Monthly UP walking tour and meetup!

[KJHburg]

well 22 people came on the tour today.  a lot more than the 9 signed up.  a dozen came by Amtrak, some drove by cars, trucks, motorcycles and 2 came by express bus from JW Clay station to the Concord transportation center then transferred to downtown Kannapolis right on time.  We toured downtown, the #1 minor league ballpark in the country in 2022 (Atrium Health Ballpark)  the NC Research Campus (and their 8 school partners Duke, NC State, App State, NC Central, NC A&T,  UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, and UNC Chapel Hill)  saw the 2 new apartment buildings and some took advantage of the Social district walking tour with beer! 

 

and downtown Kannapolis was hopping today with a car show, lots of people, movie theater packed with Super Mario fans, kids and adults everywhere downtown.  

Edited April 16, 2023 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

Photos of Kannapolis.  Before the tour and when the Amtrak from Charlotte pulled in.  about dozen got on and about that many from Charlotte got off for the tour! 

[DJ8hep]

Another home run tour given by @KJHburg and a great turnout!
Kannapolis left a really good first impression on me!

[nicholas]

Few more pics from today.  Heard someone (think it was KJ) call Kannapolis the "suburb of the future".  Hundreds of residential units currently under construction with even more in the pipeline, and don't think I noticed a single empty storefront aside from the brand new ones at Vida.  A borderline unbelievable turnaround compared to how things were 20 years ago.

[KJHburg]

Upcoming walking tours will include Salisbury June 17 by I think a city of Salisbury official and the schedule will be arranged for Amtrak riders from Charlotte or drivers. 

And later in the summer a road trip!  And who does not like a road trip this time to downtown Greensboro.  August 19 again around the Amtrak schedule and yes I checked it already free parking in city owned garages on the weekends in Greensboro.  This is taking Learning from Other Places to a new level.  

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

Looks like a great tour! Need to join one with either yourself or RDF! Are those apartments or office in the outfield of the ball park? Really wish the knights stadium could get something similar in the large blank space in the outfield. Rooftop bar overlooking the field would be awesome! 

[rancenc]

52 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Upcoming walking tours will include Salisbury June 17 by I think a city of Salisbury official and the schedule will be arranged for Amtrak riders from Charlotte or drivers. 

And later in the summer a road trip!  And who does not like a road trip this time to downtown Greensboro.  August 19 again around the Amtrak schedule and yes I checked it already free parking in city owned garages on the weekends in Greensboro.  This is taking Learning from Other Places to a new level.  

I might have to participate in the Salisbury tour since that is my hometown!!

[KJHburg]

51 minutes ago, CharlotteWkndBuzz said:

Looks like a great tour! Need to join one with either yourself or RDF! Are those apartments or office in the outfield of the ball park? Really wish the knights stadium could get something similar in the large blank space in the outfield. Rooftop bar overlooking the field would be awesome! 

Yes they are building a 7 story mixed use building 5 levels of apartments over 2 levels of offices and retail with the Towel City Tavern coming to ground floor all overlooking the ballpark.  

Yes Truist field has some vacant land and they should do a hotel apartment tower combo there.  

44 minutes ago, rancenc said:

I might have to participate in the Salisbury tour since that is my hometown!!

Salisbury has a lot of history in it and it was a rival to Charlotte in the early 1800s.  and we all remember what President George Washington said.  Hint he liked Salisbury better.  

[DEnd]

On 4/15/2023 at 10:25 PM, nicholas said:

  A borderline unbelievable turnaround compared to how things were 20 years ago.

Yeah, I was tasked ~20 years ago with improving sales at the K-town location of the delivery restaurant chain I worked for.  unfortunately the store was relatively well run so there wasn't a whole lot of improvement to be had.  It was hit hard by the closure of Cannon Mills.  I basically was able to convince my boss, but corporate was never happy.  I was (and still am) super skeptical of the research park, but it's damn good to see growth there.  

[JacksonH]

As of today, I own a condo in Cornelius.  Every time I come to Charlotte I am rushing around trying to check out the major new developments and activity but barely ever have time to scratch the surface.  I figure the only way to sufficiently take it all in is to have my own place so I can hang out for awhile and take my time.  I'm mostly kidding about that.  I do have other reasons to need a place back there.  But truly, I'm very excited to be bicoastal, and now that I'm going to have more time available in the Charlotte area, I would love to participate in some of these meetups.  I'll be there most of the month of July and hope to see you guys then.

