Interesting...

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/13958760.htm

The building, which also will house a Wake Forest University business school, will be no shorter than 40 stories, but could be a story or two higher than 45, Bertges said. It won't have a drab "back door" because cars and trucks will enter the parking garage through entrances on College and Stonewall streets and then travel the connecting tunnel under Tryon Street.

The architecture will be "exciting," Bertges said, although he wouldn't reveal the design. Wachovia plans to use environmental friendly "green" technology that saves energy and conserves water. The bank expects minority contractors to do 20 percent of the work.

Does anyone think the new Wachovia Tower will eventually be where the headquarters end up? For some reason I really do hope this tower passes the Hearst Tower in height.

having the parking enter from The Green/Three Wachovia will be amazing. i really think that will be one of the coolest things about this tower. no new parking garage entrances. just a lot of good space that is open to the street and the area around the tower.

also, the bloom concept of Food Lion seems rather cool. i like it a lot better than the old Food Lion. To get another full service grocery store (and so close to Harris Tetter) just shows that we have a booming Uptown population. that's going to be really cool.

The architecture will be "exciting," Bertges said,
Yes!!!! That's what I want to hear.

also, the bloom concept of Food Lion seems rather cool. i like it a lot better than the old Food Lion. To get another full service grocery store (and so close to Harris Tetter) just shows that we have a booming Uptown population. that's going to be really cool.

Same here. Bloom is a much better fit for an urban environment. It's designed around speed and efficiency, with a lot of technological upgrades over most other chains. It would do very well on that side of uptown, where there are a lot of condos coming up but no grocery stores within easy walking range.

Did I miss something, has bloom announced they are opening a downtown Charlotte store?

it was a 'rumor' i believe.
have you heard different?

I hadn't heard that rumor at all.

rumor has it that i'll be moving to charlotte this summer...for good

Well here is something that is not a rumor: Nordstroms will open an uptown Charlotte store! the catch is that it is just a temporary deal for the CIAA Tournement this week...but nice none the less. so for this week only Charlotte will have 2 downtown "department stores"

There's only two Blooms locations I know of in Charlotte and both are in the University City area, very suburban feeling, however I do feel like it would work in Uptown.

I posted the Bloom note.....I have been told by two separate parties that Food Lion is VERY interested in opening a W. Trade St. store as SOON as possible. I have also been told that this site is one of their preferred sites, but the developer was requesting they do the Bloom format (no Food Dog). This was all about 3 months ago, but I doubt Food Lion's desire for the location has changed.

After looking at the site plan, it seems to be laid out very conducive to a urban grocery store, and that would account for having 3 loading docks. I was simply speculating though that the Bloom deal is a definite, but that's what I would put my money on.

Well in that case a bloom at the polk building site makes sense. I hope to get more info at this afternoon's meeting.

What else will be included in the project? (the whole site)

residential, retail and maybe some office.

umm uptownliving, are you positive that Nordstrom is opening a temporary uptown store. i have never heard that, then again i have fallenbehind in the news lately. that would be great even though it is temporary. anyways does anyone know about the Hermes issue. Can someone confirm its prescence here in Charlotte?

Yeah, positive about the Nordstrom; it talks about it in this weeks business journal.

Yeah, positive about the Nordstrom; it talks about it in this weeks business journal.

Yep and this is the first time that Nordstrom has done something like this in its 100 year history. Charlotte is really going all out for the CIAA.

Well in that case a bloom at the polk building site makes sense. I hope to get more info at this afternoon's meeting.

Well city council didn't discuss the Polk site this evening. They were locked up (literally the doors were locked) in a closed session hammering out the NASCAR HoF details.

In other news the City Council voted unamimously to add the pedestrian bridge over 277 back to the South LRT project. They will be using the SCIP funds to pay for it.

atlvr I know you will be happy happy happy with that decision.

i'd never heard of that, is that bridge in leiu of the tunnel park, or is that still floating around somewhere? It seems like it'll never happen but that's like the only BIG idea I've really every heard as far as dramatically changing uptown. a ped bridge is great (e.g. chattavegas) but the park would be amazing.

wachovia's new tower breaks ground tomorrow. i'm sorry but 40-45 sound a little bit stubby to me. guess i'm spoiled

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/13976260.htm

Well city council didn't discuss the Polk site this evening. They were locked up (literally the doors were locked) in a closed session hammering out the NASCAR HoF details.



Well it ends up Council did discuss the Polk site just before they went BACK into closed session to work on the NASCAR HoF deal.

