Andyc545

The website is still up and actually has been updated since I last have seen it months ago. I hope this moves forward at some point; it is a great project. It had several parcels at ground floor set aside for retail opportunities.

Neither, it's still moving forward (slowly). I believe it's in some prelim stages still.

Similar zoning as seen in South End. Parking limitations, road design, dedicated pathways for bikes and mandatory large sidewalks, building design restrictions, density minimums; I could go on and on. UCity has 2 things going for it that gives it a sharper edge then S. End had: Population/University and a large amount of corporate offices that again, brings people. See UCity land is cheap, so without zoning limits, anything can be built. Urban developments typically cost more in this situation, which is why when you give the choice, the more expensive and proper development is not chosen.

I think the campus is headed in the right direction as well as the immediate roads that perimeter the property of the University. There has been some wonderful enhancements over the past year on both N. Tryon and UCity Blvd that makes it safer for pedestrians and vehicles: placed lights and better crossings to slow traffic down and promote pedestrians to use. When it comes to other areas around UCity I don't see much positive change to a more urban environment; nothing more that a newer update current UCity. Now I hope it proves me wrong, but the current health care building is no where close to being urban in anyway, which is within the 1/2 mile radius of a proposed station (Mallard Creek) and I hesitate about the BofA campus. The city needs to enforce strict zoning limitations to TOD NOW even if the light rail is 3 years away.

One word... massive. Turning out to be a beautiful building though.

Some pictures from NC Music Factory last night. Sum 41 and Offspring concert... I will say I'm impressed with how this area turned out. The NCMF has a sense of authenticism and historical preservation that is often lost in Charlotte, and they did a good job with the blending of the new work with the old warehouses. Great atmosphere to listen to music in. Only complaint... had 2 trains honk their horns while going by earlier in the concert.

When I flew in CLT this morning, I noticed that there is some construction taking place in the downstairs baggage claim. I believe one of the bathrooms is boarded up and closed and another section where the baggage conveyors are has plywood up and workers inside. Is this part of the overall remodel or is this just minor projects?

Sell off that parcel. It's 1/4 of a block that has 3/4 now basically fully developed. Or a park extension if the city were to purchase it. But Pleaseeee, someone do something with it before it is handed over for surface parking.

Atlvr brings up good human-scale aspects where this project may consider to fail. There were a lot of opportunities wasted with the lack of ground floor retail. From an aesthetics stand point, I think this is a great looking complex. The material use selected was a great mix and the architecture is distinct and pleasing to the eye. It adds a lot of character to a rather steril environement.

Ghazi's stage 3 is still just a mere fantasy. It won't get off the ground unless it can land a major tenant/hotel/or a thriving condo market which is not in the works now or the most-near future. Sure, the future of U City could be compared to Ballantyne in one way; depends how you look at it. So far future buildings, like this medical building at Tryon/Mallard Creek Church is just like the rest, and unfortunatly represents little to no Urban train of thought to help change the path of the growth and change of U City. On the positive note (over Ballantyne) is what may or may not still take place with the help of the light rail extension. It could help spark (with strict zoning) TOD areas that will spark new true urbanized projects (IKEA isn't one of them really).

One thing that the two hues allows for is a mental separation between the two. This block would mentally seem like two buildings densely built instead of one large project that is united on a block, like a lot of Charlotte buildings are. That's just my opinion though.

I like the way the glass looks as well. That ped bridge is killer though (and I hate to start any further arguments about that). Looking better than originally expected and I agree about the curved corner being worthy of a nice news/stock ticker. Maybe something more up to date (digitally imaged ticker or video screen).

It would only be connecting one more block; they could curve 10th to connect with Phifer Ave and bring it to college- giving two distinct marketable parcels and somewhat improving the grid. I'd love to see these parcels developed (And what Atlvr posted was a nice project). This area is so crime ridden and a dead zone for very expensive land within the loop.

This may not be totally relevant, but the MARC commuter train opens up certain stations that may not typically be served during times if there is a certain event going on. I know there is a race track that has a station that isn't used on the Penn Line except during races. I'd suspect that if we ever get the North line built that it will see an influenced schedule during Panther's games (more frequent trains at the beginning and end of a game as well as staging) to accompany the 80k+ fans.

