1065 replies to this topic

[nonillogical]

rjp212, on 21 December 2011 - 09:31 AM, said:

There are no retail components with the new layout.   Too difficult to obtain financing for such a project and would probably be vacant storefronts for a while anyway similar to Fat City Lofts

ugh. I'd be ok with that if they did something more creative, like attractive townhome-style stoops or something, but this just seems like a waste of a LOT of prominent street frontage. I want the sizable influx of residents, and I know retail will be built elsewhere when the need arises, but I think this project will one day be seen as a momentum-killing gap in that activity.

[southslider]

^Unless the church across 36th Street from these proposed apartments were to re-develop, that "momentum-killing gap" is going to remain.  But there ain't exactly retail farther down 36th Street until almost The Plaza, so talk about a huge gap.

I'd be more concerned about killing the potential of street-level retail along North Davidson Street expanding south towards Amelie's.  That direction seems like the better momentum for NoDa to keep going and expand.

[marriotthill]

Mercury NoDa, what a bore it's become!  Wow, Circle, South End, looks inspiring compared to this.  Also, where the heck are they going to park with no parking deck in the mix?  Neighbors aren't going to be very happy considering the "parking congestion" in the area now.

[southslider]

^The linked site plan shows a parking deck wrapped with apartments.  The deck appears to be accessed from both a new circle drive wrapping behind Neighborhood Theatre, as well as a driveway on Alexander Street.

However, I do hope this new deck would have lower floors open to the public, even at a cost, since this development replaces the paid parking lot currently behind Neighborhood Theater.

[kermit]

The Escapists, on 05 April 2011 - 01:45 PM, said:

Community Builders has won the bidding war for the J&M Mills redevelopment. Considering I live only a block away, I have been doing my research. I won't say I know everything there is to know about Community Builders, but I like their track record much more than MPV. The only down side I can see is that Community Builders would not necessarily have the same local ties.

http://www.bizjourna...le.html?ana=fbk

This project has gone very quiet, has there been any news on the mill(s) redevelopment?

[Conformity]

You likely know that they did close on the property.  I was by there a few weeks ago and given the complement of trucks in the parking lot, it would seem things are a "GO" (engineers of one sort or another).  My guess is they will some time understanding the "as built" conditions given the preservation commitments that were made.

[kermit]

Does anyone have any news (gossip, long range plans, ideas etc.) about the industrial / warehouse space on N Davidson between Craighead and Sugar Creek?

When I pass by it looks like about half the spaces are being used, although at a very low intensity. Some are getting vandalized. It looks and feels like a less historic  South End area but it is a very interesting appendage to  NoDa nonetheless (particularly given the location of the Sugar Creek LRT station).

Does anyone have a feel for the reuse potential for the area or if a Sugar Creek station area plan exists yet? While the buildings don't have much architectural value I would hate to see it all bulldozed and replaced with garden apartments.

EDIT: This area feels like it has more potential than the industrial stretch of N Davidson over by Amalie's -- While the area is more intensively industrial it is starting to transform with the two breweries and some other entertainment options.

Edited by kermit, 16 February 2012 - 03:13 PM.

[krazeeboi]

Urbanity, on 24 October 2011 - 08:49 AM, said:

I'm going to suggest that the issue for Optimist Park, Belmont and Villa Heights is one of a more bland issue and that's their location in relation to the railroad  and freight yards, the Brookshire and Industrial areas.  Just look at it on a map and you are in geographic pockets with hard industrial/infrastructure dead ends to a degree.

I know this is an old post, but I'm just running across it and have to agree here, especially as it regards Belmont and Optimist Park. It's not only the railroad and freight yards, but also 277 that contributes to the feeling of being cut-off and isolated from surrounding neighborhoods that would provide greater synergy in terms of their potential for revitalization. They are neighborhoods that can easily be avoided and with Belmont in particular, it's very much sectioned off; otherwise, you'd see Belmont receiving investment like neighborhoods adjacent to Uptown with similar demographics have been getting (e.g., Wilmore, Wesley Heights). Villa Heights has less of an issue with this, with Parkwood and the Plaza serving as major thoroughfares that provide connectivity to Plaza-Midwood and NoDa.

[The Escapists]

Although it doesn't look like it - a majority of those buildings are in use by businesses that have no interest in street presence. In fact, a couple years ago there was a bond project to build sidewalks to connect from Mecklenburg Mill all the way to Sugar Creek, but the property owner(s) in this section would not give up the ROW for sidewalks (and the project was dropped).

