DH17

As someone who lives nearby I am excited to see some renderings and forward progress on this project. As someone who lives nearby I also just hope they plan street closures in a logical manner and don't create a 'dead zone' between Gateway Village and Uptown for 6 months at a time.

I took the extension for the first time today, riding from 7th St. station to 36th St. station in NoDa and back. The train had heavy usage on the inbound train and was fairly light on the outbound, which is expected early on a Saturday. I also am excited to see all of the development that can (and is) happening between Uptown and NoDa. I believe that in a decade it will rival South End. I am also impressed at how much work remains to be done at 36th St. station....

I had the pleasure of visiting the Levine Museum of the New South today. I didn't know what to expect, but came away having really enjoyed the exhibits and exploration of our city's history. Just as an example of how quickly the city is changing, it felt dated towards the most recent history of our city (last updated earlier this decade).

I think I walked past his shoot Uptown on my way to work actually. Will unfortunately have to now look and see if I made a final cut....

I've talked to a couple of Duke employees that I know and the rumors from within the company are that something will be announced later this year, but both of them are low enough in the company that they would only hear rumors trickling down from those actually in the know.

So common in London I swear that they have more locations than Starbucks does in Seattle.

This is the start of my third full summer in North Carolina (my first full one in Charlotte) after previously living in Appalachia and the Midwest. I still can't get used to the summers here and I'm not sure I ever will, but this one so far has been particularly humid and warm for this early in the season. Hopefully it's not a harbinger of a terrible July-August.

Is that research metro based or city limit based? Not disagreeing, I'm just curious if future growth will largely be inside or outside of the city limits as the remaining easily developed land is swallowed up.

Growing as in moving forward or growing as in even taller?

A few estimates for the city limits based off of a consistent annual rate (I know this isn't necessarily feasible once this area is fully built out and many other reasons, but it's fun to see): 2017 Population: 859,035 2020 Population: 907,351 2026 Population: 1,012,223 - Over 1 million mark 2030 Population: 1,088,805 2040 Population: 1,306,573 2050 Population: 1,567,898 2100 Population: 3,901,551 If we keep up the current growth rate, we would double in population roughly every 37-38 years. Who wants more high rises?

I talked with a family member highly placed in local government about expanding our rail lines (won't say which community for their sake), and they seemed rather pessimistic about a big bang or even a silver line without major federal funds that they are pessimistic will happen anytime within the next decade. They (and many leaders around here) are a firm believer in rail and fully support it, but fear we are closer to ending up like Nashville than Denver without a major change in Raleigh or DC in regards to funding priorities. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just relaying their view from the 'inside'.

I love Charlotte, but honestly feel that RTP is a better fit than here both in regards to workforce and the aesthetic that Apple goes for.

A LOT of potential in this area, especially if the Brooklyn Village development happens and if that surface lot next to 3rd st. station is developed.

Sorry for the poor quality, but from Uptown you can clearly see the development along and near College/Tryon in South End.

Some pictures from last week while stuck in traffic during rush hour at Mint and Morehead: Here is one from today from Wesley Heights along the greenway. You can see it peaking over BoA Stadium!

Mind if I ask what type of thing you would have in mind? I'm definitely an optimist for future growth in Charlotte, but don't expect anything other than fundamental economics and living preferences to drive it. I don't see us as the next Silicon Valley (Tech+Port), the next NYC (immigration+harbor+banking/HQs), or the next Houston (Port and petrochemical). I think it would take something unique to make us go beyond 2nd tier in the US population-wise.

I walk by the future Gateway Station every day on my way to work. The parking lot in between 5th and 6th streets on the Center City side of the tracks (right next to the Camden apartment complex) has a vacate notice and is empty as of 2/28. I suppose this is the start of progress?

I could definitely get behind something like that! With the developments going in near the Gateway Station, we would have near-continuous development from 77 to the heart of Uptown along Trade.

Does anyone know anything about the block next to the First Presbyterian Church in Uptown? This block includes the Builder's Building. The most recent article I can find is this one from 2015: https://www.charlotteagenda.com/27072/should-this-1920s-uptown-building-be-saved/ I would hate to see yet another historic building destroyed, but would really like to see something done with that surface lot. Maybe a joint venture like what is going on in South Park at the ski slope church? 2 towers could easily fit on that parking lot, plus parking in a deck for the church.

Any knowledge on if that intersection will still be upgraded at some point? Agreed 100% on the noise in Fourth Ward. I've gotten used to most of the trains at this point, but once in a while one goes through exceptionally loudly with their horn and wakes me up around 3 or 4 am.

Like others have said, I'm excited for an office building and more density outside of the Tryon/College St. corridors. Hopefully this, the development at the old Polk building, as well as the Gateway Station all spur a building boom along Graham St.