B Randy
-
Posts
79 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Project Database
User Guide
Store
Events
Posts posted by B Randy
-
-
17 hours ago, kermit said:
Transit expansion is completely stalled, with no signs of moving forward. The transit tax voters who are paying attention are angry. Planning is weird (11th st route) and flaky (sharing ROW w Blue Line)). Absolutely no efforts to get permission for the vote in Raleigh. A regional planning process that is nothing more than some emails and vague maps. All at a time when there is more federal money available for transit than any other time in the past half century.
I am having a tough time seeing how it could get worse.
Agree 100%, and unfortunately, there is something that can get worse if they're not careful. At the corner of Trade and Graham.
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
4 hours ago, Reverie39 said:30+ stories at 7th and Tryon? Will this be on the side of Tryon that BoA is on (East)? If so I think it will be great for the skyline because BoA is awkwardly like fully visible from the North, which is strange for a city's tallest. Feels naked lol.
Yes. Directly across 7th Street from Duckworths.
-
6
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
3 minutes ago, Reverie39 said:Does Phase 1 completion next year mean that Amtrak will begin operating out of Gateway then?
My understanding is Amtrak will come when Gateway Station is completed. Which has to be a couple of years out based on those renderings.
I think the concept is that Silver Line will co-mingle w/ a rail trail at Gateway (that trail rendering concept above). But if Silver Line bypasses Gateway for some nearsighted agenda, that's likely not possible.
Also interesting today is that Tepper's practice facility was just announced along the Silver Line route off of Monroe . Seems like connecting that to Gateway and the Stadium beyond would be a good idea?
Of course...if the wackiness of the recent interlining studies/ agendas are any indication, nobody will be thinking about big picture city planning or growth when they make the ultimate decision re: routing...
-
3
-
2
-
1 hour ago, JeanClt said:
I see the CGS platform is close to completed for the most part and where the canopy columns will be I think. I wonder if it will be just a regular simple steel canopy or something more interesting, by looks of those column footings it doesn’t look like a typical steel canopy. Could be wrong I guess.
Should be much more interesting. We will see!
-
3
-
-
1 hour ago, RANYC said:
Hilarious seeing all the reaction on social media.
I'm assuming the folks running this property are pros, intensely data-driven, and did their research.
I'm sure the abuses that were taking place were far costlier than the incremental benefit of occasional patrons who actually stay for >3 hours spending money the entire time.
I'm sure if you plot a per person dollars spent figure versus time spent at the Hall, the resulting graph plummets like a meteor.
As brutal as it sounds, if I'm running OH, I set the $18 figure to deter the abuses, and the $5 between 90 min and 180 min so that those who linger have the discretionary means to scoff at $5 if they're making a big deal of the time spent at OH on a given day. All others are free to take transit, rideshare, cycles and scooters, or some combo thereof.
Social media definitely not the place for thoughtful or informed insight into development
-
1
-
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
On 7/23/2022 at 3:07 PM, AirNostrumMAD said:For Charlotte? Impossible. Probably less than 1% chance. But the silver line 100% should be tunneled underground and the cost would be 100% worth it (Unless it interlines with the blue line which is ‘ite). I mean. The city leaders per the articles recently shared made city leaders look so clueless on mass transit. Why would anyone expect any mass transit to be a possibility at this point? Honestly. The alignment where the silver line skirts uptown, no good connection to the blue line is dumb. And connecting to Gateway isn’t that great. The connections from gateway to the silver line would probably be so insignificant. Especially with a redeveloped CTC…
Anthony Foxx & McCrory we’re huge champions in making Charlotte a large urban city. They pushed for things like major events, stadiums, mass transit. They seemed invested in making Charlotte more urban. Clodfelter held that tradition but was too temporary, Cannon was bribed to lol. There’s no Hugh McColls to push for these, the city managers they hire from other towns that are temporary probably aren’t as invested personally other than it being their job.
