Squid7085

Truist thing I have ever read on this forum.

I think what people "hate" about it is that in about a year, anyone visiting the city will just think it was another one of the bank towers built in the 90s. It would be like Apple introducing the iPhone XXS+Max this year and having it look exactly like the original iPhone from 2007. Yeah, sure YOU know it the latest new phone with brain scanning thought password unlock, but everyone that sees you using it will think you haven't been bothered to upgrade your phone for 13 years. A lot of people here want new tall buildings to LOOK like new tall buildings so people who come to visit the city can just inherently see how new and modern everything is, the same way most Chinese cities look. The parking deck also doesn't help. It is not until the night time where the lighting outs it as a modern building. Hence soccer mom by day, stripper by night. At least that is my interpretation of the last 232 pages of this thread.

I was born and raised in Kansas, specifically Wichita, Kansas, so toll roads are not much of a new concept to me. To get to KC or OKC, we had to take the Kansas Turnpike. Toll roads are thought today as a way to build new roads to combat congestion or create a nicer alternative. However, out here in Kansas and Oklahoma, it was the only way to actually get a decent road built between population centers (KC-Topeka-Wichita) before the interstate system. The Kansas Turnpike pre-dates the interstate system, and as the story goes from when the interstate plan was being formulated, the federal government tried to skimp Kansas as we already had our population centers connected with a 4 lane road. As a result, an equal amount of money/milage was used to build the I135 spur from Wichita to Salina and the free alternative "I35" segment between Emporia and KCK. The southern end of the turnpike famously ended at the state border in a wheat field before Oklahoma finally connected up to it. While no one "likes" paying for the road, I think it is appreciated for what it did, and still does, for the the state (Kansas has a wonderfully maintained state highway system). Most of the traffic on I35 is traffic just passing through the state, so why shouldn't they pay? I think that is a much more palatable concept for toll roads, when it is part of the cost of a "trip" not a "commute." With that said, I live up in Huntersville and work in Davidson. I don't HATE the toll lanes, I think it is a decent concept for the future to help manage congestion. However, I think what ticks people off so much up here is that the road should have been widened 10-15 years ago, and the toll lanes should be the 4th or 5th lanes, not the 3rd, particularly given the complete lack of alternative routes. I did venture out and try the toll lanes today. Easy enough as I had already obtained one of the transponders with the HOV switch. I got on at Sam Furr going south and rode the lanes all the way to the current terminus. Conveniently (planned?) there was an accident on the free lanes causing almost stand still traffic just south of the toll lane entrance. The sign said "0.45" for the segment, so I hopped on. It has yet to be debited from my account, but I did snap a picture of the sign just in case. Interestingly, the guy in front of me felt the need to go 60 MPH in the lanes despite the 70 MPH limit. A good chunk of the that section is only one lane for now, so I was actually going slower than the free lanes until the toll lanes merged back in.

You beat me to it. Having grown up in the KC area, 435 was always "said" to be the longest and I just believed it. I don't know when the Cincinnati Bypass was completed, but 435 was a complete loop my whole life, and I was born in 89. Guess I learned something today! Locally the highways were always referred to as bypasses, not a beltway. The boxy shape and the actual way the roads interact make them pretty distinct sections with their own identity. Really only the term "435" actually hints that it is one continuous road. The North-South portions and East-West portions are signed as such. Without leaving the road you go from Southbound 435 to Eastbound 435. It always made complete sense as a local, but I have taken to the "Inner" and "Outer" as making much more sense. Funnily enough, 435 had the exact same issue on the southern end as a result of a heavily developed office park. The result was a complete rebuild of the I35,K10,US69,I435 interchange. That southern section was also one of the early places to use ramp meters, which I am amazed have not made it to Charlotte yet. They are amazingly effective for the price. With that said, I still mistakingly refer to 485 as 435 ALL THE TIME, to very confused looks.

I can say as a former Deloitte employee, these "Audit" firms do very little actual financial audit these days. It is all about consulting and tax work. Deloitte's current space was very little audit, and having been there when the discussions of moving to a new place was going on, I can say that the reason for the move was 100% for the consulting side of the firm.

It really is just a complete gut and remodel, including a new facade. I have a close friend very involved with this project. Recently it has been a headache, as you might imagine a building that is effectively open to the elements with two "hurricanes" passing through would be. The building itself still contains a very much active hub for Spectrums network.

I had the same experience my first time there when moving here. I said "Okay, I get it" and ate the chicken normally. Unpopular opinion, I didn't think it was all the special. I haven't been back since. The shell station down the street has better chicken...

Was a little surprised to see this mural go up. First thought that the tower was delayed, but I suppose it will make it through the season and beyond before construction would ever start covering it up. Still, it is a pretty cool picture that work probably work better on a bare unsightly wall that is going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. I guess it is not my money being spent, so meh.

As a resident of the area who has been woken up by gunshots on more than one occasion, I can say I would have no objections. Plus, looks like they could just back up the pickup, hook er up and move it. With that said, that place is never not busy. Much like the "Gentlemen's club" across the street, they have to be printing money.

Snapped this last night while they were finishing up the second crane. With that I count 6 cranes in this picture. I don't normally share pictures I take, but I thought you all would appreciate this one.

I am pretty sure Spectrum is large enough to hold a Regional. However, I will say, just based on what cities are available in the "Midwest" to host, there is a reason Omaha and KC are able to land it easier. There are a lot more options (larger ones at that) able to host the East and South regionals.

