ertley

These townhouses are stunning, from this perspective. I guess I've seen them, or their sisters, from West Fourth (Ext), but never this side. This, IMO, rivals what you would see...in Europe, and not the crappy parts!

I endorse this 1,000%. As much as I would *love* to see the Silver Line built along the commercial rail tracks below Wilkinson, purely for the transformation it would engender on the west side, I recognize that getting a Red Line through the north end of the county is actually far more important, transportation-wise. I have been quietly, tentatively hopeful all these weeks that rumors about the O Line have been shared here. Realizing that in no realistic universe could the city/county likely attempt two rail transit projects simultaneously, I'm really, really hoping that this is going to be one of those "It was all for the best" situations, if something like what @kermit has proposed here can be realized.

Georgia wouldn't.

You're right, I think (of course) about the future office building to accompany that deck, but I don't care how big or tall parking decks are if they're by heavy rail tracks or freeways...If nothing else, they serve as sound barriers for the immediate denizens.

I mean, Christmas came a little late for me this year, but I won't complain.

For a restaurant calling itself "Spice," that is the blandest damn signage I've ever seen. It's a pet peeve of mine when fonts used for advertising or marketing don't bear any visual relation to the word they're conveying.

To me, the most exciting thing about this is that it looks like they're planning for continuation/extension of that pedestrian/bike trail that currently ends on the north side of 25th. I don't know if the city gets the credit for making them do it, vis a vis site approvals, or if the developers themselves realized it would be a boon to the neighborhood, but however it came about, fantastic!

To my untrained eye, those condos/townhouses look really well designed, and a decided elevation in style from what's normally seen. At least for their facades, I give the architect an A. More of this please! Disappointingly--you can't have everything you want, when and where you want it--the surrounding structures look more par for the course.

I am definitely not trying to expand the field of battle from the 110 East: 23 story Tower by Stiles/Shorenstein topic to this one, but IMHO many of the complaints about the former would be ameliorated if the locations of these two buildings--or maybe just the architects!--had been swapped! If the 110 East building were in this location and had the older structure to actually fully screen its parking garage from rail trail and other views, it wouldn't offend nearly as acutely. I actually also personally think the contrast between its glass upper facade with the older brick structure would achieve far better contextual aesthetics. Likewise, this building by the rail trail and station, with the complementary Lowe's tower across Camden, would look quite nice. I know the experience of the former from South Blvd. would still be less than ideal, but South is secondary to the rail trail, right? You just can't have everything you want, when you want it, where you want it. I know I don't.

I am not disagreeing with anything anyone has posted here in the last few days; I'm in essential agreement. Ultimately, though, what matters most is the experience of walking by it on the sidewalks, and not how it appears (from cars!) in the near- and mid-distance. It may just pass the streetfront impression and interaction test better than marginally. Although I'm certainly downgrading it for the less than stellar screening of the garage (that yes, is too large and at exactly the wrong place vis a vis a center city light rail stop), but on the whole I do think it's going to be a positive addition to the area--if they entice and keep decent tenants in the ground floor spaces. The increasing density around it will hopefully further diminish the prominence of the screening. The Pollyanna in me hopes that some of these buildings with mediocre screenings may one day feel the need, sooner than 50 years from now, to upgrade them, if newer neighborhood constructions make them look even worse, cheaper and shoddier, by comparison. I know it's probably not terribly likely to happen, but a man named Pollyanna can dream...

