Ryepow

That would be good, but doesn't that land always flood really badly when it rains long enough? I could be thinking of a different apartment complex right around there but if it is Doral I am surprised someone would build there again. I do know I see the Doral apartments on the news a lot due to shootings, so anything going in it's place is an improvement.

Omni Hotel

Thanks for the compliments. I have several more I took that day coming soon.

On another subject I was looking through Wikipedia and looked up CLT. It states the newest wing of concourse E will open on February 6, 2008 consisting of 6 additional gates a customer service desk and 3 new restaraunts including Salsarita Mexican Cantina, Burker King and a Planet Smoothie Stand in addition to a news stand. Has this opened yet? Maybe I have been out of it, but I don't remember hearing or reading anything about it being opened yet.

I don't put much stock in these mergers until they are officially announced and approved by the DOJ. Someone such as American Airlines will step in and try and block one of them or offer a better deal to Continental for example and a whole new round of talks will begin again. I think the best outcome for CLT would be a merger between United and US Airways or US remaining on their own for now.

One year to build a 25 gate international terminal? That sounds like wishful thinking to me. If they do build it and start in 2010 I would think opening will be late 2012 at the earliest.

Keep in mind I virtually dropped the current LMS site in that area west of I-485. Realistically if something like this ever came about, they would most likely have the speedway much further east as close to 485 as possible with grass parking lots further back towards the river.

Not to be negative, but I am pretty sure they will add more international flights out of PHL at off peak times before they add them in CLT, for the simple reason of more O&D traffic. Figure a 8pm flight arrives in Europe around 8am the next day with the time change. Add a flight at say 8am in when gates are empty in PHL that arrives around 8pm in Europe. The return would leave around midnight in Europe and arrive around 5am into PHL.

Nascar should put the brakes on the hall of fame if it was to move to Rowan county. No tourists would be around during race weeks. I don't think Charlotte would let that happen.

Take a look at Google Earth. I was looking in around the airport as I mentioned before. Now I am not saying this can be done, but it has pretty interesting possiblities. Below is a screenshot overlooking the CLT airport area. I have added in the future runway currently under construction. From the same elevation I superposed LMS and what I can tell is parking lots around it to the west of 485. I made that section a little darker so you can see it better. Advantages I see are: 1. right next to 485 and not far from I-485/I-77 interchange- easy access. 2. sound buffer on the west due to river. 3. next to airport.- I added a orange box west of the new runway for crew team aircraft parking. 4. next to airport- less noise hassle next to noisy airport. 5. next to the airport- will be a big push for onsite airport hotel- great for stranded passengers if race isn't here. 6. big incentive to make light rail from LMS/Airport to uptown.

Maybe by the airport like in Daytona? No need to worry about noise when you have jets going in and out all day and night. I don't see this threat playing out though. I think the story is kind of funny. It must be nice to be able to spend $350 million on a new location because you didn't get what you wanted. I bet the Nascar execs building the hall of fame spit up their coffee all over their computer screens when they read that comment.

Thanks. To answer your question yes it is supposed to be Trump Charlotte, and is it really a Trump building? Yes and no. The right side is Trump Toronto with a spire added. The left side is Onyx2 in Miami. It is just fantasy building of course because I had no real Trump Charlotte rendering to go by.

One more rendering. This time Charlotte looking sharp in 2010 or so at night. Thanks to Mobuchu for providing the original picture.

Thanks for the compliments. It really is a exciting time to be in Charlotte, and I can't wait to see views like those become a reality.

Sorry to double post, but I forgot this thread existed when I posted these pictures in the Charlotte Skyline Shots area. Here is Charlotte in 2010 or so. Thanks again to Mobuchu for providing the original pictures. Enjoy! Here is another angle. I had trouble with some of the buildings angles, but you get the idea... Charlotte 2010 or so

That is a nice looking building. I just wonder what kind of back up it will cause on 6th if multiple cars are waiting to enter and exit the car elevator at the same time.