So here is the deal:
The city council will vote in March if they want to sell the 0.9 acres to Trinity for $3.1M. The deal will not close till Trinity's financing is complete on this $85M project that will take up the whole block and be composed of a 400 unit residential building, 30,000 + sq ft of retail and a parking deck. Phase 2 of this project would build an office tower that would front 5th St.

They did show a rendering and it looked nice. Its basically a 10 story modern looking box with some nice features. You can see the rendering when they replay the City Council meeting on TV16...its at the very end of the meeting.

wachovia's new tower breaks ground tomorrow. i'm sorry but 40-45 sound a little bit stubby to me. guess i'm spoiled

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/13976260.htm

Yes we are spoiled in Charlotte with tall skyscrapers.

The latest official word from Wachovia is that it could go a few stories over 45...but its still a work in progress and we won't know till the arts deal is finalized.

If this were Raleigh and they were getting a 45 story office tower downtown they would be doing back flips....but over here in the CLT its 2nd page Local section news.

Hooray for the pedestrian bridge......finally the council is seeing things my way....

The new Wachovia Tower should be 55 stories minimum. Wachovia needs to make a statement on South Tryon. When you look at the BOA projects on or near Trade it's amazing to see the difference. Twelve, The Vue, Ritz-Carlton, 210.

Come on Wachovia. Just a couple more floors. The new Wachovia building will barely be top 5 in the Charlotte skyline. Remember the BOA still has the North Tryon at East Seventh project that will be upward of 40 stories.

Maybe we should hold a Prayer Circle at the Square to Pray that God will direct the executives at Wachovia to go taller so that they can be a little closer to His Greatness.

Matthew will be presiding over the ceremony.

:)

Good one :)

I'd just like to see it. I'll be fine with whatever they build. I just want it to be a little taller. I'm spoiled I know :)

edit posted twice

45 isn't stubby, plus I think i'll be 52, and keep in mind ya'll, the tallest building in atlanta is 55 stories and well over 871 ft tall, if we indeed make this building unique like they are calling for, maybe it'll have an ornamental top or something, thats what I'm calling for, it won't be quite as tall as BofA Corp but it'll be pretty damn close.

I just hope it looks nice...please not another 3 Wachovia.

3 wachovia isnt as bad as 2 wachovia or the former wachovia hq [400 south tryon]. i have a feeling they are going to go for it. look to chicago, atlanta, and the other cities. builders are going all out with the top of their building's to get the height in there. i hope we can see that.

also, the news about nords. is amazing! CIAA will kick some major ass.

I wonder how sales at that temporary Nordstroms has gone so far? I hope that they get such an impressive showing that all of those big name retailers will take notice and decide to take a chance on uptown ASAP. Just like that Street of Champions for the Final Four back in '94 kickstarted the nightlife uptown, this is what I see happening here. This could be the start of a trend! :)

I'm wondering with the Nascar HOF coming. Will that push Twelve and the Loft up a couple of stories? Does that open the uptown hotel market up a little more?

,most likely will boost the hotel market

what is this about a temp nordstorms??

Eastland Community Transit Center is U/C March 3rd. It is located in the vacant parking lot across the street from Belk Department Store.

http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/esx6guefnc4hpzgzufkh262x7cchya5mr5bf37z3yoclwby7sac3ed6vuly3lx4k2ceegwiakx3jh5xoljd3m5cioae/eastlandctc.jpg

Eastland Community Transit Center is a neighborhood-sized transit center to be located at Eastland Mall along Central Avenue. The facility will cover approximately 1.5 acres and will include an open-air plaza, covered passenger waiting areas, pedestrian pathways and bicycle parking.

Features
Will accommodate 8-10 small and regular-sized buses linking the center with uptown and other neighborhood destinations
Providing a safe and comfortable facility to use and transfer on CATS routes 9, 40X, 220, and 222
Includes comfortable, well-lit passenger waiting areas, seating and passenger shelters
The facility will include a small building housing a driver comfort station, provisions for on-site surveillance and security, and up-to-date passenger information
On-site surveillance at all times during transit service hours
Will provide pedestrian connection between the community transit center and Eastland Mall


http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/e6g3axh7lfi6rw32mgkwxckhwi5ppkdz6ssi7caqlclfd524kfr24yzc433qltoqsdvd6ovdsvxm7enm7liaolqyvpe/eastlanddrawing.jpg

@ THE4111 - probably not. those came a little out of NASCAR coming. however, they play to a totally different crowd than the HOF will draw to.