Jennifer Robert’s didn’t have that chance as the GOP became super hostile to urban areas when she came to power and I think Vi is cool making sure Charlotte has good schools, clean parks, etc. things that probably the rest of Charlotte cares about versus central charlotte. Her airport message that plays every 5 minutes or so “welcome to Charlotte, a large city with a small town feel” is so her vibe.
A side note, San Francisco’s Central Subway opens soon which is I think 4 stations underground. Stations look fabulous. Would be perfect to have a 4 station underground silver line in uptown, with connections at a redeveloped CTC station, connection to the blue line.
I actually think the notion that it's "skirting" Uptown is focusing a bit too much on present day. As in - where is the best route to serve the City that exists today - Trade and Tryon and Blue Line Corridor. The things we know and are comfortable throwing investment behind.
If you think about where the current alignment runs and how it could transform the City - the already densifying Optimist/ Tryon neighborhoods across 277 + Levine / Gateway/ Hal Marshal properties being developed over the next 15 years + a transformed 277 at some point (please...)
That alignment could actually be a central corridor moving through one of the more interesting areas of Uptown - big time urban residential - serving a multiple newer, diversely populated neighborhoods w/ transit, and a TOD bridge to an extended Uptown not currently in the picture but very possible.
Let both lines create a new transit framework for Uptown. Anchor both ends of Trade with a major transit hub. Connect the two with incredible pedestrian experience and more frequent street car service, and let Uptown fill in around both lines over the next 50 years and completely transform the entire city. Just a thought!
-
5
-
2
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
21 hours ago, kermit said:Recent gateway renderings which have all omitted the Silver Line have given us some suggestions that this may be the case.
SL access not an issue for Gateway. I believe it's actually a key component of current planning.
Centralizing LRT in one swath of town seems shortsighted and lacking in ambition for a more active downtown w/ pockets of density throughout.
Seems a better strategy would be current one, to decentralize transit, allow access to and from more neighborhoods, for more people and encourage TOD projects to include affordable housing. Instead of favoring a single corporate corridor (old way of thinking about Downtown).
-
6
-
Shoving everything into an underground station w/ a portal up to the surface. Limited natural light. Not a great recipe no matter how you dress it up (especially in this climate).
-
4
-
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
A LEGIT new multifamily building ON Tryon is a huge win for this part of town. HUGE. That critical mass is so needed in this spot.
Will take whatever office is ready to go on this site. Tough area for office right now - lucked out that Truist moved in next door.
-
7
-
21 minutes ago, TGIBridays said:
I was definitely thinking of Trade. You'd think after growing up and living 90% of my life here I would be better at road names... But I always manage to get all the roads confused.
I guess I can see it working if it's transit only, but I'm still a proponent of making the whole thing grade separated.
-
18 hours ago, CarolinaDaydreamin said:
It is the plan. Its not the same thing as having a widespread underground tunnels. It will be a relatively small tunnel, and not under any existing buildings.
Do not believe that Silver Line will be underground. Would be very surprised if this is the plan.
-
2 hours ago, kermit said:
As usual my memory is unreliable. Here is what I found:
The rendering I was thinking of (it does not include the Silver Line) but does include rail trail.
This Gateway Station area report has lots different perspectives to the above. Frustratingly there does not appear to be any mention of the Silver Line in the report: https://charlottenc.gov/cats/transit-planning/charlotte-gateway-station/Documents/CGS MSAP - Final Report.pdf
CATS definitely published maps of the Silver Line route for public meetings, and one of those maps sketched the route and Gateway station with decent detail. I am still looking for this map.
These images can be archived. Completely new approach has emerged.
-
1
-
3
-
-
7 minutes ago, JBS said:
Looks good. Assume the aquarium will be in the Coral District (TM)?
But seriously, there needs to be a hotel tower next to the stadium (with the aforementioned bars/restaurants below). We need somewhere for ESPN to host the Super Bowl from...
Thanks a lot....now anything they propose will disappoint me.
Blame Calatrava...
