atlrvr

Before CPCC was there and Presby became so large.....all of the commercial areas (i.e. Elizabeth Ave) were street car suburbs as well......

picky picky......it is good to see them flying to BWI since I loathe Dulles.....

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/liv...el/10915682.htm And the answer is........AirTrain

I dunno......I'd like Singapore to fly here....I somehow doubt it.....interesting though, I'm wishing for international, but my bet is that it will be Southwest considering that SWA has entered Phili and Pitts recently so they seem to be going for USAir's jugular. Anyone know when the 3rd parallel runway is supposed to start construction?

There you go......both scenary and vantage point all in one......too bad you couldn't have gotten of Dee Dee's dirt that she so graciously removed from her site.....I bet she would have only charged you about $10,000 a load for it.

cw....these projects are very much alive.....there is just so much involved in projects of that scale, not to mention when you start mixing uses and the public sector is involved.....if I were a betting man, I'd say that Wachovia will start in October or November, and EpiCentre would start in February 2006. While an observation tower is always a tourist attraction, they are getting a bit commonplace. Something more unique would be preferable like a giant ferris wheel such as the Millenium Wheel?? in London or the Prodder in Vienna. Even better would be something completely unique yet inviting......i wish i was more creative..... The other thing is that Charlotte isn't a city in a particularly beautiful setting. There are no soaring mountains, bays, rivers, etc.... Trees are nice, but somewhat dull. Take for example the tower in San Antonio....it's a nice city, but I can't imagine being charmed seeing it from a tower, especially if I had to pay to climb it. There is a serious need to fill in surface parking lots, create greenways, move industrial warehouses away from the center city, and create disting memorable neighborhoods that can be differentiated from up high before we invite the whole world to come see us from 1,000 feet up.

The Adam's Mark brand is dying.......the company that own's all the AM branded hotels are trying to unload their portfolio nationwide. They've sold most of them and just Charlotte and few other cities are left. The problem they've had in Charlotte is that the company that own's the AM buildings, also owns the Cameron Brown building and has so far insisted that all 3 buildings get sold as a package. I don't forsee anything happening unless they will separate the uses or can find a buyer who can dispose of the office building.

I think the article is a bit misleading. Bob Tillman was referring to urban/infill sites, not necessarily "uptown". Lowe's is currently buying up land along Mecham off of South Blvd. just south of David Furman's Village at Southend. It will certainly be a more urban Lowe's with rooftop parking and multi-family units buffering the store from the residential McDonald St. I doubt we will ever see a Lowe's within I-277, but this site is a good location IMO.

Nope......Cherry is it's own thing......in fact, the Midtown Square redevelopment is really closest to Cherry (since Baxter is the main street in Cherry). Elizabeth really ends at 3rd Street.

I heard there could be a public announcement in as soon as a month....I'd be surprised if it's that soon, but they could be much further along than I suspect. I agree that I am grateful to the banks, I guess my only qualm is that the city overall is very flexible with its small area plans, design criteria, etc., and I believe are a bit to anxious to automatically cave to any benefactors requests. I'd prefer to see backbone like there is when free money isn't involved. I know we have to bend some, I just would like to think that we care enough about overall urban design to try to get the best deal for this city both financially and architectually.

The last I heard is that Levine wanted to own the park and garage, and lease the park to the county......the county said hell no. The county was insisting on outright owning the park (I would assume they would buy the air rights, or development rights or something to give them control of everything above ground) That was over a year ago, so I don't know what has changed since then.

LOL at museum name......one advantage to the block is the church occupys maybe 1/5 of it and there is no way that it will be demolished, however the other block (betwen 8th and 9th) is completely vacant and developable.....perhaps that offsets the value difference. Also, I didn't mean to make it seem like the park location is a definite. It's simply ULI's recommendation to CCP. Granted Levine and the Mint both had input on the plan, but I'm not sure it's either of their preferences (though I assume the Mint would be keen on it) I personally like the original plan (linear along the tracks) and it would be easier due to transit concerns and ingress/egress of the planned underground parking. While it would be nice for the Mint to have a statue garden at their doorsteps, it certainly would not be out of the question for them to locate it only a block further away.

49er.....yeah, that's about right on the Transamerica space.....I believe that there will be two separate buildings (1 residential, and 1 office). I like the Hall House, but it is a seriously outdated building and the residents deserve better. I think a couple of skyscrapers would look pretty sharp there, helping to link Odell to the rest of the skyline.

I'm suggesting that the Mint Museum is actively engaged in working a deal with a developer to be located on the block bound by 7th, 8th, Tryon and College and that that block is currently owned by BofA, and that BofA has committed at least $10 million towards the ASC's plan that includes moving the mint uptown. Further, I'm suggesting that BofA will be in need of more office space before the end of the decade and that the Hall House (operated by the CHA) on the block has been deemed in need of replacement, and the Police precint on the block is moving to a new home soon because the current building is slated for demolition by it's owner (BofA)....... And that's all I'm saying.

