udut

Smith Street is slated to become a median striped boulevard from 6th and possibly Trade, to 10th Street. The rail crossings at 9th, and Seaboard Streets will be permanently closed. Access to the Music Factory area will be via a new road being build in conjunction with Noah Lazus and the city connecting it to Graham Street around where 12th Street meets Graham. The other access to the Music Factory site will be through the Greenville neighborhood. There are no plans to bridge over the rail line. Speaking of the rail line, the east - west line that runs between the cemetery and the Music Factory will be dropped below grade creating a "valley" between the two. This will also eliminate the crossing of the east-west line and the north-south line by the ADM plant. UDUT

The VUE is a watershed development. By its very nature it needs to standout from everything else. When construction actually does start, and that is supposed to be Wednesday the 26th according to the new developer, it should spur changes within a 1/2 mile radius. I know Citadin will be following shortly, (April) with the planned demolition of the apartments on Graham. I expect the former Polk Building to also come down within the next 6 months, if'n it doesn't just fall down itself! That development will follow with both condo and apartments with retail on the ground floor. The Girard Tire parking lot on the corner of 7th and Graham will probably follow with a Novare or Furman development in the 20 - 25 story range. The 6th street site between Pine and Graham should also follow with low rise development of flats over retail. The land immediately behind Presto Grill is also in play. That whole 3rd - 4th Ward area will begin to look like the Wachovia sea of cranes soon. UD