Learning from Other Places

[steve_o]

On 1/20/2023 at 11:51 AM, KJHburg said:

actually St Petersburg is probably the most pedestrian friendly downtown in Florida with Tampa and Orlando secondly.  And St Pete is benefitting from that with a revitalized downtown.  I used the Metromover in downtown Miami from Brickell and it is nice I really like it.  I agree downtown Miami is not the most pedestrian friendly but that riverwalk along the bay and river is nice. 

My favorite metro in Florida would be the Tampa Bay metro.  

Love what they've been doing to both St. Pete and downtown Tampa over the past few years.  The Edition Hotel is amazing.  I don't love Florida in general (and have had a home there for over 20 years) but they have a vibe that I wish Charlotte would grow into having just a sliver of.  

[videtur quam contuor]

St Petersburg: Free newspaper if the sun does not shine

https://travelwithintent.com/2015/02/05/sunshine-city-bench-newspaper-boy-sculpture/

This was famous, in its day.

[KJHburg]

4 hours ago, tarhoosier said:

St Petersburg: Free newspaper if the sun does not shine

https://travelwithintent.com/2015/02/05/sunshine-city-bench-newspaper-boy-sculpture/

This was famous, in its day.

I only experienced sunshine while in St Pete and here is a shot from the beach.   But I do think they have the most pedestrian friendly downtown of any Florida city.  

[15895]

I’ve mentioned several times I want a new urban high school really bad for Charlotte. 

This High School will open up in DC soon. I would love for a similar urban one in SouthEnd or Uptown. I think it would be great to have young Charlotteans be integrated more into the urban fabric. I think younger Charlotteans would really add to the culture of urban Charlotte. We need more young people to be annoying, skate around, do murals, etc. 

Edited January 28, 2023 by AirNostrumMAD

[videtur quam contuor]

Some longer term Charlotteans may recall that when Ivey's department store downtown closed it was mooted several uses. The Board of Education thought so highly of its use for an Arts magnet school that a referendum was held including the funds for conversion of the building for that purpose. This was mid-1990's. The referendum failed and Jim Gross purchased the property for his condominium conversion and now the boutique lodging business.

[JRCLT]

I’ve mentioned several times I want a new urban high school really bad for Charlotte. 

This High School will open up in DC soon. I would love for a similar urban one in SouthEnd or Uptown. I think it would be great to have young Charlotteans be integrated more into the urban fabric. I think younger Charlotteans would really add to the culture of urban Charlotte. We need more young people to be annoying, skate around, do murals, etc. 

I always thought going to a school that looked like this would make it easier to go lol.

[smeagolsfree]

We are very fortunate to have had a downtown high school for over a hundred years in Nashville. Hume Fogg Acedemic Magnet is a landmark on Broadway. There is also talk about locating a school of High School Arts magnet school downtown as well, the location for that has been bought by Metro and a use for that location has yet to be determined. The current mayor is now not running for a second term and was not in favor of locating it at that location, so there now hope for a 2nd HS downtown.

I know Omaha has a very beautiful downtown HS as well.

Below is Hume Fogg. (courtesy NBJ)

[videtur quam contuor]

A high school with crenellations!

There was a time, in our past, when all the hopes of a community were represented in a high school. A high school, in a southern city, even a capital city, was for the children of the betters in the community. The cost and location of said school was to be a beacon to all as to the value of education. In my posts about regional cities I photographed the school in Valdese, now a community center, art gallery, visitor center and meeting hall; an example of the type. Albemarle also has one still. I am sure there are others. Even in big cities such architecture was common for this purpose. The message: Young man (and some young women)-Be worth this message and this expense.

This is another example of the type with a nod to castle and chateaux style to emphasize the classic nature of the activities therein. 

What is communicated by our high school architecture today?

 

[smeagolsfree]

I was reminded by a co-worker of a private college prep school also in downtown, Templeton Academy based in Washington DC that opened here a couple of years ago. So, in fact we sort of have two.

