Urbanity

As JerseyBoy said: Correct. Also the DNC did something even greater than ban lobbyist from contributing for the 2012 convention: They banned any contribution in excess of $100,000. As I quoted in the Tampa Bay Article, "The Tampa Bay Host Committee received about 91 percent of its money in six- or seven-figure increments. " It's why I am very appreciative to this day of what Charlotte pulled off - which most media said was not only the larger, but the better of the two conventions.

I know we are not going for the 2016 RNC, but I thought this article about Tampa passing up the opportunity to submit a proposal for the 2016 DNC underscores both the incredible job the city did for the DNC with it's limitations on funding as well as corrects a misunderstanding I've heard before that Charlotte did a poor job raising money which somehow gets twisted into Charlotte not having the money pockets/ability to hold other large scale events in the future.

To bring this back around my comment was in regards to three co-workers who live in SC and complain bitterly about how NC and Charlotte in particular do things, but have built their lives around us... I actually had a converstation with one yesterday about the streetcar and he basically somehow found a was to interject "Obamacare" as a rationale for his detest of the streetcar. I. kid. you. not. Now that ain't all suburbanites. And it ain't all of people who live in South Carolina. But it does seem to be the majority of that vocal minority who shake their fist at the sky, spit on the ground and scream boondoggle every time any discussion about municipal infrastructure investments (outside of more highways) are discussed.

^Ha I work with a few people (at a NC State institution) who live in South Carolina and commute here everyday to the North side. I can't tell you how many times the following two things are a subject of conversations from them They live in SC because they don't trust NC with all its taxes and evil government big spending (I exaggerate only for succinctness) They think Charlotte should build better highways for them to get to work because they sit in so much traffic uhm, ya....

From CBJ slideshow of Chef Rocco Whalen's rooftop Fahrenheit restaurant. My added part of the caption in bold. "Fahrenheit restaurant offers a private dining room that seats 60. Guests can look out over the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center complex of buildings and First Baptist Church... and puke" That has got to be the most unsexy view of Charlotte I've seen in recent memory

I am thrilled with the momentum of the streetcar. Let's just hope we do get the funding for Phase II. I do wish it went all the way to the Plaza though, but I'll take any steps forward.

^Except we are talking about Daniel Levine... (otherwise you are right)

Ok - I believe this is the NCDOT befind this tallying of votes. If so that speaks volumes of how they decide things. CBJ: Charlotte property owners vote against noise walls but unreturned ballots count as ‘yes’ My favorite example: "However, the walls were approved for property owners in Fourth Ward, which only sent in 58 percent of the ballots — again, largely voting against."

Agreed with Niner National. Besides - Charlotte's problem has been that it grows OUT all the time to the detriment of the city core: Ballanytne, University City, planned new airport area city, etc. Charlotte doesn't need to grow OUT - It needs to grow IN-fill.

I don't mind bulky if the street level is done right. There were the renderings for the tower planned for Durham that had several individualized sectional fronts that looked liked a bunch of different buildings - all with a tower rising from it. That said - My main concern for this area of the city is brick and retail: slick and slender or fat and bulky be damned.

Was in Uptown on Tryon between trade and Mint Museum this Saturday and noted several blocks of streetlights were either completely out or only half lit. Is anyone aware of an issue - or perhaps they are changing the lighting to LED (btw these are not the high streetlights, but the lower hanging globe types.

I happen to pass their stand/store once a week, every week, for several months now - and to be honest I am surprised that they are getting a full service store. My comments are not about the product but the lack of people I (don't) witness at their free standing store for months now.

^I don't think there is a topic on that. On a related note - That idea is at the heart of the 2020 Center City Plan for 2nd Ward (Actually they want to make a Boulevard loop through all 4 wards, but I think the potential is strongest in Stonewall section) Edit: See Stonewall/277 Section: http://files.charlottecentercity.org/2020/Charlotte2020VisionPlan_4_FocusAreas.pdf

^WOW! Looks like a mining town to be honest

^I would think (prefer) they just took over the Macy's spot myself.

I lived in the area at that time and they had no problems filling the place any time I went or even walked by when it first expanded. In fact before they expanded I remember sometimes at peak having to wait a little for a table so the expansion seemed a no-brainer. The controversy happened and the subsequent boycott was all not long after the expansion and cost them big. Edit: info on controversy and boycott: http://www.qcitymetro.com/news/articles/a_partnership_ends_amid_allegations_of_racism112455247.cfm

Seas of asphalt with occasional buildings by any other name... Ballantyne is a glorified and expensive office park - nothing more.

What Cherry St McMansions?

^That's the old Therapy space! Cool.

I don't mind (too much) the retail issue considering the location is far from starving for it, but I wish the city planners wouldn''t allow developers to stifle retail markets just as they are taking off. The CBJ says the building could be as high as 285 square feet which is about what 20-25 stories? Of course it's Daniel Levine so uhm, yeah...

^I assume the old Therapy space?

Well after seeing the ideas such as "Abolishing the City of Charlotte" and "No trash on your property law" I kind of think the whole thing is like citydata with petitions....

In truth as someone not from Charlotte originally - I find most of the " knee-jerk, mostly baseless hate for Atlanta" to be more of a fear of Charlotte being Atlanta (with perceptions of huge mega-city problems) someday than of any hate against the city itself. It's almost cliche to say Charlotte people hate Atlanta or that Charlotte has a desire to be Atlanta. Sometimes its as simple as people are afraid of losing the city they grew up in or moved to originally.

I would suspect it has more to do with deference to his uncle rather than Daniel's own influence.

Just an anecdotal chuckle/cry. I am amazed at how many people I work with on Campus still have no idea where the BLE will run in its final few stops. Some think it will end at the 485, some have no idea that it is going to run down Tryon in the University City area (I had two people tell me it was impossible) and some think it will not actually stop on campus! My favorite - Just yesterday someone actually said they thought the city cancelled the whole thing a few years ago! Le sigh!