PlaceCLT Foundation
About Us
PlaceCLT Foundation preserves and creates the places that define Charlotte’s identity, character, and charm.
We support placemaking, cultural heritage, preservation, storytelling, and urban design initiatives that connect residents to the spaces and stories that matter most.
Through public, private, and community investment, PlaceCLT helps bring people together around the places they love while supporting projects that make Charlotte more meaningful, memorable, and connected.
Our work is rooted in a simple belief: great cities are not only built through growth, but through care, creativity, history, and belonging.
PlaceCLT Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation is a separate legal entity from the City of Charlotte, governed by its own Board of Directors, and is not a department or agency of the City.
Mission
PlaceCLT Foundation preserves and creates the places that define Charlotte’s identity, character, and charm—connecting people to the stories, spaces, and cultural heritage that make our city meaningful.
Our Story
Charlotte is growing fast — but growth alone doesn’t create a sense of place.
The city has strong systems to manage development and protect designated historic places. But there's a gap: there are few tools focused on preserving culture, stories, and community identity beyond what is formally regulated.
As a result, stories go untold, legacy places disappear, and neighborhood identity isn’t always reflected in how Charlotte evolves. PlaceCLT Foundation was created to fill that gap.
We ensure that as Charlotte grows, it does so with intention — investing in the places, stories, and character that define the city. Because the places we love don’t happen by accident — they are shaped and sustained over time.
Leadership
Board Members
Rachel Krenz
Chair
Kim Parati
Vice Chair
Cathy Morrison, FAIA
Treasurer
Makayla Binter
Secretary
Melissa Nemec
Founding Member
Erin Chantry, AICP, CNU-A, LEED AP ND
Founding Member
Kristi Harpst, AICP
Founding Member
Will Linville, AICP, CNU-A
Founding Member
Monica Holmes, AICP, CNU-A
Founding Member
Founding Partners
PlaceCLT’s founding partners made leadership-level investments to establish the organization and advance its vision for Charlotte. Their early commitment created a strong foundation for our work and helped make PlaceCLT possible.
Founding Supporters
PlaceCLT’s founding supporters provided essential financial and in-kind contributions during the organization’s earliest stages. Their generosity, expertise, and belief in our mission helped prepare PlaceCLT for launch and build momentum for the work ahead.
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