Development | Capital Analytics Associates

Decatur embraces “hipsturbia”

By: Felipe Rivas

2 min read December 2019 — Downtowns throughout the nation are popular among millennials for their walkability and myriad retail, recreation and lifestyle choices. But as millennials settle down and begin to outgrow their trendy Downtown apartments, the need to find a suburban neighborhood that is affordable, yet vibrant and walkable, has solidified itself as a trend to watch out for in 2020. Aptly described as “hipsturbia,” millennials across the nation are trading their city lifestyle for the suburbs, without losing their affinity for walkability and access to cool, a-la mode restaurants, retail and recreation options. Developers are tapping into the hipsturbia trend as seen by the proliferation of affordable, multi-use suburban communities in cities like San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta. As a result, in October, The Urban Land Institute named “hipsturbia” one of the top emerging trends for 2020.

In essence, “hipsturbia” suburbs are characterized by their vibrant downtowns that offer walkability, public transit and a variety of “hip” restaurants, retail and recreation. In the Atlanta Metro Area, Decatur, located In Dekalb County, is quickly embracing “hipsturbia.” Approximately one-third of Decatur residents could be considered millennials, according to the population figures on Decatur’s official website. This year, Niche.com, the neighborhood ranking and review site, rated Decatur as the No. 1 place, and suburb, to live in Georgia. Downtown Decatur offers a bevy of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks, that add to its “cool” factor. The area has an urban-suburban feel that fits in with the “hipsturbia” trend. According to the Urban Land Institute, people living in communities like Decatur, are discovering that smaller communities can have the same appeal as big cities. The institute predicts that millennials will continue to move to communities that offer walkable spaces and “hip” amenities.

Once touted as cash-strapped and debt-ridden, millennials are making an impact in the national housing market. According to the institute, “hipsturbia” is happening in major cities like San Francisco and Chicago, as well as smaller cities such as Charleston and Phoenix. As the lack of home affordability draws young families away from big cities and into the suburbs, it is possible that it will not take long for “hipsturbia” to transform from a trend into the preferred suburban development style of the future.

For more information, visit:

https://www.decaturga.com/

https://ulidigitalmarketing.blob.core.windows.net/emergingtrendspdfs/ET2020FallMeeting.pdf

Spotlight On: Lynn Stoner, Mayor, City of Plantation

By: Max Crampton-Thomas

4 min read December 2019 — To move a city forward both economically and community-wise, it takes a leadership with the forethought to develop for the future and individuals with their finger on the community’s pulse. The Mayor of the City of Plantation Lynn Stoner recently sat down with Invest: and discussed her first year as mayor, the key challenges her city faces, and how customer service has become the buzz phrase for her administration and how it deals with the community.

What has been a key focus of your first year as mayor of Plantation?

One of the many components that I chose to focus on is our transportation corridor. Plantation’s population is approximately 94,000 residents, 22 square miles and it’s right in the middle of the county, 10 minutes away from the Port Everglades and 15 minutes away from the airport. About 70% of the pass-through traffic on University Drive does not originate in Plantation, so one of my priorities was to be on the Board of Broward County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization. As a result, we will have adaptive lighting installed on University Drive starting in 2020. The following year, we will start the project on Pine Island, and we are in conversation regarding the bridge from Midtown across the river to State Road 84. These are hugely important and beneficial initiatives. Another major city initiative stems from 2016 when our citizens approved a $60-million bond issue. We are working now to complete these projects in the areas of public works, public safety, and parks and recreation. These projects will provide tangible improvements for residents, visitors, and businesses.

We have people arriving to Plantation every day, calling or visiting to explore areas and opportunities, which has us absolutely thrilled. Being a strong mayor, I am trying to retain our hometown feel. I’ve lived here since 1970. I went to high school here and my three children and granddaughter are still in town. I understand the family component of Plantation. And keeping with this hometown feel, our first Light Up City Hall event was held on Dec. 7 and we anticipate making this as an annual event.

What makes Plantation attractive to new businesses?

