ExCal01

Did anyone attend the streetcar meeting Tuesday night? If so, any news about if/when contruction on the starter line would begin? I thought the city approved funding of the ($12million?) gap between the $25 million federal grant and the estimated cost, although I may have just dreamt that. Any other interesting news regarding the results of the engineering study, options for funding, etc.?

I ate at Loco Lime on Central the other day and met the manager of the new restaurant going in where Common House was. It is going to be called "KickStand" (they've got a bunch of old bikes spraead around as decor - seemed a little silly to me). The bar is still in the same spot. A couple of the big differences wil be that they will have something like 36 television screens spread around the place (which to me is not a selling point - I don't go out to watch tv). On the plus side, while it will be basically a burger place, it will include some helthier fare, including a vegetarian burger, that a lot of pub/sports bar style restuarants won't carry, which is great news to me. She said they should be opening in two weeks. I googled just now and saw that Creative Loafing did on article on it (August 30) if anyone wants a little more information. It is going to be onwed by the same people that own Hawthrone's and Loco Lime. One of the issues with the location has been parking due to the popular yoga classes next door, but I heard the yoga place is moving so that might not be a problem anymore.

Didn't read this close enough before posting above. Well, that's one space down! Now if we could get some new busineses next door and across the street. A smokeshop is definitely an improvement, imo, although I don't frequent them. I saw Tribal Wisdom became a smoke shop too. (Maybe there is enough demand for K-2 to keep two shops going ( - see recent article in Charlotte Observer). Regarding being right next to the SA's rehab center, I agree that is kinda funny. They had to obviously be aware they were opening right next to a rehab center. I guess that's not much different than opening a McDonalds right next to a weight loss center.

Yeah, I saw that as well and was hoping they were moving to make room for a better use (imo) at what appears to me to be a pretty prime location on Central. Unfortunately, according to my wife who was there donating some stuff over the weekend, they are simply remodeling and the Salvation Army store (though temporarily relocated) will be staying put there at least for the foreseeable future. It's a real bummer. That section of Central Ave has such great potential if only some of the outdated commercial space could be redeveloped . I am hopeful that Elizabeth II will result in some of it (like the old Napa Auto parts, the pool supply company, etc.) to convert to restuarant / retail / art galleries / entertainment or similar uses.

Has anyone heard anything recent regarding the status of the application for the $25 million grant to start build a 1.5 mile stretch of the streetcar in uptown? I believe the City Council authorized the application, so I assume it was made and the city is waiting to hear back the FTA?

I think part of this issue is how they found out and that that noone was ever officially notified ahead of time so there was no time to learn the facts about the business and to have their concerns addressed. I can understand people being a little creeped out by having one close by despite the lack of smoke, etc. This place used to be a residence so it backs up to single family homes (separated only by a fence) with relatively small yards (i.e cremations will be going on literally 50-100 feet or so from where someone may be having a back-yard barbecue). Other crematorims in town are in B-1 or B-2 zones close to residences, but I don't know if they are as close to homes. I think the zoning laws should be revised to expressly allow crematoriums in light industrial zones so crematorium owners can at least have the option of operating well away from residential zones. The owner in this case said he would have preferred to be in a light industrical zone. Again, if animal crematoriums are permitted in light industrial and business zones, why not human crematoriums? I think the morminside neighborhood was hoping for new businesses they would like to patronize that serve the neighborhood and enhance property values. Can't blame them for that.

