Scenes of Change

Five More We asked, you answered: here are the five most momentous events in Charlotte during the past five years, according to our online poll: Uptown condo boom takes off LYNX light rail starts running Charlotte Bobcats begin play in new arena Charlotte wins bid to build NASCAR Hall of Fame New SouthPark luxury wing opens Read our 2003 list of thirty-five moments that changed Charlotte

In the fall of 1995—twenty-seven years after its inception—this magazine received a face-lift, brought on by new ownership. The debut issue of the new look marked a pivotal time at not only the magazine, but also in the city's history. Writer Alex Coffin predicted that City Councilman Pat McCrory would be elected mayor, but was less sure about his potential impact: "I just don't see McCrory leaving discernible footprints. I'm more fearful of his council colleagues leaving their footprints on him." A record seven terms later, and our boy Pat is running for governor. Elsewhere, writer M. S. Van Hecke speculated on then First Union's (it's now Wachovia) potential departure from Charlotte (some things never change), and the magazine reported on the future of Independence Boulevard -- the ambitious project that transformed the road into a six-lane freeway.

But more importantly, the magazine captured a moment in time, a snapshot of what was happening in Charlotte right then. And that, thirteen years later, remains the mission -- to show readers just how interesting our city really is.