There was a time when Plantation was the golden city of the county. Now, many of the people that were raised here, are coming back . They have fond memories of where they used to fish, ride their bikes and go to our parks. They want to come back to raise their children in a similar environment.

We are focusing on maintaining that hometown feeling amid the development. We are now putting the finishing touches on our Midtown district, which was created in 1980 to be high density. We are handling the traffic in a manner that you feel comfortable coming here, taking a walk, riding a bike or taking a shuttle. We are focused on finding the right balance for our residents, visitors and businesses.

How is Plantation focused on government as a customer service?

As a contractor, I understand when people talk about their project costs. I understand their financial constraints when trying to put a project together. The city has codes that must be complied with but there is a way to present that information in a more palatable manner. City staff needs to understand the business consequences of their comments and we as a city need to understand the impacts of our rules and regulations and take a balanced approach. We are also striving to streamline business processes with a goal of transitioning to online plan review and permitting over the next several years as part of our “Paperless Plantation” initiative. This particular initiative is part of an overall effort through strategic planning that will focus on providing greater customer service across all 16 city departments. The City of Plantation believes in continuous improvement and every day we look for ways to better serve our stakeholders.

What are the main challenges that the city is facing as it grows economically?

Coming from the private sector, I always want things done a little faster. Still, when I look back over the last year, we’ve come a long way. Traffic and transportation are the main challenges, as well as sustainability. Along with our partners, Broward County, FDOT and MPO, our transportation initiatives together with Midtown upgrades will continue to offer a welcoming hometown feel that everyone will enjoy.

For more on our interviewee, visit:

http://www.plantation.org/

Face Off: Hot Hotel Market to Remain Steadfast Into 2020

By: Max Crampton-Thomas

4 min read December 2019 — Hospitality may be one of the most competitive industries in Florida, and in an economically thriving region like Tampa Bay the competition is only heightened. To rise to the top of this crowded market takes leadership that not only understands the local market and can easily adapt to change, but can also create a work culture that attracts the best and brightest. Invest: explored what it takes to be successful in this market with the general managers for two of the region’s most highly regarded hotels, Kevin Scott with The Epicurean Hotel and David Rowland with The Westshore Grand.

How do you ensure you are attracting and retaining the highest quality employees?

David Rowland: When we hire what we call our associates, we do not hire based on technical ability. We hire friendly individuals who we can train on the technical aspects. Every associate meets with me and usually I only ask them a couple of personality-based questions, like what they do for fun or about their worst day at work and how they overcame it. This is first and foremost a customer service business and you must have a personality that fits that.

Kevin Scott: Employee turnover in this industry is an ongoing challenge that does not have a clear-cut resolution, especially in Tampa where new hotels and restaurants are opening on a weekly basis. Our key to navigating this issue is to ensure that we create a safe environment where employees are encouraged to speak their minds, give feedback and relay their input without the threat of it affecting their jobs. We work to empower our leaders to lead by example and foster great relationships between their departments. We are also in a sweet spot because we are a midsized hotel with a staff that consists of around 150 people, which means that if one person suddenly calls off or quits, it is not the end of the world.

Do you believe the demand curve will stay strong enough to support the new inventory of hotels coming online in the region?

Rowland: I do, because the market is so strong right now. Tampa Bay is a great area and it is still growing rapidly. The airport is consistently ranked among the Top 5 airports in the United States, and the international hub that they are building is going to bring even more business into the region. We are a city where you can host massive meetings, relocate large businesses into and start a business within. The ability to get in and out of the city quickly is also a significant factor in keeping this new supply sustainable. Tampa has done a good job of making sure the infrastructure and the supply of hotel and businesses is grown at the same pace. The only danger is a hotel worrying about all the new supply so they drop their rates just to be competitive. If one person does that, it causes a ripple effect in the industry where we now all have to drop our prices.

Scott: Tampa as a market needs more hotel rooms to attract bigger conventions that bring more people to town. The challenge is that we are capped off at a certain number right now, which limits how many people we can bring into the city, but with so many new hotel rooms coming into the market in the next year or so, there is an opportunity to steal some share from Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale for these conventions. It is the perfect time to capitalize on this opportunity; the updated urban planning is now in play, and the city has never been laid out better than it is now.