I heard second hand that construction of the apartments and maybe some of the townhomes is going to begin at Morningside Village in about six months. I am skeptical but then again the second phase of Elizabeth Square apartments has started. No new news on Morningside's website. There was some work going on on Iris near Central. Looks like they are putting in sidewalks maybe? Has anyone heard anything more about this? If work is going forward, I think there needs to be a strong push by the neighborhood to extend the pedestrian overlay district to Morningside. New high density residential development should encourage some commercial development on Central. Extending the district after the fact won't help much. Also, regarding the crematorium going in at Lyon and Central - Rob Pressley (Meca Properties / Moringside Village) chimed in against it on the news (Fox or WCNC) but I don't see how it can be stopped at this point. Crematoriums are permitted in B-1 and B-2 zoning (and office zoning) but not expressly permitted in I-1 or I-2 zones, which doesn't seem to make sense given that animal crematoriums are permitted in I-1 and I-2 zones. Anyone following this story and heard anything more?

I am a big soccer fan but not really an MLS fan (more because of the way the league is structured/run,etc. - not so much the quality of the game). I do watch EPL (England) religiously and some La Liga (Spanish League) (Liverpool and Real Madrid are my teams, respectively). I have thought for a while that MLS or a minor league (USL). Actually I believe several of the USL First Division teams are leaving USL to form a new league (team owned league). I have been to one Charlotte Eagles game (they are a USL division 2 (lower division) team, who by the way are hosting a friendly against the New England Revolution (MLS) at UNC Charlotte on March 13. I believe they now play at the stadium at Charlotte Christian School on Sardis. Not much interest there on my part . I could, however, be tempted into supporting a higher caliber team (USL Division One or even MLS) at a better venue as long as it is relatively close to down town. I have no interest in driving to Fort Mill. Memorial Stadium would probably be best until a devoted soccer stadium could be built, although I live close enought to Eastland that I would be happy to go there if a decent stadium were built. Any devoted soccer stadium should be built ( sufficient size and qualtiy) with an eye to occasionally hosting promotional matches involving touring EPL, La Liga, and Serie A (Italian) teams in the summers. If only I had a billion dollars to spend . . .

The LLC is not a bankruptcy lawyer. The lawyer simply filed the articles of organization. That does not mean he is a member of the LLC. You would have to see the LLC's Operating Agreement to figure out who the members are. Unfortunately, that is not a public document. You might be able to glean some information about the membership by looking at the register of deeds online (look for all filings referencing "210 Trade"). It appears there is a deed of trust that would have had to have been signed by a managing member of the LLC. Unfortauntaly, my JAVA software does not appear to be working, so I could not view the document images. If any of you can, I would be interested in knowing who signed on behalf of 210 Trade Investments.

Other pros: A modern streetcar has signifcanty (I believe almost double) ridership capacity (and statistically much higher rates of ridership) than the city buses and will improve the flow of traffic as there will be fewer stops (one every 1/4 mile) and there will most likely be traffic light control (according to a guy at CATS I talked to). Right now on Central there are way too many stops. Many of those will disappear. I am a strong supporter of both light rail and the streetcar. I have to disagree a bit that the streetcar is a lot less important. My thought has always been that true "smart growth" is encouraging people to abandon/minimize the commute and live close in to the city center and encouraging companies to locate there (no use moving people in if they have to drive to the suburbs to work). The street car promotes that goal, imo, by connecting the inner ring of neighborhoods and promoting more development in that area as opposed to service the suburbs (like the proposed commuter line). I am very concerned though that the first segment to be built will be the 1.5 mile stretch on Trade where there is the least liklihood of significant development occuring. That together with the use of the historicy trolleys will play into the arguments of critics.

^ Sorry, $180 million is incorrect. Its actually $280 million according to a December 1 press release on the FTA website. The press release also says "A maximum amount of $25 million per project will be made available from approximately $130 million in unallocated discretionary New Starts/Small Starts Program funds. Eligible projects include streetcars and other urban circulator systems. Priority will be given to projects that connect destinations and foster the redevelopment of communities into walkable, mixed use, high-density environments."

