street trees

17 | Bike Corral + Parklet in South End by keihly moore

Put a bike corral, parklet, planter, and street tree on it!

By Keihly Moore

Before: Just another parking space in front of Queen City Bicycles in South End on E. Park Ave. 

After: Put a parklet and bike corral on it! 

There's always a need for more public seating and bike racks in South End, especially now that food trucks and gallery openings are no longer a well-kept hot-spot secret, drawing hundreds of folks. Why circle the block multiple times looking for parking when you can roll up on two wheels right next to your destination? Why not extend the sidewalk into more of a patio/front porch style social experience? 

13 | Monroe Road Street Fix by Aleksandra Borisenko

Put a planted median, on-street parking, street trees, multi-use path, pedestrian crossing and urban housing on it! 

by Aleksandra Borisenko

Before: Monroe road is a 4-lane road that lacks infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists. The two-story apartments will soon be demolished and they will be replaced by a new multi-use development. 

Before: Monroe road is a 4-lane road that lacks infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists. The two-story apartments will soon be demolished and they will be replaced by a new multi-use development. 

After: With the new development, there's a fantastic opportunity re-imagine Monroe Road as a more attractive and safe street for different modes of transportation. A planted median and on-street parking can help the road feel more intimate and …

After: With the new development, there's a fantastic opportunity re-imagine Monroe Road as a more attractive and safe street for different modes of transportation. A planted median and on-street parking can help the road feel more intimate and make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross. A generous multi-use path provides a much needed infrastructure for residents to get to the new development and surrounding neighborhoods by foot or on bicycles.  

9 | 4th Street Extended Mystery Road Improvements by keihly moore

Put a buffered bike lane, street trees and flowers on it!

by Keihly Moore

Before: I'm not sure what the plans are for this "street diet" but I hope they look like the following.

After: Take up that extra lane space and give the bikes and pedestrians more of a buffer. Adding trees and plants will create more enclosure and encourage cars to drive slower. It will also beautify the environment, creating a more attractive gateway into Uptown and Wesley Heights.

7 | South Boulevard Crossing by keihly moore

Put a painted crosswalk, street trees, and spot medians on it! 

by Keihly Moore

Before: South Boulevard crossing at Rensselaer Ave. 

Note that the above picture does show an improvement. This "pedestrian island" was installed just a few months ago. Many have noted that the busy South Boulevard acts as a divide for pedestrians between Dilworth and South End. The wide street with fast moving traffic does little to invite a crossing on foot, despite the tasty places like Crispy Crepe and Nova's Bakery, found on opposite sides near this intersection. 

After: Add painted crosswalks, street trees, and spot medians to slow traffic and help pedestrians feel safer. 

These improvements, seen above, really would be a first step in a series of improvements to dissolve the walking-driving conflict on this corridor. More on-street parking and bike lanes can also be used to make it a more welcoming street to cross. 

3 | Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood by keihly moore

Put parallel parking, trees, outdoor dining and benches on it! 

by Aleksandra Borisenko

Before: Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood is home to some unique Charlotte shops. The street and sidewalk, however, lack character and spaces to linger and enjoy the street life of the neighborhood.

Before: Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood is home to some unique Charlotte shops. The street and sidewalk, however, lack character and spaces to linger and enjoy the street life of the neighborhood.

After: Addition of street trees, off-peak-hour on-street parking, outdoor dining and benches transforms Central Avenue into inviting and safe place for residents and visitors.

After: Addition of street trees, off-peak-hour on-street parking, outdoor dining and benches transforms Central Avenue into inviting and safe place for residents and visitors.