The NASCAR peeps will definately help...for example when we have our races all the downtown hotels are booked up...so the NASCAR peeps are paying those $100-$300 a night rates to stay in Charlotte for the race.

so wow, don't post anything on UP today against the views of Metroboi, because he seems to be pretty pissed off lately, I dunno what happened, but he's been closing topics and deleting posts like crazy, not to mention some other things. Hail the almighty metro, he's not even one of the original admins he was appointed as such apparently you can find his first post, it was like in 2005 or 2004, god I hate that guy, anyways back to Nascar hall of fame

The usual demographic of the nascar fan is not the one that stays at high class hotels, not the kind that shops at nordstroms and certainly not the kind that spurs the kind of developement that we want in downtown. How do you people feel about this?? I mean I know there are a lot of richer upper class nascar fans, my last gfs parents are an example, but when you think nascar you don't think as such, so what kind of development is this gonna bring to our city. Do we think its going to be large chain hotels, and large chain restaurants, or are we gonna get a W hotel and a I dunno cheese cake factory, or are we gonna get a Best Western and an AppleBees, or a TGIFridays (which I wouldn't mind by the way, the only location in clt closed)

I think more middle of the road that that...Sheraton and maybe an actual Harpers (not one of their niche restaurants)....though I second the motion for TGIFridays.....the one at Univ. City is thankfully still around, much to my wifes dismay. It's odd, they have tons of urban locations in Manhattan, including one one-block from Madison Square Garden.

I don't mind a few chain restaurants. Typically suburbanites are more comfortable eating at these places, so it would be likely to keep them Uptown longer, and take more of their filthy suburban money.

Well we already have a Best Western...but if you look at the actual demographics of NASCAR fans vs. the stereotypes you will see that they have money to spend.

NASCAR has executive offices in 1 Wachovia and I personally know about 12 or so people either in NASCAR or realted industires that live downtown in condos.

Their fans have money and are willing to spend it if they think its worth it.

but a lot of times it seems that stereotypes can easily lead development in the wrong direction. For instance, i have been attending Savannah College of Art and Design for coming on 4 years now and Martin Luther King Blvd, has many unneccessary negative conotations, and stereotypes and because of this development is practically at a halt, yet down the street on congress and whitaker 2 blocks away there are talks of a W hotel going up.
I'm just worried about people getting the wrong idea, althought now that I think about every person I've ever known who attends the race weekends seem to go all out. I think its a great thing for our wonderful city of charlotte, and if we get it, which I'm starting to worry about a lot, then its nothing but a plus, more money towards our economy which is never a negative, and a couple hundred thousand people more visiting the city a year, thats a killer plan, and I can't do anything but be happy for us. Charlotte is where I wanna end up living, I've lived there my whole life, well except these 3-4 years in savannah, and I'm excited about the posibilities.

Actually, a few lower-end restaurants uptown wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. As long as they don't take over the place, there's room for an Applebee's, TGIF or even a McDonald's in the area of the arena or football stadium to serve a lower-income crowd. Not everyone wants to spend $20 a head on food (before drinks) every time they go uptown. I think cheap eats are going to be one of the next steps toward having a fully-rounded downtown area.

i honestly dont care if their sterotype brings development. if it brings their chain places to Uptown and they eat there, that's great. sooner or later they will go 'hey, i wonder what that's all about' and try another place. it has to start somewhere with people. not all nascar people are poo.

also, i think we've gotten over the bad vibe from the NASCAR folk when they bring 300,000 people to uptown for Speed Street. you can't beat that. also, have you seen the architecture of the HOF? that thing is stunning!

as far as the crowd without money - that's all the teens. places like Fuel, McDonalds, and all those places where we can eat for cheap are amazing. all my friends and i go uptown, to central, or east blvd for Fuel.

Being an Indy forumer, I can say, do not discount what the race dollar will do for your city. Indy hosts 3 huge races in 3 different formats. Certainly, you can tell "differences" in the crowds, but they all come with one important thing...MONEY. Yes, the F1 crowd wants to stay at the Conrad, eat at Dunaway's, and shop at Nordies and Saks, but NASCAR is right up there. Indy's downtown owes a lot of its success to the 3 races held here.

Actually, a few lower-end restaurants uptown wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. As long as they don't take over the place, there's room for an Applebee's, TGIF or even a McDonald's in the area of the arena or football stadium to serve a lower-income crowd. Not everyone wants to spend $20 a head on food (before drinks) every time they go uptown. I think cheap eats are going to be one of the next steps toward having a fully-rounded downtown area.

Done. Later this year a Baskin Robbins, Dunkin Doughtnuts, Matt's Chicago Dog, and Red's BBQ will open on Trade St at the Arena.