How is your hotel primed for continued growth within the region?

Rowland: We are a part of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio, which is considered its luxury tier, but we get to act as an independent boutique hotel. The hotel has 325 rooms, over 15,000 square feet of meeting space and 14 meeting rooms where people can work, network and convene. We are known for having the flexibility to tailor events in our event space to a customer’s needs. The nice part about being independent is we have a lot of leeway and wiggle room to do what we want to make our customers’ meetings the most successful they can be. We are also very fortunate that we sit inside the Urban Center building. We are the primary hotel for the over 2,000 tenants that rent office space in the building.

Scott: To stay economically sustainable in this business, especially in the instance of another recession, we focus on attracting more groups and business travel. We want people to be aware of our offerings whether they are our neighbors in Tampa or looking for a destination from across the country. Our advantages are that we are centrally located, and people will always love food and wine. Even in a recession, wine, beer and alcohol are always in demand, so we are ready to ride that wave when it happens. Overall, we feel strong about where the Epicurean stands as a hotel and historical landmark that Tampa can be proud of.

To learn more about our interviewees, visit:

https://epicureanhotel.com/

https://westshoregrand.com/

Philly Bets Big on Biotech

By: Sara Warden

2 min read December 2019 — The biotech industry is unlike almost any other. Companies spend billions of dollars in drug development that can end in failure, generate little to no revenue but can still be worth billions of dollars. According to Toptal Finance, almost 80% of the companies listed on the Nasdaq Biotech Index (NBI) – around 150 – have no earnings, but they represent over $250 billion in market capitalization.

The average venture investment in biotech has more than doubled over the past decade, from $4.6 billion in 2005 to $12.9 billion in 2015. Why? Because when a biotech company wins, it wins big. And Philadelphia is one of the cities channeling its energies into attracting biotech investment.

“In general, we are punching below our weight,” said Dean Miller, the president of the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT), during the Regional Biotech Conference hosted by the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center last month.

In 2018, Philadelphia made it into the Top 10 ranking in the country in terms of most venture capital deals completed with 214, amounting to around $1.4 billion. During the first nine months of 2019, the number stood at 178. About 80% of VC is from other regions, said Miller, but “that’s not a big thing because capital is portable,” he added.

But Miller believes the $50 million Hatch BioFund life science incubator, established in July, will turn that trend around and allow Philadelphia-based companies to invest more in life sciences. “Entrepreneurs selected for the investment program will have the opportunity to be part of a highly successful ecosystem of support, resources, collaboration and knowledge sharing. We have tremendous talent and knowledge in our network, and are excited to bring the ideas and science that are incubating to the forefront of the life sciences industry,” said Vladimir Walko, CEO of Hatch Management, in a press release.

Another factor that boosts the sector is the fact that more and more companies are moving to the city daily as they can see the benefits it provides as a biotech hub. The latest to move to Philadelphia is Diverse Biotech, a biopharmaceutical company developing cannabidoil therapeutics for hard-to-treat cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.

The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center, which opened in 2006, is one of the primary reasons why the company decided to make the move. Already home to a network of around 50 biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical devices companies, Stella Vnook, Diverse Biotech’s CEO, said in an interview with the Philadelphia Business Journal that the center is “truly a tremendous scientific community and a perfect place for Diverse Biotech to continue its growth journey.”

Bradley Campbell, president and chief operations officer of Philadelphia-based Amicus Therapeutics, said innovation, talent and like-minded companies make the city one of the best places to set down roots for biotech companies. “We could’ve gone to Silicon Valley or to Cambridge, anywhere in the world really, but it was clear to us that we needed to be near the momentum, that spark of innovation, the entrepreneurship, the acquisitions, the medical centers — Penn, Temple, and Drexel, all right here in Philadelphia,” he told Philly Mag. “Being in proximity to so much innovation has been amazing for us.”

