nakers2

I heard someone call Charlotte the biggest small town on Earth, and this thread proves it. Most cities our size wouldn't give a crap about some youtubers visiting. lol Edit: Spelling

As always seems to be the case, I'm a little late to the thread, but I will say in regards to our skyline, we don't "need" to have a reason for people to like it. It's just a generally eye catching skyline and I think it is distinct enough to not be mistaken for other cities. I love many urban skylines for different reasons. Richmond VA is a good example. As a truck driver on a fixed route I travel there daily. The 70's grittiness, combined with the historic train station, James river, and historic mill district make it unique in my eyes. Every city needs some distinct features. A river city often has bridges, a city like Charlotte needs its towers, places like Washington DC have monuments, and NYC has sheer scale.

For as much trouble as he gets into, I'd say this seems justified. Being a rapper, even a non-controversial one (of which he is not) you can solicit unwanted attention from bad elements. From a self defense standpoint this seems cut and dry. Now the bigger question is why the hell would DaBaby want to live in Troutman.

I think what this effect really highlights is the fact that humans can do a lot with not much space. You're absolutely right that this lot was not that large, yet in the space that some might build a home with yard and driveway, they can build a 20+ storey (or higher if so inclined) building with multiple uses.

Living uptown I can say that it seems like Charlotte's population came back out of the woodwork as soon as the weather got warm. I paid for parking in NODA for the first time ever last week.

It was essentially a branding scheme from BA to try and change their perception from being a snotty, high strung airline, to a global carrier. However many people derided it, either for being seen as celebrating colonialism (as much of the art came from former colonial possessions), cheapening the art of ethnic cultures by using them for commercial gain, or for being inaccurate depictions of international art and design to begin with. On the flip side, many nationalist and conservative brits saw it as being too globalist, and that the British national carrier should not fly anything other than her national colors. Some airline employees even began referring to BA as "Air Zulu" and Margaret Thatcher covered a model of a 747 with a "Birds and Trees" livery, saying "We fly the British Flag, not these awful things!" In short, it was a design scheme that pissed off both racists and activists at the same time.

Probably a combination of factors. Queen Charlotte was not one of the more famous queens, so if they hadn't bushed up on their monarchs they might've been more focused on trying to find out who *she* was before even thinking of cities. Also, despite actually not being the norm, a lot of people might assume Raleigh to be bigger because it is the capital city. What's more, a lot of folks might assume it's a trick question, or it's the classic NC/SC mix up.

Recently visited New York City, most people who asked where I was from knew where Charlotte was (two financial hubs, so not a massive surprise) Also saw a book on murals in the time of Covid (in a gift shop on the 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards) that featured the Purell (Liquid Gold) mural in Charlotte. Charlotte's own Krispy Kreme also has a Times Square store, which was interesting. Not really regarding perception, but my general perception was that most of the places I ate at and shopped at, with exception of the highest end establishments, were on par with what you'd find here, just in far greater quantity. I don't think you could've said that even a decade a go here, especially when it comes to Asian cuisine.

This was not the direction I thought this sub was gonna head, but I find it interesting. Recently took a trip up north. First to DC, and then to NYC, utilizing Amtrak on the way up, public transportation in both cities, and to the airport for the flight back. While graffiti is not tolerated (or ignored) on platforms and trains like it once was (and in those cases I'd agree it was an issue) the amount of graffiti in tunnels, under bridges, and along the back walls of businesses facing the tracks was hard to ignore...as was the trash, homeless camps, and general blight. I think we should tackle those issues before we worry about some paint. This is also far from an American thing, go to any European train station and you'll see it beyond the platform edge in just as much concentration. People hate blank walls, that's why murals are so popular.

My brother got nailed on College Street in 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic office closures. Still enforced the rush hour lanes though. He thought his car was stolen. Unlike me, he has a more cavalier attitude towards parking. I've only been ticketed twice, once was me parking in a Zipcar spot that had just been installed, and the other was when my wheel was touching the line on a front spot, that one annoyed me, but technically was valid.

Outside of busy areas, a lot of streets don't have any "designated" parking. It's generally implied that if it fits, it sits. I do think there needs to be a hotline to report egregious violations, but having parking enforcement running down every side street leaves Uptown as a free for all. As a revenue generator, might make some extra money. but in terms of overall traffic reduction, and capacity expansion, I think a bit of chaos is actually good, and a deterrent. I've avoided driving to my brother's apartment a few times on weekends due to lack of parking (no visitor spaces, even he has to street park sometimes)

My dad got towed there years ago before mobile payment was a thing, had to ride up front with the guy back to Eastway Wrecker with his car hooked on the back. Must've been awkward.

Well let me paint it for you this way. Many a tiny missile has brought down a large aircraft.

