Andyc545

Do they go 55 mph? That is what seems to be the problem for running it the length of of the Blue Line. I was referring to dubone's comment about running the length, not it's current path to S. End where there is a slower speed limit (35mph I believe). If they are capable of going 55, then I stand corrected, but if not, there is danger of running two lines at different speeds. I have first hand knowledge that I know that one party (not sure if it were the FTA or not) did not allow the trolleys and light rail to originally run on the same track because in the event of a collision, those on a trolley would be prone to much more severe injury than those on the light rail. They lifted it because there was an agreement to limit the usage of the trolley to off peak times, such as it's doing now, and limit the distance, such as they are doing now.

Thanks guys. He's receiving the feedback and appreciates it.

I think I posted an idea a while ago about this. Bricks, like at the NASCAR HofF could be used by people donating to something like Breast Cancer or Cleaning the Air or whatever for that matter, in return they get one brick with their name on it or something along those lines. Get corporate sponsors like Novare, Wachovia, BofA, whatever to donate for any missing bricks if there are any. A little can go a long way. Even at a dollar a brick or 5 dollars a brick, that would well make up the cost of bricks. If a brick company or engraver would donate some of the time and effort, and take like half the cut could possibly receieve tax breaks possibly. Just an underlying idea, certainly the ideas are endless. This would ultimately show good patronage, city dedication, and be a whole attraction in itself.

Speed. At 7 minute intervals, the light rail would catch up with the trolley ultimately putting people in danger and asking for a collision. On top of that, it is not legal for them to run together without adequate timing in between, which slows down the whole process. In fact, before the trolley was deemed inoperable on the same tracks as LYNX due to safety concerns but later was persuaded to run at off peak times. I'd imagine if there was ever an incident with the trolley/LYNX together that the trolley will be forced to shut down (as far as the same track operations). I remember hearing that the trolley's only max on at 35mph, but I'm not positive about that. I really think the system is maxed as far as operating both forms of transportation. Running LYNX would really provide the maximum capacity. I guess they could theoretically combine multiple trolleys together, but if less than 100 are riding per day, then it would seem impractical.

There was a more detailed presentation of Bearden Park that outlines the smaller and detailed parts to the project. It can be viewed here. The site plan is still the same, but it paints a better picture of all of the interactive aspects and qualities- like the fountain, signage, dance pad (?!), and wind chimes amongst other things.

My brother was in town and he brought in his gear, so I'm posting this for him. I'm sure I'll post more, this is the one he has up so far. I'll give him the credit since it was NOT my taking: His website is here. He has a Nikon D50 and the lens he was using on this was a Sigma 10-20mm for those that are photo buffs. He is beyond my expertise so any questions/comments I'll forward to him or you can leave him something on his Flickr. EDIT: Same camera/lens/Brother: Skyline from Royal Court Area: Avenue from the Amenities Deck. Center City: Sorry for the excess... Just wanted to post his work since he was here for a limited time and it's sort of an outsiders view.

I was really just figuring those stains were dirt. They were all over the building and I figured they would pressure wash the buildings after construction is completed in those areas. On another note, there are a bunch of porta-potty's lined up, very noticeably from College Street, I'm assuming for the pavilion on Thursdays. Anyone have any insight about if they are installing permanent bathrooms or something else? I just can't fathom having porta-potty's sitting on site after it's complete. These don't appear to be construction toilet's either since they have signs and and paths that lead from the bars and pavilion specifically to them, with little Bud Light signs.

Here's a little photo tour from Sunday 08-24: The new pedestrian bridge: aLoft: EIFS, Colored EIFS, and nice windows: Howl and Whiskey: Elevator Shaft (All Glass thankfully) that goes underground to parking: Bowling and Movie Theater entrance side of EpiCentre: And to close up, the look of the colored EpiCentre on aLoft: I think if aLoft used a brick exterior, it would have balanced out the EpiCentre EIFS much better and looked to be a much higher quality overall product. The EIFS is a bit overwhelming for an uptown development, IMO, but where they have used brick, I have enjoyed the feeling that it endures. Overall, I do enjoy the feeling, the views, and the properties that are currently and look to be soon opening at EpiCentre. It looks like PJ's, rhe Bank of America Branch, and Flemings will be opening next since they have their signs up and look to be wrapping up work.

This is from Sunday:

Woah, woah, woah now. Let's not jump the gun. Novare is still going with Catalyst and they even said that sales are expected to be slower now and pick up over the winter. It's a bad economic situation but there are available buyers possibly from The Park and 210 and future buyers. They are also optimistic about the future and economic conditions picking up here. It's just a crane now. If it were financial hardships, they would be more eager to get rid of the thing and stop paying for it to sit there (I know they are on contract). It's a crane on a construction site, it's not a shock to me like the removal of everything on 210 trade or a dormant Park. My guess is they are just letting it sit there, lowered so it is uninterupted from falling on Panther's fans for the immediate games for tailgating (anyone see the interviews they did on Fox about that after the one preseason game), and it will just be moved to the office tower or used for misc stuff throughout the site, or maybe just waiting to be removed by the crane company.