To learn more, visit:

https://www.toptal.com/finance

https://philadelphiapact.com/

http://www.pabiotechbc.org/

https://hatchbiofund.com/

https://diversebiotech.com/

https://www.amicusrx.com/

Art Basel: Miami Art Week Brings the City to a Standstill

By: Sara Warden

2 min read December 2019 — Art Basel is in to town. When Swiss art dealers Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt began the show in Basel, Switzerland, in 1970, it was a cult hit. As the art fair gained momentum over the years it added two additional venues – Hong Kong and Miami Beach. Now, Art Basel Miami Beach brings the city to a standstill.

Started in 2002, the Miami Beach show itself draws in 70,000 visitors per year, 4,000 artists and over 250 of the world’s leading galleries participate. For those galleries accepted to exhibit in the main Art Basel space at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the cost starts at $100,000. Miami Beach also attracts over 20 satellite fairs, and there is so much art buzz around town during the dates that the week is now known as Miami Art Week. Tickets are available at $65 a pop, but for many, that’s a steal to access so many world-class artists all in one place.

Art Basel has played a significant role in democratizing access to these works of art and providing exposure for up-and-coming artists. In the 1980s, for example, the global art world was but a tiny network. “We knew every collector in the world then. Ninety percent of them were in New York or Germany,” collector Don Rubell told The New York Times. But now, times have changed. “Miami is not just bikinis and muscles anymore.”

UBS and Art Basel research shows that the global art market hit $63.7 billion in sales in 2017, with the United States the largest market, accounting for 42 percent. Art Basel Miami is responsible for about 10 percent of domestic sales, Alexander Forbes, executive editor of the art news website Artsy, told Marketplace. “$2 billion to $3 billion worth of art is usually on view,” he said.

Rubell and his wife Mera were instrumental in convincing Art Basel to set up shop in Miami in the early 2000s and the family collection now occupies a whopping 100,000-square-foot campus in Allapattah, which they purchased for $4 million. At the same time the Rubells purchased the plot, they bought a neighboring piece of land for $8.6 million.

According to Esther Park, a regular on the Miami art scene, Miami has just the right features to make it a haven for an event like Art Basel. “Miami was always going to blow up eventually,” she told Miami New Times. “It’s just that Basel propelled it.”

Samuel Keller, Art Basel’s director, acknowledged in an interview with The New York Times that Miami was a risky choice, but that it had all the ingredients for success. “Here there is a huge potential, economically but also culturally,” he said, calling the city “the gateway to Latin America, a melting pot of minorities from European to Jewish to gay.”

The four-day extravaganza attracts the most prestigious art buyers from all over the world, who enjoy splashing out. The trade fair has partnered with several major hotels in the area to offer preferential rates for attendees, but to stay in The W South Beach, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach or Nautilus by Arlo, prices still start at $422 per night and go right up to $1,650.

To learn more, visit:

https://www.artbasel.com/

https://rfc.museum/about-us

https://www.artsy.net

https://www.ubs.com/

https://www.miamibeachconvention.com/

Spotlight On: Scott Zuckerman, Principal, Domus Construction

By: Yolanda Rivas

2 min read November 2019 — Philadelphia-area general contractor Domus was established in 1976. The company has now become a $100-million construction firm with expertise in managing housing, restaurants, retail/commercial and academic construction projects. Domus Construction Principal Scott Zuckerman spoke with Invest: about the company’s diversity of place, construction trends and more.

What are some highlights for Domus Construction in the past year?

One of our most recent projects is the Dwell at 2nd Street, which is expected to be completed by December 2019. The project will include 198 apartments with a variety of amenities including onsite parking, a swimming pool and a dog park. One hundred and twenty of the units will be modular, which is a concept that seems to be getting more of a push in Philadelphia because of increasing construction costs.

What key trends have you observed in the sector?

Modular construction and smaller, efficiency-style apartments are trends we’ll continue to see in Philly. Domus introduced live streaming construction in 2019, beginning with our Dwell at 2nd Street project. It’s a good marketing tool because 120 units out of 198 are modular and a lot of people are very interested in seeing the process of installing them in real time. The modular process is also friendly to the environment since it provides more ways to control waste.

