maratletter

After reading the posts regarding the "improvements" made on Elizabeth Avenue between Charlottetowne and Hawthorne, I took a trip down said boulevard last evening. It appears to me that this stretch of road will be proven to be unsafe to adults, children, cars, trolleys, cats, dogs, bicycles, birds, aliens, insects and eventually, the politicians and developers who approved it.

With regard to your question about the greenway, I would recommend that you park at Freedom Park off of East Boulevard. You can access the greenway at several points within the park. You might want to ride your bikes in towards town until the greenway ends at Carolinas Medical Center. Then, you can turn around and ride back the way you came to the end of Freedom Park at Princeton. This adventure will be approximately the two mile ride that you desire. Along the way, enjoy the mallard ducks, various harmless snakes, turtles, herons, cardinals, robins, blue birds, Canadian geese, human animals and the glorious dogwoods, etc.

UNCC has just announced a building to be built downtown at Brevard and Ninth, per the CBJ. The renderings are pretty amazing, IMHO. A so called "stack of books" design.

I'm a "the glass is 75% full" type of person. It might be argued that someone flipping through the city pages would see several photos of big cities---big deal. However, subliminally, only one photo has "Charlotte" that may be written into the back of the mind. Some big decisions are made in our sleep; perhaps this photo enhances Charlotte's chance of being selected?

There is an interview with the president of the DCDA in the 12/26/08 CBJ regarding the ongoing battle between Dilworth and CHS. The following quote is rather interesting: "Dilworth is in high need of a municipal (parking) garage to keep those restaurants full five or six days a week. If you could have a dual-use garage (with the hospital), I think people would really welcome that."

N.C. budget woes delay the plans to establish a medical school at Carolinas Medical Center, per the CBJ.

I ate at the Wendy's across from the Metropolitan yesterday with my daughter. We went inside rather than navigate the "Matrix" like drive through at the Wendy's. We sat and watched the nightmarish traffic at around 4:30 PM. This area is perhaps not intended to support carbon based life forms. A fellow in an electric wheelchair made it halfway across Charlottetown Plaza before he was stranded by the "Good Samaritans" of Charlotte who would not stop or even slow down to let him complete his journey. Come Christmas shopping time, this road will bring even more excitement and high drama.

No, the Romans turned over the exclusive control to dictators known as emperors. Respectfully yours, Vespasian Titus Domitian

You had me right up to before that bit about "it's my duty as a resident of a diverse city." Ayn Rand

WSOC-TV just did a televised news report on what they called the hospital's "land grab" in Dilworth. The report was done by Susan Tran and is on their website for viewing at wsoctv.com. An interesting twist to the story has developed as it has come out that the hospital stands to acquire the streets/sidewalks/planting strips basically for free from the taxpayers once they own all of the properties on a street (such as Fountain View, Garden Terrace and Lombardy Circle).

"Today's O says East Blvd Bar and Grill is moving to Latta Pavillion in January. Which spot do you think?" Perhaps, the old Super Suppers spot might suffice, after renovations.

The Charlotte Observer has finally dropped the news blackout on the story of the acquisition of Dilworth by Carolinas Healthcare System. The front page article on today's print edition spells out in detail the legitimate concerns of the residents of The Four Blocks. However, in my opinion, the hospital continues its trifling "no answer" answer to simple questions. The plot thickens.

I love the black and white picture of the "General Parking." Very film noir like. I have always thought that there are more colors to be seen in a black and white photo, if you know what I mean. It is a very powerful photo.

It is truly a sad day in Dilworth. The Charlotte Business Journal is reporting in their 08/22/08 print version that "Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) is to tear down homes in Dilworth." The announcement of the death sentence came quickly. At the same time, CHS inexplicably announced in a letter that "A project to utilize these properties does not exist, nor has a specific plan or project to utilize them ever existed." To further add to the bizarre nature of what is going on, Mayor Pat took time off of the campaign trail to reassure affected homeowners and families with an e-mail that the plan (that does not exist) "may not come before City Council for years or decades." You couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. Everyone may want to visit what is now affectionately being called "The Four Blocks" before it is attacked by the wrecking ball. Yes, Scott Avenue, Fountain View, Garden Terrace and Lombardy Circle as we know them will no longer be with us (not to mention the best part of East Boulevard that will also be removed in a dump truck). Both the DCDA and the Charlotte Observer continue to choose to remain silent on this historical and important event.

