In 2020, the City of Charlotte launched the Corridors of Opportunity program to provide job creation, high-quality services, and viable, long-term career paths for residents in six main neighborhoods located along roadway corridors throughout the city. The six corridors have systemically high unemployment and poverty rates and have been identified as focus areas for special economic development. The city selected the Albemarle Road Corridor as a key priority through the Corridors of Opportunity program and conducted a robust study and community engagement process within the neighborhood to understand challenges and needs. The city summarized findings from the study and community engagement process in the Albemarle Road Corridor Playbook, which identifies the next steps along with potential funding sources and partnerships.

One key idea from the community engagement process was the concept of a cultural trail that would provide multi-modal transportation for residents while celebrating the neighborhood’s cultural and ethnic diversity. The City of Charlotte requested ULI’s assistance in further exploring the cultural trail concept by identifying key destinations along the trail (including anchor tenants, developments, transit stops, and job centers) and a potential location for the trail.