[KJHburg]

Walking tour of downtown Salisbury 4 pm Saturday June 17 starting at the Amtrak station.  (and if you want to ride Amtrak up from Charlotte you can do that too)

https://www.meetup.com/charlotte-urbanists/events/292068550/

Led by a city of Salisbury planning person.    And remember President George Washington was more impressed with Salisbury than with Charlotte on his 1790 tour.  

Downtown Salisbury really has a lot going on believe me with historical renovations and wait till you see their train station.   ample free parking in the downtown area as well. 

[KJHburg]

Here are the photos from the tour of downtown Salisbury given by 2 city planning staff members.  They did a great job.  Lots of historical renovations here and small residential projects downtown including the Empire Hotel with 45 apartments and 25 hotel rooms.  Smaller upper floor apartment conversions downtown.    The tallest building in the city at the crossroads downtown was donated to the city by the founder of Food Lion who renovated it.  The city rents out apartments on the upper levels, a level of office space and ground floor retail space.  Several nice alleys too.  The historical Mission style train station restored too into event space and the main waiting room will be re-used for the train station in the future.  The Amtrak station is just a portion of the larger building now.   The have a good brewery downtown too.  Salisbury is older than Charlotte as is Rowan County than Mecklenburg.    Notice that train schedule from 1908 when that station was built.    Notice the historical facade save.  Converted a full block of surface parking to a downtown park several years.  

[rancenc]

Aerial view of downtown Salisbury from the recent Cheerwine Festival.  Hope everyone who attended yesterday's walk about in the Rowan county seat, enjoyed themselves and took in some history!!

 

[KJHburg]

walking tour of East Morehead corridor and the Pearl area and parts of Dilworth Latta Park  in conjuction with the Charlotte Urbanists group. 

Join the tour the new the history the coming soon and historical homes.    Sept 16 at 2 pm starting at the Bland St station 

https://www.meetup.com/charlotte-urbanists/events/295781121/

Edited September 2, 2023 by KJHburg

[carolinaboy]

Hi guys. I hear the next UP meetup is at CLTDevelopment's house. He's cooking steaks. Can't wait. 

 

[DMann]

Medium rare please!

[CLT Development]

On 10/11/2023 at 4:32 PM, carolinaboy said:

Hi guys. I hear the next UP meetup is at CLTDevelopment's house. He's cooking steaks. Can't wait. 

 

I would totally have a UP Cookout sometime! 

[KJHburg]

4 hours ago, CLT Development said:

I would totally have a UP Cookout sometime! 

I hear his backyard easy fits 50-60 people and that is not trampling on his garden.  

[KJHburg]

Come join the Charlotte Urbanists and UP on a walking tour of downtown Winston Salem Dec.  16 meeting at 10:30 am at the Mickey Coffee Pot.  (S Main St and Old Salem Road corner)   Starting in Salem then walking into Winston and talking about the Twin City.   About 1.5 hour.   Winston is doing lots of great things downtown that are lessons for all of NC 's urban centers.  

December Jane's Walk - Winston-Salem, Sat, Dec 16, 2023, 10:30 AM | Meetup

Learn the 5 things Charlotte should be thanking Winston Salem for that had a major impact on the QC's growth.  Okay 4 of them are MAJOR!    Look for us at this 12 foot high coffee pot!  

 

[KJHburg]

a local meetup at Hex Coffee at Camp Northend Saturday Dec. 30 at 2 pm.  Come  to casually discuss what is going on what is being delayed what will never happen in the Charlotte development scene.  Rare appearance by @CLT Development

So put on your calendars and this harkens back to one of the first UP meetup after @CLT Development moved back here several years ago where it was raining and one of our members went looking for some coffee and he was gone for 30 plus minutes.  He found a free cup at some boutique.  No problem like that now at Camp North End.  See you then!