What actions are you taking to ensure diversity in the workplace?

Domus has a strong and long history of diversity. We actively participate in community outreach and advertising to increase minority participation for all our projects regardless if it’s a requirement. Minorities comprise between 30 and 40 percent of the workforce on our jobs.

What is your outlook for 2020?

The outlook for Philadelphia’s construction sector seems very positive. We’re booked up until the end of 2020. There are new hotels that are rising around the city of Philadelphia, which seems to be a big trend. Most professionals and companies in the sector seem to be busy, which is a great indicator.

To learn more about our interviewee, visit:

Domus Construction: http://www.domusinc.net/

Thanksgiving in the Queen City

By: Felipe Rivas

2 min read November 2019— Gratitude, family, fellowship, outdoor activities, turkey, gravy, and shopping are some of the characteristics closely associated with Thanksgiving Day, and the Queen City offers no shortage of any of these during the fourth Thursday of November through the long weekend. The signature North Carolina cold weather allows for some outdoor, family fun while the feast cooks slowly in the kitchen. From famous parades, Black Friday shopping preparations, and ice skating, Thanksgiving Day in Charlotte offers plenty of activities for the entire family.

While New York City has the Macy’s Parade, Novant Health, one of the region’s largest employers, has wowed Charlotteans with fancy parade floats, marching bands, live music, and recognizable cartoon characters for the past 72 years. Known as the “Mile of Smiles,” The Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade is a beloved tradition drawing families from across the southeast to Uptown to kick off the start of the holiday season. The parade starts at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and draws more than 110,000 attendees. The parade begins on 9th Street heading South on Tryon Street to Stonewall Street, where different ethnic organizations display their pride and colors, while marching bands from a variety of educational institutions keep the energy upbeat as they make their way through the Mile of Smiles. The party continues at the end of the route with performances from a bevy of local talent. For those who would rather snooze a bit longer on Thanksgiving morning, the parade will be broadcast online and on local TV stations.

While Thanksgiving Day is a time for reflection, it also marks the start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday has become a national tradition, and the area’s local shopping malls are gearing up for the influx of shoppers expected to get a leg up on the holiday shopping season. In the spirit of enjoying time with the family, many recognizable stores have chosen to close on Thanksgiving Day and open early during Black Friday. According to bestblackfriday.com, a website that tracks Black Friday deals and news, stores such as Burlington Coat Factory, Costco, Lowe’s, Marshalls, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Petsmart and Sam’s Club, among others, will be closed on Thursday nationwide. Locals looking for deals can head to Concord Mills, SouthPark and Northlake shopping malls early Friday morning, as they have adjusted their schedules to accommodate shoppers.

Families looking to avoid a turkey stupor can also head to the NASCAR Hall of Fame to stretch their legs and ice skate under the night sky. During this time of the year, the mecca for all things NASCAR turns into a magical winter wonderland, known as Holiday on Ice and featuring one of Charlotte’s best ice skating rinks. Families can enjoy selfies with a giant polar bear, or a large Christmas tree, or a walk through the Ceremonial Garden that features thousands of holiday lights. A trip to Holiday on Ice is the perfect way to finish Thanksgiving and embrace the upcoming holiday season.

For more information, visit:

https://www.nascarhall.com/plan-a-visit/holidays-at-the-hall

http://novanthealththanksgivingparade.com/

Spotlight On: Keith Koenig, CEO & Chairman, City Furniture/Broward Workshop

By: Max Crampton-Thomas

4 min read November 2019 — Acting as both the CEO of his company City Furniture and the Chairman of the Broward Workshop, Keith Koenig provides a unique perspective and insight on various facets of business and progress being made in Broward County. He not only discusses how the Workshop is working to address the effects of climate change on the county, but also the progress it has made on the goals set forth last year. In regards to his business, Koenig reveals his key to longevity in the marketplace as well as what today’s consumers are looking for when choosing where to shop.

