Optimist Park / Belmont Projects

[Bikeguy]

24 minutes ago, SgtCampsalot said:

This was the final presentation to residents publicly. The next step is to get Council to approve it as a full plan, then to get it included on some bond package in the next decade.

In the next decade ??!!   WTF

[PMrez]

I'm sure Villa Heights residents bordering the old alley will love the idea of a trail through their back/side yards :/

[SgtCampsalot]

1 hour ago, SgtCampsalot said:

The last update was the following:

- Parkwood Ave from Belmont Ave to Hawthorne (meaning, the current NECI infrastructure upgrade project, up past Villa Heights until Hawthorne intersection) would be one lane each way, with turning lanes, and some method of bike facility (more below). The NECI portion of Parkwood is being widened in the next couple years, and these new diet plans would be able to be done easily within those existing curb cuts..

- Parkwood Ave to The Plaza would be same as now, but would be sure to somehow continue whatever bike facility was chosen above (below).

- The Plaza, due to it having the most traffic of all, has no specifics yet, however in regards to bike facilities:

- Bike facility options range (for all sections) from painted bike lanes (traditional), to buffered/protected cycle track on one side of the street (feasible), to utilizing the existing alleyway network in Villa Heights that runs parallel to Parkwood and turning it into a multi-use path/cycle track (requiring a patchwork of minor ROW acquisitions). This could then integrate into any potential "bicycle boulevard" routes, which they are currently researching separately to connect Plaza-Midwood to NoDa, etc.

This was the final presentation to residents publicly. The next step is to get Council to approve it as a full plan, then to get it included on some bond package in the next decade.

 

43 minutes ago, Bikeguy said:

In the next decade ??!!   WTF

I mean, that's my own estimation, but... Bottom line is they need to find a spot to get in for funding. We ain't exactly flush with cash right now.

 

Edited December 6, 2016 by SgtCampsalot

[emansius]

On 12/6/2016 at 10:29 AM, SgtCampsalot said:

The last update was the following:

- Parkwood Ave from Belmont Ave to Hawthorne (meaning, the current NECI infrastructure upgrade project, up past Villa Heights until Hawthorne intersection) would be one lane each way, with turning lanes, and some method of bike facility (more below). The NECI portion of Parkwood is being widened in the next couple years, and these new diet plans would be able to be done easily within those existing curb cuts..

- Parkwood Ave to The Plaza would be same as now, but would be sure to somehow continue whatever bike facility was chosen above (below).

- The Plaza, due to it having the most traffic of all, has no specifics yet, however in regards to bike facilities:

- Bike facility options range (for all sections) from painted bike lanes (traditional), to buffered/protected cycle track on one side of the street (feasible), to utilizing the existing alleyway network in Villa Heights that runs parallel to Parkwood and turning it into a multi-use path/cycle track (requiring a patchwork of minor ROW acquisitions). This could then integrate into any potential "bicycle boulevard" routes, which they are currently researching separately to connect Plaza-Midwood to NoDa, etc.

This was the final presentation to residents publicly. The next step is to get Council to approve it as a full plan, then to get it included on some bond package in the next decade.

Is there any plan to reconnect 15th, Brevard, and 17th streets to Parkwood? This area is so close to having a well-connected street grid...

[tozmervo]

7 minutes ago, emansius said:

Is there any plan to reconnect 15th, Brevard, and 17th streets to Parkwood? This area is so close to having a well-connected street grid...

I've been told that's there is intention to connect 16th across Parkwood as a four way intersection eventually, but only bike ped connections at the other streets

[SgtCampsalot]

8 hours ago, emansius said:

Is there any plan to reconnect 15th, Brevard, and 17th streets to Parkwood? This area is so close to having a well-connected street grid...

There was mentioned connecting either 16th or 17th St to Parkwood where there's currently a stub. I forget if it was both or either. But it is a LONG term goal (probably waiting for a developer). What I'm confused of is the fact that 16th St would clearly need to demo those new-ish condos..

Brevard will stay as-is, but the rail trail will create a much more formal multi-use path connecting the southern stretch of Brevard to what is now the sidewalk on Parkwood parallel to the BLE.

Edited December 9, 2016 by SgtCampsalot

[tozmervo]

1 hour ago, SgtCampsalot said:

There was mentioned connecting either 16th or 17th St to Parkwood where there's currently a stub. I forget if it was both or either. But it is a LONG term goal (probably waiting for a developer). What I'm confused of is the fact that 16th St would clearly need to demo those new-ish condos..

Those condos are slowly demolishing themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up condemned from poor construction.

