Charlotte Skyline 2011 - 2012

[QueenCityMan]

Yes, I watch Lawrence O'Donnel, but not as attentively this week. Interesting, thanks for the heads up on that. Good for the Queen City.

[StuckInASuburb]

wow, this is a great thread!

[desertpunk]

http://metroscenes.com/cities/charlo...e-spring-2011/

[StuckInASuburb]

^Thanks man!

[GunnerJacket]

I'm really glad that Charlotte's leaders and developers learned early on from Atlanta's mistakes and are trying to grow more organically with their urban form. Better balance of density and concentration of activity centers than metro Atlanta showed in the 70's and 80's. By putting in the right quality-of-life features now and managing transit properly, Charlotte should advance as a truly urban city over the next 20 years. I always enjoy my visits, there.

[alheaine]

Originally Posted by AlmaPinnix

Credit:InitialD

wow..nice skyline.. how tall is that modern art deco skyscraper?the tallest building on the pic..

[Dale]

Charlotte's skyline has made spectacular strides in the last couple of decades. It's one of my favorites. I am saddened though by the way that Charlotte just savaged its historic stock in the process

[desertpunk]

Originally Posted by alheaine

wow..nice skyline.. how tall is that modern art deco skyscraper?the tallest building on the pic..

That one is 871 ft tall.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by GunnerJacket

I'm really glad that Charlotte's leaders and developers learned early on from Atlanta's mistakes and are trying to grow more organically with their urban form. Better balance of density and concentration of activity centers than metro Atlanta showed in the 70's and 80's. By putting in the right quality-of-life features now and managing transit properly, Charlotte should advance as a truly urban city over the next 20 years. I always enjoy my visits, there.

I know you must be joking...do you really think that Charlotte has been looking at Atlanta's "mistakes"? The truth of the matter is that Atlanta was the current size of Charlotte 20-30 years ago when priorities were very different (i.e. urban renewal and suburban growth). For Charlotte to become a "truly urban city" in 20 years it will truly be a miracle.

I'm not knocking Charlotte, but come on...even comparing rail transit in 1979 Atlanta to 2011 Charlotte is hilarious.

[Dale]

I suspect that 'avoiding Atlanta's mistakes' is chamber of commerce material. What mistakes did Charlotte avoid ?

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by Dale

I suspect that 'avoiding Atlanta's mistakes' is chamber of commerce material. What mistakes did Charlotte avoid ?

Exactly...Charlotte sprawls as large as Atlanta with 1/3 of the population. It didn't avoid that mistake by a long shot.

I love Charlotte and have spent a lot of time there - grew up about 45 minutes away - but let's be realistic.

[desertpunk]

I think that planners who have the benefit of hindsight can improve on certain things like integrating transit systems to new development and creating diverse districts within walking distance of major CBD developments but Atlanta's planners have also learned much as well. So it's not a one-way street. Maybe the only real difference is the fact that Atlanta's urban core was bisected by a major freeway unlike Charlotte. Something that occurred in the late 1950s when Charlotte was much smaller and apparently didn't "merit" that kind of devastating 'urban renewal'.

[WeimieLvr]

Originally Posted by desertpunk

I think that planners who have the benefit of hindsight can improve on certain things like integrating transit systems to new development and creating diverse districts within walking distance of major CBD developments but Atlanta's planners have also learned much as well. So it's not a one-way street. Maybe the only real difference is the fact that Atlanta's urban core was bisected by a major freeway unlike Charlotte. Something that occurred in the late 1950s when Charlotte was much smaller and apparently didn't "merit" that kind of devastating 'urban renewal'.

Now that makes sense.

I've just read online about "Charlotte avoiding Atlanta's mistakes" one too many times...but granted it's always posted by someone who has no clue.

[StuckInASuburb]

More development will happen in preparation for the democratic national convention, we just don't know what though!

[Dale]

Originally Posted by StuckInASuburb

More development will happen in preparation for the democratic national convention, we just don't know what though!

Yes, but what sort of development ? And what could possibly be finished by next November ? Charlotte is reeling economically due to the banking crisis. It's going to take some time to shake out.

[simms3]

Development in Charlotte right now is taking place in the Ballantyne/Pineville/Matthews submarkets along 485, Pineville-Matthews Rd, and Independence Blvd far south of the city. There are some BIG projects going up or on the drawing board right now with Bissell leading development in that area. That is a big step back for both the Uptown and Southpark and Dilworth submarkets.

When it comes to real estate, though, Charlotte and Austin are both placed almost on the same level as Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Diego, and Denver. They are hot spots for multifamily, office, and industrial right now. Austin is also becoming hot for hotels, but we'll see how that actually does (everything is still "proposed").

Still, Charlotte is impressive. It gives off a fairly big city vibe and plays above its level. I read something positive about a new lease in the Wells Fargo/Duke Tower, but I can't remember the details.

[StuckInASuburb]

What they should do is create jobs, housing, and attractions for 20-30 year olds in uptown to draw residents to uptown. At the moment, only opportunities for bankers exist in the form of office space, the bankers themselves living in suburbs many miles away. Mabe a collage could come in and build midrise campuses and high-rise housing.

[StuckInASuburb]

Originally Posted by simms3

I read something positive about a new lease in the Wells Fargo/Duke Tower, but I can't remember the details.

That tower just now formally opened it's doors on the 23rd

[krazeeboi]

Originally Posted by StuckInASuburb

What they should do is create jobs, housing, and attractions for 20-30 year olds in uptown to draw residents to uptown. At the moment, only opportunities for bankers exist in the form of office space, the bankers themselves living in suburbs many miles away. Mabe a collage could come in and build midrise campuses and high-rise housing.

Most jobs in the downtowns of major cities are in the white-collar professions, like the FIRE (finance, insurance, real estate) industry and the supporting sectors, government, etc. In that regard, Charlotte isn't too much difference than most other cities, except that it has more jobs in the banking sector. As far as attractions for the demographic you're talking about, Epicenter has helped with that, and of course you have the sporting events and concerts that occur at TWC Arena and BOA Stadium. NC Music Factory isn't too far away. UNCC is building an uptown campus; have you not noticed this building in First Ward:

[krazeeboi]

Originally Posted by desertpunk

I think that planners who have the benefit of hindsight can improve on certain things like integrating transit systems to new development and creating diverse districts within walking distance of major CBD developments but Atlanta's planners have also learned much as well. So it's not a one-way street. Maybe the only real difference is the fact that Atlanta's urban core was bisected by a major freeway unlike Charlotte. Something that occurred in the late 1950s when Charlotte was much smaller and apparently didn't "merit" that kind of devastating 'urban renewal'.

This one is a biggie. I think Atlanta missed a grand opportunity with MARTA by not encouraging more TOD from the onset. Although Charlotte it's light rail with lower capacity, Charlotte is doing a very good thing by focusing on TOD from the onset.

Aside from this, while it doesn't really fall into the "avoiding Atlanta's mistakes" category, Charlotte benefits immensely from not constantly being at war with both its suburbs and the state like Atlanta seems to be.