How is the Broward Workshop addressing the issues related to climate change in Broward County?

Wherever anyone stands on the science of climate change, one issue is undeniable, and that’s the economics of resiliency. Smart people in the insurance world believe that our risks and insurance costs will go up in the years to come if we do not get ahead of resiliency. Broward Workshop members understand that issue and want to lead a public, private effort to improve the resiliency not only of South Florida, but to create opportunities for coastal communities around the world to partner and learn. We are still in the process of setting our priorities for our annual goals, but in all likelihood they will include supporting the Army Corps of Engineers’ $20-million research project. In addition, our members are supporting Broward County’s efforts to jump-start our resiliency efforts. We will also be supporting South Florida water management efforts to finish phase two of the C-59 reservoir, which is an important step forward in our resiliency efforts.

What progress has been made on the goals set by the Broward Workshop last year?

When we look back over the last year, we have really moved all our goals forward. At the top of the list was addressing homelessness. A little over a year ago, we had a major encampment of close to 100 homeless in Downtown Fort Lauderdale and they were in an area right next to the library. Earlier this year, we worked to help place these homeless people into more permanent housing. The best way to end homelessness is to provide people with housing that is respectful and valuable. Our second goal revolved around education, particularly K-12 education in Broward County. When Superintendent Bob Runcie arrived in 2011, the Broward County school system was in disarray. Members of the school board had been accused of improprieties, morale was low and we were facing over $20 million in fines for not meeting state-mandated class size. Runcie has worked diligently to address those issues and to move our Broward County school system forward. The good news is that our school system has improved greatly with higher graduation rates and higher rated schools. Broward County Public School System nearly achieved an overall A rating in 2018 and they are working to continue to improve. We set a goal to support the Broward County public schools and our measure of success was to make sure Bob Runcie stayed as superintendent. I’m proud to say Bob Runcie is still our superintendent today.

The third big goal was the transportation sales tax initiative. Last year, county leaders put this sales tax increase on the ballot to fund transportation initiatives. It was a major initiative and members of Broward Workshop fell on both sides, but like any good organization we listened to the majority. We put our support behind it and the sales tax initiative passed. The last goal we set was around tourism. Tourism is Broward County’s biggest industry, and the biggest need we have is an expansion of our convention center and to build a convention center hotel. We were active both on the forefront and behind the scenes, and the expansion and the convention center hotel are going forward.

How has City Furniture maintained its longevity in the market?

The key to City Furniture’s longevity in the Broward County marketplace has been reinvesting back into our business. We operate financially conservative, meaning that we are careful and never try to bite off more than we can chew. That being said, growth has been a cornerstone of our business. If you do not have growth as a cornerstone strategy for your business, you can’t attract the talent you need or want. For instance, millennials all want to see opportunity to advance, grow and succeed, so they are attracted to companies that embody that vision. In our case, we just opened up big stores in Orlando, and we are planning to open in Tampa over the next few years. The other key to this business has been private ownership. We are able to invest for the long-term benefit of our associates, our customers and our community.

How have you seen priorities shift in regards to consumers making a decision on where to shop?

Retail needs to be more of an experience. What will drive you to a store as opposed to buying online is the experience. When the consumer is given a choice, they prefer to do business with local companies that genuinely support the local communities that they are in and companies that move in a direction of sustainability toward a carbon neutral footprint. Mostly, our shoppers and customers learn that City Furniture does these things after they come to our stores. It becomes a better value proposition for them to do business with us. All of these elements are aimed at tilting the customer experience factor a little more in our favor.

To learn more about our interviewee, visit:

https://www.cityfurniture.com/

https://www.browardworkshop.com/

Spotlight On: Liz Babson, Director, Charlotte Department of Transportation

By: Felipe Rivas

2 min read November 2019 — As Charlotte continues to grow, the Department of Transportation is looking at ways to improve and innovate its transportation system. The department has been keen on leveraging capital investment with private development to build a safe transportation network for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Safety is a top priority for the department heading into 2020, said Liz Babson, director of the Department of Transportation, in an interview with Invest: Charlotte.

