Rufus

Furthermore, just to use the DTRaleigh Forum, Johnathan Melton has said the two City-owned parcels in front of the PAC will be open space, and that they will determine next steps on the other parcel in the next few weeks. He mentioned he is in favor of resubmitting an RFI for multifamily mixed-use.

And that is the problem. Look, I get it, it's the easy route, but it really sucks and looks bad that our own university doesn't even get the chance or the push from the city to the BOG and SGA for these services. Charlotte should be banging the door of both to demand support like ECU got in the 70s for their medical school

I'm sorry but this just sucks big time for the second largest university in the state that calls this city home. I mean, we have UNC MBA here, Wake Forest medical school, and now Elon Law? Can the city actually nurture and support professional programs at its own university? Why is it that everything has to be outsourced by other universities not located in the city? And don't come at me with that prestige, they've been around longer story. This just cuts the university at its knees towards developing successful professional and research programs. It's amazing what it has done without the support of the city.

Off topic (slightly) -- I have always loved Dilworth Crescent. If I had the money, it's the top place I would choose to live in the city. And the view has always been a favorite.

From my understanding from a friend at Loughborough University, where the GAWC began, it's measured by some weird data, mostly having to do with global business and relevance. One look and seeing Luxembourg as a supposed Alpha city says everything you need to know, IMO

Those four parking decks drive me INSANE when I see this view.

I must be missing something bc I had no idea what's being discussed hahaha...is it privy to fill us in?

I don't disagree, but it is incredibly hard to get non-food retail to root themselves and be successful uptown. And now we have to worry about the retail pull of South End. I do believe there is a need to compliment the CVS with other service retail and then maybe sprinkle in a gift/design shop...again, look at DECO in Raleigh. A store like that uptown would make a killing.

I would caution from thinking that this will look/be similar to Pearl District. Hell, I'd be surprised if we have anything more than 10 stories. Not the worst thing to imagine. I would want to expect a good connection with streetscape. Don't just make it a fortress campus/group of buildings. Bring the public into the space.

I actually think the Pearl District has changed the game considerably. It has not only emboldened UNC Charlotte to be more aggressive with their uptown plans, but it also has become a springboard for other districts to be developed around the city. As I said a couple weeks ago, this has been part of the 2020 Vision plan since 2009, so I share in the cautiousness, but I think McColl's presence ramps this up considerably. But we need to be more aggressive with Levine. Hold his feet to the fire.

This assumed two things: 1. You might know something we don't 2. You don't think it will be successful I'll add my two cents here - I was super excited for Epicentre, even as it was VE'd to death. I think it serves a unique function as being the central source for retail Uptown. Now, that's only as a result of a vision that has otherwise gone awry. And I think the new owners should look at the rehab as twofold: quality of space and quality of tenant. The easiest to fix is the quality of space. Put money into upfitting this development so that it looks great. As I've always been told, under-promise and over-deliver. Do what you know you can do, at the best you can do it, but don't show us flashy renderings only for it to look awful in the end. It's ok if you can't make it the most super luxury space in city. Don't aim for that. And that leads to quality of tenant -- my suggestion? No bars. But that doesn't fly in reality. Remember that this space is supposed to serve tourists who are used to their chain restaurants, and employees who are used to finding quick spots to eat or grab necessities. Let CVS be the centerpoint of the development. Not kidding. Make it so everyone has to go to that CVS to get their toiletries for the nearby hotels. Same with restaurants. Variety in type and price is essential here. Finally, as much as I hate it, don't attempt a non-food retail lease unless you are able to lock that down for at least two years. And, look at places like DECO in Raleigh for non-food retail that can be successful here.

Full honesty, no one I knew went to that Food Lion when we were in school. Then again, this was 2006-2010. But Harris Teeter was larger and Target was just down the road too. Hell some of us went to the Trader Joes down Harris. But things have probably changed. Back to the redevelopment, this has been discussed ad nauseam. University Place all the north to the Flying Saucer center has always been the focus that is discussed.

Listen, I get it -- it's probably world's easier to get a restaurant to open, but with all of the new space, does everything now have to be a restaurant? I know it's hard to compete with the existing retail here and not far from here, but it just feels like we have too many restaurants here now. A little more variety would go a long way.

It's the Portman project that is currently under construction. Probably a favorite project among many UP members.

Reported by our friend, Jason Thomas on Instagram: Ralph Lauren opening at Phillips Place. How times have changed! Considering RL opened at SouthPark way back in 2006, and then sadly closed a couple years later, this is a great get for the shopping center. It fits right in with the vibe they have been trying build. Still haven't seen the official announcement for Rag & Bone, but I don't doubt there are others that know better than myself. I believe this leaves one or two spaces vacant? From what I can gather, RL is taking the corner space across from Orvis and 800 Degrees. That's a huge space...I wonder if they take up all of it?

I completely agree. Technology Square in Atlanta is referenced heavily, and that is a series of buildings spread across 8-ish blocks, and I think what I am meaning is that Tech Square wasn't built in a day, and neither will Charlotte's innovation district. For a bit, it's going to be only two buildings. Hell, it's only one building currently. That being said, the vision is to always be more than one building, more than one use. Someone knows this, but who owns the lot next to the Dubois Center? I thought the school owned it and had planned to develop an office building/educational building there at one point. Am I misunderstanding?

Can you elaborate? Are you meaning a series of buildings designed around a central space or connection of streets? I get what you're saying, and I think that is the plan at full build out, but it's likely gonna be just one or two buildings for a few years as they develop more programs. Again, totally agree with you, but would love to hear your vision.

I don't see why it shouldn't at least be considered. If that's not in the plans, then something is wrong. I love the Dubois Center, but there needs to be more than just one building for the school, and it should either be on the 7th and Tryon land or the land directly adjacent to the Dubois Center. This innovation district has been discussed since the 2020 Vision Plan, so I consider this better late than never. Actually, I'll believe it when I see shovels in the ground. With McColl at the helm, it bodes better than before. What better way to pivot from the news just a couple days ago to now entrenching the largest university in the region in Uptown?

Re: the Michael Smith of it all CCCP is your typical business improvement district, I guess, so it makes sense that they would push for office development. In BID world, residential is great, but not nearly as valuable as commercial, especially large office. There are certain limits to how the additional tax assessment is carried out on residential properties, especially rentals. Office development brings in the big bucks for companies like CCCP.

Ugh...I misread that and almost had a heart attack

Did I miss the Bonterra closing news?

And just for added effect: Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia Inc. is a Charlotte grad. Received his BSBA from the Belk College of Business.

I'm sorry...I know this discussion is important, but is there any way we can move this to the off-topic or politics thread and keep this for miscellaneous Uptown projects?

Sorry...Olympic history buff here...Chicago actually won the bid for the Games, but the Exposition in St. Louis demanded it be removed from the city because it would've taken away from the St. Louis Exposition. So they moved it to STL. At that time, the Exposition was the bigger deal in the world.

I'm having a hard time figuring out where Zara is going at the mall if it's going there at all. Aritzia is taking the massive space in the middle of the mall. There are 5 open retail spots (Vineyard Vines has closed), but they are all in different spots of the mall. Unless there is a major shifting of tenants, I just don't see it. Maybe some of you might know more.