Yulupa76

[The above post is in reference to the site of Pool Supply company on the corner of Central and Hawthorne and the neighboring parcels owned by the same developer].

I ran into the owner/developer at a neighborhood association meeting a couple months ago. Very nice guy with deep roots in Charlotte. He is not a fan of what has been happening in PM or South End in terms of block after block of insipid apartment buildings and the resulting loss of prime retail/commercial space. [Overton Row - the new apartment complex catty-cornered to this site - is perhaps the worst example imo. It has to rank as one of the ugliest, and and the lack of retail (except for the surviving Thirsty Beaver! ) on that corner is inexcusable.] The vision he shared with me included a mix of several restaurants and retail shops. It was a while ago, but I think I recall we also discussed the need for more entertainment venues (live music etc). A grocery store was also mentioned as a possibility but if one goes in he is intent not to repeat the mistake Harris Teeter made with the Plaza Midwood store in terms of wasted real estate, He really emphasized he intended to do a very high quality (in terms of urban architectural design) development. Let's just say the plan is not for anything resembling a suburban strip mall with a food lion. I don't know anything about where things stand in terms of planning or financing (still very early I think), but based on what he described if sounds like what he intends will positively transform that section of Central and Hawthorne. Whatever happens with this site, odds are it will be finished before the Hawthorne bridge

If it looks anything like the photo you provided it will provide me some consolation at seeing valuable/very limited commercial space being converted to residential in a neighborhood that is arguably already overdeveloped in terms of the number of residents the local infrastructure can support with hundreds of units in the soon to be finished in the second phase of the Northwood Ravin development between Central and McClintock. Also, I really liked the look of the corner scooter/moped shop that was torn down the other day to make way for this project. It was the one building in that strip along Central I thought worth preserving from an architectural point of view. It would have made a great restaurant or retail space. At least I can take some solace that the design of these townhomes will likely be a huge improvement compared to the awful stuff Drakeford is putting up. It makes me sick to think I will have to look at the Lomax every time I go for groceries at HT- might look alright out in Indian Trail or Mint Hill but all wrong for PM imo.

^ Regarding the former Penguin (more recently Comida) space: as reported several months back in the Business Journal, Charlotte Magazine and more recently in the Charlotte Agenda the restaurant will be named "N.C. Red "and is expected to open Q1 of this year. Moffet Restaurant Group (Barrington’s / Good Food on Montford / Stagioni )is behind it . Bruce Moffett described it as being a mix of southern and northeastern ("Red" in the name is a reference to Rhode Island) - fried chicken, collard greens etc. meets lobster rolls/oysters etc. Charlotte Magazine had a good article on it back in May. Moffet Group also announced plans about the same time (last summer) to open a ramen/asian restaurant in Optimist Park (Thompkins Hall) called Bao + Broth. Not sure when that is expect to open.

The plan I saw was for two single-family homes believe it or not. I was hoping they would make into public space (a little park with a fountain, benches, rose garden or something, where people could sit while walking their dogs, but there's no profit in that I guess and parks, art, architecture, and general aesthetics have no real economic value - otherwise how do you explain the Family Dollar shopping center on Central, which btw is about to add a Five Guys to the list of tenants? I am very disappointed with Northwood Ravin. They represented at the community meetings that the buildings would be architecturally distinct from one another such that they would not look like they were all part of a single develpment and that there would be ample public space incorporated into the development (with landscaping done by LandDesign). Nice goal/sentiment, but an unfulfilled promise imo. Walking my dog through the area I see virtually no public space unless you count the parking lots behind the buildings. There is one miserable looking fire pit between two of the buildings on McClintock but other than that nothing from what I can see. As far as architecturally distinct, if you consider alternating siding type, color and roof angle, then yeah, mission accomplished. The end result falls far short of the Morningside Village envisioned by the defunct predecessor-in-interest Graham Development in the heady days of 2006. At the end of the day, just another pseudo-urban, car-centric, traffic congestion nightmare. The token retail component of phase 2 can't absolve NRW of the sin (especially since they had no part in making it a requirement). But, as everyone always says (especially apartment developers, who are keen to remind complaining neighbors) - it could have been worse (i.e. "we could have made it uglier and cheaper") so shut up and enjoy your future 40 minute 3 mile commute to uptown and enjoy the insane social experiment (think Mad Max at 0.2 mph) that the Harris Teeter parking lot will become in just a few more months. They (the developers) of course will live nowhere near the mess, but since this is NC the big developers, now with the aid of their hand puppets in the Republican-controlled legislature, rule and therefore write the rules. Having said that, I will be somewhat gratified if NRW keeps to their promise to not flip the property (not to be a "drive-by" development, just a must-drive a short distance, and very slowly, development). My insomnia-inspired rant is now over (I guess I should not have waited so long to post again -too much pent up disgust/cynicism.) P.S.; In my next installment, in the interest of fairness I might take a shot at the Democrats who imo are in other ways just as much responsible for undermining urban progress. Logic does not dictate that if one side is wrong, the other must be right. Now let's see if there are any old Twilight Zone reruns on at 2:00 a.m.

