City of Charlotte Announces 2023 Placemaking Grant Winners

Published on April 27, 2023

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 27, 2023) – The City of Charlotte is continuing its placemaking efforts as it works alongside community members and local artists to activate and transform city infrastructure into vibrant community spaces.

Funding has been awarded to selected applicants through the latest round of the city’s Placemaking Grant program. The program began in 2018 and is led by the City of Charlotte’s Urban Design Center. The program provides funding and technical support for projects that create and enhance community vibrancy, safety and identity. Project types include:

• Activation of leftover and/or underutilized spaces.
• Streetscape improvements.
• Art and beautification efforts.
• Creation of community gathering spaces.

This grant, which has a total pool of approximately $125,000, builds upon the opportunities presented in the city’s Placemaking Hub, which provides toolkits to inspire and guide placemaking efforts. An additional $45,000 in funding was provided to projects located in a Corridor of Opportunity, as well as those that achieve carbon reduction goals, provide education on environmentally sustainable practices, address climate change and/or advance the city’s Strategic Energy Action Plan.

The following projects have been awarded funding and are expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2023.

Placemaking Grant program winners:

• Paint the Pavement with Nutrition.
  • Applicant – Jan Johnson.
  • Organization – Uptown Farmer’s Market.
  • Project – Uptown Cycle Track healthy foods mural.
  • Budget – $5,500.
• Outdoor Stage
  • Applicant – Yann Ki-Ny.
  • Organization – Cambodian Cultural Society.
  • Project – Community gathering space.
  • Budget – $15,000.
• Solar Signage, Solutions and Sustainable Word Art (in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability and Resilience).
  • Applicant – Eboné Lockett.
  • Organization – Zealous Empowering Nurturer Inc. (ZEN).
  • Project – Solar-powered art installation.
  • Budget – $5,000.
• Derita is Cool (in collaboration with the City of Charlotte Corridors of Opportunity program).
  • Applicant – Hasheem Halim.
  • Organization – Derita Design.
  • Project – Wall mural.
  • Budget – $15,000.
• Walk, Paint and Chalk in Five Points.
  • Applicant – Anne Low.
  • Organization – Art Walks.
  • Project – Interactive placemaking tours of Historic West End and Five Points Plaza.
  • Budget – $5,500.
• West Side History Club Cedar Grove Memorial Park Technical Assistance Grant.
  • Applicant – Ché Abdullah.
  • Organization – West Side History Club.
  • Project – Technical assistance workshop and playbook.
  • Budget – $5,000.
• Events at the Green at Prosperity Village.
  • Applicant – Shika Raynor.
  • Organization – Prosperity Village Neighborhood Association.
  • Project – Events at a city public open space.
  • Budget – $15,000.
• The Books on Barton Creek.
  • Applicant – Janeva Tyree.
  • Organization – University City Area Neighborhoods.
  • Project – Sidewalk mural.
  • Budget – $12,000.
• Hawthorne Lane Bridge Bike Lane.
  • Applicant – Pam Imhof.
  • Organization – Elizabeth Neighborhood Association.
  • Project – Bike lane street murals.
  • Budget – $6,000.
• Sugaree Place Mural (in collaboration with the City of Charlotte Corridors of Opportunity program).
  • Applicant – Merritt McCully.
  • Organization – Mayfield Memorial Community Development Corporation and the Hidden Valley Community Development Corporation.
  • Project – Wall mural.
  • Budget – $25,000.
• Programming at The Ritz.
  • Applicant – Mattie Marshal.
  • Organization – Washington Heights Neighborhood Association.
  • Project – The Village Gatherings at the Ritz at Washington Heights.
  • Budget – $15,000.
• Lions Services Art Mural for the Blind Accessible Patio.
  • Applicant – Agatha Bisbikis.
  • Organization – Lions Services.
  • Project – Wall mural and community gathering space.
  • Budget – $19,000.
• Trips for Kids Charlotte Re-Cyclery Mural.
  • Applicant – Eric Supil.
  • Organization – Trips for Kids Charlotte.
  • Project – Wall mural.
  • Budget – $14,000.
• Atando Mural.
  • Applicant – Ivan Depena.
  • Organization – North Graham North Tryon Neighborhoods.
  • Project – Wall mural.
  • Budget – $14,000.

Keep an eye out for additional placemaking team-led initiatives throughout the city. Visit the Urban Design Center webpage or contact Erin Chantry at erin.chantry@charlottenc.gov or 704.432.4493 for more information about the program.