graydog

Thanks for the report Dubone. I tried to get there but work and family prevailed. I have to say the land deals are disapponting news. With the current 1st Ward Park going away, losing the open space and retail would be a significant loss, even with Levinon. In the 1st Ward Master Plan, 1 major goal was: "The neighborhood should have the amenities that will make it a 'good place to live.' These include parks and open spaces, churches, schools, a community center and neighborhood shopping. Very little open space was planned. Much of it adjoined the highway. Originally the Episcopal school land was to be open space and business/retail was planned for the current 1st Ward Park. Even if Levinon happens, I think a case could be made that residential on these land parcels misses the plan's goals. (See the attached pages from the master plan.) The AACC looks to be zoned UR2, so it may not require a zoning request to build condos there. Not sure. Any sense for the neighborhood's next steps? On a side note, the county has added M Street (the street) to Polaris. Yay! -graydog

I don't think it has to be focused on NASCAR at all. I see it as part of the fabric that defines us. To your other point, I love NASCAR racing, so it's disappointing to have to say this. If NASCAR is going to be considered world class, they will have to step it up big time with the facilities and crowd control. Rowdy drunks need to be removed. And when you walk under the grandstand you shouldn't be showered with liquids from the seats above. Disgusting.

Amen to that. I have no problem with the HOF in Charlotte, as long as NASCAR pays for it. Out tax dollars are better invested in the things that make this a great place to live. The HOF is way down my list of priorities. Sometimes it's good to do projects like this to boost the local economy, but in this case the incremental business is just not there and we have larger priorities with more appeal and staying power. Plus, NASCAR has a ton of money!

I like the apts approach (especially if they go tall) and the "mix" seems right. The only catch seems to be Colonial. Their stuff is blah. My view at M Street and everyone's entering Uptown will be degarded if they produce their usual stuff on that corner. Is ther any hope?

That project west of 77 has been announced in Doug Smith's column this AM. There a website too. Bobby Drakeford is the developer. The website: http://www.walnuthillcondos.com/ Doug's article: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/12997915.htm -graydog

There's a map on the charmeck site in the summer newsletter. http://www.charmeck.org/NR/rdonlyres/eoqod...ansitionsCC.pdf

Happy Birthday to the Bank of America Corporate Center. It turned 13 yesterday. http://www.news14charlotte.com/content/top...asp?ArID=105323

Today's Observer had a nice article about the building that will be torn down for Central27. http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news...rg/12856830.htm So far 17 of the 27 units have been reserved. Not bad.

While Charlotte is the logical and emotional choice, I think it's absurd for the local taxpayers to contribute as proposed. I'm hoping the upcoming city/county elections change the political make-up enough to substantially reduce the public money. This is doubly troubling for me because I love NASCAR racing. I don't like the money grabbing NASCAR organization.

The Sterling Dilworth announcement this morning made me think about this thread again. I agree with your comments and I think it's difficult for real estate owners to justify the thinking versus the money on the table for a conversion. Until some of the condo market in desirable neighborhoods goes away, it will be difficult for a develop/owner to resist a conversion or a new condo project. On the other hand, as new projects come on the market, some of the older and more affordable places will be in greater supply so the creative crowd will have a place to go. From a macro view, driving the creatives to less desirable neighborhoods often helps turn those neighborhoods around.

Not sure what you're asking. I do think SE could go condo though, if the market continues as it is. SE is a gorgeous building.

Here's a map of the property (the 4 houses on the north side of 8th between Davidson and Myers) http://maps.google.com/maps?q=715+e+8th+st...06951&t=h&hl=en This project has supposedly turned into SFH. The rezoning request is to change from UR-2 to UR-3. I can't tell how the zoning is important to the project. Any help? Center City Partners posted a description of the original townhome project and included a before and after photo: http://www.charlottecentercity.org/files/p...FTOKEN=86580852 Here are the houses in question:

The existing 8th Square Townhomes site is still up but doesn't mention the change to SFH. http://www.8thsquaretownhomes.com