Oh...and I guess you didn't know about the Burger King that has been on Trade St for 10 years now...its still there.

And coming across the street from the Arena will be 7 of the Raving Brands concepts: Mama Fu's, Moe's Southwest Grille, etc. etc.

There are plenty of places you can get cheap eats already downtown...too many to list here.

that's kinda a lame location for what essentially sounds like another park towne village. I was hoping there would be some old brick bars. There is an old two story office bldg. right across the street that would've been cool. I guess the breakfast clubs days are numbered, too, not that i've ever been.

BTW last night I went to a shmoozing thing at discovery place and the whole museum was open to walk around in and drink free booze. The dead sea scroll exhibit is amazing! I highly recommend it but I hear it's expensive.

There are plenty of places you can get cheap eats already downtown...too many to list here.

most are closed for the dinner crowd though.

most are closed for the dinner crowd though.

some are.

here are a few of the cheap eats that are open for dinner:

fuel pizza
jolinas
matts chicago dog
uno's
reids
tin tin
bojangles
grand central
ceder st tavern
burger king
etc etc

Matt's Chicago Dog has been a good addition to uptown.

The other cheaper restaurants -- BK, Chik-fil-a, Showmars -- are mostly hidden in office buildings and not prominent to the street. They're aimed mostly at the office lunch crowd, not nighttime partiers.

Pita Pit is also open til 3 am or so now, nothing like a late night drunken pita sandwich. Pretty much all of the bar places uptown serve their full dinner menu until 11pm or so, then they usually swich to a bar and appitizer only deal. RiRa, Phils, and others are reasonable, Rock Bottom Brewery is also relatively cheap. True though, most of the fast food joints close after the daytime crowd leaves, but you can still eat for under ten bucks at lots of places Uptown. However, for the under 21 crowd it could be more difficult on the weekends seeing as how places may still be serving full menues but the kiddies can't get past the door.

Matt's Chicago Dog has been a good addition to uptown.

The other cheaper restaurants -- BK, Chik-fil-a, Showmars -- are mostly hidden in office buildings and not prominent to the street. They're aimed mostly at the office lunch crowd, not nighttime partiers.

BK is right on Trade St at ground level with an entrance from Trade St....its been that way for 10 years.

Chik-Fil-A is not open for dinners or on the weekends
There is a Showmars on 3rd St that is on ground level and fronts the street.

I agree a lot of the cheap eats are aimed at the uptown lunch crowd but more and more restarants have opened to cater to the residents and visitors to uptown that are not there for lunch.

I had lunch at Matt's Chicago Dog today and loved sitting outside and watching all the CIAA people. BTW...that cute guy behind the counter with the dark hair is Matt...the guy that owns the place.

there is a rendering of the trade street development in the charlotte bizjournal.

http://img.bizjournals.com/u/f/charlotte/20060306/coverimage.jpg

yesterday here in Indy they showed the renderings for the new NASCAR HOF. One thing that I noticed was a skyscraper in the rendering that appeared taller or as tall as BOA and had a design like something that currently is not in the skyline. Could a forumer tell me what this is?

THANKS.

Well...there is this thing called perspective.

The NASCAR office tower will be about 15 stories tall...but from the rendering...because you are closer to the 15 story tower and the BofA tower is in the background...then it appears the 15 story tower is taller...when in reality its not.

It will be designed by IM Pei...just like the NASCAR HoF....my guess is that it will not be designed to stand out...so that it won't detract from the HoF.

i think he means epicentre or something behind the HOF

are you talking about wachovia one's unusual side perspective? that's the best angle for that one

The building in the shot had cubes cut out at the top (that appeared recessed from each other) and looked very similar to another tall in some other city (I can't of the city though).

Does this help?

hmm not really...if you can find the pic that would be helpful.

I suck. I will see what I can locate.

http://i.a.cnn.net/nascar/2006/news/headlines/cup/03/06/hof_charlotte/hof_384.jpg

Here is the pic they showed here in Indy.

so which building are you talking about?

I think he's talking about Wachovia One, which doesn't appear to be itself because of the angle.

The building in the shot had cubes cut out at the top (that appeared recessed from each other) and looked very similar to another tall in some other city (I can't of the city though).

Does this help?
Sounds like One Wachovia. There is a hotel in Chicago that looks just like it. Betcha that's what you're thinking of.