Also: I commute past the future Thompkins Mill project right there, and it appears there's some kind of media event setting up this morning (12/9). Perhaps more info on that project will be rolling out today.

[VTinCV]

15 hours ago, SgtCampsalot said:

There was mentioned connecting either 16th or 17th St to Parkwood where there's currently a stub. I forget if it was both or either. But it is a LONG term goal (probably waiting for a developer). 

Permits almost issued for a small apartment project on Parkwood between 17th & 18th. Connection of 17th is part of the plan. So that should start happening sooner rather than later. 

[archiham04]

On 12/9/2016 at 8:34 AM, tozmervo said:

Those condos are slowly demolishing themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up condemned from poor construction.

Also: I commute past the future Thompkins Mill project right there, and it appears there's some kind of media event setting up this morning (12/9). Perhaps more info on that project will be rolling out today.

Those townhomes are 100% out of the street right-of-way.  no demo needed to connect the streets.

[SgtCampsalot]

Some extra pics of the Louis/Hawthorne Mill taken from Louis Ave with landmarks for context. First pic shows a ceiling skylight (facing the Kellog factory). In the second pic you can see the multi-colored wall of the apartments that face the CSX tracks.

Edited December 15, 2016 by SgtCampsalot

[KJHburg]

Here is a good article about Tompkins Mill (Highland Park #1) redevelopment. http://developclt.com/tompkins-hall-could-spark-market-hall-madness/

[CLTProductions]

Parkwood Residences were approved. While the project is perfect I particularly like the massing and it has a lot of other good aspects to it. 9,000 SF is PLENTY of retail considering the Thompkins Mill will be right next door, there is 11k of public space, on street parking, improved sidewalk experience, a garage entry that isn't death to pedestrians and some interesting textures in the design. I believe we have seen all these renderings before but whatever. The 21st street side (the all grey and white one) kind of sucks, but other than that, this project is definitely a step in the right direction for apartments in CLT.

The best part might honestly be that the developer didn't waste the best corner for the leasing office. The leasing office is rather tucked away by the parking deck entrance on Brevard.

Edited December 19, 2016 by Jayvee

[SgtCampsalot]

It does have great massing. However, the "motor court" parking garage entrance is a massive middle finger to the Parkwood Station; a gaping canyon that could have gone on 21st St.

The commercial space is "flex" space, so it's a win (for the future when retail is more feasible).

Edited December 20, 2016 by SgtCampsalot

[CLTProductions]

1 hour ago, SgtCampsalot said:

However, the "motor court" parking garage entrance is a massive middle finger to the Parkwood Station; a gaping canyon that could have gone on 21st  

I agree the 21st side sucks and could have been used for a garage entry but the old 20th st is being utilized as the garage entryway here. And look again screen grabs of the motor court, its all PED level and isn't too harsh. The garage entrance itself is actually set way back and the station edge of the parkwood station aligns with the entry to the garage. Not too much clashing there. The station as a whole more aligns with the public space corner

[SgtCampsalot]

1 hour ago, Jayvee said:

I agree the 21st side sucks and could have been used for a garage entry but the old 20th st is being utilized as the garage entryway here. And look again screen grabs of the motor court, its all PED level and isn't too harsh. The garage entrance itself is actually set way back and the station edge of the parkwood station aligns with the entry to the garage. Not too much clashing there. The station as a whole more aligns with the public space corner

I'm very familiar with the design. CDOT out-ranked Planning in this rezoning instance; they thought it was revolutionary. All I see is a car-catering canyon next to a train station (note that those are three or four parking spots next to the leasing office, also facing the station).

Council for once appreciated some good external massing, but they completely neglected how the whole thing relates with the public realm.

Edited December 20, 2016 by SgtCampsalot

[Guest]

On 12/6/2016 at 11:02 AM, PMrez said:

I swear to god this generation of architects have lost their minds. I understand these projects can support local businesses and setup the density needed for new businesses but this is how the building presents itself to the street?

I'm going to poke around on photoshop and see what little steps they can take to reduce the... Stalinism of the building.

Edited December 21, 2016 by mazman34340

[Nick2]

All it would take it to throw some wood paneling or stone on the corners and ground floor.

[Spartan]

On 12/8/2016 at 10:57 PM, emansius said:

Is there any plan to reconnect 15th, Brevard, and 17th streets to Parkwood? This area is so close to having a well-connected street grid...

I think this was stated earlier, but 15th and Brevard will never be reconnected due to the curve of Parkwood. 16th and 17th will eventually be reconnected.

