NDL.
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Posts posted by NDL.
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Now we're in December.
2023.
Any updates?
I never see any meaningful changes when I drive over there, although I haven't gone in quite awhile. -
On 7/27/2023 at 9:51 AM, Nathan2 said:
It's not that people don't like town centers, it's that people don't like when developers call it a mixed-use pedestrian town center and then they make 60% of the project surface parking lots and sprawling developments that require a car. The River District is a terrible misuse of some of the last bit of undeveloped land in Charlotte. Instead of giving this land a thought-out decent design they have gone the easy and cheap route. Suburban neighborhoods can be walkable and car-lite, but this is not that, this is pure car-oriented sprawl packaged to look like a walkable community.
I am glad that abundant parking was incorporated, only because it makes it convenient for me to drive to my destination, park, and walk around to varies points of interest throughout the day. A good example of this would be downtown Greenville, which has abundant parking options, which allow me to park, and walk/enjoy an area for the course of several hours.
Conversely, when parking is a hassle, it makes me want to avoid an area altogether.What's seemingly egregious, however, is the lack of planning behind/around a Silver Line leg: this development could've had world class uniqueness and function, but it doesn't present itself that way.
A good example of excellent design and execution can be found at the Bridgeway development in Mauldin SC: it has very unique design elements/characteristics, and has great pedestrian appeal. Instead, the River District comes across as a rebranded Ballantyne, which I find unacceptable, since Ballantyne was built out before the light rail, nor does Ballantyne have river access.Could my perceptions be mistaken? Of course, yet marketing hasn't, in my view, done a great job at developing interest around this project.
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Thank you both, for the updates
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I have this thread bookmarked, with the thinking that there will be substantial updates at some point.
Here we are, almost into August, 2023, with no substantive updates.
It's kinda sad... -
It's a shame that the marketing team hasn't developed excitement and anticipation, by featuring some photo's such as the ones above - along with a caption, timeline, something...
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I would miss not having 277 around the City; it's a good way to traverse Uptown, without getting stuck inside the City.
As for the water feature, what happened to the Crystal Lakes concept that was supposed to come to CLT?
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On 6/14/2020 at 9:05 PM, CLT2014 said:
8 million square feet of office all funneling to one intersection on West Blvd, repeating the past sins of Ballantyne with Johnston Road.
The 5:15PM turn out of the office park on to West to get to I-485 is going to be a massive line of cars.
5 years after this is done, people will already be brainstorming ways to solve the congestion mess and how to fix intersections like the one in the plan.
That's what makes me nuts: they're going to build this out, and after it's fully complete and cemented in, people will clamor that "something needs to be done;" "West Blvd & 485 is at capacity;" "we need lightrail like Ballantyne," etc
What's really a shame about the whole thing, is that the area abuts the upcoming Silver Line; designing the area around future rail would be very wise; hopefully, down the road, a leg off of the Silver Line could be installed. If not, as another poster commented, what would've been the lightrail could be a greenway.***
After seeing Rock Hill's Riverwalk development, I had high hopes for CLT's River District. For as much as I am not a huge fan of Rock Hill, their Riverwalk development is building out into being something that's very nice and unique, with plenty of attractive apartments for those who aren't interested in owning a house.-
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On 6/14/2020 at 9:47 AM, CLT2014 said:
^There isn't anything wrong with vinyl housing. People seem to be expecting this urban metropolis and ideal walkable community in the River District. It will likely end up fairly suburban and sprawling with more affordable single family housing for a new home. Certainly better than piecemeal development, but I think some have grandiose expectations for this versus what it will end up being.
Much of the Steele Creek area has affordable single family housing; it would be nice if the River District took full advantage of the area's unique river features, plus the added benefit of being so close to both the Airport, and to Downtown CLT. If done properly, the River District could really contribute to Charlotte's "brand."
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11 hours ago, ertley said:
The developers and their planners, I would hope, recognize the *future* importance of incorporating space for potential light rail expansion, even if it's decades ahead, and in the intervening years it can just be a greenway through the area; and if light rail never comes to River District, the greenway could one day be further developed. More importantly, I hope they're genuinely collaborating with transit officials to include road-based transit elements like bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes on the major artery in and out of the area.
Great idea, and very much agreed.
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6 hours ago, KJHburg said:
Not on the back burner just a lot of site work before any vertical development can begin. Crescent is the lead developer and with all that has happened this year I think this project will be a success: suburban mixed use with walkable town center etc.
Next time I am over that way I will drive some of the now country roads and look for signs of utility work etc.
Thanks for your reply, and for the link.
Do you think it will be planned around light rail? I have to believe that they will eventually bring it in.
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Hopefully, if anyone travels in and around that area, they will take some pictures (providing that there's something to see :))4 hours ago, Hushpuppy321 said:River District will be nice as there is a lot of Public Infrastructure Investment (Roads & Utilities) and Solid / Reliable Developer but I think the Triple Wallop of LRT not being planned for this area, the Coronavirus/Economic Issues and Ballantyne Reimagined being approved is really going to suck a lot of oxygen away from River District so may not take off as quickly as it would have.
