SouthEnd Midrise Projects

[jtmonk]

46 minutes ago, ricky_davis_fan_21 said:

Wish the original Crescent plan had happened. See attached.

 

Do you know why they didn't go with the original proposal?  Also, when do the apartments start construction? 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, jtmonk said:

Do you know why they didn't go with the original proposal?  Also, when do the apartments start construction? 

I'd imagine approval would have been tough for a building that height, and traffic concerns for that much density. I think they were shopping a large amount of office space, and maybe they didn't get the interest they wanted. I'm happy with the size that is coming instead. Save that much density for somewhat closer in. You should see buildings start coming down in the next few weeks.

[AP3]

17 minutes ago, ricky_davis_fan_21 said:

I'd imagine approval would have been tough for a building that height, and traffic concerns for that much density. I think they were shopping a large amount of office space, and maybe they didn't get the interest they wanted. I'm happy with the size that is coming instead. Save that much density for somewhat closer in. You should see buildings start coming down in the next few weeks.

There is a lot of utility work being done on site now - they have cut power to the buildings in the last few weeks and they have been cleared out! Can't wait for this project to go vertical!  

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Jayvee said:

Finally some new images to share https://www.charlotteagenda.com/98116/building-building-look-design-district-will-transform-south-end/

I just find myself lamenting the fact that Asana didn't exist just 6 months earlier... we might still have this building.

Edited July 24, 2017 by Guest

[Synopsis101]

1 hour ago, ricky_davis_fan_21 said:

Wish the original Crescent plan had happened. See attached.

 

 

Is this what we're getting instead?

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Synopsis101 said:

Is this what we're getting instead?

Not Exactly, but similar. I think the retail tenants that expected to come along with this project and the Design District will make both very transformational, even if its only 6 floors.

[Bikeguy]

Pulled from the Observer..

[Guest]

This is where the complaints are going to be made about this project. 

[archiham04]

I'll go ahead and complain about the other parts too.  To claim that this elevation is at all like, much less well matched to a historic original mill is just ridiculous.  The wall to window ratio on the early renderings came closer to what you might've seen on a mill facade, but these scrawny punched openings in an ocean of brick, is disappointing.  They have apparently dumbed it down to Brick=Mill

[Guest]

1 hour ago, archiham04 said:

I'll go ahead and complain about the other parts too.  To claim that this elevation is at all like, much less well matched to a historic original mill is just ridiculous.  The wall to window ratio on the early renderings came closer to what you might've seen on a mill facade, but these scrawny punched openings in an ocean of brick, is disappointing.  They have apparently dumbed it down to Brick=Mill

Thats a good point. They are going with their standard cheap windows, like what everyone is using.

 

Southend has gone from what was a corridor of crap, to a canyon of mediocrity. 

Edited July 24, 2017 by Guest

[Matthew.Brendan]

Can't wait for them to replicate all this crap all over again as Northend gets into swing. 

[papadog]

Seems like the rail yard design and materials would be a much better fit for atherton

[Guest]

Tonight is the big CCCP Southend vision plan unveiling. Anyone else excited?

Edited July 25, 2017 by Guest

[kermit]

^ its starting slow w a faux quiz show....

but Ely, Jayvee and the Price's Chicken Coop guy are here some something big is clearly about to happen.

Edited July 26, 2017 by kermit

[CLTProductions]

LOL nah just pie in the sky ideas and "hey look we are spending our allowance on advice" talk. Yawn 

[AP3]

Has anyone found a copy of the South End Vision plan unveiled last night?

[CLTProductions]

1 hour ago, AP3 said:

Has anyone found a copy of the South End Vision plan unveiled last night?

There's not much to share 

[AP3]

21 minutes ago, Jayvee said:

There's not much to share 

I'm interested in the pedestrian enhancements being made by CDOT.

[kermit]

21 hours ago, AP3 said:

Has anyone found a copy of the South End Vision plan unveiled last night?

I am still looking for a copy of the entire plan. They had posters up describing individual elements of the plan but there was very little which integrated it all together. Once I had consumed my free beer quota I was a little annoyed at the lack of information which was offered -- so I left when Mr. Price left (about 7:15) figuring only 'networking' remained. The following bits and pieces from the banners grabbed my attention but, as Jayvee said, it feels more like a wish list than anything that may actually be put into place.

