Polk Park

[CLT2014]

Cool stuff. I agree with the floating nest!!!

The second one, at least at that angle, looks like a tooth.

The third one, I'd be worried what it looks like if the vine struggles / maintenance.

[tozmervo]

Of all these, I definitely find the nest the most compelling both artistically and practically. 

[Synopsis101]

Nest.

[Crucial_Infra]

Nest. Crown feels played out. 

[MarcoPolo]

A wonderfully elegant, contextually appreciative, urbane design!  

Massive improvement over what was there before.  

I would suggest Mr Hood also agrees with everyone's selection, as do I     

[DMann]

Agree KJH, but the 200 ft spire also is intriguing

[carolinaboy]

Out-of-towner vote: Nest

[CLT Development]

14 hours ago, QCxpat said:

"Crown Datum” includes a 200-foot-tall, 3-foot-wide spire to celebrate the Trade and Tryon nexus as the city’s highest point at 751 feet above sea level. 

Quick Nitpick, the city's highest point is in the Christenberry Hills neighborhood and its almost 140' higher than Trade and Tryon.

Lots of high points in this area of Charlotte just north of Derita

Edited January 19 by CLT Development

[tozmervo]

1 hour ago, DMann said:

Agree KJH, but the 200 ft spire also is intriguing

It's kind of an interesting idea, but in context I think it would just be lost. If this were in a low-rise neighborhood it would be very powerful. Not for nothing, a thin element like that is very difficult to light up and make look good at night - there's not enough surface to reflect light back. (case in point: cornelius's weird "sail" installation on the exit 28 overpass)

[RANYC]

I’m thrilled everyone is reacting so positively.  I just can’t make out what’s really proposed for the pocket space from the renderings I’ve seen.  Nest appears to be the most novel park feature and perhaps with the most shade for our scorcher summers. Also, the nest design appears to be the likeliest to beckon passersby into the space.  Hopefully the suspensions are air tight.  

[CLT Development]

1 hour ago, RANYC said:

I’m thrilled everyone is reacting so positively.  I just can’t make out what’s really proposed for the pocket space from the renderings I’ve seen.  Nest appears to be the most novel park feature and perhaps with the most shade for our scorcher summers. Also, the nest design appears to be the likeliest to beckon passersby into the space.  Hopefully the suspensions are air tight.  

I'll ask for site plans if they exist.

[videtur quam contuor]

2 hours ago, CLT Development said:

Quick Nitpick, the city's highest point is in the Christenberry Hills neighborhood and its almost 140' higher than Trade and Tryon.

Lots of high points in this area of Charlotte just north of Derita

I have been there and it is uncertain which house has the highest point. My memory was that the hillock in the back yard of someone appeared to be the point. Lightning collectors for sure on that street. As the map shows, the rail line follows the upper slope of that ridge.

[tozmervo]

I'm a little unclear, are they soliciting public comment on the park designs? I don't see any obvious place to do so. 

[SydneyCarton]

The Observer's story shows the same renderings .

https://www.aol.com/news/really-beautiful-3-final-designs-014543869.html

Edited January 19 by SydneyCarton

[MarcoPolo]

23 hours ago, CLT Development said:

I'll ask for site plans if they exist.

They do @CLT Development.  Not sure if they are shareable just yet, but ask.  @RANYC the Nest option design is the most successful of the three because of how it addresses the function of a "plaza", some of which you correctly expressed by your comments.   It will do a better job of drawing in the passerby, and drawing out those inside the two framing buildings (when these ground floor facades are renovated).   A great compliment to the City's hierarchy of downtown civic spaces .   The clear area at grade is not overly cluttered with needless "suburban" landscape distractions and obstacles, something the other two options tend to stray toward more.   Keep in mind, contextually the site is surrounded by very tall buildings, so the introduction of "tall elements" within the limited space available becomes a needles redundancy.   If this were Waverly, or Ballantyne....the second and third options would hold more meaning.   

The design elements selected to define and frame the space are instead largely perimeter and aerial......ie: along the edge and above the space.   Sheltered, yet open.  Framed, but visible.   Really well done.    With appropriate ground floor activation, trees, lighting, hardscape materials and furniture, this will become a great space.  If it could expand beyond footprint of the current fenced in cleared area to include the remnant landscape that was left....it would be even better.  

[JorgiPorgi]

On 1/19/2024 at 9:33 AM, CLT Development said:

Quick Nitpick, the city's highest point is in the Christenberry Hills neighborhood and its almost 140' higher than Trade and Tryon.

Lots of high points in this area of Charlotte just north of Derita

A good chunk of the northern part of the city(north of 85) is a higher elevation than anywhere uptown. Even East Charlotte has some elevations higher than uptown.  Maybe they were talking about center city. 

Edited January 20 by JorgiPorgi

[MarcoPolo]

The Summit   

The view perched atop Mt Charlotte.   Seems somehow......appropriate  

 

[SydneyCarton]

I like the Nest the best.  I’d like to see the waterfall.  I wonder if it will be like the one in Polk Park or a water wall like this one in New York.

P.S.: It’s unclear to me why people are posting confused emojis in response to my inquiry.

 

Edited January 21 by SydneyCarton

[Synopsis101]

Knowing Charlotte, we’ll build the one that cost the least. Nest is the best. The rest aren’t as engaging imo.

Edited January 22 by Synopsis101

[RANYC]

I’d like to propose that the McColl Park design featuring the greenery-sculpted crowns be installed instead at the entrance to Charlotte Douglas International to replace the puzzling and overpriced rotary blade installation that’s currently there.  

[KJHburg]

8 hours ago, RANYC said:

I’d like to propose that the McColl Park design featuring the greenery-sculpted crowns be installed instead at the entrance to Charlotte Douglas International to replace the puzzling and overpriced rotary blade installation that’s currently there.  

I have always though that artpiece at Billy Graham and the airport connector looked like  a plane crashing which is not something I want to see on the way to the airport.