Chicago's City Place:
http://www.omnihotels.com/upload/images/hotels/chidtn/property_photos/408/chidtn-pro-1.jpg
40 floors, 470 ft in height

Charlotte's One Wachovia:
http://www.angelfire.com/nc3/experience-charlotte/images/1wachovia.jpg
42 floors, 588 ft in height

BofA has started on its $1.5M remodel of its main Charlotte Branch on the 1st floor of the BofA Plaza building at the Square. This is another example of keeping up with the Jones' since Wachovia is spending a couple million to open up a new expanded main branch in their renovated Main building as well as remodel the Atrium and outdoor plaza.

An update on construction around Uptown... several projects starting to go vertical and a couple in their final stages.

We'll start with the most-finished project: Courtside is basically done and awaiting residents. From this angle it looks great, too bad the backside is so fugly.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/FinishedCourtside.jpg

Renovation is moving along nicely on 210 S. Tryon, which a couple of months ago was only a gutted shell of a building. It's looking less like a former office every day.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/210STryon.jpg

We have liftoff on TradeMark, which is now at 4 stories and rising quite rapidly. This building is going to be a really, really nice addition to W. Trade St., and eventually a big part of connecting Gateway Village to the rest of the CBD.

(sorry for the crappy photo)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/4floorsofTrademark.jpg

Avenue is now also moving upward. Enjoy that view of IJL, you may never see it again.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/2floorsofAvenue.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/Avenuecrane.jpg

Epicenter is starting to take shape also. This photo shows a new wall (retaining wall?) that's been built on the Transit Center side of the "big hole". The second pic includes a view of the first vertical development on the project... some kind of support structure.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/Epicenterwall.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/Epicentersite.jpg

Not really sure what this is... it's across from the arena and may just be utility work.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/Constacrossfromarena.jpg

Maybe the most exciting development of all: Trolley tracks being laid aside to make way for the new light rail development! This is one of the first tangible signs of LR progress in Uptown.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/PrepforLR1.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/PrepforLR2.jpg

Thanks for the photos justadude.

I agree that Courtside only has about one good way to look at it...and thats from the front. At least Court6 is on the back side and it will look nice from street level on Davidson St.

This pic shows land next to the Arena that the city is using as storage for LRT construction supplies. Once the LRT is complete next year the city will sell it to the highest bidder for a mixed use project.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/Constacrossfromarena.jpg

Those photos are great, thanks for keeping up with the progress being made, Justadude. I tell you, Courtside looks like something you would see in Myrtle Beach, though!

I loved the renderings of courtside but it just doesn't look that good now that it's realized. A little overdone I think.

^you will come down too soon!

thanks justadude those are sweet. i wonder if someone can tell me the name of the old building to the left of 210 s. tryon in the photo, i was just wondering the other day. no matter. i'm also jaded about courtside, the whole thing is fugly, maybe other highrise condos around it would go a long way

the old building [brick] next to 210 tryon (haha, now we have 210 trade) is called Midtown Plaza. it has a wonderful interior and great exterior decorating.

thanks!

Great photos - I am glad someone posted some. I work in Myer's Park and live in Piper Glen but tend to be so busy, I rarely if ever get to Uptown to view the progress. I agree Courtside does not live up to the Hype.

Courtside does look a little beachy, doesn't it? I don't think it's a total disaster, though its reception has definitely been lukewarm. It's more impressive in person, since it towers over the adjacent surface lots. I hadn't really thought about the possibility that the back side would be blocked by another building; maybe that explains the halfassed southside design.

One thing worth noting is that Courtside is now the left-most piece of the skyline when approaching Uptwon from N. Tryon.

wow...that is One Wachovia. It looks like a completely different tower.

THANKS! BTW, I stayed at Chicago's City Centre, which is the Omni Hotel.

Maybe I am alone on this, but I prefer the finished Courtside to the rendering - and I truly loved the rendering, too. What a great building :okay: Thanks for the nice construction update photos. Uptown must be a very exciting place for us, forumers, to wander around these days. I will most definitely visit once the Trademark, the Avenue and the Epicenter gain a little more height and take a few photos, myself ;)

the old building [brick] next to 210 tryon (haha, now we have 210 trade) is called Midtown Plaza.

looks like our whole queens and queens, sharon and sharon motif is working its way into downtown

I personally think Courtside looks relatively decent as well.

Does anyone know if 210 trade is under construction? I know the site is active, but is there any foundation work going for 210 trade??

the old building [brick] next to 210 tryon (haha, now we have 210 trade) is called Midtown Plaza. it has a wonderful interior and great exterior decorating.

The old brick building next to 210 Tryon was built in 1924 as the Johnston Building and is known today as the First Charter Building.
http://www.cmhpf.org/surveys&rjohnston.htm

The condo building is 230 S Tryon....210 S Tryon doesn't exist.

