[NC Music Factory / Uptown Village / Deco One]

These articles seem strage. They come out every month or two but never really say anything new. I hope this project works out, but how do you get so much press without ever really saying anything specific?

I ran across this newspaper article and it has some good information about what is going on at the NC Music Factory and what's to come. It appears that there is much more going on than people realize and that the plan is going to eventually come to fruition. Here is the link:

http://www.thestate.com/101/story/48974.html

[NC Music Factory / Uptown Village / Deco One]

"Time Lounge was primo-club, then Twist opened. Time is now barren most nights. Twist was the hotspot, and Menage opened. Twist has closed it's doors. Menage was the hotspot and Forum opened. Menage is now a BBQ restaurant."

What Lazos is doing will attract a different type of crowd. Once the entertainment part starts up, it will be centered around live entertainment, whether it be concerts or bars with bands. Right now, there really aren't any places downtown to see live music. I'm not saying that people who now frequent the downtown bars/nightclubs won't head over there from time to time, but they will still continue to hit the places they do now on a regular basis. Also, the Music Factory will not only try to attract folks in the Charlotte area who are looking for good live music, but also from surrounding areas as well. A guy I know who is fairly big in the local music scene told me not long ago that the Music Factory will bring in some fairly well known acts that don't normally stop in Charlotte due to there not being a venue for them - our venues are either too big or too small. For example, until this past year, Coldplay wouldn't stop in Charlotte because they only played 5,000 seat venues. The ampi-theathers that Lazos is building would accomodate those acts and there are lots of bands similar to that out there. This thing could be huge if and when it gets going. If it does, the end result will probably be that the Music Factory will be the place where mostly "out of towners" go and downtown will be where the "locals" hang out.

[NC Music Factory / Uptown Village / Deco One]

The Music Factory currently has 100% of all of the existing built out space occupied as it is truly beautiful (I think about 40,000 SF occupied). I tried to rent office space there and they said they had none available right now, but were preparing to renovate more. It seems as quick as they can renovate space people want to occupy it. I also know for a fact that all of their anchor entertainment spaces are leased to some VERY prominent entertainment tenants. With their rode unanimously approved by the City Council and about to go under construction I predict that this area is about to explode into the "Music Row" or "Beale Street" of Charlotte. I have my name on a list for a condo, as I can't see how they can miss...old beautiful renovated buildings inside the inner loop and lots of land to develop. In an Uptown that is quickly running out of land with skyrocketing land and condo prices..that place is a sure develop quickly. My hats off to those guys for having the vision!

Is there any timeline on when the entertainment will start up (i.e. concerts, bars/restaurants opening)?