Charlotte’s Secret Sauce: Growth, Jobs, and Partnerships

Transit Oriented Development and the City's Transformation

In this episode of 'Shaping Charlotte,' hosts Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele discuss Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) with Monica Carney Holmes, Interim Planning Director for the City of Charlotte, and Harrison Tucker, CEO of Space Craft. The conversation covers the integration of transit and development to create walkable communities, with insights into the public and private sector roles in shaping Charlotte's future.

If Not Now, When?

After months of discussion, debate, and deep dives into Charlotte’s proposed one-cent transit referendum, we’re down to the wire. In this pivotal episode, released just one day before the vote, Clayton and Tesho sit down with David Howard, former Charlotte City Council member and former Chief Deputy Secretary of NCDOT, to talk about what’s really at stake for our city. A lifelong Charlottean with decades of experience in housing, planning, and infrastructure, David brings a candid and grounded perspective to the conversation. Together, they explore what the referendum means for our region’s growth, how we got here, and what happens if it doesn’t pass. It’s a conversation about choices, momentum, and what it takes to move a city forward, because when it comes to building Charlotte’s future, the question isn’t just if we’ll invest in mobility, but when.

The Wheels on the Bus Move Us

Buses may not grab the headlines, but they move Charlotte, literally. In this episode, Clayton and Tesho sit down with Jason Lawrence, Chief Transit Planning Officer at CATS, to talk about the Better Bus Plan and how the upcoming one-cent referendum could transform the way Charlotteans get around. They unpack how the city’s bus system evolved over the past two decades, who rides today, and what improvements, like faster routes, safer stops, and better first-and last-mile connections,are on the horizon. Jason also shares his own story, what keeps him passionate about transit, and how he sees Charlotte’s network adapting to a million-person future. Because when it comes to building a connected, livable city, the wheels on the bus don’t just go round and round, they move us forward.

Shaping the Roads that Move Us

Charlotte’s roads are the arteries that keep our city moving - all 5,000 miles of them. But with more than 150 new residents arriving in the region every day, those streets are getting busier, and the question of how we move becomes more urgent. In this episode, hosts Clayton Sealey and Tesho Akindele sit down with Ed McKinney, Special Assistant to the City Manager on Mobility, to discuss how the one-cent sales tax referendum could reshape Charlotte’s transportation future. They explore how funding priorities are set, what the Strategic Mobility Plan means for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike, and how technology and design can make our streets safer and more connected. From dead-end roads to better bus systems, this episode digs into the challenges - and opportunities - of building a city that moves for everyone. Shaping Charlotte explores the people, policies, and projects defining our city - one step, one street, one story at a time.

Charlotte’s Secret Sauce: Growth, Jobs, and Partnerships

Charlotte’s growth isn’t an accident, it’s the product of decades of vision, collaboration, and bold leadership. In this episode, we sit down with Tracy Dodson, COO and Head of Economic Development at the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, to talk about what makes the Queen City special, and how we can keep that momentum going.