-
3
-
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
17 minutes ago, go_vertical said:I did a very quick and dirty to hopefully illustrate what I was trying to describe. Not a fun task on mobile. Ha.
Stadium in black and aquarium in blue. The two red spots would be parking decks with the teal being entertainment, retail, bars, and restaurants. Although difficult and expensive to do the two green lines would be pedestrian pathways underneath 277.
Remove 277 and you're cooking w/ gas.
-
5
-
3
-
4 minutes ago, go_vertical said:
I really like the idea of this land becoming an entertainment district. A new stadium (with never-blocked signage to cars passing by) wedged in between 277 and 77 would work out really well where office and residential wouldn't be the most desirable. Have bars, shops, and restaurants along Morehead with dense residential bleeding north along McNinch, Cedar, and Eldridge. The removal of BofA stadium would help facilitate the rebuilding of the street grid in the area and also provide growing room for the success that is the southern tip of uptown.
The land south of 77 would be perfect for another large scale attraction such as an aquarium adjacent to the 277/77 interchange. Just improve the connectivity underneath the highway and place a garage for events just outside of 277 with easy access for cars thus minimizing the need for out of town visitors to use surface roads. This would also give the Gold District more room to grow and provide some solid attractions and customers for area businesses.
I just think this stretch of land is perfect for large scale developments without disrupting the fabric of the central core too much.
Love the aquarium idea!
-
2
-
1
-
-
13 minutes ago, JeanClt said:
That crane’s continued presence has me thinking…
Love these. But seriously, if you saw the inside of the theater and the refurbishing work that has to be done...glass facade is not even on the top half of the priority list.
It will be worth the wait though!
-
2
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, JeanClt said:
WE NEED A CYLINDER BUILDING NOWWWW!! WE NEED ALL THE SHAPES OF SHAPEBOW! Lol.
Holding out hope for a Linked Hybrid at Brooklyn Village
-
1
-
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
On 12/24/2021 at 4:23 PM, KJHburg said:Sometimes the truth hurts but I will say it. There is not as much demand for retail in every apartment complex in Southend. The generations that live in these apartments primarily buy online and heavily frequent bars and restaurants. Obviously there is some demand. We have some shopping districts in Southend Camden Ave for one and around Atherton and I am sure some others will develop. And actually Atherton could be seen as extension of Camden Ave shopping. Apartment developers see how long it takes for vacant retail space and they don't want to chance it. Dittos for NoDa, Villa Heights, Belmont too.
How dare you. Ha!
We should be advocating for active, transparent ground floors. Whether that’s a gym, sales center, coffee shop, or corner bar. Just not blank walls, utilities, or ground level parking.
Because, you know, retail on every single corner/building ground floor takes rooftops to sustain it.
-
6
-
- Popular Post
- Popular Post
1 hour ago, ajfunder said:Red Line would be big. Silver Line would be bigger as by nature it will run far more often. That being said, I do believe CATS has prioritized the Red Line above the Silver Line in their build out proposal, assuming a deal can be struck with NS.
Don’t sleep on the mode nobody’s talking about in this thread. If silver comes in - potential for epic rail trail interactivity that stitches a bunch of uptown/ adjacent networks together.
-
5
-
26 minutes ago, RANYC said:
From what I've read, the Brooklyn Redevelopment Agreement that BK Partners negotiated with the County says that construction must begin by February 2023. Yet, Peebles is reported as telling a gathering this month that he expects to break ground in 16-18 months. Such a ground-breaking would appear to be in violation of the agreement, and the county will need to decide whether to continue the deal with Peebles and BK Partners while suffering yet another delay, or to go with a different developer.
Perhaps Peebles has his hands too full with these celestial ambitions in Manhattan. Maybe BK Partners approaching the county for an extension gives the County the opportunity and pivot point to invite other developers into the redevelopment of Brooklyn so that it's not just one development group given charge over 17-acres of downtown real estate. After all, Brooklyn Village was a village-style neighborhood with small-footprint structures alongside narrow streets in very walkable density. Perhaps Brooklyn Village Charlotte can feel more like Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope in NYC, and less like the big-box scale of Hudson Yards. I love NYC, lived there for ages, but feel no envy to make me want to measure any Charlotte redevelopment initiatives against anything going on in Manhattan.
