Legacy Union (former Charlotte Observer redevelopment)

[CLT Development]

My sources are saying this is vertically integrated into one 39-floor tower, and that there might still be a development pad left on the parking deck for a hotel, though tbh they said that with the current tower under construction. I will say however, that the parcel being developed is the largest one to date, and I'd be a real shame if it wasn't two towers.

Edited June 5, 2023 by CLT Development

[J-Rob]

1 hour ago, CLT Development said:

My sources are saying this is vertically integrated into one 39-floor tower, and that there might still be a development pad left on the parking deck for a hotel, though tbh they said that with the current tower under construction. I will say however, that the parcel being developed is the largest one to date, and I'd be a real shame if it wasn't two towers.

Does this basically mean that parking deck will cover the entirety of the remaining parcel, and maybe if we are lucky they will add a hotel once it sells to a new owner?

[CLT Development]

6 minutes ago, J-Rob said:

Does this basically mean that parking deck will cover the entirety of the remaining parcel, and maybe if we are lucky they will add a hotel once it sells to a new owner?

Honestly unclear. Its possible that a development pad remains open along Church, but its just so hard to find out information about Lincoln Harris projects.

[CLT Development]

On 6/5/2023 at 2:02 PM, CLT Development said:

My sources are saying this is vertically integrated into one 39-floor tower, and that there might still be a development pad left on the parking deck for a hotel, though tbh they said that with the current tower under construction. I will say however, that the parcel being developed is the largest one to date, and I'd be a real shame if it wasn't two towers.

Heard another source say its two buildings, so... um... we are just going to wait until its announced, whenever that'll be. 

[KJHburg]

1 minute ago, CLT Development said:

Heard another source say its two buildings, so... um... we are just going to wait until its announced, whenever that'll be. 

that won't be until it is under construction. 

[QCxpat]

Today 9:15 a.m.

Edited June 7, 2023 by QCxpat

[RANYC]

On 6/6/2023 at 2:25 PM, CLT Development said:

Heard another source say its two buildings, so... um... we are just going to wait until its announced, whenever that'll be. 

Watched a video last night about the "Odell Plan" in Charlotte, and today i've been walking around Uptown.  I'm puzzled by something.  How is it that after all the decades following the Odell plan we got parking garages that were buried underground or that were hidden in buildings, and then Legacy Union and Ally Center come along, and suddenly we've got completely exposed garages again?  Not to judge based on just these developments, but given the undoing of Epicenter which began pre-COVID, the exodus from Uptown, the anemic pace of new residential in Uptown given its tiny proportion of all the boom construction that happened last cycle, can someone explain to me why I shouldn't consider the Lyles-Jones Administration to be one of the worst episodes of progress reversals in recent history?  Successes like Honeywell and Centene are perhaps feeding off the fumes of past forward-thinking, but my gosh, if we don't move on quickly, might the damage be irreparable?  Please tell me there have been worse leadership teams in Charlotte's modern history!

Edited June 10, 2023 by RANYC

[15895]

7 hours ago, RANYC said:

Watched a video last night about the "Odell Plan" in Charlotte, and today i've been walking around Uptown.  I'm puzzled by something.  How is it that after all the decades following the Odell plan we got parking garages that were buried underground or that were hidden in buildings, and then Legacy Union and Ally Center come along, and suddenly we've got completely exposed garages again?  Not to judge based on just these developments, but given the undoing of Epicenter which began pre-COVID, the exodus from Uptown, the anemic pace of new residential in Uptown given its tiny proportion of all the boom construction that happened last cycle, can someone explain to me why I shouldn't consider the Lyles-Jones Administration to be one of the worst episodes of progress reversals in recent history?  Successes like Honeywell and Centene are perhaps feeding off the fumes of past forward-thinking, but my gosh, if we don't move on quickly, might the damage be irreparable?  Please tell me there have been worse leadership teams in Charlotte's modern history!

I agree with you with the caveat that I don’t think the Lyles administration is bad. I just don’t think it’s bold. It’s just good & stable. 

I don’t think leadership under her is focused on policies (not political necessarily but local civic stuff) I’d like to see which tend to be more urban and more focused on Central Charlotte. But I think for overall Charlotte she’s good, I think she checks the boxes on sound leadership. But I’d like to return to leadership that was more ambitious. This was the city that wouldve been offended if it weren’t included in the first wave of nuclear strikes from the Soviet Union. Now it’s a big city with a small town feel (that vi lyles quote that plays every 5 minutes at the airport) 

We lost ambitious local business leaders (but I think that’s pretty much everywhere. Businesses aren’t tied to where they operate like they used to IMO), seems like we also are losing ambitious leadership. Which was born out of North Carolina going to war with Charlotte over its progressive policies so she really just meets the moment. She’s good, but I personally would prefer someone more ambitious, visionary, etc.  Not just business friendly, good schools & safety. I mean. I sort of expect that. I want more than that. 

[KJHburg]

New ACC flag plaza going up where the former real grass lawn area was between the 3 buildings.  It will have astroturf instead of real grass and be flanked by flags of the ACC schools I hear.  New 24 story Legacy 3 Robinson Bradshaw tower looking good.   I wonder if the ACC hall of champions they have at the Greensboro Coliseum will relocate to Legacy too or just the offices.

http://www.acchallofchampions.net/   I have been to it in Greensboro it is interesting but I have not heard anything about this coming to Charlotte.  