The businesses in this section are mostly warehousing/wholesalers, although the short lived club Dammit Janet (aka Second World, others) tried to push the neighborhood this far from the center, but couldn't make it happen. This is, however, where NoDa Studios is located where 30+ local bands rent rooms for rehearsal space.

I think these buildings have really cool potential to be a warehouse district, but there needs to be better pedestrian connection first (this will come with the Sugar Creek LYNX Station). But... keep in mind... that in order for the LYNX to come, the A&CW RR needs to be relocated directly through these blocks. I've been trying to uncover HOW this would happen - and I have seen one reference to the rails being in a trench, but that doesn't chance the fact that upwards of 5-10 buildings may need to be demolished for room... I'd say it's going to be a long shot that many of these buildings will remain standing in 5 years.

Edited by The Escapists, 17 February 2012 - 07:54 AM.

[southslider]

^But won't this area someday be sliced up by the AC&W railroad re-alignment?  I see that project, or just its uncertainty, as a huge limitation for NoDa to expand north of Craighead/Anderson.

[kermit]

ahhh, thanks for the clarification. I had not put together that the ACWR will run though here. It does seem like the routing should be determined ASAP in order to remove that barrier to redevelopment. It will be tricky to lay it out in a way that does not limit pedestrian movement within this interesting subsection of NoDa.

I am always astounded at how much potential urbanism exists in NoDa -- it just always feels like its 10 years away.

EDIT: In a world with infinite cash I would run a streetcar spur from Central ave (planned streetcar) down Plaza to Sugar Creek, turn back on the unused ACWR ROW to 36th (where a transfer to the BLE would be made) and then back to Plaza for the return trip via 36th. This would bracket NoDA and Villa Heights with transit access and tie Plaza Midwood and Shamrock into the rail system.

Edited by kermit, 17 February 2012 - 12:19 PM.

[dubone]

I like that loop idea for the streetcar.  The ACWR line will will be eliminated eventually with a new connection to the NCRR tracks north of Craighead.  Regardless it could still work if there was a will for CATS to start dreaming up new additions.  

http://www.bizjourna...a=e_ph&page=all

I like the idea of Live-work as a way of keeping financing in play, but still having the likelihood of retail, as NoDa seems ripe for people willing to be in live-work residences.  
As for protest petitions purely to keep surface parking, it is not likely to sway city council away from this project.  This neighborhood is about to get a billion dollar rail line to it, which is bound to alleviate some peak parking issues.

[nonillogical]

Salud Beer Shop opens today around the corner from Boudreaux's. I'm not sure if it used to be the wine bar or the book store since I never went to either. This wasn't on my radar at all, and seems pretty cool! Lots of great beer news this week

http://charlotterest...a/#.T2I6FivLxBV

[ricky_davis_fan_21]

Another interesting rezoning in the Charlotte area. A 10.3 acre TOD-R rezoning has been filed for what I assume is the Meck Mills Site. Maybe a site plan will come online soon for us to look at.
Rezoning Petition: http://charmeck.org/...s/2012-042.aspx
REzoning PDF:http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/Rezoning/2012/035-049/2012-042%20rezoning%20map.pdf

[The Escapists]

Community Builders will present this plan to the neighborhood tonight at 6:30pm at Evening Muse. It's an open meeting and there will be beer. Can't beat that!   I'm not sure I can make it, but someone could go take notes and report back....

ricky_davis_fan_21, on 19 March 2012 - 08:24 PM, said:

Another interesting rezoning in the Charlotte area. A 10.3 acre TOD-R rezoning has been filed for what I assume is the Meck Mills Site. Maybe a site plan will come online soon for us to look at.
Rezoning Petition: http://charmeck.org/...s/2012-042.aspx
REzoning PDF:http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/Rezoning/2012/035-049/2012-042%20rezoning%20map.pdf

[Prodev]

Update - Mercury Lofts rezoning was approved

[kermit]

I am assuming its a misprint / bad reporting by the Observer but the article on today's transportation summit says that the Craighead grade crossing will be elevated (rather than closed). Its one sentence at the end of the article.  Has the NCRR plan changed?

http://www.charlotte...s-spending.html

[dubone]

http://charmeck.org/...1 0927 - RE.pdf

It is confusing because the Blue line extension will be a bridge crossing the NCRR at Craighead.   However, it was my understanding (not really clear on this map) that the Craighead crossing would actually be closed.

[The Escapists]

I haven't heard any different than the past: Craighead closed. This will be the stretch of tracks where the LYNX will fly over the NCRR however...which is probably the confusion.

[kermit]

It appears that the small store at 35th and McDowell has been redone/gentrified ("upscale olive oil and balsamic vinegars") and reopened as "The Bodega"

http://obswhatsinsto...p-opens-in.html