more. Everyone is welcome!

Register here: https://sustaincharlotte.org/event/discover-charlotte-plaza-midwoods-commonwealth/

06/09/2026

There's support in Charlotte City Council for a red light camera pilot at 10 of the city's most dangerous intersections.

The proposed one-year program would place cameras at locations along Charlotte's High Injury Network where fatal crashes have occurred. Violations would result in $75 non-criminal citations issued to the registered vehicle owner. City staff projects the program would reduce total collisions at those 10 intersections from roughly 1,666 to 1,296 annually.

If you responded to our action alert and emailed Council, this pilot was proposed because of you. We thank JD Mazuera Arias for recognizing this community effort from the dais.

And another win:

Council passed a 150-day moratorium on new data center development, 9-2. As JD and Renee Johnson wrote in Queen City Nerve, the bigger win is what this represents -- residents organizing, using their voice, and shifting the balance of power to win policy changes that benefit the people who live here, not the people who profit here.

Two issues. Two wins. The work continues.

Read more: https://qcnerve.com/city-council-150-day-moratorium-on-data-centers/

06/08/2026

Charlotte City Council is voting tonight on a proposed 150-day moratorium on new data center development — and Sustain Charlotte is urging a yes vote.

Data centers can have significant impacts on land use, energy demand, water, noise, and nearby neighborhoods. Four projects are already in the development pipeline and likely exempt from the pause, which makes the need for a moratorium more urgent, not less. Without it, more projects could advance before the city has policies in place to evaluate and manage those impacts.

A temporary pause gives Charlotte time to study best practices, engage residents, and assess environmental and health considerations — particularly for communities that have already borne disproportionate industrial burdens. Charlotte has made commitments to sustainability and equity. Those commitments should shape data center policy from day one.

Sustain Charlotte strongly supports the proposed moratorium and urges City Council to vote yes tonight. To learn more: https://sustaincharlotte.org/charlotte-needs-time-to-get-data-center-policy-right/

06/07/2026

116 people — children and adults — have been killed on Charlotte streets since 2019. Many of these tragedies happened at intersections where red-light running was already a known problem.

This Monday, Charlotte City Council will vote on a pilot program to install red light cameras at 10 high-crash intersections. This is a chance to take real action on traffic violence — and we need your voice.

Email your Council members today and ask them to vote YES on the red light camera pilot — and to move quickly toward a citywide program that is data-driven and focused on saving lives.

Learn more and email: https://mailchi.mp/sustaincharlotte/06072026?e=51dd8e5402

06/05/2026

After 27 years, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) has held its final meeting — and we're taking a moment to say thank you.

Since 1999, the MTC played a central role in advancing transit investments in our region: overseeing the growth of CATS, supporting the opening and expansion of rail service, improving bus operations, and laying the groundwork for the next generation of regional transit projects.

We're deeply grateful to the many elected officials, transportation professionals, and community leaders who served on the MTC over the years. Their commitment helped create a stronger, more connected region and improved access to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity for thousands of residents.

Now, the Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority (MPTA) takes the baton — and we're excited for the future.

Read our full take here 👉 https://sustaincharlotte.org/thank-you-mtc-celebrating-27-years-of-transit-leadership-and-looking-ahead/

06/05/2026

Mecklenburg County has made real progress building greenways — and that’s worth celebrating. But when you look at the full map, a pattern becomes clear: we have many greenway segments, but not yet a connected network.

Our staff just updated the countywide greenway map, and the difference is striking. South Charlotte benefits from a strong greenway spine that links neighborhoods and destinations. Meanwhile, many communities in west, north, northeast, and east Charlotte have shorter, disconnected segments — greenway pieces that don’t add up to a system people can actually use.

A greenway that ends before reaching a school, a bus stop, or a grocery store isn’t just incomplete — it’s a missed opportunity for the families who need safe transportation options most.

In our latest article, we lay out what equitable greenway investment should look like: closing gaps in the crescent, connecting to transit, linking to schools and daily destinations, and measuring success by more than just total mileage.

Read the full piece and explore the updated map at https://sustaincharlotte.org/mecklenburg-county-has-built-many-greenways-now-we-need-a-connected-network-for-everyone 👇

06/03/2026

🚲 Today is World Bicycle Day — and we're celebrating!

The bicycle is one of the most powerful tools we have for building a healthier, more connected, and more equitable Charlotte. Riding regularly improves cardiovascular health, reduces stress, cuts emissions, eases congestion, and makes getting around more affordable for everyone.

Sustain Charlotte supports the creation of more safe routes and connected infrastructure for people to commute and recreate by bike across our region — because we believe everyone deserves a safe way to ride, regardless of where they live.

Whether you're a daily commuter, a weekend greenway rider, or someone who hasn't been on a bike in years — we hope today inspires you to get out and roll. 🌿

How are you celebrating World Bicycle Day in Charlotte? Tell us in the comments!

06/02/2026

You may have seen the headline: Mecklenburg County received an "F" for ozone pollution from the American Lung Association. But context matters.

Charlotte's score was based on just four "orange" air quality days in 2024 — and Mecklenburg had zero red or purple (most dangerous) days, unlike cities like Los Angeles. The county also remains in full compliance with federal EPA air quality standards.

The bigger story? Local air quality has improved significantly over the past two decades, thanks to smarter policies and investments in cleaner technology. In fact, Mecklenburg County has had zero unhealthy air days so far in 2026.

Sustain Charlotte supports continued investment in the things that got us here — electric vehicle infrastructure, public transit, walkable neighborhoods, solar energy, and green space. These aren't just climate solutions; they're public health solutions.

Read our latest blog post to get the full picture →

Mecklenburg County recently received an “F” grade for ozone pollution from the American Lung Association (ALA), prompting understandable concern. But the story behind the headline points to both meaningful progress […]

05/30/2026

Earlier this month, we received a $55,000 impact grant from the Women's Impact Fund! We're so grateful to this community-focused group for supporting our work to create more connected, healthy, and equitable Charlotte 💚

05/29/2026

Great news! SC Johnson, A Family Company has given us a $10,000 grant to support our Discover Charlotte program.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of Commonwealth, the new mixed-use development in Plaza Midwood Sustain Charlotte and AIA COTE are excited to partner in offering this tour! We’ll walk at […]