Envision America Rob Phocas Office of Sustainability City of Charlotte Monday, March 6, 2017
Smart Cities in Charlotte Envision Charlotte Envision America Internal Smart City Cabinet Global Smart City and Community Collaborative (GSC3) North End Smart District
Digital Divide Dominant smart city narrative -- futuristic vision of digital infrastructure allowing us to wire, monitor and efficiently control the urban milieu: a Fitbit for the city. The story of the smart city is unable to speak to the real-world problems generated by this new world: How to be a citizen when your presence must not be simply geographic, but also digital? How to take advantage of emerging opportunities when new skills and costly new hardware are needed? Getting these answers wrong has real consequences: being left behind in a digital urban revolution. This is the digital divide.
Build With not For A failure to invest in human and social capital potentially bars participation among residents who lack digital literacy or specific client devices necessary in order to participate Truly smart cities will require concurrent investments in human and social capital, as well as upgrades to traditional sector infrastructures, in order to realize broadly distributed benefits and sustainability gains
Team Work Makes the Dream Work Stevie Wonder Needs to be about People, about Quality of Life for Citizens What do people want? Who will make it happen? Smart City = Community Does Smart City replace Sustainable City?
in Charlotte February 15, 2017
Why are we here? To start a conversation about how we can leverage smart city efforts to be a resource for the work you are already doing in your neighborhood, place of business, place of investment, or project area and to find new opportunities together.
What is a Smart City? A Smart City collaborates to use data and technology to inform decisionmaking and action on issues such as: mobility; safety; energy efficiency; community services; education; and environmental health.
Why is a Smart City important to You? It is a vehicle to: build strong relationships & preserve the community s identity; create partnerships; increase equitable community engagement; use data analytics, innovation and lessons learned to inform institutional practices; and replicate in other City projects throughout Charlotte.
The North End Smart District (NESD) Boundaries
Wedge Buildings
What are the NESD neighborhoods? Optimist Park Lockwood Graham Heights Druid Hills Greenville Park at Oaklawn Genesis Park Brightwalk
Statistics in the NESD (2014 Data) About 9,000 residents 70% of residential properties within 5 minute walk of a park All residents lives less than 10 minutes from a bus stop Average age of home is 55 years 50% housing units are rented 28% workforce unemployed Most people commute more than 20 minutes to work 14% of workers commute by public transit
What development is happening in the NESD? Market Rate Apartments Proposed One-Way Pair Blue Line Extension CIP Infrastructure Improvements Innovation Hub Campus Aquatic Center New Brewery and Deli/Bakery Mixed Income Housing
Why focus on the North End? 15 studies of this area since 1993 2011, the area was identified as part of a strategy for economic development as the Applied Innovation Corridor 2014, ULI panel said, North End is the key anchor due to: its connection to Uptown; transportation accessibility; distinct neighborhoods; underutilized land; links to research at local universities Presents an opportunity to leverage Public Safety Campus, other investments, technology, and innovation to build on community assets (rich history, community garden, parks, art, neighborhood leadership) and also address neighborhood concerns (affordable housing, employment options, homelessness, lost community character)
What is the Vision for the NESD? A vibrant center for economic development and job growth with a great quality of life fueled by data, innovative technologies, and collaboration on a foundation of equitable community engagement.
What are the NESD goals? 1. Build Community Capacity Strengthen relationships with neighborhood members and leaders by partnering to provide access to government and community resources such as jobs, training, housing resources, mobility options, youth programs, and healthy living options. 2. Catalyze Economic Development Create a competitive and inclusive district that attracts local, national, and international businesses that help achieve the NESD vision by harnessing innovative smart technology, data analytics, and public investments that will support their growth. 3. Apply Smart City Data + Technology Utilize existing and develop new data sources and innovative technologies to understand current conditions and inform decision-making and impact of investments. 4. Enhance Environment + Mobility Options Foster built and natural environment improvements and enhance mobility options that support community and business.
6 Pillars 1. Distributed Energy Micro Grid with Battery Storage 2. Gigabit Fiber Service 3. Leverage CIP Infrastructure Projects 4. Big Data 5. Facilitate an Innovation Campus 6. Building Human Capital
Building Human Capital How do we create economic mobility opportunities and address community identified needs? Bridging Digital Divide Strengthen Workforce Development Create Employment for Existing Local Residents Address Affordable Housing/Gentrification Improve Mobility Options Address Homelessness Improve Streetscape of Major Roads Protect Community Character
Community Engagement Fundamental to the smart district... Pulled together a community engagement team. Meeting with neighborhood presidents and then residents. Working with Community Relations to hold dialogue with residents around hopes and fears and hesitations. Invited to apply for Partners in Place Equity Pilot Initiative.. Community engagement around 5 possible pilot projects informed by engagement Tech education: 1) West CLT HS; and 2) Adult Ed 3) Smart homes/neighborhoods; 4) Neighborhood circulator; 5) Healthy communities.
NESD smart city pilot projects 1. Smart Home Utilities Savings 2. Mobility + Transit Options 3. Healthy Communities 4. Technology Training and Internships
Who will partner on these pilots? Pilot Project Name Smart Homes Mobility & Transit Options Healthy Communities Tech Charlotte Partners Charlotte Neighborhood & Business Services Safe Homes Program, Duke Energy Neighborhood Program, Habitat for Humanity Home Repair Program, Blue Ridge Community Action CATS, CDOT, Charlotte Urban Design Charlotte Solid Waste Services, Carolina HealthCare, Crown Town Compost, Pop-Up Produce, Mecklenburg County Health Department Neighborhood & Business Services Mayor Youth Employment Program, Mecklenburg County Schools, West Charlotte High School, Microsoft
Who are we talking to? business owners community organizations government leaders developers + investors neighborhood residents
Summationclusion Smart City has to be more than just data & technology Must include citizens & entities Build an ecosystem as the platform to host your smart city What will you put on that platform? What pillars? How to make it sustainable? Where are the resources from? Don t reinvent the wheel Team Work makes the Dream Work
Contact Information Rob Phocas rphocas@charlottenc.gov 704-336-7558 www.charlottenc.gov/sustainability