A private institution could be in the cards for Charlotte.

 

[East Side Urbanite]

I agree with AirNostrumMAD that it would be wonderful for young Charlotteans to be integrated into the Queen City's urban fabric more effectively than otherwise via a school. Cities can benefit from downtown schools.

To add to smealgolsfree's post about Hume Fogg Academic High School and downtown Nashville's private school (grades five through 12) Templeton Academy (the parent for which is based in D.C.):

https://www.facebook.com/templetonacademynashville/photos/a.616748358780474/896797370775570/?type=3

https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/education/historic-downtown-building-eyed-for-private-school/article_3db84691-6893-5d35-8112-7cdfd1c35045.html

Edited February 1, 2023 by East Side Urbanite

[tozmervo]

On 2/1/2023 at 11:26 AM, tarhoosier said:

What is communicated by our high school architecture today?

Years ago when I was growing up in a Nashville suburb, a new high school was being built around the same time that there were discussions about expanding the jail. There was an uproar because people thought the new high school was a jail, because that's what it damn well looked like. 

[KJHburg]

still think one of these is needed in Charlotte.  Maybe near this new district along Brevard and Spectrum Center.  Atlanta has one.  Miami has one.  It is a great way to see the skyline.  Here is Myrtle Beach's Skywheel.  People like them.  They will ride several times a year including locals I think.  Great way to showcase the city and skyline. 

 

[kayman]

On 2/7/2023 at 8:36 PM, KJHburg said:

still think one of these is needed in Charlotte.  Maybe near this new district along Brevard and Spectrum Center.  Atlanta has one.  Miami has one.  It is a great way to see the skyline.  Here is Myrtle Beach's Skywheel.  People like them.  They will ride several times a year including locals I think.  Great way to showcase the city and skyline. 

 

Washington has it in suburban PG County in the National Harbor district along the Potomac. Chicago has one as well.  

Yes, a ferris wheel should be a central feature of a future tourist district in Charlotte. 

Edited February 9, 2023 by kayman

[15895]

 

Retail is Vibrant in this downtown …. Iowa City

 

This building Under Construction would be the 3rd tallest in North Carolina… which is being built in… Omaha, Nebraska (677 Ft.)

European Tram vibes in … Cincinnati 

 

Lots of amazing things going on in downtowns all over America. No need to look at the typical larger cities for amazing urbanity going on. I know so little about the things going on in most of the US cities outside a few (because there’s only so much one can learn) so I love when I learn something new. These 3 cities surprised me lately. 

[KJHburg]

and you don't even have to go outside of the Carolinas to see some thriving downtowns like downtown Winston, Asheville, Wilmington, of course Greenville SC and I would throw in downtown Durham as well. 

[JRCLT]

Wow… the windows not dotted with advertising…

[smeagolsfree]

13 hours ago, AirNostrumMAD said:

 

Retail is Vibrant in this downtown …. Iowa City

 

This building Under Construction would be the 3rd tallest in North Carolina… which is being built in… Omaha, Nebraska (677 Ft.)

European Tram vibes in … Cincinnati 

 

Lots of amazing things going on in downtowns all over America. No need to look at the typical larger cities for amazing urbanity going on. I know so little about the things going on in most of the US cities outside a few (because there’s only so much one can learn) so I love when I learn something new. These 3 cities surprised me lately. 

I took a trip to Des Moines and Omaha a few years back and enjoyed both cities. Both are underrated cities for sure. If I were to pick one over the other, it would be Omaha. The downtown is much more vibrant especially at night in the old market area. However, the area on the other side of the river in Des Moines is nice too by the State Capital but has nowhere near the vibe of Omaha. I do realize that is Iowa City Iowa though. I did not make it there, but Des Moines is just as vibrant.

I need to get back up to Cincy as it's been a while. They were working on the Streetcar system when I was there last, but I did get into OTR and it was pretty cool. Nowhere else like it in the US.

[15895]

In Sarasota FL. & built in 2009 (below).

