Question 1

[Charlotte Chamber]

How do we attract significant retail and create a true stroll district in the center city?

[Vonni M. Davis]

More Parking options to accommodate easy access to downtown retail would make it more accommodating to make the trip downtown for shopping, strolling. If we can get the people down, retail would follow. Look at some of the shopping centers in Ballantyne area with ease of free parking, park setting in courtyard, free entertainment -- these are a draw for folks just looking to get a bite to eat and hangout with friends.

[Wendy Hill]

I agree, many people who do not live or work in Center City are not as eager to come uptown because of the stress they feel when trying to figure out where to park and how to find everything. I do believe that with a little ease in parking, easy street access and some better signage for those that do not work here it would bring more business to exsisting business and well as attract more.

[Amy Massey]

convenient transit within center city- educate public on its use
continue encouraging residential
provide parking opportunities and education on available parking
provide more widely available and more descriptive mapping of uptown building names/uses and related transport options (ie transit routes and parking)

[Terry McDonald]

Tried and true-- the Uptown needs a "anchor" tenant, one to bring shoppers and others to uptown. Accelerate light rail, "free parking days" , extend the bikes ride free on city busses, etc-- if you get the Anchor, city has to help get them business for 5-10 years as the city grows and it gets its own"internal" combustion.

[Cynthia Hayes]

The key to enticing new retail business in center city is to create economic opportunities that support increased consumer spending. There must be an alignment of individual earnings, significantly high salaries, and disposable income. These are integral components to building long term sustainable economics that attract significant retailers.

[Keith R. Sutton]

Parking. There is still a huge deficit of parking spaces, and more convenient parking spaces. If downtown is to prosper, somewhere parking has to factor in. For those of us to come in to Charlotte for work and entertainment, parking affects what and when we do things. Back in May we came to dinner at the Capital Grille and we had to park in Guam because of the festival. Nothing against the festival, but there were no parking spots for 8-10 blocks.

[asulaura]

I agree with the parking issue. I think that focus needs to be put on the completion of the Light Rail system. It has really taken off, and if there was more of it, less people would need to park uptown. An anchor store is crucial as well. I work uptown and the biggest complaint I hear from visitors is the lack of retail uptown. This needs to happen sooner than later.

[Carolyn Sly]

Parking, light rail, safety

[Ian Farmer]

Keep the town open, have lots of parking and have JUST A FEW paved streets, make it bright and light, have side walk cafes, make is secure and safe - think about a free metropolitan area wireless network.

[Don]

City planners should spend an evening strolling around Birkdale Village - easy access, tons of free parking both on and off street, wide sidewalks, LOW speed limit, retail at street level (commercial above in a few designated buildings), visible friendly law enforcement.

Charlotte (and Huntersville) are still working through the process. Limit cars in downtown on Trade and Tryon to one lane each direction with NO TURNS for about 3 blocks N and S of Trade and 2 blocks N & S of Tryon; widen the sidewalks, plant real shade trees, stop building overstreet walkways (they have repeatedly proven to take retail off the visible street level), MUCH BETTER signage re parking and free parking after 6pm (if you want to bring people in, they have to park somewhere); NO BUS traffic on Trade or Tryon in the restricted traffic area, Light Rail SHOULD run directly down Tryon and continue N & S to desination areas such as Ballantyne to Davisdon (we want to bring people into the area who will spend money, as well as provide for existing residents in the metro downtown area, right?). Net - net - requires easy access, signage and parking for those who drive, safe and wide sidewalks, retail only on street level.

[Paul Griffin]

Closing a street downtown to create a "strolling mall" would compensate for Charlotte's lack of a river or other natural feature. This would be similar to the strolling malls in Santa Monica, CA and Boulder, CO. ALthough both cities possess surrounding natural beauty, both strolling malls are full of shoppers day and night. Tryon Street through the center city would be spectacular s a strolling mall.

My wife panics about going downtown because "knowing" where to park is worrisome. Parking decks are not the nicest option.
The problem is not having enough parking but how to find it. If "after hours" all the surface parking lots near downtown were opened and at a lower fee of say $2.00 per hour, it would make parking less complex.

The city could engage volunteers or paid "guides" wearing disitinctive garb to assist visitors downtown. These folks would "partrol" looking for opportunities to assist. If my wife spotted one of these guides, she could pull to the side of the street and ask for directions.

[H2O]

I've been in Charlotte for ten years and besides nightlife and a Panthers game I've never gone to anything Uptown. While I know my way around Uptown pretty well, I only know about two parking garages. One time both were full and I had no idea what to do. Luckily I found a spot on the street. That is one of my biggest fears, not knowing where to park. Better signage would be so helpful. I think once people feel comfortable with the area, they'll be more apt to shop in Uptown. Espcially if there are one of kind boutiques. I wouldn't have any idea where to park to get to Overstreet Mall.