How has Charlotte’s transportation system kept up with economic growth in the past decade?

“Charlotte, like other major cities, is experiencing economic growth and is seeing the effects of that in its transportation system. We have seen congestion increase throughout the community. The city must look at multiple ways to solve and manage its transportation system. We put a lot of investment in transit and other transportation improvements and continue to manage congestion. In the last decade, we have seen a shift in the way we look at transportation investment throughout the city, not just on the transit side but making sure we are connecting our networks, such as our walkways and bikeways, and giving people a choice when they travel throughout the city. We are making a major shift from traditional roadway projects and single occupancy vehicles.”

What is the state of the transportation system in Charlotte?

“In the last few years, the state legislature was changed to reprioritize transportation investment throughout North Carolina. As a result, there is a tremendous amount of investment at the state level that is coming to Charlotte. Some $3.2 billion in state transportation investment is earmarked for this city. Those are projects that will improve the freeway systems throughout North Carolina. As your capacity increases in those facilities, it gives people more travel options to use Charlotte’s surface streets for local, short trips. We then have more capacity at the surface street level to improve the transportation system for cyclists and pedestrians.”

How is the Department of Transportation working with the private sector to speed up projects in Charlotte?

“We work to find ways to align our capital investment to where we know new development or redevelopment is happening. The Camp North End project north of Uptown and the River District are good examples where we anticipated the type of development and redevelopment we want to see happen and set aside capital investment dollars to partner up with investors and developers. It allows us to see projects developed quicker. The challenge is finding equitable and balanced ways to do that. We have always tried to be strategic with our partnerships; sometimes the private side is faster and more efficient.”

How is the Department of Transportation working with the community as Charlotte continues to grow?

“We are developing our 2040 Comprehensive Plan. We are engaging the community, elected officials and private partners in a way that we have not done before to look at how we want to grow as a community and how we will do that. We are engaging the community as we have those conversations, so they can understand the challenges and how we can work together as we head into the future. We are having those tough conversations in a meaningful way. This is an important undertaking for the city. It will be transformational for the city from an organizational structure and how we do our work and engage the community.”

How is the Department of Transportation using technology to improve transit operations?

“We have close to 850 traffic signals and close to 350 miles of fibers that communicate with 90% of those signals. From one central location, we can change signal timing for the entire city. That fiber infrastructure also manages our traffic camera system, which is comprised of around 450 cameras located throughout the city. It’s a shared system. We work very closely with the police and fire departments. Together we can make on the spot decisions that improve emergency response times and help get the roads cleared faster when there are bigger problems. We have the infrastructure in place to test and implement new smart traffic technologies. We are looking at the possibility of leveraging the connected traffic system with people’s smartphones to share information from the traffic signal operations with pedestrians who want to know when the bus is coming or commuters who want to know when the traffic lights will change. Those are the kinds of things we are starting to look at.”

What are the Department of Transportation’s priorities heading into 2020?

“We are working to do road projects that are transformational, as well as small, safety improvements to expand our safe and efficient transportation system for our cyclists and pedestrians. We are a Vision Zero city and are working toward no deaths or serious injuries on our streets by 2030. The goal allows us to take a data-driven approach when it comes to capital investments. We are continuously looking for opportunities to leverage private development with capital investment to build a safe transportation network. There is a real intentional focus to improve the safety of our cyclists and pedestrians.”

To learn more about our interviewee, visit: https://charlottenc.gov/Transportation/

Decatur embraces “hipsturbia”

Spotlight On: Lynn Stoner, Mayor, City of Plantation

Face Off: Hot Hotel Market to Remain Steadfast Into 2020

Philly Bets Big on Biotech

Art Basel: Miami Art Week Brings the City to a Standstill

Spotlight On: Scott Zuckerman, Principal, Domus Construction

Thanksgiving in the Queen City

Spotlight On: Keith Koenig, CEO & Chairman, City Furniture/Broward Workshop

Spotlight On: Liz Babson, Director, Charlotte Department of Transportation

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