Andyc545

It's such a nice looking building and area for that matter, but think about how beneficial it would have been with ground floor retail stretching the majority of the first floor and the pedestrians filling the sidewalks that would follow as a result.

Have they released any plans to open up the ground floor or the lower floor condo units before they finish the construction of this tower? I know they did this with Trump Chicago opening the hotel and restaurant before they even topped out. I ask because it seems like they are emphasizing the installation of windows lagging just a few floors after construction. This seems to be an alternative approach to some other builders here in Charlotte.

I was just up in Baltimore and DC the past few days and heard a funny advertisement. I was in the transfer van from BWI to the hotel and an ad for AirTran Airways advertised Charlotte, but it was a very sarcastic advertisement that said something like "C'mon, everyone knows someone that has moved to Charlotte". I don't know what they were trying to get across except to fly AirTran, but thought it was especially interesting as Charlotte is not a hub for AirTran.

Has anything been announced yet regarding the use for the gallery space and what conventionally is used for in institutional buildings. Showcasing of students work? Sales? Thanks.

I guess their visit to Charlotte last summer was an inspiring one then, and they are returning. I don't think they had really been in Charlotte before last summer. I know they liked the interactive lights on 7th St Station and raved about the uptown atmosphere at the time.

I like the idea, Monsoon. Seems to be adequate space for a stadium, possibly even enough to expand it. Also it could still become that necessary catalyst for change in the area... much needed change. Streetcar gives alternative transit. Should be space for parking, too, and I like the idea of there being potential to remodel neighboring sites to help interact and make the area more ped friendly and cohesive.

I can't help but think how much worse things could have been if Reese got his way and we had a major league team here, coming when we're in recession, when we're seeing high paying job losses and people not able to afford higher priced ticket. I watched an interesting special on the recession and its effects in cities a few days ago (don't remember where), and they reviewed the Florida Marlins and their new stadium and how it was being paid by tax payer money (sort of sounded similar to Bobcats Arena... ugh TWC). Many taxpayers were angry and there was a loss of tax revenue to fund the stadium due to the recession. Remember, it was the Florida Marlins that Reese was hoping to get his hands on for a tenant here in Charlotte. The Marlins were interested in moving if they couldn't get a stadium there in Miami. Sort of interesting scenarios going on here all due to the economic state, so just making a general observation. Hopefully this thing gets built soon, I'm sick of seeing so many surface lots that have ONLY plans and no umph to push them forward. ^ I totally agree on the South End site. I'd like to look at Coors Field (although Major League) in Denver as a good way to implement a stadium in an urban environment that isn't necessarily in the city's core of big buildings. Although it's close and has great views, Coors field is in a very hip old section called LoDo (yup NoDa isn't alone with cheesy names) that has a very similar theme and vibe as South End. It's all built in brick and blends in brilliantly with the environment. I'd love to see something similar for the Knights and with South End. Another good example is Camden Yards.

Is this the same Coffee Cup as what was on Morehead and later moved to University?

^ Wow those are fantastic photos Intitial.

Yup it's a stunning addition. This is going to join the ranks of the art museums and maybe the Duke Energy Building. People are going to now start flocking to 1st Ward to take pictures and wonder what it is, come to realize the Universitiy's building.

Incredible!! Too bad there is a dirt mount in the front though.

How would this effect/postpone the time frame for the NE Extension? Wouldn't it now be set back to Stage 1 (Planning) and have to go through all that it has again, likely pushing a date of completion back another 2 years?

^ Atlvr called that one. I will admit though, that was a pretty aggressive drop.

Wow I think a different variation of this link for the movie has been made on almost every active topic now in the Charlotte based forum! Haha! It's a wonderful video fwiw.

Great one Initial. Amazing how dense the city looks.

Both if it were my guess. So much corruption up top.

Donald Trump did a phone interview on CNN yesterday evening. In his typical arrogant fashion, he tried to clear up the details about the bankruptcy of the casino's and he stated that it was only 1% of his wealth and blah blah blah. Anywho, he's been trying to get his name off the casinos for a little while now and he doesn't run it like the rest of his "empire" as he was just an investor. Also, fwiw, he said now is a great time to buy property if you have cash as he hasn't seen prices this low in years. He said he has plenty of cash (of course he would say that) and that he will be looking to buy up and invest into some more real estate again before prices increase again (take it for what it's worth).

Not to mention all of the art work that was completed on the silos and the road extension. I guess the good thing is that at least we have the art work, which looks really cool even without anything around it, and the road extension is an intricate part of the grid, and it essentially split up the land into 2, which later on can be used more effectively. Southaus didn't have a chance as it was struggling to meet sales when the economy was at its peak, which is why they had to redesign it.

No doubt, I'm just saying this was brought up, primarily by the GOP in the senate (although I believe there were a few Demo's as well) regarding this project and qualifying it as an earmark. There were other projects, such as the San Fran Rat fiasco that I don't understand and some other projects that some are saying are earmarks. I overheard someone on CNN that said it best- earmarks are nothing more than an opinion. Some can call something an earmark while others can justify it. Anyhow to the point, it's good that it did end up getting on hold if it in fact did; I missed that release of news today/yesterday if it did in fact. It's not a bad project in terms of providing high speed rail/infastructure that would create jobs and help with sustainable alternatives of transit, but there are projects that are more deserving with a limited transit fund pool.

Ughhh not 1200 South or the Silos! I had a feeling they were pushed back; they have been too quiet.

^ The exposure is wonderful, and that PBS special was thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately when it comes to the reality, I as an optimist don't expect to see much out of it but maybe some upgrades like the platforms extended and maybe, MAYBE, partial funding for either the North or the NE line, but not both and not either as much as we'd like. I'm excited about the amount of transit money as it will provided a much needed boost in transit country-wide after seeing how little has been invested over the last 8 years from the fed, however, it's not nearly as much as I would have preferred that would give the overhaul country wide that would change the image of the US. Much of the stimulus is providing the high speed rail from Vegas-LA, and that is causing a lot of negativity towards transit projects, especially by the GOP, as it's viewed as pork. It's a very expensive project that is taking away from the diversity that the money should be invested in. Guess we will see how things snowball...

Haha. Wow, seriously? Camden is begging for attention over there with all of the new apartment sites that are beginning to open up. What a <creatively fill in the blank>.

Yeah but it adds so much depth from that perspective too, with Wach sticking significantly over the taller BofA. Once Vue is up and you have the tallest 4 towers at different depths, it's going to add a lot pf dimension.

Wow... simply amazing skyline shot!

Ooh, I wouldn't count on seeing TWELVE anytime soon. It's half hotel and half condos as of now, but I'd imagine there is no justification to starting a building as both condo sales and the hospitality business have slowed a great deal. Plus with the way things have gone for Catalyst so far... On a positive perspective however, I wouldn't call TWELVE dead by any means, just delayed. It was the true 'catalyst' (no pun intended) to the completion of this block, plus Novare already owns the land. Give it two years before we see a new rendering and a start on construction.