I may have been an Electronics Team Leader back in the day . I actually prefer the Target now versus a Super Target. This Tarjay offers a larger amount of grocery than typical Targets but of course not as extensive as the Super. A Super Target would have likely added even more vehicle traffic and doesn't sound the most "Urban Friendly". Although it's specialty, there will be a grocer on site.

I'd believe it actually. The first 2 months Met Target was up there with the Stonecrest Target which has the greatest sales in the metro and is in the top 75 of the country for sales. I remember from a few years ago hearing that the Met Target wasn't expected to bring huge profits initially and was more to serve the demographics and take hold of the land now, although things are looking much brighter than the original thoughts. For the record, also, the headquarters in Minneapolis shares all sales and stats for each store and any Target employee would have access to all of this. Managers announce sales and stats of Charlotte stores typically on a daily basis, so that employee was probally quite accurate.

I'd assume so but I didn't actually go look.

To clear up the location of a few stores: West Elm is labeled to be located across from the Best Buy in the new grouping of smaller stores, where the two story section of the Met is facing the Greenway. It will have a signature corner sort of facing the Target/HD. The Trader Joes is taking up the last remaining larger spot on the building grouping that is currently being completed (the section with BB/Staples/Marshalls). It will be on the opposite side of the development as to the BB/Staples/Marshalls across the parking deck. There will be an entrance on the first floor of the deck, similar how Staples and Marshalls is. I went to the Staples and the Marshalls today and they both, like the Target, feel just like their stores in the Burbs' except maybe on a slightly smaller scale.

Can you provide a link with this report so that others may be able to read this study? Surely some buses run fuller than others pending on its location and time of day, but I don't really get how that is CATs providing poor service versus just what the demand is. I provided a general opinion above (^) stating the success that LYNX is running successfully based on facts that state that we are currently almost running to 2025 standards. This is success, we have been exceeding projections since day one and each month has generally increased from around 9500 daily to nearly 17000 daily. I ran on facts and numbers, that is unless if the O completely screwed up on these projections which they could have although I doubt since it should have came directly from CATs.

Wish it was centered better... but enjoy!

Don't they have all of the trains equipped with sensors now at the doors so it counts the amount of movement in and out of a train, then just divide it by 2 assuming each person is entering and leaving once. This could realistically give an accurate estimate on a daily basis since these should be monitored and sent directly to the main computer system at the operating center. I don't know how much of an effect events have although they should have a general positive contribution, but I do know our ridership is truly unbelievable and I don't think that can be argued.

From tonight... and... Hooters!

I hope the area retains its historical integrity and feeling that it currently does. I imagine it as a lot of redone lofts and store fronts in some of the industrial buildings. A similar treatment as S. End, but a totally different style and personality that S. End has.

Fair enough. Pertaining to "out of box thinking"... The point is that maybe they aren't adequate thinkers to you because they aren't finding the answer to a problem that the whole world is coping with, but they did express and invent a specific interpretation for this specific area. It's that whole "don't reinvent the wheel" concept. It's the same thing- they aren't reinventing a cap- they have expressed a design that works for the area, or maybe it doesn't work- that is what is up for discussion and opinion so that it can be improved and changed. Either way it's a concept that can now be built upon. You sound like you have the answer then? If so, I'd be curious to your answer, as long as it's realistic, and I'm sure the city would be equally as interested. I respect your opinion, but I do think there is more than one solution, it's just lining it up to find what is best for the city and its citizens.

There are many issues all around Charlotte, all over the country, and all over the world! What does this freeway cap have to do with all of these problems though? This is a completely separate factor that is being analyzed. If you want to play these games, then we should analyze why the NASCAR HofF is being built which has no purpose to air quality or improving these "city problems" that you so desirably speak of since it just going to be a tourist destination. What about those homes built on Lake Norman or Ballantyne? You want to solve these air quality problems.... then maybe we should demo them since those are the citizens that are contributing to the poor air quality by driving their SUV's and vehicles 20 miles to uptown every work day. Certainly there are many problems that need to be dealt with, but I don't see the significants of bringing air quality problems and trying to justify it by coorilating to what you consider to be issues of less sevarity. It's going to start with improving the little things in the city as a whole and repair problems that exist to start problem solving the macro-scale problems that you speak of. Edit: I also didn't say anything about property values. Since you did bring it up, however, everything is correlated... Higher land values could essentially have a turn on more money to the city (or is it the state that owns the right of way on this). Either way, taking money that is currently in developers hands could provide much needed money to help fix some of these macro-problems. The way you talk about air pollution makes me believe that you want the whole city to stop in its shoes and have everything dedicated to reducing air pollution, which is not just impractical, its stupid. Stupid because you are putting other things at risk and opening a door for a new macro-scale problem to evolve. And there are many people dedicated to working on the worlds air quality problems, since it's not just a Charlotte problem. In this case we have a group working on a solving method that is a problem enough that the City of Charlotte seems to think it is, as well as others here on UP. I'm a huge fan of mass transit and finding new technologies to reduce air pollution, but I find it extremely unfair to single out this one topic, when there are many others out there, and discredit it because it doesn't solve a problem that it's not meant to.

