723 replies to this topic

[caterpillar2]

Urbanity, on 09 September 2011 - 09:11 AM, said:

Was at the Center City Building Yeseterday and took some shots.  

https://picasaweb.go...feat=directlink

good shots, but that UNCC building is butt ugly. I am glad it is there, but it looks like an old communist structure in one of the former eastern block countries.

[ricky_davis_fan_21]

Yeaaaa... It really only looks AWESOME driving up from the Traffic Circle on N. Davidson... The other views I feel like we didn't get what we were promised...

[SmellyCat]

caterpillar2, on 09 September 2011 - 09:38 AM, said:

good shots, but that UNCC building is butt ugly. I am glad it is there, but it looks like an old communist structure in one of the former eastern block countries.

You serious? Wow, it's probably one of my favorite buildings in Charlotte, let alone anywhere.  I guess one man's trash really is another's treasure.

[Rufus]

I think the only real problem with the building is the color of the glass.  The renderings make it look almost white, but in reality its this really weird green color.  If they would just change that, then the building would look great, as of now, though, it looks good because of the design.  

Regarding the pictures, one of them really shows the scope of the properties owned by Levine.  It really is amazing to try and picture the potential development alongside the park.

[tozmervo]

There's been speculation that the original design was value engineered at some point to use a cheaper curtain wall exterior, which I think badly damaged the overall look of the project. It's still a nice addition to Uptown, but sadly not nearly as elegant as the renderings promised.

[dubone]

It seems like they did a cheesy thing and chose green glass because of the school color.    It definitely does not look like an eastern european communist building to me, but I think it looks no where near as good as I envisioned it, so value engineering is probably to blame.

I'm sure it will look better with other buildings around it, especially on the blank north-western wall.

[AuLukey]

dubone, on 25 September 2011 - 10:48 AM, said:

It seems like they did a cheesy thing and chose green glass because of the school color. It definitely does not look like an eastern european communist building to me, but I think it looks no where near as good as I envisioned it, so value engineering is probably to blame. I'm sure it will look better with other buildings around it, especially on the blank north-western wall.

I agree, I wish that they would have used a different color glass for each of the "books."  Would've made the effect more striking.  The color is too blah, although I'll admit the building looks pretty cool at sunset.

[SmellyCat]

I hear you about the value engineering.  Just look what it did to The Vue - gosh that would have been such an incredible addition to Fourth Ward had it been done according to the original plans.

Anyway, saw some bulldozing activity around the UNCC building site adjacent to 8th Street the last few days .  Anyone aware of what's going on there?

[southslider]

^Where on 8th St?  Adjacent to the UNCC building?  Or across from it?

[SmellyCat]

adjacent to UNCC building, on the same square block where the UNCC building sits.  Nothing across the street yet, when that begins I know it means the park is finally starting up.  

There is a First Ward meeting at 7pm tomorrow evening, maybe we'll hear more then.  I'm planning on going.

[uptownliving]

Just what First Ward needs...another surface parking lot going in on 9th St next to the UNCC building. Levine strikes again!

[ah59396]

^^^^Ughhhhhhhhhhh

[nonillogical]

uptownliving, on 23 November 2011 - 08:59 AM, said:

Just what First Ward needs...another surface parking lot going in on 9th St next to the UNCC building. Levine strikes again!

For sure? I thought there was a building planned for that site next to the lightrail path, saw an elevation for it somewhere.

[rjp212]

The 7th Street Public Market is now open.   Haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but hope it's successful.

[ricky_davis_fan_21]

http://m.charlotteob...ntguid=VekN5la0

Just saw this exciting announcement and thought I'd open a new topic. Looks like Wells is partnering with cccp to bring 1st ward elementary it's own outdoor classroom themed park. it's being likened to the Green in size. While it will be for the school it will be open to the public during regular hours.

Organizers hope the park will be finished in time for the arrival of the Democratic National Convention in September, and speculate that it could serve as the site of some convention activities. The site is about five blocks from Time Warner Cable Arena, between North Brevard and North Caldwell streets.

Features will include a recreational green, performance stage, a bird and insect garden, and at least one commissioned sculpture.

It's really great to see wells continue to give back to the community post Wachovia. There is a rendering in the page itself but I could not post it from my iPad.

[krazeeboi]

It will be called the Wells Fargo Sense and Science Garden:

[C_C_Planner]

ricky_davis_fan_21, on 19 April 2012 - 08:30 PM, said:

http://m.charlotteob...ntguid=VekN5la0

Just saw this exciting announcement and thought I'd open a new topic. Looks like Wells is partnering with cccp to bring 1st ward elementary it's own outdoor classroom themed park. it's being likened to the Green in size. While it will be for the school it will be open to the public during regular hours.

Organizers hope the park will be finished in time for the arrival of the Democratic National Convention in September, and speculate that it could serve as the site of some convention activities. The site is about five blocks from Time Warner Cable Arena, between North Brevard and North Caldwell streets.

Features will include a recreational green, performance stage, a bird and insect garden, and at least one commissioned sculpture.

It's really great to see wells continue to give back to the community post Wachovia. There is a rendering in the page itself but I could not post it from my iPad.

It makes me wonder if the First Ward Park across Brevard from 7th to 9th is really going to happen.  Part of its use was going to be for students coming to Imaginon.  Speaking of students, I wonder where the school buses will park if CMS students are brought into Uptown for the park.

[ricky_davis_fan_21]

C_C_Planner, on 20 April 2012 - 04:49 AM, said:

It makes me wonder if the First Ward Park across Brevard from 7th to 9th is really going to happen.  Part of its use was going to be for students coming to Imaginon.  Speaking of students, I wonder where the school buses will park if CMS students are brought into Uptown for the park.

The park is definitely still a go. Will be nice to have two parks within blocks of each other.

[dbull75]

Pretty cool... Parks > Parking lots

[dubone]

This was always the plan for when the old First Ward Elementary buildings were torn down.   I like that there is a green connection from 7th Street Market/Imaginon - First Ward Park -UNCC - [this new pocket park] - 9th Street 'greenway' - Trinity Episcopal School grounds - Little Sugar Creek Greenway. It is great to have this gap filled in, and also great to have a little neighborhood park for the residents.

Also, I assume the large grey space along 10th will be school bus parking.  

Pretty much, since Levine Properties is the primary determinant of whether First Ward Park happens, I would assume it is on the back burner just as his development of the land otherwise has always been.   He has his TIF approved, so if development ever did happen, it will fund the park's construction.  I will not be surprised, though, if he waits a couple years until the city/county gets antsy and asks for more money somehow to make it all happen.  

In a year, we will likely have funding for the light rail, which will have a station at 9th/10th.  So when that nears completion in 4-5 years, the city will be anxious for something to go in around that station.  We will get a new architectural rendering of what could go in with a new 5-10 year plan.   He's done that for 15 years now.