tarik

What we saw were renderings, yet the layout of buildings appears to follow the site plan. There is parking "underneath" the second floor. I hope to find out when the project will be publicly announced...

The "SoDa" Lofts look awesome! There are 90 units from $80K-$300K. There may be 1 retail space. The rendering we saw was pretty schematic, so hopefully it will end up looking similar. The design is real playful, yet not too colorful. This should be interesting...

There have been marker flags placed on the Urban Stash site. Tuscan says it will be the "first of the year" when they start demolitioning the building, but that statement seems to be up for interpretation. This project should help the neighborhood, and hopefully give a few "boarded-up house landlords" an initiative to sell. Oh, wouldn't that be nice...

Thanks for the 940 Brevard elevation. I can't wait to see what is it come. This is good for everyone. Where in the world is a SoDa Lofts elevation? The site plan is interesting, since there are less than 50 parking spaces drawn. My main concern is that the vehicular circulation is from Caldwell. Anyhow...

Glad to hear that the rezoning is out of the way. Now we need a clear idea for what is going to be built. The rezoning to mixed use will only require 1 ot 1.5 parking spaces per unit. If you do the math, there is no way that even 75 units will fit on the land. This should translate to the overall number of units that will be built. It would be nice to also have open space (dog park) maintained and that vehicular circulation is via 16th Street. Just a couple thoughts... Councilman James Mitchell Jr. extends an invitation for all that want to attend the District 2 Town Hall Meeting: -Thursday, Oct.26, 2006 -Friendship Baptist Church -3401 Beatties Ford Road -6:00 PM

Thanks for the specifics; I am going around this weekend with the petition. A friend told me he would not sign the petition because he likes the mill house on the corner. Not a good start... but that's what friends are for, right?

I have typed up a petition regarding 1221 n. caldwell and the two houses on 16th street at the dead end that are boarded up. I will be walking around the neighborhood some time soon to fill out the name and addresses. After that, we will have to send it to Neighborhood Development. All three properties are owned by Asset Management, which also owns the brick apartments on 16th. last I heard, they were in the process of installing ac in those units and were going to rent them, but that has not materialized, although they have put new blinds and windows up...

The 311 personel and neighborhood development say different stories.

Urban Stash will be coming down in the next few months. Tuscan is dedicated to residential development on the site, and the 150 units will be scaled down to 75 or less. There will be no retail on the site. The place to put retail, entertainment, etc. is on Hunter land. We need to find a way to get them out. Also, I am on a quest to petition abandoned houses in Optimist Park to be renovated on removed by the dead-beat landlords. All we need are 5 signatures from local owners, so hopefully we can get many more than that to prove to the Neighborhood Development that we are serious about our quailty of life.

Wonder what it takes to speak at the rezoning. Obvioulsy, scheduling to speak does not work. Yes, it is amazing that they approved a 60-foot tall development. 150 parking spaces?!?

Thinking that we are only one person in an overpowering world is not a path to becoming part of a larger cause. Community (collective minds & bodies) establish and influence our sense of place, and each person can potentially make a series of impacts alone. We must stay less focused on our selves, take a step back, and want to be part of things. There will be a time when Optimist Park becomes vibrant again; this is the first place in Charlotte to have a block party when the radio is invented (actually, it was the 8-unit building on 16th). These days we are consumed within I pods, and some of us without even enought time to listen. There are many changes happening to this community; it is right infront of our eyes. Any maybe by reaching out, we may show a neighbor that the world is much larger than Optimist Park, Belmont, or Charlotte.

It's odd that the same company/person that sensetively named Duncan Gardens and Opt12 is considering SoDa; sounds catchy, it might help define the North Davidson Street from 277-NoDa as the linear place it is.

Whatever works; the name is catchy, but so is Optimist Park to people that do not think bad of the neighborhood. This place is not a typical yuppyville, and it will be some time before that happens. So much for mixed use, although more eyes on the street would help.

Analogies do seem to help define areas so that people can easily relate and reflect on them. With Optimist Park, the name speaks for itself. There are extensive plans to improve the greenway, adding "lakes" and educational facilities along the meandering path of Sugar Creek. People that call Optimist Park home see opportunity in life in a place that is full of diversity. Granted we may be more optimistic about making money, yet anyone willing to live here has a certain faith in the future. This is a neighborhood with an extensive history that has spanned generations fo color, class, drugs and density. We must not lose sight of this-- the idea of living. If we want this to succeed we must get involved ourselves, and make it a more livable community. If we only let developers change our neighborhoods, then we are losing control of our ability to define our sense of place. This is Optimist Park and always will be.

Alpha Mills and the adjacent construction that is going to put the street grid back will drastically improve the area. One of the old mill houses on Belmont near the Wiping Cloth building is being renovated. The old ladies next door are real friendly, and seem to be excited to see young faces. Belmont, on the other hand needs major support; it will take a miracle to transform that place into a safe, livable, mixed-race and mixed-income area. But miracles do happen. Optimist Park is a secluded little enclave that is now being overhauled. Rip Farris needs to start tearing down "Urban Stash" as soon as the rezoning takes place on Sept. 18. Hopefully that will push the bass-booming Chevy Caprices off Caldwell.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m36/opt...18/IMG_5651.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m36/opt12/IMG_5682.jpg http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m36/opt12/th_IMG_5667.jpg http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m36/opt12/th_IMG_5649.jpg http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m36/opt12/th_IMG_5643.jpg This is a test; these are recent pictures of the Caldwell/Brevard Connector construction and a couple of Alpha Mills. N-joy!

Vertical elements grab attention and create a point of interest. J&W and M Street both have pinaccles that relate into the context. Check it out!

http://s100.photobucket.com/albums/m36/opt12/

Glad to finally be here! How do we attach pictures?

Hi all-- I finally am able to post comments, after much time thinking that this is a pay-only site. As an introduction, I have lived in Opt-12 for two months; you may see me sitting outside smoking cigarettes on a daily basis. This said, I am in the middle of witnessing the change that is happening to Caldwell Street and the surrounding community. There is much going on--Piedmont Courts, Belmont, and the Alpha Mills, which I see as a catalyst for revitalization of the communnity-at-large. I hope to use this site asa spring board to get us all involved in the process of change, so that we have a voice as members of a community that already has a long tradition of believing in the future and a need foragency in society. I'll keep the pictures coming. Support Optimist Park September 18 at the rezoning hearing at the Government Center at 6!!!

Hi all-- I finally am able to post comments, after much time thinking that this is a pay-only site. As an introduction, I have lived in Opt-12 for two months; you may see me sitting outside smoking cigarettes on a daily basis. This said, I am in the middle of witnessing the change that is happening to Caldwell Street and the surrounding community. There is much going on--Piedmont Courts, Belmont, and the Alpha Mills, which I see as a catalyst for revitalization of the communnity-at-large. I hope to use this site asa spring board to get us all involved in the process of change, so that we have a voice as members of a community that already has a long tradition of believing in the future and a need foragency in society. I'll keep the pictures coming. Support Optimist Park September 18 at the rezoning hearing at the Government Center at 6!!!