I don't have an answer, but I really hope so. Every time I go it's busy with plane spotters, even in the middle of the day during the week.

On my last flight out of Charlotte Douglas, I had some spare time waiting around for my delayed flight. For the most part I think the airport is excellent. It's actually one of my favorites even though it is my home airport. Anyway, I was looking for things that need improvement and kind of brainstorming ideas around in my head. One of the first things I noticed was how bad the main terminal facing the tarmac as well as the B and C concourse need a good pressure washing or a new coat of paint outside. You can see it from just about any window inside the airport or from a plane as you pass by. The water stains make the main terminal look twice it's age. Inside I think the main terminal inside the security checkpoint is in great shape and looks good to me. Other then updated monitors to check your flight, which I see on this thread are coming soon, I don't think any major improvements are needed. Outside the checkpoint will be redone soon so I ignored that. While I think that the main terminal is great appealing feature of the airport, Terminals A,B,C are nothing to write home about. They are not terrible and I have definitely been in worse, but they are kind of bland, outdated, and rundown in places. If you are there while a bank of flights arrive and depart it can feel claustrophobic. If I were from another city and made a connection in CLT and didn't have to change terminals I don't think I would be that impressed. Maybe it's all the gray colors, from the chairs, to the walls, and the carpet that is the problem. The carpet is especially bad, and I know they are replacing sections and you can see the difference but it's still ugly in my opinion. I think making the main hallways in each concourse the same terrazzo floor as in the main terminal and in the newer concourses D & E would be much better looking and wouldn't wear out. If they had the budget, I would love to see the low drop down ceiling tiles ripped out above the main hallways in the A, B and C concourse and replaced with the exact same glass roof that is at Carolina Place Mall. That would bring in a ton of natural light and make the concourses feel a lot more spacious and modern. They would also look so futuristic at night with the blue neon accent lighting that is in the newer sections of the airport. I know there was some talk of a monorail or tram that takes you from the airport to the new daily garages, as well as an on site hotel, but I haven't heard anything about that in a long time. I don't know if that is still planned or not, but that would be very convenient too. As you can tell I was sitting around for quite a while, sorry if I am rambling. Does anyone else have any cool ideas that you wish you would see at the airport?

In regards to CLT's O&D figures vs RDU's. Unless I am looking at the wrong figures CLT past RDU in O&D stats. According to RDU's website they had 9,422,122 passenger Enplanements and Deplanements in 2006. According to CLT's website CLT had 14,865,800 passenger enplanements and Deplanements in 2006. Total passengers including connecting at CLT was 29,693,949 in 2006. 18th nationwide.

They are adding a new bar in the back of Roosters and a bakery. Keep and eye out for another Roosters in the area around next Christmas but I can't say where. It is not uptown though.

I am also glad that a movie theater and bowling is coming. With only 5 screens and 10 lanes of bowling, good luck getting tickets or a lane on the weekends. I will take it though, it wouldn't be much of a entertainment center without those.

That's too bad that the new carpet doesn't look good. If it's possible to post a few pictures of some of these changes taking place next time anyone is at the airport, that would be great.

I don't think the parking at CLT is bad. I actually like it because it is cheap compared to most airports, more advancements probably will mean more expensive. They usually have attendants that direct you to the nearest empty spot when you arrive in satellite parking, and there isn't much of a wait to exit every time I go. Well one day there was a big back up and I guess the parking attendant didn't want to deal with it so he lifted up the gate and let us all out for free. Now that was a great welcome home present after being gone a week.

I will miss Jack's and Philosopher's Stone when they go. Jack's is a good sports bar with great outdoor patio and has good food. They both have made nice improvements in the past year and have really grown in popularity on the weekends. Along with Cajan Queen, Fig Tree, Pearls of Elizabeth the area is a great alternative from going to the uptown bars and restaurants. I hope with this new project the area doesn't loose it's nightlife.