South Charlotte Today

City of Charlotte issued the following announcement on Sept. 24.

The City of Charlotte Urban Design Center and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte School of Architecture presented the city's first Urban Design Awards, or "Urbies," Thursday to elevate the importance of excellent urban design. The goal of the annual awards program is to recognize and celebrate quality urban design in Charlotte, while encouraging continued community discussion around what makes for unique and great places.

Award recipients:

• Great Transit/Trail-Oriented Development – The Metropolitan
• Great 10-Minute Neighborhood – Plaza Midwood
• Great Neighborhood Center - NoDa
• Great Community Activity Center – Camden Road
• Great New Life for an Old Place – Optimist Hall
• Great Public Space – Little Sugar Creek Greenway
• Great Placemaking – Camp North End
• Great Street – Tryon Street
• Great Street Redesign – 9th Street
• Great Street Action – Black Lives Matter Mural
• Great Urban Architecture – The Railyard
• Great Urban Design Champions – Hugh McColl, Harvey Gantt
• Great Neighborhood Activism – Darryl Gaston (in memoriam)
• Great Student Project – Queens Park Proposal/NS Railyard Design
• The Crown Jewel – Historic West End Initiatives

Award recipients were chosen by a diverse, 10-member community jury. The awards ceremony recognizing the inaugural Urbies winners took place outdoors at the Charlotte Urban Design Center.

"This is an exciting moment! These awards are a timely recognition of the work our professional and citizen urban designers have done in our city, neighborhoods and transit station areas over the past decades," said Planning Director Taiwo Jaiyeoba. "Memorable cities are often outcomes of memorable designs. What do people remember when they think of Charlotte? These awardees are answering that question. I am glad we could partner with UNC Charlotte to set high expectations for the type of city we want people to live, work and play in."

A public panel discussion about the awards recipients and their projects will take place today at 2 p.m. at The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, 320 E. 9th Street. UNC Charlotte Master of Urban Design Director Sekou Cooke will moderate a conversation with several Urbies jurors:

• Beth Poovey, LandDesign
• Ike Heard, former UNC Charlotte professor and practicing economic developer
• Clayton Sealey, CLT Development
• Mary Newsom, Center for the Living City and Urbies founder
• Deb Ryan, UNC Charlotte professor and awards jury chair.

The event will be held both in person and virtually, via Zoom. Attendance is free, but registration is required.

"Good urban design is fundamental to a safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable city," said Ryan, who is a professor of urban design. "We are pleased to recognize the good work being done in Charlotte to create great urban spaces. In the future, we look forward to inviting the public's participation in the Charlotte Urban Design Awards with a People's Choice Award."

Original source can be found here.