The public/private game has definitely changed since the BV bid was awarded. As well as national developer interest in these complex multi block deals in Charlotte.
Lots of investment into/by the BK group though to this point. Interesting political provocation. Already on extension of original agreement.
-
13 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:
So basically, there's still nothing to suggest that Peebles, perhaps in conjunction with a local partner, can't build BV. I think that it all depends on a strong local developer working with him.
Just reporting the news that the tower everyone was excited about further up in topic will, in fact, not be built.
not arguing w you re: NY high rise boom. Very close w RXR on multiple fronts. Exciting week for that one…
-
12 hours ago, blopp1234 said:
I 100% agree with this analysis and it seems like it has so much potential. With that being said, I don’t think y’all should sell yourselves short, Charlotte has tremendous potential for passenger rail expansion, serving as a major lynchpin for the entire planned southeast rail network and I don’t think y’all should think small in terms of your station.
While it currently serves 12 trains per day, the infrastructure proposal Amtrak has proposed would add an additional four trains to Atlanta, plus improvements to the piedmont and southeast regional line which could bring an unspecified number of new trains. Im honestly surprised that NC hasn’t followed VA’s lead on the NC railroad from Greensboro to Charlotte, seeing how it has potential to be a massive intercity and regional rail route. Seems like a dedicated double track right of way could be extremely beneficial in fostering commuter rail to Kannapolis or Salisbury, as well as Amtrak service to points north.
As far as possible comparisons for a station, I really think Sacramento and Albany have great stations in terms of scale (for some reason, most of the old circular gateway renderings seem very small to me, like something you’d find in a city like Durham or Wilmington, not Charlotte). You don’t need constant pedestrian activity to have a decent sized passenger space as that is usually determined by maximum passengers using the station at peak times.
While gateway won’t have the constant pedestrian activity like a station with a large regional rail network would have, doesn’t mean the station shouldn’t be able to handle that in the future, especially if it’s going to “last for the next 100 years.”
Great post. Previous analysis of Denver Union also good.
I will differ in saying that Charlotte actually has the potential to be much more interesting/ dynamic/ multilayered than Denver union station (as a fully mixed use development on the station block). Choosing to be very optimistic and anticipating great things re: design and activation.-
1
-
-
-
1 hour ago, Hushpuppy321 said:
Wholly Cow, LoDo - Denver Union Station….. One could imagine for Charlotte
Nice that their Platform are covered too….
Same designer for Denver Union Station and Charlotte Gateway Station. Should be an awesome project.
-
4
-
Charlotte Gateway Station and Railroad Improvements
in Charlotte
Posted
Nothing damning.
It's an extremely complex P3 (public private partnership) w/ three stations (Amtrak, Silver Line, Bus), multiple rail corridors/sets of platforms, and significant associated public facilities. There are ownership, leasing relationships between the developer, City, State and others related to these. Financials to build station facilities likely tied to the overall deal - which means a baseline project program and design is needed to get to go on the financial agreements w/ City.
It's also been envisioned as a seamless mixed-use project, with buildings rising above, but also (lobbies, elevators, F&B, etc) coming to ground, where they have to interact and fit w/ all of the public facilities. So splitting off pieces and parts to be developed in advance is difficult and would likely always feel "separate". Not impossible, but also not in the best interest of a transformational design project.
The real culprit is the Silver Line back and forth over the past year re: alignment + that prevented the design and financial agreements from getting to a place where things could be more final and move forward (again, b/c it's envisioned to be fully integrated into the overall and every alignment move that changes from the current plan causes many many ripples...)
Unfortunately, these transformational P3s take time. But if done right are usually worth the wait when they finally get to go.