The building with McCormick and Schmicks Seafood is 200 S Tryon
The Johnston Building is 212 S Tryon
and the condo building under construction is 230 S Tryon.
http://www.230southtryon.com

Does anyone know if 210 trade is under construction? I know the site is active, but is there any foundation work going for 210 trade??

Yes and no.

The work going on right now is for the retail buildings foundations. 210 Trade will be built on top of the retail so its not possible to start on the condo tower till the retail portion is complete. That is the no part.

Here is the yes part...the 5 story retail that is being built now is going to be strong enough to support a 53+ story condo tower on top of it....so technically yes the foundation work for 210 Trade is under way.

That all said the condo sales center is under construction and should be open by this summer. Construction on the actual condo tower likely won't begin till late this year.

^sorry to ask again, but by chance do you know if the foundation work began in 2005 or 2006??

I am still trying to find out if 210 Trade is even a done deal. Usually it depends on a percentage of the sales of the units before a job can be started but I wonder if that is the case for this project. Some projects, depening on the developer do not work like this. Anyone know if this is the case?

I am still trying to find out if 210 Trade is even a done deal. Usually it depends on a percentage of the sales of the units before a job can be started but I wonder if that is the case for this project. Some projects, depening on the developer do not work like this. Anyone know if this is the case?

In my opinion projects are not a done deal till you see construction start. Construction on the actual condo tower has not begun, neither have presales. So in my opinion 210 Trade is not a done deal....however the retail and aloft hotel are done deals.

Here is a new rendering for the Midtown Target/EXPO stacked stores that will go at the corner of Kings and Independence. They are under construction now and should open sometime in 2007.

http://www.cpwadv.com/pr/target.jpg

are there any more renderings of this area?

Yep

Yeah...you can find more renderings in the Rezoning from last year:
http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/emazwa6bivgfafg2vtyvcihc7omyysm33pxmjoehadnod2u4gh7r4dfkpt3wz7yetxhbnwqsy5l6v7iu2h32j6cht2h/2005-060_approved+site+plan.pdf

Here are further updates from in and around uptown. Most of these were snapped in a second for informative purposes, so don't expect anything too artsy. This includes some stuff I missed on the last post.

This is a side-by-side of the Trademark site and Carillon, for comparison. They're partially done with the 7th floor of Trademark as of 3/27... and moving very quickly upward.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/Trademarkvs.jpg

Two stationary cranes are now up over the Epicentre site. For the first time, we're starting to really see the footprint of the structures (you can just barely see it in the second pic, but there's no way to get a good angle to shoot at that site. You'll just have to go there and see for yourself).

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/EpicentreCranes.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/FootprintofEpicentre.jpg

This is the site of the new Third Ward Park.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/13rdWardPark.jpg

A different side of the new park.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/23rdWardPark.jpg

One of the weirdest sights in uptown. Three guesses what this was before they planted the grass.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/33rdWardPark.jpg

Carolinas Medical Center is adding a new children's wing. The University branch is adding a women's center of similar scale.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/HospitalConstruction.jpg

A new building coming up on Morehead St. at the edge of Dilworth.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/1DilworthConstruction.jpg

Less than a block away...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/2DilworthConstruction.jpg

Following is a series of pics of the Midtown Plaza demolition and re-construction. I would need a pano to get the whole site into one pic.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/1MidtownConstruction.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/3MidtownConstruction.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/4MidtownConstruction.jpg

Note that you can clearly see the finished tower of the new county courthouse in the background (I think they're still a year or two away from finishing the interior).

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/2MidtownConstruction.jpg

These massive mounds of mud are enough to make you look twice.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/5MidtownConstruction.jpg

These are some pics of the new statue in front of CPCC's newly contsructed theater building. It reminds me of the detailing on the cathedral of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/1CPCCStatue.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/2CPCCStatue.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/3CPCCStatue.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b330/bruinsbuddy42/4CPCCStatue.jpg

Thanks for the pics...my new camera should be here any minute now...maybe I will get some pics late this afternoon or evening.

Check this out...the Wachovia project is now $800 million dollars??? Wow..I say something is up!!!

http://www.charlottecentercity.org/files/Documents/062905_206_0066764.pdf?CFID=703031&CFTOKEN=71388257

Check this out...the Wachovia project is now $800 million dollars??? Wow..I say something is up!!!

http://www.charlottecentercity.org/files/Documents/062905_206_0066764.pdf?CFID=703031&CFTOKEN=71388257
I think this thing will eventually be at 55+ stories! Also, I read on UP that according to charlotte.com, Novare has purchased the Power Building site and will possibly build 3 high rise towers on that site, has anyone read that?

