14 replies to this topic

[chicagobearsfan]

I've read a lot about Uptown/Downtown, NoDa, SouthEnd, Dilworth, Southpark, Plaza-Mid, etc. on this site.  Is anybody out there a resident on the westside, particularly within Route 4?  Aside from Wilmore (which is considered 'west' anymore) what are the interesting areas for redevelopment/reinvestment in your opinion?  What are the hidden gems?  What are the perceptions?  I have my opinions, I'd like to hear from others.

[Spartan]

Wesley Heights has a few good projects going on. I'm not sure if thats covered eslewhere or not, or if it would really be considered "westside" since its notably different from the other westside neighborhoods.

There is the redevelopment of Bryant Park on Berryhill. I think its going to be low income housing mostly.

[jon bon]

Camp Greene and Dowd Heights you can still find homes from 60k-100k. A lot of Arts and Crafts bungalows from the 1940's and up. There are a few streets in these neighborhoods that are pretty nice but some still have prostitutes and drug dealers around them. If your an Urban Pioneer it'll be worth the investment in the long run.

Edited by jon bon, 18 July 2007 - 07:28 AM.

[ontap]

I'm a westsider.  I live in Camp Greene area which is between W. Morehead, Wilkinson, Ashley, Freedom.

The previous post was incorrect about the redevelopment of Bryant Park.  This is a 38+- acre redevelopment of Westwood Apartments on Berryhill Road.  The new community will consist of a mid-rise market rate apartment building with retail/office, single-family homes with detached garages, quad-plexes, and a village of townhouses.  It is a complete mix of living options.  Look for the homes to be in the 200-350K range.  Site work will begin anytime now.

Across W. Morehead is the Blumenthal property where up to 1 million square feet of office in eight buildings and 2,000 residential units are being built by Merrifield.  There will also be retail.  This will be the new home of Charlotte Law School.

At the corner of Freedom and Thrift a new development by Wood Development was just approved.  They plan on building 500 apartment units and possibly having a condo component.  This property back to the new greenway that Park and Rec is building right now.

City planning has been meeting with our community groups and local businesses about all the zoning changes and are in the process of creating a TOD and POD for the Morehead corridor.  Lots of property along Morehead is changing hands and the Toll House Motel, notorious for drugs & prostitues, is closed for good and will be demolished soon.  Being a transit corridor look for big changes very quickly.

All this is happening in a one mile radius which is only 1.5 miles from the square.  Property prices are increasing faster than Wilmore and Wesley Heights.  Smart money has bought in.  It looks like the westside is finally getting attention (and respect).  

(PS. Doug Smith this is the next big thing)

[Spartan]

Thats good to know about Berryhill. Sorry for the mix up. The westside is definitely going to see a lot of change over the next few years if this is just the start.

[The Escapists]

Can anyone recall about 3 or 4 months ago a project being announced for the West Side (my memory says either on Rozelles Ferry or Beaties Ford just up from JCSU) along the lines of "City of God" or something like that. It was proposed at very high price, a large project for that area and was geared toward a church group, but to place mixed housing/retail in a complex. Anyone remember this? Was it called "City of God"? Did I make it up?

[Raintree21]

There is a preacher who owns a bunch of property on Statesville Avenue that is trying to redevelop his land. Perhaps that is what you are speaking of.

[ontap]

Does anyone know what is happening with the old White Consolidated Industries building on W. Summit?  Over the past few weeks they have started what appears to be a complete demo of the building.  It's on a large 18 acre parcel next the the RR tracks.  The building itself is over 200,000 sq ft.  Wonder if Clt Pipe & Foundry is expanding?

[sfmartin]

While we're asking questions ... anyone have info on this rezoning? Looks like they will have to demo three buildings, two of which have that classic old look that I would prefer not be turned to rubble. The petitioner is Budget Developement (not the best name) and it looks like storage units??

[ontap]

sfmartin, on Jul 25 2007, 04:13 PM, said:

While we're asking questions ... anyone have info on this rezoning? Looks like they will have to demo three buildings, two of which have that classic old look that I would prefer not be turned to rubble. The petitioner is Budget Developement (not the best name) and it looks like storage units??

My understanding is that the old Pronto auto parts warehouse is to be replaced with this six storey warehouse.  I don't mind seeing the old building being replaced with this one.  The new building will have retail on the first floor, interior storage, and a top floor with office space and a terrace overlooking the skyline.  Aesthetically, the brick building looks cool with "windows that appear to be bricked-in over time".  This section of Morehead could really use the added retail, too.  

This is a much better use for this land and is consistant with the vision of the morehead corridor revitalization plans (which is finally nearing completion).  The top-coat of asphalt is being laid.  Personally, I like the new lane configuration (which is now 2 with turning and bike lanes, instead of 4 lanes), there is new streetscape lighting, and soon to be installed landscaping.  The corridor is much more pedistrian friendly.  With new retail, it should be a little more vibrant too.

[orulz]

The site plan for that rezoning has renderings. Actually looks really cool. An urban storage center? In North Carolina? Who'da thunk it? But cool as this project is, I'd MUCH rather it go on an empty lot, rather than replacing these fairly cool old buildings.

For reference here are the buildings currently on these lots:




And here is what's planned:

[Finkle]

Good new for Wilkinson Blvd. QT Quick Trip C Store and McDonalds are planning new stores at the intersection of Wilkinson & Ashley Roads at the old Southern Steel site. If you have not been out Wilkinson lately the old closed down Bojangle's across from Walmart has been refurbished and reopened as a Bojangle's. They are also replanting the medians from The Charlotte School of law to Billy Graham Pkwy.

[Finkle]

The city is making Eastway Wrecker on Wilkinson Blvd. screen there site with new wood fencing and a planting strip this will improve the the looks of the area a bit.

[nonillogical]

Never seen this thread, is that storage building on W. Morehead still in the works at all? It's right next to my office and I think its kind of a great idea!

[Finkle]

Budget Storage was the builder of this project, It is on hold til things get better.