About Us

Our Mission

Five Points Plaza is an inclusive, welcoming, and vibrant public space that preserves the rich African-American history of the area while creating a sense of place through intentional, diverse programming and events.

Our Team

Five Points Plaza is owned and maintained by the City of Charlotte. It is managed and programmed by the Five Points Plaza Management Team made up of community members and local partners. Thank you to this committed team! If you would like to join, please visit our Volunteer page.

Anne Lambert
Sherri Belfield
Terik Tidwell
Mattie Marshall
J’Tanya Adams
Bill May
Donna Murrell
Cornelius Atkinson
Tori Bell
Tara Bengle
John Bulanda
Greg Pappanastos
Keri Peterson
Laurie Porter
Donnie Simmons

Sidney Smith
Jasmine Corbett-Warren
Hannah Terrell
Donnetta Collier
Antia Dawkins
Melanie Dunston
Amar Johnson
Mary Johnson
Charles Thomas
Tiffanie Turner-Henderson
Megan Wright
Marcia Kirkpatrick
Hope Young
Darnell Ivory

History

The Five Points intersection has long been seen as the gateway into the Historic West End, the mostly African-American northwest part of the city.

Here West Trade Street, the major East-West former trading route and one of the two arteries that form the symbolic center of Charlotte
becomes lined with trees as it leaves uptown. At the Points it meets Beatties Ford Road, another important early road that goes through historic black neighborhoods and cultural centers before winding around old country farmland. Here they both meet Rozzelle’s Ferry Road, another major artery through the West side that runs down to the Thomasboro and Hoskins areas. It was named for the only ferry running on the Catawba River in Mecklenburg County before the Civil War, operated by the Rozzell family. These three major intersections collide here with West Fifth Street and State Street to form the Five Points, the heart of the Historic West End. In a 1919 map of the area, Severs Avenue and Hoskins Avenue formed two of the five points. It is one of the oldest intersections in the county, and is anchored by Johnson C. Smith University and the Mechanics and Farmers’ Bank on opposite sides of Beatties Ford Road. Less than a mile from Uptown, Five Points has always been a commercial hub and a hive of local activity, but in the 1980’s and 1990’s it declined along with the West End itself as businesses sat vacant and crime and drugs became more common.

When the corridor was revitalized in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s it came to life, and today is once again vibrant and active as the epicenter of new development. In an effort to increase connections among residents and support equitable development in Charlotte’s Historic West End, the City of Charlotte invested $6 million in the creation of Five Points Plaza and the Knight Foundation provided $394,200 in funding for programming and management led by the community.

Source: https://www.westendcharlotte.org/african-american-neighborhoodsin-charlotte

Art & Sculpture

EXCELSIOR: Ever Upward & Even Higher

J Stacy Utley + EVOKE Studio Arcitecture

This project weaves community engagement, collaboration, and research to create two public art pieces commissioned by the City of Charlotte for the Historic West End neighborhood. Collectively the Excelsior Collection is named after the Excelsior Club that is a landmark in Charlotte, North Carolina and a staple in the African American Community and Historic West End. Individually the pieces are titled “Ever Upward” and Even Higher” which are the Latin definitions of Excelsior.

“Ever Upward” is a seven-foot abstract form that represents the faith walk that the community has continued. From “the walk UPWARD” that Dorothy Counts made to integrate public schools in Charlotte, “the charge UPWARD” that every student that passes through the arch of Johnson C Smith University takes, “the road UPWARD” that is Trade Street from “uptown” to the highest point which is Biddle Hall and the “the prayers UPWARD” as we continue this journey. It all begins with faith. The four sculptures will be located on W Trade Street just beyond the I-77 overpass.

“Even Higher” is located at the new Five Points Plaza. Inspired by the folding narratives of a quilt, the three panels ranging from 18 to 28 feet tall represent Perseverance, Inspiration, and Icon. Each panel will have a designed perforated panel that is backlit with the images of Dorothy Count Scoggins, Biddle Hall, and the signage for the Excelsior Club.

Branding

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