This was taken in March 05. You can just see the Wendy's in the bottom left. http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/9194/mi...npan10244vo.jpg Here you can see intersection of Kenilworth and 277 as you go through the Baxter intersection. It's not pedestrian friendly to say the least right now. http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/8209/img022910243dc.jpg

At the 1st Ward community association meeting tonight, association president Sandy Hoagland told us 2 development tidbits: 1. Bobby Drakeford is developing single family homes on the 8th St. site, instead of condos (#29 on the list above). 2. David Furman is designing the expansion of the Afro American Cultural Center on 7th. This is not funded yet, but we should add it as proposed as we have done with the Bechtler Museum, no? Both Drakeford and Furman are scheduled to speak about these projects at the Nov. 1st Ward meeting. Furman will supposedly share his design.

Gotta go with DB on this one, but it will add to the appeal which brings more people, etc. On the plus side, talk about a diverse neighborhood in that part of Uptown. You've got Beazer townhomes, Lela Court, old bungalows, warehouse lofts, warehouse offices, a football stadium, a train, a college, corporate offices, The Coffee Cup, etc. I agree Glenwood Park looked good. Beazer's stuff at Atlantic Station was not shown on their web site. Some of their other townhomes in Atlanta looked better than average. For example: http://www.beazer.com/findHome/houseplan.a...ommunityid=1381 Interesting to see their ameneties include sidewalks. Has it come to this? The cool stuff at Atlantic Station seemed to be designed by other developers like Novare. But no matter, I don't see the appeal here. Why would you want to sit on your balcony stairing at a giant Ikea sign? Back to Morehead...

A red star no less. Conspiracy or coincidence? Mmmmm.

Cowbell? How about MStreet photos? 7th & McDowell 7th looking north You may have noticed McDowell in front of MStreet is now one lane going north, except the left turn lane at 8th. The right lane will be on-street parking. They've dug up the old sidewalk. They've also dug out space for the islands (or are these jettys???) in front of the sidewalk at the street corners. Note the cones and the dirt pile that will be a jetty here at 8th & McDowell:

At this point I guess anything is news, so here goes. Saw these guys standing in front of the strip mall at 7th and McDowell tonight. They looked like important land people so I took a photo. Maybe if someone recognizes them we could have clue on next steps. Or not.

I've got 2 teenagers. Most kids I encounter, including my own, don't care about yards. They are inside watching TV and playing video games or hanging out at the mall. It's more about the parents. Maybe they had a yard and they want their kids to experience it. Also, when you have kids, life is much easier and calmer with a house in the burbs. For most people the burbs are less frightening. Still, there's a small % of folks like me and my wife who would rather be in an urban area because we like the tradeoffs. I won't be surprised to see families Uptown in high rises, but I'm guessing most will be from away.

Yet another animal rights group http://www.greatpointedarcher.com/ This is just plain silly (so why didn't I think of it?) http://theslurps.com/

Is this the building you mean? That's the Little Rock AME church. BTW Don't be encourgaing that sort of thing! Next thing you know someone will buy it and build a condo development. Jeesh, do you want to block my Uptown view at MStreet? (NIMFY)

I wondered the same thing. Would be awesome. We took a unit with a 3rd floor balcony so we were as high as possible. Supposedly each Centro development is improved based on feedback from the customers of the previous development. I guess skyline terraces were traded off for higher priority ameneties so they could hit a target price range.

Anybody but me and the wife buy at M Street? (For those unfamilar, this is a Furman project on the southeast corner of 7th & McDowell in 1st Ward.) Today I stood at my soon to be front stoop (OK it was a painted outline) and got all tingly. Simultaneously - and right in front of me - two trailer loads of sticks arrived on site. The foundations are 90%, the sewers, plumbing and curbs are in, and half the streets are hot topped. Yah! I've been taking the same 4 photo angles about once a month since Dec. so I can have a cool slide show of start to finish. Does that make me a geek? Here's a sampling: From 7th looking North: 4/21/05 9/13/05 At 8th & McDowell: 12/8/04 9/13/05 7th & McDowell: 12/8/04 9/13/05