Keith Stanley, President & CEO, University City Partners

Keith Stanley, president and CEO of University City Partners, sat down with Invest: to discuss Mecklenburg’s transportation referendum and its potential to transform transit funding, University Research Park as an innovation and job hub, and accelerating housing and mixed‑use development around Town Center and the JW Clay Rail Station. University City Partners pairs long-range planning with day-to-day place management, safety collaboration, public realm improvements, and signature programming that helps the district feel welcoming and work better. “Our top priority is to continue to work collaboratively with public and private partners to deliver the right product for University City,” Stanley said.

Reflecting on 2024 and 2025, what changes have affected University City and your organization’s priorities? 

The transportation referendum represents a tremendous opportunity for us. We see this as a tremendous investment that reflects the growth of the Charlotte region. An estimated $19.4 billion over 30 years in revenue could transform our transit system. That is key to many of our goals and strategies around University Research Park (URP), retail centers, UNC Charlotte, and entertainment amenities. With voters approving the referendum on Nov. 4, 2025, it will be a major opportunity for us to better connect our community.  

What have been some significant developments for the organization over the past year, and what do they signal about the district’s trajectory? 

University City is Charlotte’s growth engine. We have delivered thousands of new housing units since 2020, and retail vacancy is near record lows. University Research Park has a daytime workforce population of more than 19,000 and is growing. Vanguard has made a major investment here and is an important anchor employer. UNC Charlotte enrolled 32,207 students for fall 2025, marking a record for the university. We’re seeing over $100 million in infrastructure upgrades. There’s a strong talent pipeline emerging here. We have been developing strategies around these aspects to ensure that all the pieces are connected. 

How does innovation drive your strategy? 

Innovation is what excites us. The URP is poised to be a major hub for innovation and job creation. The opportunity for us to create momentum is there. Institutions like Duke Energy, financial services firms, TIAA, and Vanguard are active players there. From South Charlotte’s Pearl District to the north, we envision a connected research corridor. University Research Park is positioned for that.

How are you working to continue to strengthen ties between higher education, economic development in University City, and businesses? 

We’re focused on connecting anchor institutions to create a stronger innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. We see this as an opportunity to help our small businesses grow and develop as they connect to some of these anchor institutions. Doing so helps strengthen our economic system and make it more resilient because we can get the things we need right here in our own community. 

What are some of your guiding principles when working with developers? 

We have a strategic plan that focuses on our “urban spine” and greenways. When working with developers, we want to make sure that as we are adding more residents and employees, we are activating space and place. We embrace the live, work, play, stay, and learn model. We’re enhancing amenities, including 31 miles of greenways. The Blue Line extension helped spotlight these improvements. We want people to be able to come to University City and enjoy themselves without needing a car. The greenspaces and public amenities are important to us because we want employees to have a place to go shop or relax. We delivered the new $41 million library by the lake, which is a major asset. We’re investing in public art, community activation, and signature events. As we continue to be the economic engine for Charlotte, we want to make sure people can come here and enjoy all of our wonderful greenspaces and outdoor activities. 

What developments are in progress or proposed for University City’s Town Center, the JW Clay Rail Station area, or other nearby districts?

In 2018, we hit $1 billion in investment. The Town Center remains our main area of focus — a true downtown for University City. This is where people can come and shop or grab a bite to eat and feel that it is similar to a downtown or a city within a city. We think of Town Center as a city within a city, anchored by transit, greenways, and great public spaces. The lake is a powerful community feature. JW Clay Boulevard is undergoing major reconstruction into a multi-use corridor — cars, bikes, and pedestrians. We’re developing a pedestrian and bicycle bridge to connect URP and UNC Charlotte. Because we have over 20,000 employees, providing them with connection points to get in and out is key. That bridge is a multimillion-dollar project and is targeted for completion around the end of 2027. We’re collaborating with City Council and state partners on traffic, bus stops, and last-mile connectivity, including microtransit. A $13 million investment will bring protected bike lanes, part of a broader mobility vision.

How is UCP partnering with developers to ensure growth is equitable and that there is a steady pipeline of housing?

Housing is growing significantly. Since 2020, University City’s trade area has delivered more than 17,000 residential units. We work with partners to expand the range of housing options, including attainable choices, so residents can stay in the community across life stages. We are working with our developers to ensure that our live-work-play concept remains a core priority, supported by microtransit and other mobility options.

How do you position University City as a compelling alternative to other high-growth Charlotte markets? 

UNC Charlotte is a dynamic asset, and our partner and namesake. UNC Charlotte is a defining anchor institution in our district and a central driver of talent and innovation. It has moved up in the national rankings to No. 74 as a public institution and No. 143 nationally, which is its highest public ranking ever. It’s now one of the most innovative public universities in the country. Students are educated here and stay in the region to work. I see such value in that. It’s a critical part of the talent pipeline and innovation strategy. We’ve also welcomed corporate partners like Honeywell to the area. 

There are a couple of other things that also set us apart from the market. University City is evolving from a suburban feel into a dense, urbanized environment. That works well for us. We don’t face the parking or mobility issues other districts do. We are a slice of Charlotte that is transforming with strong transit options. 

What are your top priorities over the next two to three years? 

Our top priority is to continue to work collaboratively with public and private partners to deliver the right product for University City. We have a long-term vision and are focused on branding.

We are working with a number of different contractors, PR firms, and others to raise awareness about our dynamic slice of Charlotte. University City features 140 restaurants, over 170,000 residents in our trade area, and more than 25 retail centers across the trade area, including 14 retail centers within the Municipal Service District. A major part of our goal is to ensure that our name keeps coming up. We need to elevate the brand strategically. Under that brand is activation, which includes community events, destinations, and experiences. From Topgolf to PNC Pavilion, people choose this area because of the options.