I never said this was the only solution nor did I say that this was the solution. I merely pointed out that someone has came up with a solution, one that solves the problems that 277 has endured, and one that places some extra "icing on the cake" if you will, which admirably is not needed, but it adds other elements, such as park space, land for development, etc etc etc. Certainly I can think of several other solutions on the top of my head, including demoing 277, seperate pedestrian bridges, to widening College or Tryon to accommodate separate bike lanes and pedestrian lanes. There are many other options out there also. There are always more than one way to solve a problem. In this case, someone with high aspirations have done a quick design, drawings, and if I recall hearing from someone else in person, even a fly through computer animation at the presentation. I said this earlier on, I don't even believe this design will bite, not in the next 10 years at least, let alone by 2010. I am typically the optimist, and after 300 S. Tryon bit the dust, I lost a lot of optimism since this project is about 10 times more unlikely to occur than 300 S Tryon (which was a very prominant project, already completed with land aquisition, land testing and stabilizing of Latta, advertising, and hell- they had a multi-million dollar piece of property with a Tryon address and a large profile park in the back). Also not saying that 300 will reemerge either, but back on topic. The cap project is a beginning step to get people talking, if anything, and also gives something visually for the general public to ponder upon. If this can be the thing that puts an end to this historical reoccurance that you had mentioned, Monsoon, as far as the project poking its head every 2 years, then this would be a breakthrough. Maybe over the next few years as a coorolation amongst all parties, the perfect plan can be implemented. Maybe it's a cap such as those presented, maybe it's something completely different. Point is that there is a problem and there is a solution. Sooner or later its bound to happen that we see something represeted in the form of a solution. Any reason we can endulge in what has been presented so far? I think there are great concepts and "large" thinkers here. We do have a hefty corporate representation in this city, lots of money... I don't think anything is impossible in this city, nor do I feel like I should demote the ideas that have appeared this week.

None of the concepts were made with as final concepts, they were just created to help jump start the design process and help put visuals in the public's mind to help acquire feedback. They were drawn up in a matter of a week from one companies perspective and I don't think they acknowledged all current conditions and demands, but were set to put down an under layer to be built upon and changed. Now that they are out there, we can all visualize concepts, give feedback as we are doing, and see how we can perfect a plan at a feasible net overall cost (that is the final cost put by taxpayers or the city or whomever after land is sold off and other parties provide dedicated funds) that solves problems that exist in the first place- that is the physical and mental barrier that 277 provides killing off accessibility from the streetgrid, bicycling, and pedestrians, as well as the isolation in endures due 277 acting as a barrier. Both initial plans solve the problems to its ability and both provide some "icing on the cake", which is what is almost expected after undertaking such a masive plan. ^ I do like the idea of the hybrid, providing a smaller Blvd and more park land, but still creating land for development. The thing that the Blvd plan did allow, though, was it covered the footprint of the interstate so that any development would be built on solid foundations instead of requiring add'l restructuring to be capable of supporting development on top of a cap. I wonder if there is enough room to allow 2 parallel city streets instead of one Blvd on the cap. In the center could be park land and even low rise shops, and then on the outsides of both streets would meet the solidified land that development can be built upon, allowing highrises.

When I spoke to the mgr of EBG's a few months ago, he said they had their lease extended one year but didn't know what CMC's plans or intentions were with the property, except that they were confronted about it. He was still unsure if they would be able to resume business in their current location but did state they were looking for new property in case it ended up that way but had no official word on where they would be in a year or two, just assured that they would be around...

Here's a solution. The money should be split to upgrading both 77, 485, and 85 to toll roads or to include the "pay lanes" and then that would incur a second funding method from NCDOT's. Proceeds initially can be used to finish upgrading all of the demands mentioned, then any proceeds from there on out can be used towards mass transit for the corresponding toll exits (Meck tolls go to the 2030 plan, Cabarrus tolls go to mass transit for Concord or expansions of the Charlotte 2030 into Cabarrus, etc.).