SKYE Condominiums and Hyatt Place Hotel

[ES Charlotte]

This building still has an incomplete feel to it, the Caldwell St stairway exit is still not sealed in around the doorway, and construction ongoing in the stairwell.  More importantly, things look and feel... odd.  The elevator ride to the top scared me a bit as well, cant put my finger on why, just didn't feel safe.

 

Just curious... when were you able to take the elevator to the top?

[nowensone]

^ Yesterday, and I will clarify by top I mean the 14th which guessing is the highest hotel floor, or for the elevator we used anyway.  And no windows either (at least on the 14th), another thing I found to be a bit odd.

[ES Charlotte]

Had the same experience last week in regards to only going to the 14th on the elevator. It is the highest for the hotel...

 

Agreed that a lot of hotels seem to have windows in the halls (if that's what you're referring to), but I don't recall any condo/apt towers in clt off the top of my head that have windows in the hallways.

 

My take on it:

 

- incredible amenities (free valet, full service hotel amenities, the rooftop bar/rest etc., nice common areas)

- Actually very good finishes and floor plans. Some of the better ones i've seen in any building uptown.

- Huge balconies

- Does have an overall strange feeling to it. Maybe bc no one is living there and they are only finished with three floors

- The windows in some of the condos are a bit odd (you'd have to see them to understand) but im speaking in relation to size, location

[Miesian Corners]

I stopped in today and thought it was nice, although I am baffled as to why there's not a sign in the motor lobby or elevator that tells you the hotel lobby is on the 10th floor.  I also thought it was odd that the hotel lobby is above three floors of guest rooms.  

[dubone]

Hopefully you mentioned to them, as signage would be very easy for them to add now that the hotel is operating.    It is becoming a more common thing in my observation for urban hotels to have lobbies on higher floors, but signage is a no-brainer.

[jordan704]

The 10th floor also includes the amenities(fitness center, movie room) for the condos.

[Mobuchu]

Worked in this building on Monday and got to check out the roof, figured this phone pic was worth a share.

 

10-28-13

[AuLukey]

PARKING LOT!!!
 

[15895]

^ it's going to stay a parking lot because it's owned by the rail road with no immediate ambitions, correct?

[HopHead]

I'm not sure about the lot to the left of the transit center, however the one in the bottom right, which is across from the transit center is for sale. Not sure if there has been any activity on that, but there was a For Sale sign there earlier this year.

[kermit]

^ it's going to stay a parking lot because it's owned by the rail road with no immediate ambitions, correct?

 

actually last year the current legislature required that the NCRR sell the parcels which are not on its right of way (this parcel _was_ at the Southern end of the NCRR before it was rerouted to Graham st). The requirement came out of the discussions about divesting the NCRR. 

 

Because of this legislative requirement there is a chance the parcel will be sold in the near term. That said, I have heard no discussion about these property sales since the initial legislation.

[dubone]

That's interesting.  I guess once it gets into private hands it would seem a really great location for an extension of Epicenter.

[zaxcom]

From the Charlotte 2020 Plan:

 

Create a Signature Pedestrian Street on Brevard 

Street.

 Brevard Street is envisioned as a signature 

pedestrian street with wide sidewalks and an 

exciting streetscape environment, including art, 

lighting and sculptural elements. A minimum 22-foot 

setback should be established from the back of the 

curb to the primary building façade along Brevard 

in order to provide suffi cient room for pedestrian 

activity, outdoor dining and a continuous street wall 

along Brevard. 

 

Create a Large Civic Plaza.

 An “urban living room” 

should be located at the intersection of Brevard and 

Trade streets. This plaza should be activated by the 

new CTC and the diversity of uses along Brevard. The 

space should accommodate informal gatherings and 

fl exible uses such as kiosks and retail vending while 

also serving as a venue for large civic events.

 

Develop a Bold New Charlotte Transportation 

Center. 

Redevelopment of the CTC site would 

integrate the transit center function with other 

uses. While there would be an emphasis on 

facilitating ease of passenger transfers between 

modes, improving operations and circulation 

in the area, decreasing noise and exhaust and 

improving the pedestrian experience, the CTC site 

is located on prime real estate near the urban core. 

Redevelopment should be coordinated with design 

of the Charlotte Gateway Station. Further study is 

required to ensure right-sizing of operations at the 

CTC and Gateway Station and to further explore 

operations as a dual hub system.

[Urbanity]

^ There's an image of the imagined future of the CTC area on page 31 of the Focus area of 2020 report; the CTC focus area starts on page 30 though.  Also see image on page 35.

 

Of course all of this is speculative "We want" and not in any way, shape, or form an actual formal proposal for development by private entities or even government body.  Only a "what could be" and what the Charlotte Center City Partners are lobbying for in a broad sense.

 

Anyway the point is that they seem to see the parking lot as gone.

[dubone]

Yeah, but that's such a dreamscape.  Have you seen the 2010 plan?  A lot of things did come about, but they had very very grandiose plans that never could come close to fruition, like skyline extending south to Carson, etc.

 

This will be great when it eventually gets to private hands, but it is really many steps away from anything come about.  

[CLTProductions]

Just got word from Chef Rocco Whalen that Fahrenheit on the top floor will open sometime in February. Being a Cleveland native this is extremely excited as Fahrenheit is easily one of the best restaurants in town. This will be a great addition to the city.

http://www.fahrenheittremont.com/

[zaxcom]

I heard that will open on 2/25.

[CLTProductions]

I heard that will open on 2/25.

Yup, that's the date I have too. I don't think people will get the full restaurant experience there until its warm enough to comfortably sit outside.

[zaxcom]

True, but that is one more major hurdle passed towards getting the building done.

[tozmervo]

By the way, if anyone would like to point to a really lousy street-level experience, this building has it. 

[Guest]

By the way, if anyone would like to point to a really lousy street-level experience, this building has it. 

Welcome to Charlotte my Friend.

[nonillogical]

By the way, if anyone would like to point to a really lousy street-level experience, this building has it. 

It's pretty mind-boggling that this is actually an improvement over the original plan though, where that corner retail space would not have been included. 

[Spartan]

Lousy, yes, but the fact that it even has retail in there is amazing. I'm sure it will be a dry cleaner before you know it.

[DMann]

There appears to be some activity afoot in the "retail" space at the corner of Third and Caldwell.

[zaxcom]

It's not retail. The developer of the building is turning that into their office space. Also office space for Fahrenheit Restaurant.