The park, which is now under ownership of Cedar Fair, has already sent out bidding on a major roller coaster which is believed to overtake this plot of land where the Powder Keg ride has been for 2010. Keep in mind the new coaster they received this year , whether it is successful or not, is nothing more than a used boomerang coaster, which is the equivalent of a mass produced WalMart store, likely just to get a new shot in this park. The real ride will be arriving soon, which will likely be something original or custom on the lines of Top Gun / Afterburner I think it's called now, which is ironically the last custom build coaster seen in Carowinds (1999). Typically rides are dismantled now a days due to replacement rides- not because of the upkeep. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets replaced and updated in the back water park in a few years anyway. Here's a photo shot from a bidding website "Plans-Online.com". It's rumored to be a hypercoaster (200+ft) as this is the trend in Cedar Fair parks, however should be conscious there are strict height limits and concerns as this park is in the flight path for CLT.

I like the big 'S' and the different brick.

Any low cost carriers would be a plus for CLT. The competition with USAirways would benefit the average passenger and make flying out of CLT cheaper. I can't help but wonder the same in regards to Raleigh, as SW is a major player there. Where would SW expand to at CLT? Isn't the only concourse that isn't ruled by USAirways Concourse A, which seems to be filled, or would this be on a physical expansion of the concourse?

I just got back from DC and Baltimore, and those cities are testaments how ditching enclosed elevated crosswalks allows for successful street activity. Charlotte is ridiculous with these. Maybe if these weren't ever built we'd have some ground floor retail already. Just saying. And yes- NYC, DC, etc. these cities actually have crappy weather. The obsession with them in this city is uncalled for and really killing some of the basic components that are enjoyed in urban life (mainly the abundance of people on the streets).

I've been keeping my eye on a concert coming up (Offspring and Sum 41) and I have seen the name of the venue listed as several different versions including Uptown Amphitheater, NC Music Factory, Charlotte Boutique Amphitheater, and Uptown Theater.

Without looking at any laws, I thought it was illegal to disrupt any of the old slave graveyards. I can think of 2 old slave graveyards in a one mile vicinity from the proposed location at the corner of Mallard Creek Ch and N Tryon where they have had to fence off historical slave gravesites and build construction around them. One is really close at an apartment complex off of Mallard Creek Church Rd (I think it's Thornberry or something along those lines). This is the one you located Initial, which can be seen here and the other is actually in Ghazi's development at Harris and N Tryon next to Buffalo Wild Wings which can be seen here. They are very interesting grave sites if you ever get a chance to look at them. You can still see the writing, dates, and names on many of the graves and they date back to the 1800's if I remember correctly.They are fenced off though and the public is not allowed in them but fun to view from the fence.

I think it would be hard to not agree with this statement. It was an opportunity wasted. I didn't mind the big box portions to this development, but where they went wrong was they let the big box take precedent. This meaning where storage rooms or store ends to the big box stores, it created dead walls facing streets already lined with the pedestrian infrastructures instead of them leaving street ends for small retail stores or welcoming entrances. And also I didn't mind the parking garage set in the middle in the second stage. Where they went wrong was putting all of the main entrances facing the dark polluted garages. They should have either done the same thing as the Harris Teeter in 4th Ward and provided 2 entrances (one for pedestrians) or forced people who park to walk out on the sidewalks and entered legitimate store entrances. I admit I had a lot of hope for this as it provided a plethora of retail to a much lacking market and gave hope towards an extension of urbanity, but they made design mistakes, and they wouldn't even required huge changes (mainly moving entrances around). I hope that the greenway side of the development with the condos and ground floor retail turns out better and provides pedestrian opportunity. I guess it's beginning to all just beat a dead horse at this point.

Sorry- that's what I meant. Specifically, it's good to see low cost carriers add flights to CLT.

Now that I have began flying more, I can join in on the airport lingo fun. All the AirTran's that I have seen and flown from and to CLT are 717's. Also I noticed that in May, AirTran is getting a CLT-ORL flight, which was published in their in-air magazine.

I've gone once- and it incidentally was my first time ever whitewater rafting. I had such an awesome time when I was there, and the only thing stopping me from going again right now is ticket prices. I don't think it is a one and done thing; maybe it is for some people but I think most not. There are a lot of enthusiasts that come, or would come due to it being their sport or hobby of choice. It's actually a great resource for the city that is just being underutilized at the time. I agree with your points in general above, Monsoon. The one thing I'd like to point out, however, is that when I went, it was the last week in December when the water temperature was something like 45 degrees, and there were plenty of people at the place. In fact, all 3 rafts were fully booked for that hour. I think the fact that they stay open during the winter makes it more valuable because during this time it doesn't have to compete with Carowinds. I think ticket prices are at the top of the list at this time, but I would like to see the place diversify and expand as well as some of the other points mentioned above.

It's about time this place lowered prices. Maybe more people will actually go now and they could make some money. I know I will go when I have family in town next month if they indeed lower the price.