CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte is investing more than $38 million to revitalize six key corridors, while the YMCA of Greater Charlotte will revitalize two branches in the Beatties Ford Road and West Side corridors with part of an $18 million donation.

What You Need To Know

  • Charlotte is investing more than $38 million to revitalize six key corridors in underserved areas

  • Improvements include new sidewalks, a shopping center and a new bank branch

  • The YMCA of Greater Charlotte will be revitalizing two of its branches in the Beatties Ford Road and West Side corridors

  • The YMCA plans are funded with part of an $18 million donation from billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott

Plans for the McCrorey and Stratford Richardson YMCA branches include enhanced youth programming and expanded mental health initiatives, as well as new equipment.

The Stratford Richardson YMCA plans include afterschool programs for children in the West Boulevard Corridor and reconfiguring space to create dedicated areas for group exercise and youth programming.

Jemarion Young, executive director of the Stratford Richardson YMCA, founded a team leaders’ program for teens to help them plan for their future “by focusing on college and career readiness, self-identification and advocacy, and social responsibility,” he said.

Since its conception in 2012, 100% of participants have graduated from high school. Young said the new mental health initiatives at the Stratford Richardson branch will help set them up for success well into adulthood.

“Teens today aren’t the same teens from 20 years ago. That’s one thing, right? Then you layer on a pandemic. Then we’re holding them to the expectations that they are the same teens from 20 years ago. It just doesn’t make sense, right? So, we have to make sure that they have the tools necessary to be whole individuals,” Young said.

“I don’t want to just think about you from an education perspective, I want to think about you from an entire well-being perspective and we have to make sure they have those resources to be successful there,” Young added.

The McCrorey YMCA plans include senior center improvements and expansion and renovation of a Best Buy Teen Tech Center.

The YMCA's plans are partly funded by an $18 million donation from billionaire philanthropist Mackenzie Scott.

“We are pleased to put plans in motion for the transformational investment in these two corridors,” said Stan Law, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

“This is just the beginning; the needs in our community are significant. We plan to build more partnerships and leverage additional gifts to ensure we can sustain and expand our work in these corridors and in other areas of need throughout greater Charlotte over time,” Law added.

Charlotte's improvements are planned for the following areas:

  • Beatties Ford Road to Rozzelles Ferry Road
  • Albemarle Road to Central Avenue
  • Freedom Drive to Wilkinson Boulevard
  • Graham Street to North Tryon Street
  • Sugar Creek Road to Interstate 85
  • West Boulevard

The city is designing sidewalks to run along Lasalle Street to the Northwest School of the Arts.

Crews also recently renovated a shopping center in the heart of the Five Points area, featuring small businesses and restaurants, as well as new crosswalks for pedestrians.

Chase Bank opened its 13th location at the intersection of Beatties Ford Road and Lasalle Street.

The Y is also collaborating with Atrium Health at its Stratford Richardson campus to build a community health clinic, using a recent $2 million federal appropriation, secured by Congresswoman Alma Adams, as the main funding source for the project.