CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A street that has been the home of a Black Lives Matter street mural in Charlotte since this summer will reopen to traffic Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The street where the Black Lives Matter street Mural is located will reopen to traffic
  • The reopening comes after businesses voiced concerns about the closure impacting their sales
  • The street may close temporarily at a later time for special events

 The Charlotte City Council voted 10 to 1 to end the Tryon Street Pilot Plaza, which will reopen Tryon Street between 3rd and 4th streets. Back in June, the city of Charlotte commissioned a Black Lives Matter Mural in response to protests about racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

After the art installation, many people visited the the site, which prompted the city to close the street to cars. In addition, the pilot program allowed the city to create and evaluate public space in Uptown. 

 
The study period of the pilot ended on September 30. 

“It’s a powerful moment in time that we captured something in history that we should not lose. However, while they are connected and related the reopening doesn't necessarily mean we are repainting over the mural. We just have to do a good job of maintaining it while we memorialize it somewhere else,"  Assistant City Manager Taiwo Jaiyeoba said.

According to city staff, while the Black Lives Matter Mural represents positive community collaborations, several businesses have mentioned the temporary closure is hurting them. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood and Steaks General Manager David Urbanek says his sales have dropped due to the temporary closure. 

“Feedback from much of our clientele has been centered on access to our property and safety. There have been numerous instances where disorderly conduct and harassment has caused us to close our outside dining," Urbanek said. "Clear and safe access to our property is paramount for the success of our fourth quarter, especially in these unprecedented times in the middle of a pandemic.”

Other community members like Rhea Plummer wanted the street to remain closed. 

“I definitely think they should keep it closed. It’s not hurting anyone. I think that it’s a beautiful mural that we all can come to enjoy. It’s a reminder of what we are fighting for," Plummer said. "There's not a lot of traffic here anyway. There's no incentive to opening it right now." 

Council member Braxton Winston was the only council member who voted against reopening the street. The street will reopen on Tuesday, however, it's possible the area will be closed to traffic temporarily in the future when special events are being held. 

The mural was defaced with tire marks back in June and many council members expressed concerns about potential damage to the art installation in the future. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, an officer will continue monitoring the area even after it reopens.