Mary Hopper Email & Phone Number

When I was hired ten years ago to launch UCP, I was charged with making sure light rail came to Mecklenburg’s northeast corner, increasing University City’s visibility as an economic engine and bringing new business vitality to the area. All that has been achieved: A just-released real estate report indicates that the office submarket that includes University City went from having the city’s highest vacancy rate to leading in office absorption. During the last three bruising years, University City alone has seen over two million square feet of office change hands with over 2500 new jobs added. Despite the nation’s lackluster retail performance, University City continues to build new retail. After turning down at least eight good offers, Wal-Mart finally agree to sell its former site.Despite a few bumps along the way, the Blue Line Extension will be a reality by 2017. CATS has begun preliminary construction, utility work and land acquisition. By temporarily terminating the line on campus, the schedule was accelerated. Analysis by Todd Noell shows that the most extensive transit supportive development will come in University City. I was also recruited to be University City’s champion. The branding and advocacy that was done under my watch played an important role in the changing perceptions University City is enjoying. Armed with exciting development and cheered on by people who care deeply about this area, I became University City’s passionate advocate.

A Charlotte NC based public affairs and public outreach firm

Group had just spun off from Charlotte Chamber; is now a regional visitors authority

Phd, Romance Languages

MA, Spanish - University of Missouri-Columbia BA Spanish - Ga State University Summer Studies, Instituto Tecnologico, Monterrey Mexico.

Georgia State University, Spanish Language And Literature