forum, so I wanted to show you guys as well...
I live in Southwest Charlotte, far out in the sprawl. Southwest Charlotte is probably
Charlotte's 'final frontier' in terms of development. While other parts of the city were
booming for the past 20 years, Southwest Charlotte has kept relatively quiet.
Well, no more...
First off, let's map the area we're talking about. The pictures I've taken were all
within current or future (future annexation) Charlotte city limits, but I assure you this
kind of growth extends past Charlotte city limits and well over the border into South
Carolina as well.
The portion of Charlotte we're focusing on. Keep in mind we're about 10-13 miles
outside of Uptown:
The streets I explored:
So, let's start in Steele Creek, a little sleepy rural area in Southwest Charlotte. Here
are some traditional homes you'd find in Steele Creek:
Look at that field. Yes, Southwest Charlotte is VERY undeveloped...but that's quickly
changing. Right across the street from those two homes are some
Latin-American-influenced homes being built:
But that's only the beginning. If we drive a half a minute down the road, you start to
see one of three cookie-cutter developments nearby:
These weren't here five years ago. Moreover, the growth isn't done:
This is only the beginning...
I headed back out to Steele Creek (both a major road and the region's name, not to
confuse you) and right down the block is Huntington Forest. Huntington Forest is a
new development that will be very much like where I live now, in the Crossings. It is
a mix of cookie-cutter single family homes and townhomes. Construction began
recently and already quite a bit is done:
This picture was taken from a future cul-de-sac looking back at some of the
completed streets:
But this project has barely just begun. Look at how much more land awaits
development:
Of course, with all these homes come people. And with people comes demand for
better infrastructure and resources. Nearby Huntington Forest is a brand new middle
school and library:
But right next door, a reminder of what this area was not long ago...
Not far down is South Tryon, being converted from a 2-lane to 4-lane road:
I headed back inbound along Shopton, taking some random sprawl shots of
developments that are so common here that I didn't even bother to remember the
respective developments' names:
Plenty of fields to convert into cookie-cutter housing:
This will be the community pool behind the clubhouse:
Soon enough I came upon a future construction site for Berewick. This one's
a biggie. Here's an exerpt from an article about what Berewick will be:
Quote
Pappas Properties signs builders for southwest Charlotte development
DOUG SMITH
Pappas Properties is preparing to start construction by fall of the first houses in a
new 1,050-acre southwest Charlotte community.
What developers call going vertical -- getting the first structures out of the ground --
is the final step in a process that started at Berewick with site preparation in
November.
"Planning, design, engineering, stormwater retention -- all those things take time,"
said Pappas Properties Chief Operating Officer Charles Teal.
"And we also got held up by wet conditions during the winter."
The developer has just signed four "featured" builders -- MI Homes, Shea Homes,
MDC Homes and KB Home -- to construct housing priced from $150,000 to $300,000
in four Scottish-themed villages at Berewick.
Southwest Mecklenburg has emerged over the past five years as one of the county's
most active development areas.
Utility lines are being extended to the area, and Interstate 485, a 67-mile loop to be
completed around the county by 2010, is opening more land for development.
Pappas is busy building roads off Shopton Road West into Berewick, located roughly
between I-485 and Lake Wylie.
As access improves to that initial phase in the fall, Teal said, home builders will start
the first of about 1,300 planned units, including some townhomes. The first
model homes should be ready by late fall, he said.
The project will include a 237-acre town center, zoned for 1.2 million square feet
of corporate and business park office space, 250,000 square feet of retail and 750
apartments, townhomes or condominiums.
DOUG SMITH
Pappas Properties is preparing to start construction by fall of the first houses in a
new 1,050-acre southwest Charlotte community.
What developers call going vertical -- getting the first structures out of the ground --
is the final step in a process that started at Berewick with site preparation in
November.
"Planning, design, engineering, stormwater retention -- all those things take time,"
said Pappas Properties Chief Operating Officer Charles Teal.
"And we also got held up by wet conditions during the winter."
The developer has just signed four "featured" builders -- MI Homes, Shea Homes,
MDC Homes and KB Home -- to construct housing priced from $150,000 to $300,000
in four Scottish-themed villages at Berewick.
Southwest Mecklenburg has emerged over the past five years as one of the county's
most active development areas.
Utility lines are being extended to the area, and Interstate 485, a 67-mile loop to be
completed around the county by 2010, is opening more land for development.
