CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — In 2022, Charlotte city leaders put together a presentation about a project that would offer separated bike lanes and greater connectivity to cyclists.
The Uptown CycleLink Project is a program the Five Points Community Collaborative says the city is overlooking in their study of the Carolina Panthers’ rezoning petition around their practice facility.
Five Points represents the Biddleville, Seversville, Wesley Heights neighborhoods west of uptown.
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PANTHERS FACILITY PLANS
A high-traffic area cutting through the Panthers’ property and connecting Cedar Street and Graham Street was targeted for future expansion of the bike lanes. Cyclelink plans would connect more than 40 miles of bikeways into and across the uptown area.
The Panthers’ plans, the homeowners’ association boards say, don’t address the expansion of that network.
They also say the Panthers have failed to commit to greenway improvements within the petition. The Wesley Heights Greenway connects the neighborhoods to Cedar Street near the practice site. HOA reps say with taxpayers contributing hundreds of millions of dollars toward the planned stadium renovation, requesting greenway improvements for this rezoning petition isn’t a big ask.
Construction is well underway at the Panthers practice facility off Cedar Street. The 12-acre site would include improvements to the fields and add a fieldhouse with seating and parking.
“The petitioner has addressed a wide variety of community concerns and continues to work with the city on future projects that extends beyond the life of the current rezoning,” Councilman Malcolm Graham to the Five Points group Wednesday, adding he intends to voice his support for the rezoning.
Queen City News did not receive a response to request for comment from the Panthers.