^ The rezoning petition filed by Drakeford for the townhomes on McClintock near the HT is 2015-026.

^ Ok, that makes sense. I really doubt the owner's budget would include a line item for useless things like landscaping. Plus that bit of green could potentially obstruct the view of the parking lot and destroy the ambience the owner has so thoughtfully created and preserved over the years.

What is that green stuff on the patio and the things that look like trees?

Drakeford Development is potentially planning a townhouse development on both sides of the 2100 block of McClintock. This is the same developer who built the condos on McClintock across from the Harris Teeter. I assume that means he's got agreements with all of the homeowners for the purchase of their lots. It's early in the planning stages and will required a rezoning. I don't see where a petition has been filed yet. I know it will meet some resistance from neighbors as there are concerns about traffic, and the effects on remaining single-family home owners as the neighborhood appears to be gradually nibbled away for apartments/rentals. It will be interesting if the units are intended to be for sale or rentals only. Also, I note that Levine's apartments development on Commonwealth appears to be in a lull now that the demolition and clearing of the lots has been completed. I know it's only been a week at the most since the last of the steel frame of the old warehouse was removed but with every day that goes by without seeing guys in construction hats out there doing something I get more paranoid that he's caught a cold and decided to pursue the same game plan as with first ward - i.e., turn it into a parking lot for a decade or more.

^Actually I asked the Levine Properties rep about the siding and was told that at least on the front facing Commonwealth it will be almost all real masonry (real brick and real stone) not engineered product. Think similar toThe Enclave on 7th Street except all brick above the first floor and I think Imy memory is fading) less prominent balconies (and no corner balconies). Kinda even reminded me of the new HT too. According to the reps, Levine wants to hold on to this development for the long term as opposed to selling it soon after completion. They weren't looking for originality or to make a statement architectually speaking, but wanted it to fit in with PM and stand the test of time. Interestingly, the guy overseeing the project oversaw the construction of the new PM Harris Teeter.

^The apartments at St. Julien and and Commonwealth (no name chose for the development yet) are being built by Levine Properties. It will be approx. 100 units, mostly single/studios with one parking spot per unit. All rentals and no retail component. Parking will be surface level in the center of the building (hidden from street view) with some on street parking spots on St. Julien. Construction is supposed to begin mid-December and projected completion is first quarter of 2016. Exterior (four stories) is mostly brick and a blonde stone-block skirt. Sorry, I have seen a rendering but don't have one to share. It will be dog and bike friendly.

Thanks pgsinger for such an informative response (and everyone else for your thoughts as well). I have the same hope that the increased residential density will encourage more retail development. I am quite certain, however, that the effect all the development will have on local traffic will remain an afterthought on the part of the city. I've already kissed my 8-10 minute commute goodbye. Also, don't get me wrong. I am not attached to the two buildings next to Brodt being torn down, I just hate the thought of any surface lot going in - the effect having to drive by Levineland and the Family Dollar every day. Once something becomes a surface lot I just assume it will remain so for decades. I was thinking a deck where the Midas is near Independence would be great. As far as Niner National's suggestion for the Family Dollar lot, ask my wife how often we drive past and I say how happy I would be if the owner would plant just one friggin' tree! Would it kill him to plant just one miserable tree as a sign of good will if nothing else? I feel like that huge asphalt desert is just one gigantic middle finger being extended to everyone who lives and works in PM.

Hey guys, let me introduce myself. I am a Commonwealth resident (since 2006) and have become an almost daily peruser of UP-Charlotte (great discussions and a great source for learning about the latest development rumors!). I became a convert to new urbanism and moved to Commonwealth from the 'burbs (Arboretum area) in 2006 when the proposed Gold Line, Briar Creek greenway, Morningside Village, etc. made the Central Ave. corridor /PM look like a sure bet (lesson learned). I was discouraged to hear about the planned demo of the two houses to provide surface parking next to Brodt Music. While I understand the need for parking for the new brewery, it seems like a step backward. It also seems like the no-brainer fix is a shared parking facility. I would think would it would be profitable (and enhance property values and tax revenue) and free up a lot of space currently used for parking for more aesthetically pleasing, pedestrian friendly options (like more patio dinging, outdoor markets, etc.). Anyone have any thoughts on what it would take to make that happen? When is the last time (if ever) the city built a shared parking facility and where? I understand why the city/county reluctant to use eminent domain powers but I would think a facility could be a boon to all involved. I've gotta believe the PM business owners have put some thought into this issue but don't know if lobbying anyone a city hall would make any difference. Any shared thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

My hopes for the Brodt Music building may finally be realized. Anyone familiar with Legion Brewing? http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2014/10/legion-brewing-signs-lease-in-plaza-midwood-plans.html