106 replies to this topic

[DanRNC]

There is another condo project being completed in downtown although units start at almost $900K.  

Link

[urbanesq]

DanRNC, on Nov 23 2005, 12:09 PM, said:

There is another condo project being completed in downtown although units start at almost $900K.  

Link

that's cool, I guess.  Looks really institutional, though.  Not sure I'd pay a mil to live in what looks like an old dorm or administrastion building.  Still, it's a great location, and it's nice to see more residential on the Street.

[DanRNC]

Its actually an old apartment building being retrofitted. I had originally looked at an apartment there for about $400 a month. Location is great though.

Edited by DanRNC, 23 November 2005 - 01:18 PM.

[orulz]

According to the website, this is a conversion of a building constructed in 1937.

This is an unbelievable location, clearly reflected in the $900,000 cost. The 200 block of East Franklin is my favorite part of Chapel Hill.

[f0xym0p]

Wow. I had a friend who rented in this building when I was in college. I don't know who is going to pay this much for condos practically on UNC's campus, unless it is rich parents buying a place for their kids to live while going to UNC.
Maybe people will buy them and then rent them to students, but that would have to be a pretty high monthly rent charge.

[DanRNC]

I don't think those will be aimed as being rental units or to students. I think there are 11 units which I think will move pretty fast. The $1 million+ row houses (approximately the same size) in Meadowmont went as fast as they were built.  Wealthy retirees /alumni are the target buyers.

[urbanesq]

DanRNC, on Nov 23 2005, 04:07 PM, said:

I don't think those will be aimed as being rental units or to students. I think there are 11 units which I think will move pretty fast. The $1 million+ row houses (approximately the same size) in Meadowmont went as fast as they were built.  Wealthy retirees /alumni are the target buyers.

Gents, we're in the wrong line of work...

[DanRNC]

The Washington Post just put out an article about music and college towns and of course Chapel Hill was mentioned. Hopefully all this stuff downtown won't destroy the vibe especially on West Franklin into Carrboro.



Article



More Article

[JDC]

Man I love Chapel Hill. I'd say it has the most to offer in the way of real street-level "atmosphere". I've never seen a crowded sidewalk in Durham or Raleigh, but there's always people out and about in Chapel Hill.

[Raleighsfinest]

I hope franklin street can return to a more lively setting like the past.

[Nindec]

There's a new article out about the proposed development at the Cat's Cradle shopping strip in downtown Carrboro.  

Apparantly a 'mid-size chain' is planning on including a hotel in the project, right next to the Cat's Cradle's new location.  110 rooms, about $110 a night.  They're hoping to break ground early next year on the first building.

I'm glad to here this project is still moving -- I hadn't heard anything about it in a while.  I don't know how familiar y'all are with it, but it's a beautiful plan.  I have trouble imagining how it could be done better.  Not only will it tie in really well with Carrboro (pedestrian plaza/amphitheater, 3 story buildings by the road and 5 stories farther back), they're building it in phases so that none of the current commercial tenants will ever be homeless -- they can just move into the new buildings as they're completed, tearing down the old buildings later to make way for more construction.  All but 1 tenant, apparantly, is planning on staying.  I've seen renderings in person, but can't seem to find any online...
I really think this project is going to make Franklin/Rosemary seem infinitely more connected to DT Carrboro/Main Street.


Also, I don't think this project has been mentioned -- "shortbread lofts", to be built Rosemary, kind of across from Warehouse Apartments.  168 apartments targeting grad students and young professionals, mixed use with retail along Rosemary.  The developer's calling it Workforce Housing, saying there won't be luxury units.  Which is awesome to hear.

Here's another interesting  on the incredible amount of stuff going on in DT.  Chapel Hill's going to see a lot of changes over the next few years.

[DanRNC]

The mid-priced hotel is a great idea especially for bands touring in the area (they don't have to drive all the way across town to stay in an affordable place). I've had trouble finding renderings as well. Is it true that the Cradle and ArtsCenter will be multiple stories?

[orulz]

Raleighsfinest, on Dec 14 2005, 12:30 PM, said:

I hope franklin street can return to a more lively setting like the past.

Late responding to this one... but... I don't know what Franklin street you're talking about, but the one in Chapel Hill is certainly still lively to this very day, almost 24 hours a day. I wonder how much the activity level has changed since the 1980s, 1960s, 1940s even... probably not a whole lot!

[DanRNC]

As someone who has lived in Chapel Hill off and on for the last dozen years I can honestly say this is the most active/vibrant it has been.

[Jones133]

orulz, on Nov 23 2005, 12:28 PM, said:

According to the website, this is a conversion of a building constructed in 1937.

This is an unbelievable location, clearly reflected in the $900,000 cost. The 200 block of East Franklin is my favorite part of Chapel Hill.

Also late responding...and I know not part of a Chapel Hill discussion...this conversion reminds me that Cameron Ct, Boylan Apts and Grosvenor Gardens, all from the 1930's, may also get converted to for sale condos.

[DanRNC]

There is a new project being completed in Carrboro that sounds pretty cool. Its small but adds to the overall vibe of the developing Weaver Street area.

Story

Edited by DanRNC, 23 February 2006 - 11:46 AM.

[voyager12]

I live in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte which is progressive,historic and walkable. I just wish it was bigger. Anyhow..Franklin St is a great resource and its been depressing every time I visit because much of it seems rundown and seedy. Its great that new projects are being proposed. Franklin has the potential to be a larger version of Main St. in Davidson,NC. Its small but clean and full of vibrant and diverse locally owned businesses.

[orulz]

voyager12, on Feb 28 2006, 10:23 AM, said:

I live in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte which is progressive,historic and walkable. I just wish it was bigger. Anyhow..Franklin St is a great resource and its been depressing every time I visit because much of it seems rundown and seedy. Its great that new projects are being proposed. Franklin has the potential to be a larger version of Main St. in Davidson,NC. Its small but clean and full of vibrant and diverse locally owned businesses.

I don't really want Franklin Street to become Main Street, Davidson, NC. Franklin Street, particularly West Franklin Street, isn't squeaky clean, but far from being depressing to me, the grit is almost part of its appeal. It's old, it's well-used, and it's frequented by people of all races and economic statuses, and a lot of students. There are some signs of gentrification, but it's far from an all-encompasing atmosphere, and that's probably the way it should be.

By the way, if you find Franklin Street to be run-down, seedy, or depressing, I don't even want to know what you think of Carrboro. Imagine that gem of a town without the "grit." If you try too hard to remove everything that does not sparkle you can destroy an area's identity.

[voyager12]

That's a fair point and while Main St Davidson does have an overly preppy Rockwell vibe lol...I would point out that the town has some of the most innovative land use and and pedestrian friendly ordinances in the state and the town population is diverse. I think Carrboro is great. The area is thriving and that diversity is what makes it so attractive. Making portions of Franklin St cleaner and more user friendly  does not have to equate to losing "grit". The Grove Arcade and Haywood St in downtown Asheville are clean,socioeconomically diverse and thriving.

[orulz]

voyager12, on Feb 28 2006, 10:44 AM, said:

The Grove Arcade and Haywood St in downtown Asheville are clean,socioeconomically diverse and thriving.

I notice the two areas in Asheville you mention are among the cleaner, more "upscale" locations that downtown has to offer. Asheville's urban side would not have the broad appeal that it does today without somewhat grittier places like Lexington Avenue, Market Street, or Haywood Road (West Asheville) to go along with it.