There was an article in the WSJ last week about the FTA changing the funding rules to make it easier for streetcars to get federal funding. It sounds like there are quite a few cities looking to develop streetcar projects, which means stiff competition for very limited federal money. I was frankly hoping the Obama administration would do a lot more as far as increasing the budget ($180 million won't go very far) as this would appear to be the best kind of stimulus spending. I am worried that Charlotte, which will only be at a 30% design by next month, will not be in the running. I am not sure how colse to "shovel ready: other cities' streetcar projects are (other than Portland and Denver). Can anyone shed some light on what Charlotte's chances are for qualifying for federal funding? How far along in the design process do we need to be? How do we stack up against the competition?

There was an article in the Wall Street Journal today about how Congress is considering increases in transit funding in light of high gas prices, etc. It included some detail on some of the proposals currently being considered by the House and the Senate in connection with energy legislation that could be voted on as early as next week, including up to $2 billion in grants for transit agencies. Two billion doesn't sound like a whole lot to me (considering construction costs), but it's a start. The article also contained a graph (statistics gathered by the American Public Transportaion Association) showing increases in transit usage over the last year broken down by mode (subway, commuter train, streetcar, bus, other) and the interesting thing is that all modes reflected roughly a 5% increase - EXCEPT STREETCARS, which saw an increase in useage of 12.3%! I hope the prospect of additional federal funding combined with the statistics showing an increased demand for streetcar service will spur some reconsideration by CATS and the MTA of the priorities under the 2030 Plan and to put the Central Ave streetcar back on the front burner (ahead of the North line). I also hope this will alter the fed's perception of streetcars and that the federal government will be more willing to help finance streetcar projects.

As an ex-Californian (4th generation native to SF Bay Area) who made the move with my family in 2001, I can say word has definitely gotten out among those I know. We moved here after visiting friends who had moved several months earlier. I remember being impressed by the housing they got for their money, the trees [which sadly are disappearing], uptown, and the airport [i did not expect Charlotte to have anything like it]. Part of it was having lived in CA all my life [my wife too], we wanted a change. We love the climate here as well - [occasional snow as well as 75-degree days in winter, thunderstorms in summer (I love them!), and no 55-degrees with fog rolling in almost every evening in summer ["get out of the pool or you'll freeze!"] - although that would feel pretty good about now . You never get snow [except occasionally on the hills] in the Bay Area and thunderstorms are extremely rare there as well. I know of 2 more families who were mutual acquaintances from the same town who also made the move after visiting. I've certainly done my part in singing the praises of Charlotte and have tried (unsucessfully so far) to talk some other friends and family into moving here. While I think many moving here are attracted by the large homes on big lots with big trees in places like Ballantyne / Providence Country Club [something they could never afford in CA], qw actually ended up moving to PM after trying a stint in a big home in South Charlotte. I got tired of the commute to uptown [got worse every year] and wanted to live in a more pedestrian oriented, laid back, pub-going community, near uptown [and thus my interest in UP as well]. I assumed the housing slump / credit crunch would slow the influx of Californians [i'm sure it has to some extent] so I too am surprised at how many CA plates I have seen lately [not as plentiful as FL, NJ, NY or OH but perhaps more worthy of noting considering the distance involved and the myth that CA is all wonderful]. I miss CA sometimes, but Charlotte feels like home now and I have no desire to move back [although if I could afford a home in say Santa Barbara or Tahoe I'd go back in an instant ].

Morningside Village has a new sign up on Morningside Drive. Also, Morninside Village is going to be featured in the "Next Big Thing" in the Observer on Wednesday in which they will supposedly announce a couple of contracts for the first phase(s) of the development (the commercial / retail block with appartments). I believe they are supposed to start going vertical in August/September. Also, they are currently in the proceeds of digging out the new pond at the end of McClintock near Morningside. The improvements to the creek and the addition of the pond (and 14' wide walking/biking trail) are going to be really nice. I also learned that MV hopes to the development standards with respect to putting in granite curbs on all streets throughout the development. However, they are getting resistance from the city on that issue. Does anyone know why the city would oppose granite curbs? Seems to me to be it would be a nice upgrade.