RVA2CLT

I figured it was too.. and more than likely posted by you! lol I did a search on the entire UP Charlotte Forum for 'Mellow Mushroom' and nothing came up as I try to be a responsible UP're and dig a bit before I go all willy nilly haphazardly posting repeat posts tat no one wants to re-read.

Am I'm I the only one who missed the announcement last month that the Catalyst is filling up some of their vacant street level retail space with a Mello Mushroom? I am so looking forward to next spring/summer and the new 3rd ward! total transformation. It's going to change the way and where I currently spend free time in uptown.

Better yet... Carolina Railhawks play LA Galaxy today in Cary! I love US Open Cup, so many good and rarely seen matchups this week.

It's going to be for the Lynx Express from 485 to CTC to handle all rush hour and special event volume. It will incorporate 4 cars and be the first mag-Lev light rail line. Part of the The 2090 plan.

Stumbled across a rendering of this project on skyscrapercity but, I'm unsure if it's been posted already elsewhere or is even up-to-date.

The issue is that none of this property is publicly owed, therefore this would need to be a private-partnership between Spectrum and Publix/Camden property owners. SENA has already reached-out to both parties in attempt to initiate a conversation for a collaborate on building a solution, perhaps with a little help/incentive from CCP and the neighborhood partners. No update as of yet though

Extra, extra, read all about! Fountains at Stonewall closed-on & construction starts in the fall with occupancy in 2015. There's a 360* video overview of the project, it appears there are units with balconies on the backside facing 277 but, the height at which the apartments are elveated above parking should allow most tenants a view of South End and the treeline of Dilworth. Video: http://youtu.be/TyS34iSvaYE Article Here

Hey, don't forget to celebrate!!...

This is awesome, a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcon (w/ chicks) has made a home on an executive office balcony @ One Wells Fargo in uptown. Wells Fargo even put a live streaming webcam on the nest. Article: http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/bank_notes/2013/05/new-face-in-wells-fargo-executive.html Nest Webcam: http://www.childressklein.com/falcon1.aspx

still nothing huh? The last I heard was in Dec 2011, the COO Leonard Bayer saying "there is no update on moving forward at this time" http://www.goodsteindevelopment.com/virginia.html#!JUSTOmatic[mixed]/2/ I wrote him again just this past week and am waiting on some hopeful news as sourcing equity for a project like this should become easier. I think if the 250 residential units were built to be leased as apartments that could be converted to condos when the market improves would help to get this mixed-use project off the ground.

"we have one rider in South End that checks out the same bike from the same dock every time." hahaha I think that might be me @ Bland Street, just out of routine I guess. I love my B-Cycle membership and their customer service; just need a dock at New Bern, Dilworth & Plaza Midwood now.

Wow the exterior aesthetics were done nicely. The usage of Art Deco elements for the signage/roof reminds me of movie theater from the 1920s/30s. Very cool.

^ Nay say if it pleases you. However, I have it from good authority that a road diet on South Blvd through Southend is part of the long-term plan. Especially after bringing local officials, CDOT and the media attention to it by basically having them attempt to cross the street during a rush hour. NBC Charlotte had a report/interview last night about the traffic, safety concerns and the first pedestrian refuge to be installed at Rensselaer (Crispy Crepe to Einstein). It will just take time and gradual implementation.

Here's the Press Kit from Center City Partners with the Rail Trail proposal. Some great renderings of what could be vs. what is currently there especially with all the unused patches of land from Bland up to 277.

Thanks for the info tozmervo, ah59396 I'll add that to my 'Big Book of Beer Essentials'!