I think this thing will eventually be at 55+ stories! Also, I read on UP that according to charlotte.com, Novare has purchased the Power Building site and will possibly build 3 high rise towers on that site, has anyone read that?
Man you guys and Nashville are getting all the great projects. Atlanta would look great with a new supertall. We got the number and height but a 1,500 footer would look great sticking up between Peachtree Plaza and BOA. Signature Nashville is said to be (by somebody's version of a reliable source) 70 floors now which will push it at or above 1,000 feet tall. And I have no doubts if Wachovia has an 800 million budget, it will close in on that or more.

Got my new camera today...just a sneek peak of whats to come....
http://home.carolina.rr.com/willhaden/images/1stphoto.jpg

I think this thing will eventually be at 55+ stories! Also, I read on UP that according to charlotte.com, Novare has purchased the Power Building site and will possibly build 3 high rise towers on that site, has anyone read that?

I read it on charlotte.com and the business journal site as well. That pretty much confirms it. I was really surprised they plan to put 3 towers on that one block...but you know what...bring it on!

Check this out...the Wachovia project is now $800 million dollars??? Wow..I say something is up!!!

http://www.charlottecentercity.org/files/Documents/062905_206_0066764.pdf?CFID=703031&CFTOKEN=71388257

Personally I am not too excited over that figure...First of all its not from an official source...that is not a number coming from Wachovia. 2nd of all the price of steel and concrete goes up and up...so $800M doesn't buy today what it used to buy...and 3rd...you have to take out at least $300M for the condo tower and the arts projects....that leaves you with about $500M for the office tower...which at todays prices that just about covers you for a 45-50 story tower with a nice crown on top.

Last night the Charlotte City Council voted in favor of going ahead and starting construction on the City Center Streetcar project along Elizabeth Ave from Kings Dr to Hawthorne St. The city was planning on doing streetscape improvements anyways and so they thought it made sense to go ahead and install embedded rails in the street while they are doing all the construction. Interestingly enough CPCC and Grubb Properties paid for 2/3 of the cost of this project.

So this summer the city will:
-Bury all utlilities along Elizabeth Ave (bye bye telephone poles)
-Install embedded rail lines in the road to be used by the future Streetcar.
-Put in the stained concrete made to look like brick crosswalks at the main intersections along Elizabeth.

In related news Grubb plans to tear down the Burger King this summer and start construction on the Whole Foods and Movie Theatre building.
http://www.grubbproperties.com/images/prop/28/gallery/Elizabeth_Avenue_Vision-104018765.jpg

In some sad news, the Gateway Train Station has been put on hold. CATS decided that it will not make the Gateway Station its new HQ. Instead it will consolidate its staff in the Cameron Brown building. This decision will likely delay construction of the Gateway Train Station to the 2009/2010 timeframe :(

http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/e7icy4jhih2mmsdc7lirob3kdnmf43xsljgfudrcysdlk2denzu33yxztp4g655rr2hpesjjgzjivurmaunbtmtjjpc/gatewaystationimage.jpg

CATS would like to eventually move all its employees to the Gateway Station...but the numbers just don't work out right now.

So, one piece of good news and one piece of bad news today.

I love that rendering of Elizabeth Ave. With just a bit of infill, that will be one of the most walkable, interesting neighborhoods in the city. And having it also serviced by the BRT line, it will probably see a lot of additional condo and apartment development as well.

So, one piece of good news and one piece of bad news today.

I love that rendering of Elizabeth Ave. With just a bit of infill, that will be one of the most walkable, interesting neighborhoods in the city. And having it also serviced by the BRT line, it will probably see a lot of additional condo and apartment development as well.
I'm loving those renderings as well. I agree, Elizabeth will look nice after it's all said and done!

In related news Grubb plans to tear down the Burger King this summer and start construction on the Whole Foods and Movie Theatre building.


I thought that after the buyout of Eastern Federal by Regal the folks at Regal decided not to pursue a theatre at this site. Does Grubb have a theatre operator for this space?

Awesome projects going on! :)

I thought that after the buyout of Eastern Federal by Regal the folks at Regal decided not to pursue a theatre at this site. Does Grubb have a theatre operator for this space?

I have read that speculation as well, but Grubb still says he is putting a movie theatre there. Not sure of the operator.