1) City Council has allocated $2 million for the ped crossing of LRT at Publix. "Planning is currently underway"

2) There was a vague emphasis on increasing the amount of public space in SE. The discussion looked like an expansion of the rail trail mini park plans into other parts of the hood. One specific example given was "Terminus Park" which "calls for a reimagining of the open space in front of the CATS vehicle maintenance facility" (the round grassy area at the auto entrance of the facility). One other element of this was to "create finder-grain development that breaks larger tracts into smaller blocks using small-scale interior streets, mid-block pedestrian passages and small public spaces." Examples given were at the Rail Yard and the Strawn Cottages redevelopment.  [I am somewhat troubled that these are almost all faux public places, meaning they are privately owned and the public can used them for 'approved' activities only]

3) There was a suggestion about "all new development along the following roads should require higher floor to ceiling heights on ground floors so that spaces can be converted into retail space as the market matures." [emphasis added]: Camden, Tremont, Mint, East/West, South, South Tryon, New Bern, Morehead, Remount, Rail Trail [there was a map of these streets which made for an impressively dense and ped-friendly network]

4) There were three or four panels devoted to possible street configurations on South and Tryon (apologies, I did not take photos of all of them). All of them involved reducing car lanes in order to add wider sidewalks, bike lanes and on street parking. I did not see any indication that they had engaged with NCDOT about their feelings on reducing lanes on NC 49 (S Tryon). Given the variety of options I did not get the impression that any single strategy was identified as 'the plan.' The one idea that got a full panel was for raised bike lanes to be build on both (?) sides of both South and S Tryon from Clanton to Carson. I believe they said they would be protected by on-street parking. 

That was the only stuff that grabbed my attention from the posters. While some of the ideas had appeal, I never got the feeling that any of them were anything more than 'cool photos the Stantec guys took while on vacation in Denver and Portland.' Lots of ideas were noting more than photos of other places that had already implemented the concept.

As I said initially I was very disappointed that there was no effort (that I saw last night) to tie this collection of 'cool ideas' together into a coherent plan that might be reasonably executed. Hopefully the report will remedy this (and its entirely possible I missed some really important presentations after 7:15 last night). 

Apologies for the crank.

EDIT: I also saw on the tweeter last night that Danny Pleasant (director of CDOT) is now 'acting assistant city manager.' IMO this is bad news as he has been a decent advocate of pedestrian and bike access and his attention will be pulled away from some of the progress that is currently being made by CDOT -- others here may have conflicting views about Pleasant's actual success in this realm.

This appointment does reinforce that the city has some _serious_ difficulties staffing some very important high-level positions (e.g. the planning director)

EDIT 2: The Triple C Barrel Room space was well suited for the event. Plenty of space (but not too much), decent acoustics etc.

 

 

Edited July 27, 2017 by kermit

[kermit]

Here is the CBJ story. Much better detail on the CDOT elements than I had:

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2017/07/26/next-up-for-south-end-more-retail-walkability-and.html

Edited July 27, 2017 by kermit

[KJHburg]

One thing I get from that article is discussion of a whole new station at Publix as opposed to a previously discussed pedestrian only crossing. I do think that is a great idea and when this line was envisioned most of this area was run down industrial buildings and street oriented aging retail strips. Of course now it has all changed. I like this new station idea. 

In other news quick leasing at the new Solis apartments a third leased already. There is still strong demand. https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2017/07/26/more-than-one-third-of-solis-southline-units.html?ana=e_ae_set1&s=scroll&ed=2017-07-26&u=oAaDx%2B74FoP4qOJ%2By4AU6dhJPpc&t=1501100144&j=78606031

Edited July 26, 2017 by KJHburg

[archiham04]

Anybody seen drawings for the proposed new ped crossing?

[kermit]

The drab block industrial / metalshop building at the corner of Atherton and Euclid (behind the Taco Bell) has been demoed. 

Its a shame, it would have made a great dive bar / movie house. I can only assume it will become a gym.

[KJHburg]

From my rail trail walk today. I suggest we start a new Asana Properties thread and a new Atherton Mill thread since both of these will have a huge impact on SouthEnd. 

Personal note: people please dont trash the Rail Trail I saw  2 small smashed cakes or large pieces on the walkway today. Also bikers: no one wants to listen to your music on the trail with your radios blaring on your bikes. Try ear buds.  

Also I think we/city needs to start an adopt a tree along the Rail Trail. I realize it got a rag tag start a little here and there but how about some trees and more shrubs and apartment developers can do a better job. Why not some Italian cypresses on your walls between windows. 

Couple photos of Atherton as it is now and Design Center as it is. 

Couple new apartment complexes the Lennar Pepsi and the Bainbridge apartments. That garage is very tall at the Lennar Pepis apartment site. 

So far my favorite complexes along Rail Trail are Camden Gallery (Blaze Pizza etc) Solis Southend and these Spectrum SouthEnd with the brick and old school look. Like Ashston SouthEnd tower too just because of height. 

 

Edited July 29, 2017 by KJHburg

[archiham04]

On 7/29/2017 at 0:22 PM, KJHburg said:

From my rail trail walk today. I suggest we start a new Asana Properties thread and a new Atherton Mill thread since both of these will have a huge impact on SouthEnd. 

 

 

I tried to start an Atherton Mill thread.  It is there but no one uses it.