"How's it going in SouthPark?"

At community events, coffee meetings, and even on weekends at the grocery store, it's the question I get asked most frequently. Alongside our partners, SouthPark Community Partners is delivering on our mission and vision for a more connected SouthPark that fulfills its promise as an economic engine for the region.

A couple of years ago, I heard Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland speak at a Bloomberg Philanthropies conference about being "data-driven and heart-led." I've stolen his line—sorry, Governor!—because it captures the way our team approaches the work we do, centered on our values and mission, but informed by data.

In that spirit, here are a few metrics that have my attention right now:

Trips to SouthPark during the 2024 holiday season were up 7.14% over the same period in 2023 and the total number of visitors increased 8.06% year-over-year.         

Our SouthPark Skipper microtransit program, which launched Nov. 15, is on pace to crest 10,000 riders in February. The No. 1 pickup/drop-off destination? Harris Teeter. Average wait times are still under 8 minutes, below our 10-minute goal.         

SouthPark After 5 will return to Symphony Park this spring for its third year of free community concerts. Foot traffic to the park is up 180% since we started programming it in 2023.         

Partnerships for public safety

Last month, I had the privilege of moderating a discussion among Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Johnny Jennings , Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office DA Spencer Merriweather , and Michael Adams , a retired CMPD major who now leads corporate security for Coca-Cola Consolidated here in SouthPark.

Overall crime in the SouthPark district was down nearly 15% in 2024 compared to the prior year, thanks in large part to CMPD's efforts to combat auto thefts and car break-ins. We are watching an increase in armed robberies—which, in many cases, occur when shoplifters are confronted by store security and either produce a firearm or suggest they have one, escalating a larceny into something more dangerous.

While there is great, collaborative work happening between CMPD and SouthPark stakeholders, we need our business community to take greater ownership of public safety. There's plenty outside of our control—but functional security cameras, well-lit parking lots, and sharing information with neighbors is something all of our property owners can (and should) commit to in 2025.

ICYMI

Some SouthPark news and notes...

• Thanks to 美国银行 's support and my colleague Lizzy Sirkin Hill 's leadership, we are launching the SouthPark Small Business Forward Grant, which will award $20,000 to a small business in the district.
• Sign up to run the inaugural SouthPark Loop 5K on April 27. A portion of registration fees will support placemaking efforts along the Loop. Props to Maddie Chase who is building a family-friendly block party at the finish line.
• The latest draft of the City of Charlotte 's Strategic Mobility Plan breaks down the proposed strategy for investing $5.7 billion in road funding—including on "Big Moves" like the SouthPark Loop and mobility programs in regional activity centers like SouthPark.

What I'm reading

General Stan McChrystal 's book, Team of Teams, has me thinking deeply about decentralized authority and decision-making structures; trust and purpose; and sharing power. It's a must read for leaders seeking to create a culture of shared consciousness.

Loop de Loop

Finally, have you caught a glimpse of the public art being installed in front of the SouthPark Regional Library? This vibrant work, Loop de Loop, is by Chapel Hill-based artist Mary Carter Taub and was commissioned by the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (ASC) in partnership with the City of Charlotte and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library .

Its playful shapes and bold colors add a nice pop of energy to this section of the Loop.

Have you ridden the SouthPark Skipper? Got ideas about our next piece of signature public art? Want to challenge me to a sprint at the end of the Loop 5K? Let me know in the comments, and don't be afraid to stop me around town to ask "How's it going in SouthPark?"