This is Belmont’s opportunity to be proactive, gather community input, and have a collective vision for the future of the neighborhood. Major support provided by the City of Charlotte Neighborhood Matching Grants Program.
The goal for the Belmont Avenue Better Block is to educate, equip, and empower the Belmont community to reshape and reactivate the existing built environment. Community members will share ideas and turn those them into tangible, actionable results in one weekend.
From this, the community will identify what is needed, what is wanted, and what will also work for the Belmont neighborhood. The Better Block project will also help inform future land use guidelines and provide a basis to work with the City and developers on future improvements in the community.
Upcoming Events
Community Survey – July through August 6th, 2017
Better Block Volunteer Workshop – August 29th, 2017
Volunteer Building Days – September 20th-22nd, 2017
Neighborhood Exchange & Leadership Awards featuring Krista Nightengale of Better Block Foundation – September 23rd, 2017
Belmont Avenue Better Block – September 23rd – 24th, 2017
Resources
Belmont Avenue Better Block Flyer »
What is a “Better Block?
Example of Painted bike lanes at Better Block in Akron, OH
Belmont residents, businesses, friends, and volunteers will work together to plan, build, and test ideas that will temporarily transform Belmont Avenue into a neighborhood main street with shops, cafés, and business created by the community.
How does it work?
Assisted by the Better Block Foundation, the community will lead the planning and construction that will result in a weekend event of testing ideas and changes that the community wants to see along Belmont Avenue. The Better Block Foundation is a nonprofit urban design firm with a mission to educate, equip, and empower communities to reshape and reactivate built environments to promote the growth of healthy and vibrant neighborhoods.
What to expect?
Example of a coffee shop is tested in a plywood kiosk made by the community for the Better Block in Akron, OH
This is an opportunity, for one weekend, to transform a portion of Belmont Avenue into a neighborhood main street with businesses that are dreamed up and created by Belmont residents. The components that make up the weekend transformation are called interventions.
Based on the engagement feedback, a conceptual plan is drafted and confirmed with the community. Using materials and resources in the community, the temporary interventions are built the week before the Better Block.
Beyond the one weekend, relationships will be built and beneficial development types will be identified, informing future rezoning requests. In other Better Block projects, community members have decided to open their own business and become better advocates for their communities.
How to get involved
Tell us how you want to experience Belmont Avenue and what activities you to see in the community.
To share your input you can complete this questionnaire.
To stay informed about Belmont Avenue Better Block activities and events, please email info@belmontcharlotte.org or subscribe below.
In the News
Charlotte Observer
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/development/article166100272.html
Charlotte Observer
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/development/article161015684.html
Belmont Avenue Community Association
http://belmontcharlotte.org/news/betterblock/
Charlotte Five
http://www.charlottefive.com/blue-structure-belmont/
Charlotte Five
http://www.charlottefive.com/better-block-project/
Charlotte on the Cheap
https://www.charlotteonthecheap.com/belmont-avenue-better-block/
Better Block Foundation
http://betterblock.org/blog/2017/10/31/working-together-in-belmont/
Plan Charlotte
http://plancharlotte.org/story/tactical-urbanism-expert-jason-roberts-brings-better-block-charlotte
Welcoming America
https://www.welcomingamerica.org/welcoming-week-event/belmont-avenue-better-block#
Bikin’ Dads Adventures
http://bikindads.com/event/better-block-belmont-avenue/
Birdsong Brewery
http://birdsongbrewing.com/event/fun-event-belmont-better-block/
eventbu
https://us.eventbu.com/charlotte/belmont-avenue-better-block/5010772
Take the Survey
This project will only succeed with participation from all members in the Belmont neighborhood. So it’s important to share your visions of how, or what, you would like to see Belmont Avenue become.
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