The Roastery – HEX Coffee

 

also don't forget this too

Come join the Charlotte Urbanists and UP on a walking tour of downtown Winston Salem Dec.  16 meeting at 10:30 am at the Mickey Coffee Pot.  (S Main St and Old Salem Road corner)   Starting in Salem then walking into Winston and talking about the Twin City.   About 1.5 hour.   Winston is doing lots of great things downtown that are lessons for all of NC 's urban centers.  

December Jane's Walk - Winston-Salem, Sat, Dec 16, 2023, 10:30 AM | Meetup

Learn the 5 things Charlotte should be thanking Winston Salem for that had a major impact on the QC's growth.  Okay 4 of them are MAJOR!    Look for us at this 12 foot high coffee pot!  

 

[KJHburg]

On 11/27/2023 at 1:22 PM, KJHburg said:

Come join the Charlotte Urbanists and UP on a walking tour of downtown Winston Salem Dec.  16 meeting at 10:30 am at the Mickey Coffee Pot.  (S Main St and Old Salem Road corner)   Starting in Salem then walking into Winston and talking about the Twin City.   About 1.5 hour.   Winston is doing lots of great things downtown that are lessons for all of NC 's urban centers.  

December Jane's Walk - Winston-Salem, Sat, Dec 16, 2023, 10:30 AM | Meetup

Learn the 5 things Charlotte should be thanking Winston Salem for that had a major impact on the QC's growth.  Okay 4 of them are MAJOR!    Look for us at this 12 foot high coffee pot!  

 

Next Saturday in Winston at the big coffee pot 12/16. 

[KJHburg]

We had about 14 people up in Winston today and we learned the 5 things that Charlotte can thank Winston Salem for that has helped our city!

1.  Piedmont Airlines founded in W-S  and put its it first hub here in CLT and changed the history of this city in terms of economic development.

2.  When First Union was merging with Winston based Wachovia Bank they took their name and  the HQ to Charlotte as the FU name was mud in some markets especially in Philadelphia.

3.  When Winston based BB&T merged with SunTrust of Atlanta they chose Charlotte as their new HQ city and moved 100s of high paying jobs here.

4.  When UNC rejected over the years a medical school in Charlotte it was once again Winston that saved Charlotte.  Thank you Wake Forest University for your new branch here.  

5.  The sweetest thing Winston let Charlotte have is Krispy Kreme HQ which is now in South End formerly in Winston where it was founded in 1937 on Main Street in what is now Old Salem. 

So thanks Winston Salem for all things you have contributed to Charlotte's growth.  

Winston has lost HQs over the years but bounces back.  Winston has a great downtown where older buildings are reused instead of torn down even an old county courthouse was renovated into apartments.  Cigarette factories to medical school and biosciences companies.  

Check out Innovation Quarter where WFU School of Medicne is located.

Innovation Quarter - Home - Innovation Quarter

Check out these apartments all in renovated buildings downtown except for 1. 

Winston-Salem Apartments | PMC Property Group Apartments

Live in an old Courthouse

50 West Fourth - Downtown Winston Salem Apartments

all much cheaper than comparable properties in Charlotte.

and the tallest buildings in NC outside of Charlotte and Raleigh.  

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by KJHburg

[DJ8hep]

This really was a great tour @KJHburg, it was a lot of fun getting good photos of Winston-Salem! 

Edited December 17, 2023 by DJ8hep

[KJHburg]

On 11/28/2023 at 1:56 PM, KJHburg said:

a local meetup at Hex Coffee at Camp Northend Saturday Dec. 30 at 2 pm.  Come  to casually discuss what is going on what is being delayed what will never happen in the Charlotte development scene.  Rare appearance by @CLT Development

So put on your calendars and this harkens back to one of the first UP meetup after @CLT Development moved back here several years ago where it was raining and one of our members went looking for some coffee and he was gone for 30 plus minutes.  He found a free cup at some boutique.  No problem like that now at Camp North End.  See you then!

The Roastery – HEX Coffee

 

 

 

this coming Saturday stop by and learn what towers may never happen, delayed or will start soon.   @CLT Development

[CLT Development]

On 12/26/2023 at 7:39 AM, KJHburg said:

this coming Saturday stop by and learn what towers may never happen, delayed or will start soon.   @CLT Development

I'll be there and I'm working on getting someone from Camp there as well.