The houses on Kenilworth that were destroyed to create a cavern of parking decks were beautiful and magnificent in character. It has somehow been lost to the sands of time that in 2002, it was reported in print that the hospital committed to wrap the new parking deck with a combination of retail and residential space. When is this obligation going to be met by the hospital? It certainly isn't like they can't afford it. It is the same old tired story: Promises are made, but not kept.

Actually, CMC is in a hurry to buy the houses on Fountain View, Garden Terrace and to a lesser extent, on Lombardy Circle. The hospital's problem is that the affected homeowners have come together in the last few months to form a very well informed group that has educated everyone as to the ever increasing value of their land. This new found knowledge is creating somewhat of an impasse as CMC is having difficulty in opening up their massive pocketbook. However, time is on the side of the homeowners in this "game." The DCDA, who had to be informed by the homeowners that this was even going on, has now decided to jump on the bandwagon and support the homeowners. A letter from the DCDA to elected officials is forthcoming and should be sent in the next few days. The politicians have universally claimed to be clueless and have been of no help to the homeowners/voters, so far. Different media outlets are monitoring this and there may be some press soon that will shine a light on what is apparently desperately being hid from the public.

WBTV news had a news report tonight about Carolinas Medical Center gobbling up Dilworth. There was a picture of a computer screen that was taken from Urban Planet---->a post by PlazaMidwoodGuy is focused on for an instant. The battle continues over here to find out what CMC is up to. The adjective "stealthy" has been used to describe their behavior. Why they are going to such great lengths to hide the "secret" of the location of the medical school is beyond me. They should know by now that they will have to pay what it costs to acquire the remaining properties. Besides, they have over $1.5 Billion in funds for capital expenditures. All of the homeowners are now all very well informed as to the true value of their properties.

This is hereby nominated for the post of the year; perhaps the decade. The dichotomy between reality and "victimhood" has rarely been shown with such clarity.

No. The lines in the drawing are the normal power lines on the Scott side nearest to CMC. The high-tension wires that run along Kenilworth are not even shown in the rendering.

Things are not always as they seem. It could be that CMC's unexpected ambivalence towards Presbyterian's recently announced expansion plans may perhaps be explained by events and announcements to come in the somewhat near future. One does not complain very loudly about the expansion of a regulated competitor when one's own expansion plans could be much grander and historical. Also, it seems that a local developer may have within the last few weeks mailed unsolicited offers to purchase letters to some residents on Fountain View and Garden Terrace that state as follows: "_______ has been active in your neighborhood acquiring property for a future mixed use development. Should you have an interest, we would like to discuss the possible acquisition of your property at the above referenced address."

Oh really? Long-term rates are market driven. Long-term interest rates, as represented by yields of the 10-year or 30-year Treasury bond, tend to move in anticipation of changes in the economy and inflation. The Federal Reserve Board only controls the short-term federal funds rate. The Federal Reserve Board (Fed) has the power to raise or lower the federal funds target rate (Fed funds rate), which in turn influences the market for shorter-term securities. The Fed funds rate is the rate banks charge other banks for overnight loans. The Fed may raise the rate to keep inflation in check or lower it to stimulate the economy. Interest rates and bond prices have an inverse relationship. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall. Conversely, when interest rates decline, bond prices tend to rise.

I seem to recall that some years ago, the Sheriff of Mecklenburg County at that time said that "Charlotte is a big little city." For me, this about sums it up. It is an existential type of thing for many. Where I live, Charlotte is small for my reality. For others, they might experience Charlotte as being large. Both realities are what they are and are both "true" at the same time. I find this to be part of Charlotte's charm and I do not get up against it (not that others do; how would I know such a thing?). I embrace said charm and love it.

I believe that the Boston Garden was demolished in November of 1997.