On 12/9/2016 at 7:22 AM, SgtCampsalot said:

There was mentioned connecting either 16th or 17th St to Parkwood where there's currently a stub. I forget if it was both or either. But it is a LONG term goal (probably waiting for a developer). What I'm confused of is the fact that 16th St would clearly need to demo those new-ish condos..

Brevard will stay as-is, but the rail trail will create a much more formal multi-use path connecting the southern stretch of Brevard to what is now the sidewalk on Parkwood parallel to the BLE.

17th gets reconnected with an adjacent condo or apartment building in the near future.

16th gets reconnected by realigning on the mill side. The residential stuff on the SE side wouldn't be touched.

[Spartan]

On 12/6/2016 at 10:29 AM, SgtCampsalot said:

The last update was the following:

- Parkwood Ave from Belmont Ave to Hawthorne (meaning, the current NECI infrastructure upgrade project, up past Villa Heights until Hawthorne intersection) would be one lane each way, with turning lanes, and some method of bike facility (more below). The NECI portion of Parkwood is being widened in the next couple years, and these new diet plans would be able to be done easily within those existing curb cuts..

- Parkwood Ave to The Plaza would be same as now, but would be sure to somehow continue whatever bike facility was chosen above (below).

- The Plaza, due to it having the most traffic of all, has no specifics yet, however in regards to bike facilities:

- Bike facility options range (for all sections) from painted bike lanes (traditional), to buffered/protected cycle track on one side of the street (feasible), to utilizing the existing alleyway network in Villa Heights that runs parallel to Parkwood and turning it into a multi-use path/cycle track (requiring a patchwork of minor ROW acquisitions). This could then integrate into any potential "bicycle boulevard" routes, which they are currently researching separately to connect Plaza-Midwood to NoDa, etc.

This was the final presentation to residents publicly. The next step is to get Council to approve it as a full plan, then to get it included on some bond package in the next decade.

I think it will be sooner than the next decade. The important thing to remember is that this wasn't even something on the City's radar for implementation until that petition was submitted, so its unreasonable to expect the City to be able to fund the project immediately. CDOT seems to be committed to the idea based on what I've heard. It seems reasonable that it could make it on the next bond referendum (2018) and that it could actually work out well in terms of timing for implementation with the NECI project.

If you're a city council nerd, then you probably know that the Transportation & Planning Committee requested an update on the road diet in January. Perhaps more information will be available then.

[Guest]

I understand I'm looking at the 'rear' of the building at 21st Street, but it still faces a public street. The architect could of put a little more thought in the facade.

1. You got a color palette choice of three; dark orange, beige, and white. You also have two types of windows. It actually looks mildly interesting to look at. What's wrong with extending that style to the rest of the side of the building?

2. I know that's probably just an emergency exit, but if it's an entrance, the architect needs to draw more attention to it. Extending the awning to the sidewalk or widening it to follow the building's skin more would help.

3. This is modernism so I don't know what to make of the structure for the deck. Would a little concrete support beam that extends to the ground hurt?

Not much else I can think of. The left corner right now is so devoid of detail that it screams of socialist low-income housing.

[asthasr]

The annoying thing is that the grade is such that it looks like they could have half-buried store fronts or restaurant spots instead of the retaining wall. Call me crazy, but it seems like that many apartments could support a little convenience store on their own...

[emansius]

Any thoughts on the approval by city council to raze 0.6 acres of homes and build a surface lot next to Highland Mill? Assuming I'm reading this right, it's annoying that the parcels have been rezoned as TOD-MO and will be used to park cars so close to the Blue Line.

http://charlottenc.gov/planning/Rezoning/RezoningPetitions/2016Petitions/Pages/2016-130.aspx

 

[southslider]

^by a BLE bridge over the ACWRR between stations

 

[SgtCampsalot]

9 hours ago, emansius said:

Any thoughts on the approval by city council to raze 0.6 acres of homes and build a surface lot next to Highland Mill? Assuming I'm reading this right, it's annoying that the parcels have been rezoned as TOD-MO and will be used to park cars so close to the Blue Line.

http://charlottenc.gov/planning/Rezoning/RezoningPetitions/2016Petitions/Pages/2016-130.aspx

 

It'll act as parking for the renovated shopping mill. It's kinda lame, but obviously them rezoning now means it'll be able to be developed at any point in the future. They're some cute houses, but they're so dang close to the BLE. 

Kinda weird though, at the public meeting for this they never mentioned the future possibility of developing it. Almost like they were hiding the very obvious possibility.

[Guest]

Some Tompkins Hall Renderings and Floor Plans. Hey at least the "Diversified it" unlike Stonewall Station. But I gotta say, I've never seen anyone dressed like these people outside of GQ and Vogue and perhaps the Tribeca after work.