Absolutely......but look at Atlanta. Their goal was to create a world class symphony hall. Granted, their site was influenced by Hine's, but they still hired Calatrava to design a freestanding hall with a plaza, rather than be tucked into the lobby of their Pelli tower like we did here. I love our Blumenthal, but it's exterior does not scream of prominence. In fact, it's exterior is a much watered down version of what Pelli even envisioned. Guess who didn't want to foot the bill here either....... If it seems like I'm overly beotching, well, I probably am. I am thankful for our two large banks and their contributions. There are plenty of other large corporations who are nowhere near the corporate benefactors of them. What I am irked at, is that Charlotte is willing to settle. Maybe it's a quantity over quality issue. I just prefer to see things built that sets us apart, that makes people remember us, that will be considered interesting or even inspiring in 25, 50, or 100 years. Enough beotching, I'm glad that we are going to get at least a majority of or ASC wish list, and from a visual standpoint, I'm glad that suface lots are being developed at a high-density.

I'm very familiar with who the board is, however board members don't participate in the day to day activities of the organization. They are simply an oversight committee, and frankly they should be ashamed for their lack of oversight in their leadership appointments.....hopefully they will get it right this time. Rob Walsh at least had the guts to tell people that they were idiots who had no sense of urban planning. CCP is able to wrestle a couple thousand bucks out of city council for bike racks, but is their anyone there who can tell Ron Tober that pavers are essential and make him listen. Is there anyone there that can tell Bill James that the county needs to subsidize parking beneath a urban park and not be dismissed as a liberal idealist? Is there anyone who convince Mark Hahn (director of Real Estate for the county) where the proper place for the 3rd Ward Park is (no...that's why the county hired CINTAS). I don't mean this to be a rant against Center City Partners, because for cheerleaders, they certainly have the enthusiasm. I'm simply saying that when Bank of America says......we'll be willing to incorporate a Mint Museum of Art into our new commercial project on Tryon at 7th, all those great previous plans get thrown right out the window and we droll all over ourselves because we're getting something on our wish-list...sort of.

I tend to agree that existing north would be better than west, especially to create connections to 9th and more development options. The problem is Bank of America is now driving the Mint Museum relocation so they get to pick the spot, and 9th and Brevard isn't where they want to build. Just another example of the government going along with who ever throws them some cash. I'd like to see a plaza in front of the mint and the original park planned, with bridges over the tracks (treat the tracks like the San Antonio river in the Riverwalk section)

Yep....7th and 8th, so that the Children's Learning center's front door will be right across the street from the park.........and then it will extend up to College so that the new Mint will open onto it. The development opportunity would be along 8th with I would assume so seriously high-end housing across Brevard. Yeah, the report is pretty insistent on pavers along the whole thing instead of ballast.....more like a street-car. I don't know what will happen, because I tend to agree that it will be dangerous (much faster than a street-car) Perhaps they could create intersting pedestrian bridges over the tracks.

That's the problem......there are no specific recommendations to that effect......I think we will see some action up on Tryon and College and the new Mint might break ground early next year......that should probably start the park as well. Also, seeing how successful the Bobcats are at filling up the arena should be a good gauge at how quickly all of this gets done. I still don't see Levine breaking ground until at least spring of next year.

The ULI plan will recommend swinging the park 90 degrees so that it is bounded by 7th, 8th, Brevard and College St, with the trolley/LRT line bisecting the park. They want the track section to be converted into a plaza with Dixies being turned into a Farmer's market managed by Reid's (not sure that will happen). The recommendation is that underground parking be installed under the park. Furthermore, Brevard is supposed to become a 2-way street lined with mid-rise housing (8 stories tops) with some retail on the ground floor. These are the two major infrastructure recommendations....the rest is about museum locations and other stuff. The problem with these kind of reports is that they are never binding and have little political teeth. In fact, the client for this report is Center City Partners, who have no real muscle anyways with the city. Levine did participate in the planning process and it will really be up to him and other corporate entities (see BofA) to see this plan to fruition. That's always been the problem with this city. The city doesn't drive investments, they let the private development community take charge, and adapt their plans accordingly. Therefore, we don't have unique cultural investments, but a convenient/efficient gift from a corporate benefactor.

Been in Charlotte my whole life except for I year in Atlanta. Now living in Dilworth.

I've heard that they will be building a 5 story academic building where the old trailways bus terminal was on Trade that was demolished for Cityview....I believe this is where the business school would go....then they just bought a the land between the "primitive baptist church" and the rail tracks on Trade street for "future development"....however, I believe that site will be for more student housing.

if 500 west trade is the Polk State buidling then it is on the market for sale.....i would assume that whoever buys it will tear it down seeing as it's exterior is in serious disrepair and the interior definetly is not competitive for office leasing space.....it is priced pretty much at it's land value..... I think J&W is a likely buyer seeing as they will need more space (though they did just buy another large parcel on Trade 2 weeks ago). I personally think it is a good spot for a mid-budget hotel seeing as how close it is to Panther's games, J&W, and the future train station.