https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1211-027X
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ABSTRACT
This paper shares emerging themes from two series of focus groups in Charlotte, North Carolina, with 75 residents discussing a new light rail adjacent to their neighborhood. Community conversations about the light rail acted as an entry point for residents to bring up a range of issues they are dealing with such as housing cost, economic and educational opportunities, safety, government distrust, and feeling left-out in a growing and changing city. On one hand, this demonstrates how the light rail is connected to a range of other issues. On the other hand, the rail acted as a symbolic and physical infrastructure through which residents could channel their frustration of not feeling included in the city’s growth, development, and change. We analyze these results through the lens of public participation theory, which offers a framework for understanding public input into local decision-making processes. Findings can inform inclusive planning and community development.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful for all the individuals who participated in our focus groups. In addition, we would like to thank colleagues Drs. Elizabeth Delmelle and Isabelle Nilsson who also worked on this grant.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Since these findings were revealed, a range of government and non-governmental initiatives have been pursued to enhance economic mobility (centralized through a ‘Leading on Opportunity’ Task Force).
2 Participant quotes are indicated as “FG” (Focus group) with the date of the session. We are unable to relate statements to individual participants due to confidentiality agreements.