I accede--and always realized--that the Mint will never give up the original building, but agree with your idea about reimagining the Charlotte Museum of History and the Museum of the New South. I would keep them separate, though, and strategically place them in the general environs of uptown to create multiple locuses of activity. My big idea is to relocate the Charlotte History Museum (and rename it that, from the "Charlotte Musuem of History") downtown. Speaking as an Alexander descendant, I think having Charlotte's principal, at least de jure, museum out in the Shamrock area, only (basically) accessible by car, is bad. I propose... Incorporating the new Charlotte History Museum within the new Gateway Station complex. It wouldn't have to be in the main block, although that would be fine, but definitely somewhere within the area by the tracks under design. Since the city owns all of this land, I would think that it would primarily be a question of will rather than cost, at least for land, and negotiating its incorporation with the private developers. Relocating the primary Charlotte history museum there would center it with the 21st century multimodal transportation center, and if done correctly, would serve as an interesting, dynamic introduction to the city for travelers. It could be the literal welcome center for the city, and something of interest to check out when stuck at the station for a while. Most importantly, though, for the local population it would start their historical journey where the Gold Line (and maybe? one day? Red Line? and/or Silver Line?) intersects with Amtrak , Trade Street and another rail trail--only three blocks from the Square, either by foot or on the Gold Line. I have opined before in a post (maybe in the Parks thread?) that I think all of Charlotte's--and the region's, actually--museums need to come together and seriously coordinate their missions so that they each tell a discrete, but connected, story. In that framework, there should still be a Musuem of the New South, but ideally I would like a permanent home for it...somewhere accessible on the Gold Line. I think having as many cultural institutions either by or within walking distance of a streetcar would be a terrific way to promote people's interaction with them. Along that line (har) I would love to see a museum of African American history and culture established, and near/on the JCSU campus in Five Points, on the Gold Line. I have also opined that city should stop trying to make Brooklyn happen and instead work to help further invigorate the Five Points area, rather than diluting money and efforts. I would think partnering with JCSU on such a venture would be a win-win for all. The New South museum could be anywhere, really, nearby the Gold Line because it doesn't have to be in a historic structure or anything like that. I would suggest working with CPCC to potentially place it there, but...maybe that would be better place for a(n eventual) women's history museum? Anyway, along with these museums along the Gold Line, there should definitely be a gold mining and minting museum on or very nearby the Pipe and Foundry property, which is within easy walking distance of the Gateway Station and the Charlotte History Museum. I stated before that I think each of the historic house museums in the county should have a unique focus, and I would make the Hezekiah Alexander homestead a museum dedicated to the early pioneer settlement of the region, pre-Revolution. Because Latta Place has so much land and is part of a series of nature preserves, I would make its focus on food, farming and agriculture, both historic and holistic including present day. Every historic house should not shy away from the issue of slavery, but I would make Rosedale focus on the evils of slavery, since it's the most accessible venue, within the city limits and very near the city center and the Blue Line, and doesn't have the acreage the others have. I would love to see the Mecklenburg ABC Board relocate itself, with its property and building accessioned by Rosedale for a museum building (if practicable) and additional land for interpretive purposes. As I've also said before, having a living Native American tribe on a reservation within 20? miles of the city center is an unbelievable resource that the city, and both states, should try and cultivate, by working with the Catawba to see if they would be interested in partnering in the development of both a living and static museum on their reservation. With each of these installations you would have a specific time period and element of Charlotte's history preserved and represented, from pre-colonial times, to pioneer White settlement--and then of course a crucial Revolutionary War battle occurred only 30? miles west at Kings Mountain--all through to the 20th century. P.S. I would also like to see the city do whatever it takes to get the N.C. Music Hall of Fame moved from Kannapolis to downtown Charlotte. P.P.S. I also think Discovery Place should sell its Tryon Street property for private development $$$ and relocate (specifically) to the block between 6th and 7th and Brevard and Caldwell owned by...Mr. Levine...that has the historic structure at the corner of 7th and Brevard. You'd have Discovery Place directly across the street from ImaginOn and the First Ward Park, and that historic structure would make an amazing landmark for the new Discovery Place, and the new, custom built 21st century structure could wrap it. Just some thinking out loud! But yes, the gold history and mining museum needs to happen.

Whoever painted that mural on the parking garage should be made to reimburse half of what s/he was paid. It's execrable. The only thing I can say to the contrary is, maybe it's not finished? There is no accounting in the overall design for the linear gaps in the structure, so the design is piecemeal and indiscernible, there is no cohesive color story, and intensifying it all is that there are huge gaps of no paint, which makes it ultimately look like it's a gigantic piece of graffiti...which maybe was the intent? I know this is ultimately going to be fronted by another building--which cannot come too soon, for several reasons--but that shouldn't excuse this incredibly shoddy piece of work. The developer would have been better off just painting the garage facade an interesting, intense solid color that would be nice to look at up close when the other building is in place.

I am really happy with the design for the new library, so I'm not seriously criticizing it or complaining here, but seeing how lovely this side of the old church is, I wish that the new library left even more of the facade visible. But I'm not complaining--it's still largely going to be seen.

Regardless, those issues are worth it, because I think this courtyard is one of the best things in downtown. It clearly wasn't part of a master 'block' plan and had to be negotiated with existing structures, which is what makes it great, IMO. Now I hope the city will demolish those pointless, desperate attempt to gentrify North Tryon pillar/gateways in favor of a nice, robust sidewalk and trees. I don't know why city officials can't see that installations like that reek of desperation, and only serve as ineffectual substitutes for meaningful urban fabric. They also scream, to me, "not a real city or urban area." The money wasted on crap like that would be better spent on...better sidewalks and tree plantings, if nothing else, in the same location or somewhere else.

I have LONG been waiting to see the Elder Gallery block get redeveloped. Every so often I'll survey Tryon Street, up and down, and think about whether and how it stacks up as an Alpha city main street, and that '70s/'80s building *recessed* from the street, with a parking lot to boot, at that intersection is always the insurmountable obstacle, IMO, to a real, continuous urban experience down Tryon from downtown. Of course there's a lot of infill and redevelopment needed in earlier blocks, but at least they're "urban" remnant parking lots, but the Elder Gallery building is just so...quasi-suburban. I just hope the city makes them keep the tree on the corner: It is, and should continue to, perform the same function as the live oak at the Ally Center. It's right against the sidewalk, so there should be no reason why it HAS to be cut down. I would think the requisite widening of the sidewalk there would support its preservation. I also think it's a perfect place for a hotel: nice views of uptown in one direction, with uninterrupted, westerly (sunset) views over a nice residential area...but still in the midst of South End.

If it's wood frame construction, is that even possible?

