122 replies to this topic

[suburban george3]

yadkinv, on Aug 21 2006, 11:12 PM, said:

One wonders why the developer would put a rendering on thir website if nothing is settled or yet approved?

This is actually quite a common practice.  This is a way for the developer to build up support for the project with investors, prospective tenants, and the community.

[ncbrian]

Drove past the demolition site today, Nothing but rubble waiting to be taken away.

[twincity]

we have confirmation!  an article in today's journal explains the development proposed for civic plaza which "...could dramatically change Winston-Salem's downtown skyline. It would bring new homes, shops, offices and a centerpiece plaza to the heart of the city and a section along Third and Fourth streets, an area that is currently home to vacant buildings and a parking lot.The Pepper Building, owned by the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership, could be demolished to make way for a 20-story high-rise. The historic courthouse, vacant and owned by Forsyth County, could be used for shops or offices. The parking lot on the south side of the Pepper Building could be covered by the new high-rise..."

we'll see if this tax-increment financing will workout.  by using this method, mayor Joines says the park will pay for itself.

"It's going to happen, it's just a matter of when," Thiel (president of DWSP) said.

article

Edited by twincity, 08 September 2006 - 07:38 AM.

[Forsyth]

WOW

[intcvlcphlga]

Has there been anything more on this project?  What's the latest?  Is the rendering on the architect's website still what is being proposed (20+ story building along Liberty from 4th to the 3rd w/ the Pepper Bldg being demolished)?

[twincity]

yep thats the plan for now!  its proposed to be completed by 2009 so im guessing ground should break early next year.

[triadguy37]

intcvlcphlga, on Sep 23 2006, 03:19 PM, said:

Has there been anything more on this project?  What's the latest?  Is the rendering on the architect's website still what is being proposed (20+ story building along Liberty from 4th to the 3rd w/ the Pepper Bldg being demolished)?

Winston-Salem city mayor Allen Joines said in a meeting a week ago that they are currently working on financing options and it was an up hill struggle, but they are making progress.

[twincity]

the tower is back down to 14 storys according to today's journal.  that rendering from the architecht's website was released to show a potential height for the tower if demand is high.  so now we're back to the original proposal.

[suburban george3]

twincity, on Oct 11 2006, 09:27 AM, said:

the tower is back down to 14 storys according to today's journal.  that rendering from the architecht's website was released to show a potential height for the tower if demand is high.  so now we're back to the original proposal.

Aww shucks!!  I really wanted to see a 20+ story addition to the skyline.  I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that maybe they'll change their minds again before construction....    

[twincity]

well it appears its on its way back up.  today's article mentioans a 15 story tower with 120 units.  the article says 15, the rendering shows 16.  we also have late 2007 as a rough groundbreaking date.

Edited by twincity, 01 November 2006 - 02:09 PM.

[cityboi]

regardless of height, its great to see this project is going forward full steam ahead.

[suburban george3]

I want this to go forward, but didn't the article say there are still financing issues and property purchases to work out???  Let's not get overly excited yet....  but I'd say the spin and buzz is mostly positive.

[TheDash]

I wish they would make it more thin around ,then make it taller
but it still looks good

[suburban george3]

UPDATE!!  THE PEPPER BUILDING MAY BE SAVED AS LUXURY APARTMENTS!!!

Civic Plaza has (again) been reworked.  In the new plan, the Pepper building would be saved and restored as apartments.  Also, 3rd street would be closed to accomodate a 14 story condo tower.  A new street 2 1/2 ST. would be created.  The plaza would still be retained as well.

I hope this project moves forward, it seems 'stuck' in the design adjustment phase....

WSJ Article about Civic Plaza and the Pepper Building

[twincity]

this is the best plan so far!  the pepper building could be expanded too.  im interested to see how they would match aging bricks from the '20s.

[intcvlcphlga]

I think saving the Pepper Building is a good move.  I wish that instead of building a tower with such a large footprint, they would build a taller tower with a footprint towards the southern end of the site.  Shorter stout/wide buildings - especially residential ones - tend to not look very attractive (One West Fourth is an excellent example of this).  And, by pushing a more slender tower to the south of the site (between the new 2-1/2 St and the existing 3rd St) would also fill in a gap between the Winston Tower and the Wachovia Center as well as not obscure the view of the Winston Tower and the R.J. Reynolds Building.  As for expanding the Pepper Building, it might be interesting to do something like ShoP Architects in New York's rehabilitation and addition to the Porter House (http://www.shoparc.c...?pr=16&id=1&p=3) along the west (the facade facing Civic Plaza) and to the south (facing the Wachovia Center).

[suburban george3]

intcvlcphlga, on May 13 2007, 09:16 PM, said:

As for expanding the Pepper Building, it might be interesting to do something like ShoP Architects in New York's rehabilitation and addition to the Porter House (http://www.shoparc.c...?pr=16&id=1&p=3) along the west (the facade facing Civic Plaza) and to the south (facing the Wachovia Center).

That's an interesting expansion on the Porter House... don't know if it would fly here, maybe if it blended with the architectural style a bit better...

[intcvlcphlga]

suburban george3, on May 14 2007, 12:08 AM, said:

That's an interesting expansion on the Porter House... don't know if it would fly here, maybe if it blended with the architectural style a bit better...

I guess I'll have to disagree with you about blending it with the "architectural style."  Have you seen the southern and western elevations of the Pepper Building?  I don't think they are in keeping with the "style" any more than a contemporary addition along the lines of the Porter House project is.  And, a contemporary structure perched on either or both of those sides of the building would provide an interesting backdrop to the park as well as an interesting face to the building coming down 4th Street from the west.

[suburban george3]

True, I guess I was thinking of a glass/steel box on top.... they could make something interesting out of a Pepper expansion.

[yadkinv]

I agree, it should be taller since it's now to be a smaller footprint.  After all when it was announced, it was to be 21 or 22 stories and razing the pepper Building?