In some sad news, the Gateway Train Station has been put on hold. CATS decided that it will not make the Gateway Station its new HQ. Instead it will consolidate its staff in the Cameron Brown building. This decision will likely delay construction of the Gateway Train Station to the 2009/2010 timeframe :(

http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/e7icy4jhih2mmsdc7lirob3kdnmf43xsljgfudrcysdlk2denzu33yxztp4g655rr2hpesjjgzjivurmaunbtmtjjpc/gatewaystationimage.jpg

CATS would like to eventually move all its employees to the Gateway Station...but the numbers just don't work out right now.
That is a bummer! As long as it's eventually built I'd be okay with this setback. I can wait another 3 or 4 years! Hopefully, they will be able to have their consolidted offices at the Gateway Station as well once it's built.

I have read that speculation as well, but Grubb still says he is putting a movie theatre there. Not sure of the operator.

We'll the new Ballantyne Theatre is actually owned by the developer and operated by Consolidated so I guess Grubb could actually own the theatre themselves if they want to.

Piedmont Town Centre
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/Wlangston1/Condos/piedmont%20Village/03-09-06-14.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/Wlangston1/Condos/piedmont%20Village/03-09-06-2.jpg

Village at South Park
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/Wlangston1/Condos/Village%20at%20SP/03-27-06-1.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/Wlangston1/Condos/Village%20at%20SP/03-27-06-2.jpg
Rosewood Condos
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/Wlangston1/Condos/Rosewood/P1011677.jpg
Morrision Place
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/Wlangston1/Morrision%20Place/P1011769.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b287/Wlangston1/Morrision%20Place/P1011766.jpg

nice. i didn't know SP village was that far along. i haven't even been on providence since rosewood was built either (i'm assuming that's those) but i get the idea they're pretty obtrusive, esp. considering how unassuming that corner always was. their angle just throws me off

very interesting to see that Charlotte has started a development boom. It seems to have some very interesting projects underway.

FYI:

Indianapolis is planning its light rail system and I am one of the committee members. The week of the April 10 there will be a small "delegation" coming up from Charlotte to give us a presentation about your new system. Indy is planning a locally-funded, 80-mile system with a 6-year build-out. This spring our Mayor will begin the lobbying process and hopefully during the next general assembly this will pass. The tough sell though is that our State is run by the republican's and the city by the dems and they try to make life as difficult as possible for us Indianapolis residents.

The info you all share here has been helpful for me as I have passed along all of the info concerning the transit-oriented devgelopment taking place in Charlotte.

cwilson, those plans sound very aggresive. Does Indy have a huge pot of gold they are sitting on that is going to fund your new rail system?

Fight the good fight. We haven't even completed a line yet, but the development of the city is already getting "smarter" as a result of the rail line. Hope things work out for Indy, as it's another Charlotte-like city that really needs rail at this juncture.

cwilson, those plans sound very aggresive. Does Indy have a huge pot of gold they are sitting on that is going to fund your new rail system?


:)

NO! There will be a regional tax of some sort that will be created to do this. We are also hoping to be "reimbursed" by the Feds for some of it. Charlotte is lucky because you all got funding in place prior to 9/11 and the war. Since that time, the president has made it extremely difficult for cities to get an entirely new system funded. Most of the money that the feds had ear-marked for such development is now being funnled into homeland security projects/rubbish. The process has intentionally been made to drag-on for years and years. The problem with Indy is that we can't wait that long. Even though we aren't growing at the double-digits rates that Charlotte is, we are the 2nd-fastest growing large metro in the midwest at about 8%. Two of the suburban counties are in the top 20 fastest growing in the Country and our infrastructure won't be able to sustain that growth much longer.

Justadude- I ALWAYS use Charlotte as an example of high-quailty, transit-oriented development. I have often stated that since you all began construction of the system, transit development has exploded and you all aren't even operational yet!

I will let you all know how the meeting goes...

cwilson...good luck on getting that regional tax passed...you should focus all your efforts on getting that regional tax, cause w/o it all the rail plans for Indy will be worthless....no local money means no rail.
With regards to Charlotte's funding...we passed a 1/2 cent local sales tax back in 1998....but the Federal funding for our first project was not approved till last year. Also the Bush administration has not cut the FTA budget...it has increased every year...instead what has happened is that there are a lot more communities competing for the same pot of money.

Is there a website about Indy's mass transit plans? I would like to learn more.

Uptown-

Yeah, that is what they tell us...that Bush has increased the funding for these things, but made the process so damn difficult now! We have been told that they have intentionally added more "steps" to prevent communities from getting to it...
I was speakig to one of our MPO guys and he is the one that mentioned the money going to homeland sceurity.