[J-Rob]

Serious thought: I wonder if they have thought about how to handle that plaza and flag poles if the conference expands or gets decimated by another conference. Given how college sports change, seems like it could turn into musical flag poles every few years, lol.

[KJHburg]

3 minutes ago, J-Rob said:

Serious thought: I wonder if they have thought about how to handle that plaza and flag poles if the conference expands or gets decimated by another conference. Given how college sports change, seems like it could turn into musical flag poles every few years, lol.

they would put up some generic Legacy Union Lincoln Harris flags I would think  or add the city of Charlotte flag or something.  

[QCxpat]

Today 9:25 a.m. - working on the 20th floor of the 24-story office bldg. anchored by Robinson Bradshaw / LU4  - height 318 ft./97 m.

Edited June 26, 2023 by QCxpat

[KJHburg]

Great photos! the Legacy 3 tower is rising fast

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

Despite LU’s flaws, I give LH credit…they get sh*t done and don’t sit stagnant unlike another person in first ward. The ACC flag poles should look pretty neat once everything is done. Another poster brought up a good point about realignment. Be interesting to see how things play out for that conference. With the ACC HQ there and them marketing all the teams front n center, I would hope for some kind of museum/store. Idk if they would relocate hall of champions but we have plenty of empty retail space to get creative with something. We honestly need a nice sports bar in that area. Need a place to grab a drink before a game or get something to eat before/after that’s not an expensive seafood or steak option. Once rumored Blackfinn  would kill it at LU. 

[CLT Development]

I have to say this project, for good or for bad I'm not sure (I'm sure), is actually a masterclass in doing exactly what a client wanted. Its truly a beefy and impressively large collection of edifices and is fully reminiscent of 80-90s era building in Manhattan along Park Avenue but approached in a mid 90s PoMo wet dream. Very masculine, very conservative, it just drips Lincoln Harris. I actually felt some appreciation toward it today, but then I looked up and wished the buildings were a practical mirror image but about 28-32 floors with a crown that ends in a triangular shape.

Edited June 27, 2023 by CLT Development

[Madison Parkitect]

10 hours ago, CLT Development said:

I have to say this project, for good or for bad I'm not sure (I'm sure), is actually a masterclass in doing exactly what a client wanted. Its truly a beefy and impressively large collection of edifices and is fully reminiscent of 80-90s era building in Manhattan along Park Avenue but approached in a mid 90s PoMo wet dream. Very masculine, very conservative, it just drips Lincoln Harris. I actually felt some appreciation toward it today, but then I looked up and wished the buildings were a practical mirror image but about 28-32 floors with a crown that ends in a triangular shape.

Yeah, they really NAILED that late postmodernism look. Granted, it was a short-lived style that was out of trend 20 years ago, but they nailed it.

[CLT Development]

21 minutes ago, Madison Parkitect said:

Yeah, they really NAILED that late postmodernism look. Granted, it was a short-lived style that was out of trend 20 years ago, but they nailed it.

if late stage capitalism were an architectural style.

[RANYC]

Lincoln Harris not perfect, but if they tell me they’re building in 1st ward or 2nd ward tomorrow, I’m leaping for joy. 

[SydneyCarton]

I must be their only fan.  I love their projects.  Something as straightforward as Morrocroft Village is beautiful to me.  I love that Harris Teeter, and I used to go to Borders there all the time.

[15895]

1 hour ago, SydneyCarton said:

I must be their only fan.  I love their projects.  Something as straightforward as Morrocroft Village is beautiful to me.  I love that Harris Teeter, and I used to go to Borders there all the time.

Are you going to bring out-of-towners to the Legacy Union blocks? Spend your free time there? 

It’s a very nice development for what it is and whoever is in charge of it should be *very* proud of pulling off a very, very successful project. 

My issue is from a neighborhood perspective, fitting in the neighborhood (which I realize there isn’t much of a neighborhood in a sense in that area), creating a sense of place etc. That’s sort of important the last couple of decades as cities try to have more sustainable growth, safer & more active downtowns to keep generating new revenue etc. 

It just depends on who the stakeholder is, what you value and I think you can both like it a lot and point out some potential missed opportunities from the broader community, the impact to the community that a developer of office buildings just may not care about when they have incredible success behind it. 

[SydneyCarton]

16 hours ago, AirNostrumMAD said:

Are you going to bring out-of-towners to the Legacy Union blocks? Spend your free time there? 

It’s a very nice development for what it is and whoever is in charge of it should be *very* proud of pulling off a very, very successful project. 

My issue is from a neighborhood perspective, fitting in the neighborhood (which I realize there isn’t much of a neighborhood in a sense in that area), creating a sense of place etc. That’s sort of important the last couple of decades as cities try to have more sustainable growth, safer & more active downtowns to keep generating new revenue etc. 

It just depends on who the stakeholder is, what you value and I think you can both like it a lot and point out some potential missed opportunities from the broader community, the impact to the community that a developer of office buildings just may not care about when they have incredible success behind it. 

You raise good points, but I think that LH did a good job here.   It might not be a vibrant destination, but it looks pretty nice in my opinion.  

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2023 by SydneyCarton

[CLT @❤️]

[SydneyCarton]

This area has completely changed from when I moved to Charlotte in 2008.  I think that it looks great.

[KJHburg]

the way it was just a few short years ago.   2016. 

 

[DMann]

I hated the Old Observer building!