I believe it was last Monday, as I was delayed to a dinner reservation, unless it happened again, which sadly wouldn't surprise me. As a truck driver, the standards we are held to are leaps and bounds higher than the average car. I'm not saying we *shouldn't* be held to a higher standard, but it shouldn't be exponentially higher. The only time people are pulled for safety issues are when a light is out, and often it's more a segue for them to search for drugs.

I’m beating a very dead horse here, but I’ve ridden both the original Blue Line, and the BLE this week. The BLE is still maddeningly jerkey in terms of consistent speed. Operator I had today slowed wayyy down before pulling into stations, and coming down the flyover bridges at Tryon and U-City. Meanwhile the damn Gold Line feels like it’s running as smooth as the south line. So what gives?

If it's worth anything, this picture was taken before the new high/low rise development was opened there, so one of those lots no longer exists.

I live close to the streetcar line, they were hauling ass down Trade the other day, keeping pace with car traffic. Seems like they started hitting the boost.

Digital photography has and will continue to be the biggest blessing for people like us who enjoy tracking the progress of growth. While we dig through archives and ask around to friends and family for pictures of areas and things in the times of film, today a simple google search or scroll through UP will provide a treasure trove of growth photos from the past two decades in the palm of your hand.

I mean that's what I do. I don't ride all the time, if I did I'd buy a pass. But when I do, I have two day passes saved on my app. I'm of the opinion that public transit should be free, only a small portion of revenue comes from fares. Not to mention the lacking service doesn't exactly make me feel like I want to give them my money if they don't deserve it. If your Uber takes 20 mins to show up, do you want to pay? If there's a wreck in the express lanes, should you still use them? Or use the free lanes? As far as I'm concerned, until CATS gives us service that exceeds the quality or convenience of a car, I see it as a compromise.

It really is. Blew my mind the first time I visited. I remember when you could still see the Lowes frontage from the light rail and would think it was a tiny Lowes for years and years going to the Panthers' games (I'm originally from Charlotte, but lived in Hickory and Boone for most of my childhood) When I finally went I recall it was entirely accidental. I cut through the neighborhood around the back and assumed I had made a mistake due to the residential units, upon entering the parking lot I was taken aback by the fact the corner building was used for storage (and now tool rental) and that in fact a full size, suburban size, Lowes stood there lurking in plain sight. The roof parking was a great touch and is totally underutilized in similar projects IMO.

Interesting account, however I have to contest that the Lowe's was built that early on, I can't recall exactly, but I believe it was built post light rail for sure.

2007, but yes. However it has gone through the roof in the past 5 years or less. Most of the first developments post light rail were of the Texas Donut variety, the Arlington being the notable exception. Even the newer stick built structures are of a higher standard than in the past. A few examples are the apartments where The Union is located, and Camden Southline, and my brother's piss stained building, MAA 1225 (formerly 1225 S. Church.) Recently the density and growth is insane, and knowing someone who lives near the Carolina Foods plant, there is MUCH more room for growth.

The light rail operators seem to have this mindset too, rode with my girlfriend up to UNCC the other day and the pace they crawl into these stations in annoying, and I know it's operator preference because on the return trip our guy was hauling ass. I know they have certain "blocks" but you can provide a smooth transition through these versus a herkey, jerkey motion that makes the otherwise modern looking system feel like a cattle car being shunted in the railyard. At this point I'm curious if it's clueless management getting onto operators about speed and braking. I considered taking a job at CATS because I am qualified to operate the streetcar and light rail vehicles per my Class-A CDL, but I feel as though I'd be called out for actually operating them as intended. I haven't ridden the south line in a hot min, but I remember they eventually got it right and it is exceedingly more enjoyable.

Not sure if it’s appropriate for this thread, but Google maps has some limited live tracking for CATS. Noticed it when contemplating taking the bus to Southpark. Would’ve taken 35 mins from my place uptown, which is about on par with most cities for that distance barring rail transit.

Talent is the key word here, I will say that the labor hiererarchy in this country is out of whack. While many jobs require skills, training, and even higher education, the ability to sell and create a good customer experience in a low pressure, non commission environment is something you cannot foster without either fair compensation (IE employees who don't come into work stressing about how they're going to make rent) or a workforce of people just doing it for the fun of getting out of the house (in the past, housewives, a dying breed of reliable retail employee.) I was in Belk not long ago and had a very friendly and charismatic gentleman upsell me by over $50 dollars on some sales items when I had just intended to purchase a shirt. I not only left with more items for my wardrobe, but Belk also made additional profit, I'd surmise he payed for his hour of labor, if not more, with that one sale. We can talk all day long about automation, but a robot isn't gonna strike up a conversation with me in the same way, and engage me to go back to the rack and get some more stuff.