Ballantyne Reimagined (including possible LRT Extension in Phase III) is really going to Keep high growth focused in South Charlotte. Just look how Waverly & Rea Farms are building out quickly.
Appreciate the reply. I have to revisit the south Charlotte threads, and the enclosed pictures.
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Are there any new developments regarding the River District?
Has the project been put on the backburner?
I truly hope that the development will be built around light rail-
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I dislike this plan; here's why:
I moved to Charlotte from Long Island, NY, a place that I disliked greatly - and much of my dislikes are the direct consequences of poor planning
- Traffic was absolutely horrendous. Absolutely horrendous. Not enough roadways, and the roads that were there didn't have adequate laneage.
(Hello...Charlotte?)
- Suburban style planning that produced too much car dependancy
(Hello...Charlotte?)
- Cul-de-sac communities that encourage isolation between members within the community
(Charlotte...to an extent)
First, urban planners need to scrap the idea that "roadways are bad;" appropriate the space for future road expansion in the center of the road, in the form of wide center medians. This would enable future road expansion, cheaply, and easily, if needed in the future. And if it's decided not to expand the road, residents will be left with beautiful center medians which could be decorated with trees, plants, and flowers.
Second, appropriate land and/or build out 485 to be 5-6 lanes in each direction (10-12 lanes total). Massive amounts of traffic stifle growth, and make for a miserable populace. And while urban planners would like it such that people live and work in close proximity to one another,the reality is that that's often not the case.
Third, design the River District *around* a permanent form of mass transportation. If the City/State does not have the money to install a proper LYNX East/West line now, design the community around a proposed line, that will make it easy to implement a proper rail line in the future.
Fourth, enough of this biking nonsense. Biking, and dedicated bike lanes, are great. Yet, most people are not going to commute via bicycle. Therefore, make the development in such a way that it's totally pedestrian friendly. The one thing I love about the LYNX line is the parallel path that runs along it. People should be able to live independently of their cars if they choose to. Much of Charlotte fails in this regard.
Fifthly, how about a true downtown River District like what Savannah has, that would truly give Charlotte it's own branding and distinction? I am talking about something authentic that doesn't speak of "planned community." I'd love to see another Bay Ridge Brooklyn style development of midrise apartment buildings, bars, and diversity of local restaurants. The key here is not adapting a urbanized version of a suburban model.
Without the above elements, I am afraid that Charlotte is going to be the next Long Island: an unsustainable, traffic clogged, area, whose residents are unhappy because they spend too much time at work and in traffic.
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5 hours ago, CarolinaCrown said:
I dunno if this was being directed to some of the photo's that I post, if so thank you, but don't be mistaken, I by no means have any professional sense in photography, I just try to keep our insatiable appetite for development news here fed.
For the most part I take pictures using an ancient sony 8mp camera, or sometimes my iphone5 if the sony is dead. I usually take 5-8 photos in every spot because most of them turn out blurry or just aren't "crisp." I am proud to say that none of my photo's are tweaked in Photoshop, mostly because I don't have a clue how to use it, but also it just seems more authentic that way.
8 hours ago, Matthew.Brendan said:That last one was from my iPhone 7+
A lot of photography is composition (framing the shot to get a good/interesting perspective) and then post-processing.
You can get a 'real' DSLR starting around $500.
http://m.thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/cameras/
1 hour ago, alb1no panther said:Story is King. Telling the story means getting the shot. But to answer your question, an iPhone is probably your best bet--better than most point and shoots in the range you're talking. That and some basic photo editing software. That said, we're not a picky bunch. Give us a good shot of the skyline or some construction, and we're satisfied.
I greatly appreciate y'all's responses. It's amazing that the iphone takes such nice pictures, but again, I credit the eye of the photographer. You all make really nice contributions, and I thank you.
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I hope the board moderator will permit this question, though it isn't entirely on topic:
I greatly appreciate the pictures that y'all put here...I don't often get the time to traverse the City, but this forum enables me to keep up with the latest developments. Thanks to all who participate.
My question is this (and I know it's simplistic). Why do these shots look so much better than what I take? I stick with lesser camera's in the $125-150 range - obviously "you get what you pay for."
Yet I have a 20 megapixel camera with a mechanical zoom lens that doesn't take great photo's, while another poster might have a 12x camera that takes beautiful, crisp, pictures. What gives? Obviously there's more to a great picture than the number of megapixels. What might that be?
How much do I have to spend on a camera to get a decent picture? I am a casual, recreational, user,,,
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On 8/30/2016 at 7:15 PM, StuckInASuburb said:
I went to the UNCC station, lots of commotion so not too many pics.
Here they are putting in sidewalks and a place to idle your car for pickups/drop-offs.
There is also a spot where pipes are coming out of the ground.
I don't get a chance to get over there often, so I thank you for the pics you took. Amazing progress, and I like the form of the canopies they used.
The River District
in Charlotte
Posted
Thank you; I will give their page a look.