The thing is, I've said before, you don't even have to do it all at once, or even have to move any exit ramps if you started with the 'block' between Tryon and Church, or Tryon and College. One, or both of them, could be developed first, if the prospect of a mega project was too intimidating for officials involved, serving as a sort of proof of concept. (Of course I realize that the engineering exigencies might necessitate that it all be done at once.) I'm naturally an incrementalist, so the idea of doing it in stages appeals to me anyway. I tend to think that large scale projects done all at once can end up being a little...Hudson Yards-ish. Doing things piecemeal, IMO, if done right, allows for more consideration over time and a wider group of players who can make it less homogenous.

One of my (dream world) ideas for Charlotte is to relocate the old Mint building from Eastover and bring it back to where it was built, as a museum about Charlotte's gold mining history. Since the Mint Museum is principally located Uptown now, I don't think it would suffer at all to have the old structure detached--it would give the Mint an opportunity to radically 'reimagine' its vision/mission/focus in the Eastover area and rebuild replacement footage. (And yes, I know there's a Mint employee within our midst who might very well contradict this assertion.) So, if anyone is going to push for a gold mining and history museum on the Pipe and Foundry property, or thereabouts, I am proposing to incorporate the original Mint building, as part of the master plan! The Mint building could be at one extreme of the location/site, even if it's only a block or less in size, and it could focus on the actual minting end of the process, or serve as a beautiful educational center generally. They managed to put it on trucks and move it from downtown in the '30s, so I say let's take it back home to (near) where it belongs a century later! My original concept is that it should've been put back on its original block, just pushed to the north end of the federal courthouse block, but they built that extremely mediocre apartment building where it could've gone. So... Again, (dream world) idea.

Not to pile on, but I personally think it's fantastic that, as you drive up or down South Tryon, there's such stark demarcation between the two sides of the street in the Wilmore area. I love it. I very much hope that those houses on South Tryon don't get torn down for multi-family or mixed use, no matter how small in size or scale. IMHO it's just great that--at least for now--a true, old school neighborhood can come face to face with modernity, and coexist. I know that several of those houses on one block are owned by one individual, and I just hope they're not being valued or evaluated for their future development returns. Anyway, it's a fundamental principle of mine that it's CONTRASTS which make design of any sort striking. I personally want as much old stuff preserved as possible, because it provides contrast with the new, most of which isn't spectacularly designed or inherently interesting--there are notable exceptions, which is how it has always been--and so continuous blocks of it is stultifying.

Muchos gracias, @KJHburg! My nerd self has been waiting for months for the city to get off its @** and connect the new terminus of Dunavant Street at West Tremont with Dunavant east of Tryon. The city has always had the right of way, so...

I "don't hate it" either, it's at least breaking the blue glass and 'stucco' look of the Tryon to Church block... Someone opined back when Honeywell was being developed that s/he liked the extension/integration of the brick aesthetic of South End into downtown, and this consolidates that... With the continued redevelopment of Mint immediately below the Belk overpass, this might actually be a link between two zones, a sort of obverse to the Queensbridge Collective, performing the same function but in the opposite direction. The podium parking doesn't bother me so much, either. When walking from Tryon you'll not really be focused to your left, and with the stadium remaining ahead, and hopefully a really cool rehabbing of the old Duke Center to the right, there will be plenty of mitigating factors. Church below Brooklyn Village Way is a lost cause anyhow. If Lincoln Harris commits to retail on the ground floor for most of the block, that's what you'll mainly see when at street level anyway. I say, a win.

I'm not saying it was by original design, nor trying to give them undue credit, but, based upon the renderings of the new building, and this placement, the overwhelming presence of that parking garage is actually going to be mitigated significantly by the new structure. Happy Accident or not, it's going to be vastly improved.

To me, the most exciting thing about this is that it basically borders North Tryon on its western corner, which means it along with the new apartment block south by Brookshire, and then the complex going in directly across the tracks from Optimist Hall, which will be formally approached (by car) from North Tryon, that super sad stretch of North Tryon might actually be made into some place...habitable. I never would have dreamed it just a few years ago.

IF this were to actually happen, I will reiterate something I've opined before in this Topic: It would be super duper easy (relatively) to plot a spur of the (future) Silver Line from Wilkinson down to the River District, if integrated within the plans at this stage. If you look at the map of west Charlotte, there is a ton of still underutilized land south of Wilkinson east of the airport--but it won't remain that way for long. If a spur were plotted within the River District, then the next large landowner to the east is...the City of Charlotte under the airport authority. So, I would think getting a right of way on the southernmost part of their acreage could be made to happen--I mean, ya'll, they own everything south of West to Bynum, and almost down to Douglas, and of course all the way over to Billy Graham. It's actually a little unnerving how much land the city owns under the aegis of the airport in that general area. That just leaves getting from Billy Graham up to the (future) right of way south of Wilkinson, which isn't that much of a stretch. If the city were really serious about negotiating with this guy, and enough people rightly pointed out that any 21st facility of this sort should be linked to legit mass transit, it could be done. I think this spur should happen regardless, especially when you consider that the River District developer and the city own over two thirds of the land from which the right of way would have to be taken.

THAT is a beautifully composed photograph.