With all the new craft brewers popping-up someone should start a Brewers Exchange Program so that craft brewers in CLT could exchange a couple of kegs with craft brewers in other cities Then put those "Exchanged" brews in a local bars where the brewer normally has a couple of taps so the local beer-enthusiasts get exposure to new regional/national local craft brews. Example: Triple C Brewing (CLT) exchanges their Light Rail IPA with Legend Brewing's (RVA) Golden IPA. Each brewer then has a 'Guest' tap where name of the guest brewer can be written-in

^^ This is actually the very first project and start to long-term traffic-calming plans on South Blvd through the neighborhood. Eventually there will be a road-diet a-la East Blvd through the neighborhood. Tryon is still being studied but, the more that SouthEnd-West is developed with new residences, like the 34 units by Gateway, the sooner a plan will come together. Also, the next initiative is focused on the Rail Trail. I encourage you all to come out to Byron's next Tuesday for the Rail Trail Vision Community Meeting to see what's envisioned and to share your ideas. The vision is to make the current trail into a series of interconnected vignettes/gardens/parks to become a destination shared by the all neighborhoods adjacent to the Light-Rail and to become a destination for the entire city and visitors.

^ Personally I think Gateway should be fast-tracked before the any of the other 3.3 billion rail-oriented transit projects. The #s prove the ridership is already their and growing and the need is real. Amtrak ridership hits record levels in fiscal 2013 Am I alone in thinking that it's most important to get a central hub for rail transit up & operational first so there is a real and tangible nexus for all future local & regional rail projects? With the way 3rd Ward is going to be by 2015, dirt needs to be moving on this project as of last month along with an approved extension of the Street car up to the station. It It just feels like this won't even begin to move until: (1) The NS Inter-modal Yard at the airport is complete and operation but mainly (2) The CRISP grade separation of CSX/NS at ADM Milling is complete and operational, especially with this bullet point of CRISP: The Amtrak New York City to New Orleans Crescent is currently the only passenger train that passes through the project area. Upon the completion of the Charlotte Gateway Station in Uptown Charlotte, six additional passenger trains will pass through the busy crossing, adding to the potential delays to freight and passenger train traffic. NCDOT is also proposing to add two additional Raleigh – Charlotte round trips in the near future. The project will eliminate potential delays to passenger train service due to freight trains passing through the crossing. So it just seems that until these 2 projects are completed, increased passenger train service to Charlotte will not proceed, thus, not warranting the construction of Gateway Station solely for the NC Regional trains & hopes of the Red Line coming to fruition. hurry up and wait..

"I'd buy that for a dollar!"

not sure if this is news but.... I just saw the official Publix 'Coming Soon' sign up on the South Blvd parcel across from Lowes.

I heard on NBC Charlotte this morning that the Fountains at Stonewall parcel should be closed-on in May and construction can get underway. They also mentioned that there ore talks of a multi-use tower being built on the parcel across from NASCAR HOF, but could be as much as 4/5 years away. I hope soemthign gets built on those open fields next to 277... every time I go by there they beg "develop us; give us purpose for being here!".. How long ago did they re-do those interchanges to free up that land anyway?

^^Nice, now if those lots on each corner of Bland and Tryon could get something developed we'd actually get a feel of neighborhood-cohesion with the part of South End on the west side of Tryon and maybe even start to feel a bit more urban through that part of the cooridor; hopefully begin traffic calming through there too.. (was that being too visionarily optimistic?)

^^ During previous conversations with the staff there, All American takes up that whole building. They have 3 additional uniquely designed bar areas that are only opened up for special events (New Years Eve) or private functions. I've never seen them open during normal daily operation so maybe they are looking for way to utilize the space to generate revenue that the "Pub" (term used extremely loosely) currently cannot generate by itself.

^Good read.. I got tired of waiting, so went ahead and borrowed some track and cars from the Blue line and started a line down Independence. ...then I woke up, took a shower & went to work... disclaimer: I did not create nor take credit for the image posted above

trying to compare I recalled reading Skyhouse (23 floors) being around the $60 Mil mark. http://m.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2013/01/novare-grubb-planning-uptown.html?page=all&r=full So could be a project of decent stature, if it's anything at all.