Charlotte voters to decide on $200M for street, housing and neighborhood bond projects
Charlotte voters will decide three city bond issues, totaling nearly $200 million, for transportation projects, affordable housing and neighborhood improvements on Nov. 3.
The city’s bond campaign argues that spending on infrastructure like streets and sidewalks positions Charlotte to grow despite economic downturns. The bonds’ passage would prompt residential and commercial development that generates jobs, it adds.
This year’s referendum is the last of four since 2013, when the city projected capital needs for a decade. Voters approved referenda in 2014, 2016 and 2018, most by margins of at least two to one.
Financing costs for the 2020 bonds are included in the city budget, meaning that property tax increases wouldn’t be needed to pay for them.
All projects that would be funded with the 2020 bonds are listed online at www.charlottefuture.com.
Whether voting in person or using a mail-in absentee ballot, voters will have the option to vote “yes” or “no” to approve the city borrowing money for the bonds. To view a sample ballot by using information listed on your North Carolina voter registration, visit the state Board of Elections “Voter Tools and Forms” website.
For more information about local candidates, see the Charlotte Observer’s 2020 Voter Guide, available online.
Transportation
The $102.7 million for streets covers a wide range of projects, including work to improve traffic flows, expand bike and pedestrian routes and build or repair bridges and sidewalks. Among them:
▪ Construction to improve traffic flow in University City, Steele Creek and south Charlotte.
▪ Improving access by foot, bike or car to the CATS Blue Line light rail extension to UNC Charlotte in the city’s northeastern corridor.
▪ Extending Bryan Farms Road from Elm Lane to Rea Road to create a new east-west connection in Ballantyne.
▪ New sidewalks, closing sidewalk gaps and improved pedestrian crossings and signals to enhance safety.
▪ Expanding the city’s bicycle network, including better sidewalk-bikeway connections along Independence Boulevard.
▪ New turn lanes, wider sidewalks, bike lanes and a multi-use path along Monroe Road from Wendover to Easton roads.
Affordable housing
The $50 million for the city’s Housing Trust Fund would help build new units and preserve existing houses for low- and moderate-income people.
The fund, created in 2001, leverages private investment to build new multi-family housing, boost home ownership, house seniors, disabled and homeless people and acquire property for future mixed-income developments.
Past projects financed in part by the trust fund include the Tall Oaks multi-family housing development in the historically African American community of Cherry, renovation of the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte and a new community for seniors and families, Centra Square, in the Belmont community.
Neighborhood improvement
The $44.5 million in infrastructure bonds is aimed at helping distressed neighborhoods and improving connectivity in fast-growing areas. The money would be used on sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, storm drainage and landscaping.
Areas targeted for intersection improvements and sidewalks include six “corridors of opportunity”: Beatties Ford Road-Rozzelles Ferry Road; Central Avenue-Albemarle Road; Freedom Drive-Wilkinson Boulevard; Interstate 85-West Sugar Creek Road; North Tryon-Graham streets; and West Boulevard.
Efforts to link neighborhoods with workplaces, transit, parks and schools, and to connect streets, sidewalks and bike lanes, would focus on five communities: Central Avenue-Albemarle Road-Shamrock Drive; Prosperity Village; Sunset-Beatties Ford roads; West Trade Street-Rozzelles Ferry Road; and Whitehall-Ayrsley.