I’d like to see Uptown get some smaller scale developments like below or similar to Birkdale Village, etc. with the ability to build a tower above it (but set back so the low rise portion sticks) 

Though it’d be nice to be across several blocks (If only 1st ward or 2nd ward has land available….)

And I’d prefer The roads to be like Phase 2 of the Yards which is well underway in DC. The part I like is how city streets will be massively slowed down with the road being bricked and ubiquitous with the sidewalk. 

 

Combine the 2 over 4 smaller blocks in uptown (or one or 2 big blocks split in 4) would be great. Should be better for retailers, could be quaint, feel less corporate, etc. 

[KJHburg]

of course the thing to learn from Savannah is historical preservation and high standards for new construction so it looks like it has been there for years.  

Check out their JW Marriott at the Plant Riverside which is part new build and part reuse of old Georgia Power plant.  The lobby full of gemstones from the Kessler collection.  

first photos from the new Eastern Wharf new apartments, new high rise Thompson Hotel and new for sale riverfront townhomes.    

Plant Riverside first photos show the new brick buildings next to the old power plant.  Then check out that lobby.  The JW Marriott is in 4 different buildings.  

Lesson for NC Ports be like Savannah.  This is the MOST efficient port in the USA and 4th largest container port in the country.  Georgia knows how to move the goods and prosperity it has brough the entire metro area and state of Georgia (and the southeast as well) 

[rancenc]

With all of the trials and tribulations occurring at Northlake Mall, you know you have crappy locations and customer market when the Walmart decides to just close up!!  Of course  the topic of excessive shrinkage AKA shoplifting was mentioned as well!

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by rancenc

[JRCLT]

So many high rises in Austin! It’s crazy and interesting.

[rancenc]

The homeless and transient  problem is causing problems for businesses in downtown Asheville!

https://avlwatchdog.org/41929-2/

[rancenc]

Walmart pulling out of a section of major city......this time Washington DC.  Unfortunately these types of departures usually causes "food deserts" that is lamented about!

 

[LKN704]

7 hours ago, rancenc said:

Walmart pulling out of a section of major city......this time Washington DC.  Unfortunately these types of departures usually causes "food deserts" that is lamented about!

 

Couple of things:

1. Walmart closing their H Street location will hardly create a food desert...there is a really nice Safeway (the Sexy Safeway) two blocks north and a Giant three blocks east. 
2. This location was an incredibly strange spot for a Walmart...it was essentially shoehorned into a mixed-use development. The store was incredibly poorly designed and the few times I have been there I felt like everyone was walking over each other. 
3. Walmart seems to do an extremely poor job in urban, built-up areas versus areas where they can build their own stand-alone store. Target seems to do a much better job at neatly adapting to urban environments. 
4. I'm sure shrinkage could have played a role in the store's demise, but individual Walmarts can absorb a massive amount of shrinkage before it even begins to remotely affect the store's bottom line. Target's "flagship" DC location in Columbia Heights is in a census tract with much higher crime and that location is one of the chain's most profitable, high-volume stores. I can promise you that Target would probably be able to turn this closed Walmart into a successful operation...they just have way more institutional knowledge of urban environments.
5. Walmart's other two DC locations on Georgia Ave/Brightwood Park and in Fort Totten also have somewhat similar levels of crime, but I guarantee you they are 100% more profitable because they arein line with more traditional, stand-alone locations. 

[KJHburg]

My friend from Nashville UP @smeagolsfree sent me this list of all the towers underway or proposed in Nashville.  Its quite impressive and they will get their new tallest at 750 feet.  So our BOAT will no longer will be taller than the tallest in Tennessee.  

I will be in Nashville in late April and will document many of these.  

45 Upcoming Towers Climbing 15 to 60 Stories In Downtown Nashville. – CITY NOW NEXT

Now if they could just build some more roads, beltways, mass transit, BRT or something to move people around.  Even the intown Krispy Kreme in their Midtown is coming down.