I know someone working on this project, and was able to go up in the building the other day. It is a complete gut of the building, basically down to the shell. For what they are doing, it is fascinating they didn't just tear it down. Spectrum does however have a big datacenter in the building (Which is currently functioning right behind those plastic temporary walls), so that may have had something to do with the decision.

As someone from a small Kansas town, I will refute that my hometown airport actually has a pretty cool logo. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. An airport I can not believe CLT does not have a direct flight too (Please). The Liberal airport was actually a former military base and has a pretty unique runway layout. I believe none of the old runways are used anymore, and has been replaced by a new one. However, I know the old ones still exist as I distinctly remember going to an airshow where everything was setup on the old runways when I was younger. I do agree though, I don't exactly see why the logo needed to change, the flight path making a "CD" for Charlotte Douglas was clever and didn't feel dated or anything. I suppose they are really trying to up the "CLT" aspect to be more like "LAX" and "DFW." No one says "I am making a connection at Charlotte Douglas" they say "Charlotte" or "CLT" or "" if you are a 8 year old... okay, 8 at heart.

I will be honest that after a "few" beers in the EpiCenter that canopy looked much more like a slide than I care to admit, but for obvious reasons I did not do it. Kinda surprised it has taken this long for some idiot to get drunk enough to try. I'm just mad the guy stole my idea.

Permanent fencing has arrived and they are putting it up. I can live tweet the progress. Looks like I will have a great view of this until I lose my view...

Anyone have any insight on the parking lot/abandoned building lot on the Southwest (West in real directions) corner of Morehead and Church? I live in the apartment complex overlooking the lot, and they roped it off, pulled down all the lot signage and put up "Lot Closed" signs. They do similar stuff for events, but this looks much more like its the last time.

I would love to have the RNC come to Charlotte. I think it would be great for the city to have hosted both in a short period of time like that. However, politics aside, if Trump is indeed going to be the nominee, that is going to be a heck of a week. To say Charlotte would attract people from all over the country on both sides would be an understatement.

I am right out of college, make pretty good money for my age, and rent in South End. I am not 'destitute,' and a sudden $30 difference in my electric bill sure as sh*t would make a difference. That's my workday lunch budget for the week, thats most of my Internet payment, thats a trip to the bar on the weekend, that is half of the INTEREST on my federally backed student loans I get to pay every month. If $30 is no big deal to you, I'll give you my PayPal and you can send me $30 a month. Clearly I am destitute and could use it. In other more relevant news. Tacking on the the comment about Duke being forced out of the Power Tower, I work for one of the non Duke/Wells companies in the building, and we are also likely to move out of the building. It has only been rumors, but I have heard from some higher up's in my office that they are looking for new space. We need more space, and can't get it in the Duke tower anyway.

At that point it is basically an intersection. Why are we okay with waiting at a Red light for cross traffic, but the idea of that cross traffic being a train is somehow different?

I agree with all this, except I think the former stadium site would be perfect for an MLB stadium. Being able to build infrastructure that supports both stadiums, and also building that "stadium" district you mentioned. Given the number of MLB games, that puts a lot more interest in building up that "stadium district" which would only benefit the new Panthers stadium. The only problem, getting one new stadium built is hard enough. It seems the bandwidth probably wouldn't be there for an ownership group to come up AND a new stadium to be built. But then again, Atlanta built two stadiums, and we want to be the new Atlanta, so... I do think the stars could align on this one. New stadium is built on the Charlotte Pipe location, during that time the MLB looks to expand, a plan is put together to build a stadium on the current site. Team is awarded, they begin play at BB&T, new panthers stadium opens and the old one is demolished. New MLB stadium goes up on the old site. It's a stretch, but not out of the realm of possibility for sure. We know the MLB is interested in the market, a plan like that sure would catch some attention. A man can dream.

I live right across the street from here. (I actually just stepped out on my patio to check, it is still there.) This is a common problem around my building, the bikes are left right in the middle of the sidewalk. I have, unceremoniously, thrown the bikes off the sidewalk when I run across it in the middle of the sidewalk like this. This is the problem that needs to be fixed, the city needs to start fining the companies, who will probably pass it on to the customers, then maybe everyone will learn. I think the bikes are a great idea, but there needs to be some clarification on the "leave it anywhere" thing.

The best thing to do would be future proof the stadium and make it good for both Football and Soccer. If the hypothetical demise of Football ever comes, a lot of that will probably shift to Soccer. MLS prefers soccer specific stadiums, but it seems they are willing to make concessions to that. However, if the team does leave, that would probably put Charlotte even higher on the MLB list, even though rumors suggest they are already on the top of that list. The current stadium site would make a great location for a baseball stadium! I want the stadium to stay in Uptown, but baseball does a lot better in urban environments just due to the number of home games.

I think it is ridiculous if that is the reason it closed. The location was always busy with office workers, and yeah, a few riffraffy people. However, they never seemed to cause any issue, they were just taking their quarters to get a McChicken or something. Sometimes for lunch I just want something quick and cheap, and McDonalds/Chick-fil-a are the go-to's for that. Charlotte is a growing city, and if places are just going to close up shop because of 'homeless people' then we have a pretty big problem. Honestly, we need some more fast food chains if Uptown is going to become a 24/7 livable area. Even wealthy bankers just want Taco Bell sometimes. Every large city has the entire spectrum of restaurants, pushing out the budget options isn't good for anyone or Uptown as a whole.

My hometown of Wichita, KS just opened a brand new airport this last year which has them. They really are very nice.

Don't be so sure, I live in one of these uptown communities and about 6 months ago they sent out a Memo asking everyone to remove their flags from the exterior to "preserve the beauty of our community." If we didn't we would be fined.