Pappas is busy building roads off Shopton Road West into Berewick, located roughly
between I-485 and Lake Wylie.
As access improves to that initial phase in the fall, Teal said, home builders will start
the first of about 1,300 planned units, including some townhomes. The first
model homes should be ready by late fall, he said.
The project will include a 237-acre town center, zoned for 1.2 million square feet
of corporate and business park office space, 250,000 square feet of retail and 750
apartments, townhomes or condominiums.
Amazing the size of some of these developments. Well, this is what it looks like right now:
Not too far away are other signs of the area's continued growth, including Steele
Creek Place (a future office park), and of course good ol' I-485:
But then again, all you have to do is look across the street, and there is a reminder
of small-town North Carolina...a firehouse, general store, and old home:
charlotte/farm4.jpg[/IMG]
Before turning off Shopton onto South Tryon, there were a few more developments
still to check out. The first is a gated luxury apartment-home complex, so new the
paint is probably still wet:
and across the street is another apartment development. I have to admit, I kinda
like the design of these:
and, oh yeah, they're still under construction too:
A cool new police and fire training academy is also nearby:
But before we leave the Shopton area, I've saved the best (err, worst) for last.
To truly give you a sense of the sprawl developing out here, I found yet another
development, climbed up a hill, and made a sprawling pano for you all:
So we're finally done with Shopton. Let's head down South Tryon to Arrowood. First
stop: Time Warner
Here is Time Warner's current operations center, located in Crescent Ridge One:
Here is their new building, under construction:
Rendering of the completed Time Warner building:
But, as always, there's more. There are actually five more Crescent Ridge
buildings planned for this site. Crescent Ridge Two is currently in the works:
Further down Arrowood is Forest Park, where EquiFirst plans to build another 60,000
square foot building. They already have two 60,000 square foot buildings in the
office park, and the second one just opened last year. But it's time to build again...
EquiFirst's current two buildings, totaling 120,000 square feet (connected by a
courtyard):
Adjacent site where third building will be constructed:
Rendering of future EquiFirst building:
Very quickly, on the way back, here is some continuing development at Whitehall.
Whitehall is actually a massive development, but right now there is not much being
constructed. Here are some medical buildings being built on Arrowood behind the
Wal-Mart at I-485:
This whole South Tryon-Interstate 485 area has boomed, but I really didn't want to
waste my time taking too many pictures of it. It's an annoying interstate exit
development, complete with Wal-Mart, Lowe's Bi-Lo (supermarket), Chic-Fil-A,
Arby's, ABC Liquor, IHOP, Qdoba's (Mexican), Blockbuster, Chili's, Bellacino's, etc,
etc, etc...
The result of this fast-growing, poorly-planned development is just what you'd
expect, gridlock traffic:
So we move on, but not very far down the road, to perhaps the largest development
of them all...AYRSLEY. (www.ayrsley.com).
This is an example of stereotypical 'smart growth' design. It incorporates residential
and commercial components into an environment that attempts to be both auto- and
pedestrian-friendly.
The entire town of Ayrsley will include 1.3 million square feet of office space, 277,000
square feet of retail, 65,000 square feet of entertainment (including a movie
theater), three hotels with 425 rooms combined, and over 1600 residential units.
Right now only three buildings have been erected, with a fourth just now being
started...
Ayrsley as seen from South Tryon:
The just-opened YMCA:
The Arcade Building:
Construction site for the majority of Ayrsley:
I didn't see any reason not to wander out to the construction site...
From there, looking back at the completed portion of Ayrsley:
These maps will put Ayrsley into perspective. The first map is the master plan:
Now, I've colored the completed three buildings blue, and the Arcade Building (under
construction) is striped blue:
This is a big, BIG development.
Just across South Tryon from Ayrsley is a strip mall (one of many that have popped
up like weeds throughout Southwest Charlotte), but I can't help but notice how
similar the design is to Ayrsley. Technically that strip mall is a part of Whitehall
though.
To give you an idea of how far out we are, and yet we're STILL in Charlotte city
limits, take a look from this point on South Tryon, looking back at the Charlotte
skyline...
Can you see it? The vague silhouettes of the skyline towers can barely be seen on
the horizon just to the left of the road, just above a 'one-way' sign.
So, yes, Charlotte, specifically Southwest Charlotte is now booming. Is it good? Is it
bad? Well, I suppose that's a matter of opinion and perspective. But I just thought
you guys would like to see a lesser-seen side of Charlotte.
Hope you all enjoyed.
