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Uptown groups propose ‘Uptown Vibrancy Collaborative,’ private donors back initial surge and ask for small MSD millage increase
Summary
Charlotte Center City Partners outlined a private-funded Uptown Vibrancy Collaborative and said private donors committed nearly $2 million over two years to support programming, marketing and public-safety-related efforts; the group asked council to consider a small millage increase in two municipal service districts to sustain the work.
Charlotte Center City Partners told council it has gathered major downtown employers and property owners to launch an "Uptown Vibrancy Collaborative" intended to improve safety, programming and perceptions in Uptown.
Michael Smith, representing Charlotte Center City Partners, said private employers pledged roughly $1 million per year for two years to seed the initiative and asked the city to consider sustaining funding by raising millage in Municipal Service Districts (MSD) 2 and 3. The proposed levy increase would raise approximately $500,000 from MSD 3 and $500,000 from MSD 2 annually; the presenter described the increase as 0.0082 mills per $100 of value and gave an example that the average condo assessed at $465,000 would see about a $38 yearly increase.
The collaborative’s focus areas include public-safety-related initiatives, placemaking, marketing and programming aimed at generating evening and weekend activity. Smith said private partners also committed to "own your block" actions—enhanced private security, cleanliness and periodic programming on key Uptown blocks—and that outreach to condo associations captured in the MSDs had not produced opposition in early conversations.
Council responses: Council members asked for clarity on how MSD funds and related nonprofit trust dollars are allocated. Members also probed how much of the proposed public funding would be dedicated to security ambassador staffing versus programming. Smith said ambassador expansion would be pursued with private hospitality and other partners and that the immediate millage ask is intended primarily to surge programming and marketing.
What wasn’t decided: Council did not vote on any MSD rate changes at the meeting. Staff and the MSD partners will pursue additional outreach and provide more detailed budget breakdowns to council.
