Why Small Shops Are Good for Our Neighborhoods with Curtis Bridges The Localist with Carrie Rollwagen

This week on The Localist, Curtis Bridges, principal planner for the city of Charlotte, NC, and president of the Belmont Community Association, joins Carrie to dive into city planning. Curt and Carrie start off with how small businesses contribute to building communities and invigorating neighborhoods. Gentrification has been a hot topic recently, and Curt details the pros and cons, and stresses the importance of voting with your wallet. Curt then breaks down the difference between HOAs, neighborhood associations, and everything in between, and how to find (or create) an association for your neighborhood. Curt and Carrie wrap up with how Curt got started in the world of urban development planning, advice for small businesses on fitting into a neighborhood, and resources for anyone interested in urban development. 
Mentioned in this episode: 
Belmont Community Association
Church Street Coffee and Books 
Sweet Lew’s BBQ
Belmont Community Association on Facebook
Belmont Community Association on Instagram
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck 
The Localist by Carrie Rollwagen