archiham04

You know, in retrospect the Thirsty Beaver probably does more to sell that apartment complex than any "amenity" they could have pursued. Starbucks is pretty solid draw too. If I were building a building, I would probably rather have a definite starbuck and a little less sf than I would a maybe starbucks and more sf. The draw for East Blvd is getting weaker and weaker with all the competition out there. I think they need the Starbucks.

Welcome @slipperypete Is that really the issue with Lidl? I thought it was internal Lidl issues.

what is an "urban improvement project"? Gov funded?

I don't know for sure if this the case with these properties, but there were a fair number of developer owned neighborhoods built in Charlotte in the 40s 50s and 60s that were "affordable" or entry level rentals. Over time they seemed to be offered to tenants with Section 8 vouchers. I think folks think of subsidized housing as government project housing only, but in Charlotte, there was, by the 1990s, a fair amount of privately owned housing that was essentially subsidized by vouchers. So yes and no. The original demand for these homes was probably spawned from the demand created when affordable units were bulldozed, but no, these were not likely government built as a part of urban renewal.

Here is a recent article debating the pro and cons and the history of pedestrian malls. Of all the options in Charlotte, Camden is the only one that kind of makes sense to me. There are SO many traffic problems with its proximity to the Trail Trail and the Light rail line. Maybe if they left it open for delivery vehicles and permitted cars, but closed Tremont and West Blvd intersections... https://www.planetizen.com/news/2019/10/106451-past-and-future-pedestrian-malls

I don't think any street should be closed. Raleigh's Pedestrian Mall was a decades long turd burger. https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-may-learning-from-raleigh-nc-fayetteville-street-renaissance https://rhdc.org/fayetteville-street-historic-district-1

I oscillate widely on Historic District Designation and Preservation. The polar vortex today has me feeling a little cynical of preservation in the face of affordable housing, and housing diversity deficiencies. I like that we have historic districts. I don't really feel like we need more right now, and I am wanting to embrace our evolving and everchanging neighborhoods. Not sure I can do that but I want to...

I just did some updating around the Scaleybark Station: Stax rezoning, LoSo Station development... I'm not totally up to date, but hopefully got it close

I don't know if "BV" is big enough, but I think Eastland is. My strategy for Eastlandwould have a graduated, below market, homesteader, weighted lottery: weighted toward qualified buyers with proven nearby long-term residency. The only deed restriction would only be that the parcel could never be combined with another (to prevent speculators). The development would be subsidized with infrastructure improvements and pre-approved building type permits.

I think selling off land piecemeal with deed restrictions is brilliant. It is a strategy I promoted for EastLANDa few years ago. I'm not sure what BV and Peebles refers to, but I like "piecemeal" and "deed restricted". EDIT:ok... Brooklyn Village and Peebles is the developer. EDIT 2 sorry, Eastland not Eastway

That looks like a leak waiting to happen...

We had to restrict editing after some overzealous tinker-ers got a hold of it and wiped it clean. Just added this one EDIT... but I might have been deleted on purpose. it was there at one point. Anyone know if this got cancelled? the article referenced is from January.

^agreed, I have toured the building. It is really awkward .

I wonder if that change is allowed?

I don't think they used thin brick. I think this is a stamped precast concrete pattern. I don't know if it would have made any difference.

^Dan Morrill posted on fb: "multi- story commercial building with parking deck" "maybe a branch bank". Also tearing down the funeral home house behind.

I get that.

Welcome to Urban Planet! @CLTdev18

Has anyone pointed out the classic Furman Confetti decoration at the back? a tell tale sign that the rear of of this will be another MASSIVE parking deck. overlooking Camden

They have a traffic light at Clement, a fourway stop sign at Commonwealth (probably soon to be a light), at least four additional curb cuts, and hundreds of feet of street frontage. I get that it is a little helter skelter right now, but in the grand scheme of things, ingress/egress seems pretty manageable to me.

Agreed. Regardless of the initial blame, at this point it should be obvious what the requirements are and as design build, the contractor will be responsible 100%

East Blvd prior to the diet was a death trap. I used to watch collisions from the restaurant patios.

Gordon street intersection is a little close to Central. The CDOT traffic nazis will likley requrire a larger distance to improve safety. It might also make a better block off central. Maybe change that gordon row into a service alley to avoid a megablock development...

doesn't she also own Midwood Corners? Any rumblings on that property?