Interesting story in today’s newspaper about the city’s semi-annual statistical study of neighborhoods. It’s called the 2008 Neighborhood Quality of Life report. If you want to see the map I think you have to see the on-paper version (at 50 cents still cheaper than a cuppa coffee), as I can’t find an online link. But here’s a link to the report itself. Warning: It’s a slow-loading PDF file. Here’s a link to the page on the City of Charlotte’s Web site about the report.
I haven’t read the report yet — it’s 246 pages — so don’t kick me around for “endorsing” it; I’m simply sharing it for those who might be interested. I hope to find time this week for some reporting, with luck for my Saturday column.
One quick thought: I find its terminology unclear. The report says that in 2006 it changed its classifications from Stable, Threatened, and Fragile (also unclear — which is better, “threatened” or “fragile”?) to Stable, Transitioning, and Challenged. But Transitioning is applied to neighborhoods in “an improving or declining position.” So if the number of “transitioning” neighborhoods has increased, is that good news for the city or bad news? Who can tell? And is this because the city wants only happyface news about its neighborhoods? Or because these kinds of reports are done by geographers and academics, not writers or editors? Who can tell?
Anyway, happy reading. Check back with you later.