307 replies to this topic

[dispositive]

I saw yesterday, 1/10/06, that the scaffolding which had been in place on the Garrison lot for sometime came down and there seemed to be a bulldozer on the lot.  Is this project ready to break ground?  I sure hope so.

[dubone]

Hopefully, 28202 was right, and this thing is happening!

I have always liked the design of this building, and I think it will contribute very well to the image of entering the city on Brookshire.

[manyurd]

dubone, on Jan 11 2006, 08:18 AM, said:

Hopefully, 28202 was right, and this thing is happening!

I have always liked the design of this building, and I think it will contribute very well to the image of entering the city on Brookshire.

There are 39 units in the building and I think that they need about half of the units under contract before they start building, as per the lender's request.  They lowered the prices on the 2nd and 3rd levels because of the slow sales on the second and third floors and so they can start the construction which supposedly will take about 15 months. I went up the scaffold and the view is pretty good.  They said that they purposely put it nearly up against the CircleK in case it ever gets sold that it would be extremely hard to put anything of size in its place due to the restrictions. They originally tried to purchase the CircleK so they could make the building an L shape facing the uptown but they couldn't do it because the Circle K there is too popular since it is the only gas station in the beltline.

[dispositive]

As a purchaser of one of the units, I am certainly hoping construction will begin soon.  I was recently told by an unverified source that we were two units away from the lender releasing funds.  This thing was supposed to break ground in September, 2005!  12-18 month build time.  Someone please buy the last two units and lets get this thing rolling!

[turbocraig]

They've fenced off the site today.  Looks like construction will begin soon.

[CATFAN]

turbocraig, on Feb 9 2006, 11:33 PM, said:

They've fenced off the site today.  Looks like construction will begin soon.

good news

[SmellyCat]

They've added a large sign with a rendering on the front of the property.  Not much, but its the first activity I've seen there since they put up the fence a month ago.

[A2]

SmellyCat, on Mar 8 2006, 01:49 PM, said:

They've added a large sign with a rendering on the front of the property.  Not much, but its the first activity I've seen there since they put up the fence a month ago.

I pray this is not another "Renwick" in the making. YIKES !!!

A2

[crispin]

It does seem like someone is trying to create an illusion of momentum. Put up a tower. Take down a tower. Put up a fence. Put up a sign. None of it has anything to do with construction. (Except, I suppose, that it might convince buyers to provide the money to begin construction.) Does anyone know if they're actually ready to start building?

[atlrvr]

I believe one of our forumers has a unit under contract there and said a couple of months ago that they needed to put 2 more units under contract.  Meanwhile, they're still trying to get permit approval.

[dubone]

This isn't that large of a project, so considering the amount of time it has taken, it seems reasonable that they could have finally met their numbers.  

The permits are a whole other issue.  I never do quite understand how things get delayed years waiting for permits, considering the designs are done by professionals.

[dispositive]

I was given false information when I said they were two contracts away from lender releasing funds to begin construction.  They are actually more like 10 contracts away from beginning construction I am told by a very reliable source.  Expect to see ground broken this summer.  As someone said, this is a small project, doesn't have the resources to be able to begin construction w/out the presale limits, and has hit some snags in the flooded uptown condo market in selling units.

[dubone]

Thanks for the update.

I have liked Garrison's design, but I'd imagine with current uptown prices, it will be hard to sell out projects with so many challenges.  This is between a gas station, a freeway, an interchange and an industrial plant.  

That said, there isn't anything that can't be overcome and be a decent place to live.  I hope they can get through the rest of their sales and make the project happen.

[SmellyCat]

dubone, on Mar 15 2006, 04:36 PM, said:

I have liked Garrison's design, but I'd imagine with current uptown prices, it will be hard to sell out projects with so many challenges.  This is between a gas station, a freeway, an interchange and an industrial plant.

Not to mention a loud freight train barrelling through your living room every 10 minutes or so.

[nyxmike]

SmellyCat, on Mar 15 2006, 04:39 PM, said:

I have liked Garrison's design, but I'd imagine with current uptown prices, it will be hard to sell out projects with so many challenges.  This is between a gas station, a freeway, an interchange and an industrial plant.

Not to mention a loud freight train barrelling through your living room every 10 minutes or so.

The epitome of urban city living.

[Charlotte_native]

dubone, on Mar 15 2006, 04:36 PM, said:

Thanks for the update.

I have liked Garrison's design, but I'd imagine with current uptown prices, it will be hard to sell out projects with so many challenges.  This is between a gas station, a freeway, an interchange and an industrial plant.  

That said, there isn't anything that can't be overcome and be a decent place to live.  I hope they can get through the rest of their sales and make the project happen.

A few notes:

One of the bigger issues with The Garrison is the parking.  They are fantastic units, but if I recall there are only plans for 1 space per bedroom.  There is no onstreet parking on Graham, none on 10th either direction except towards Poplar on one side of the road, and a little on Smith Street which is just under a block away.  This really limits the attraction for many potential buyers.  If only one unit has a dinner party, their guest will have no where to park and Charlotte, unfortunately, doesn't seem ready to walk more than a block or two for anything other that in the immediate center city.  I know that is the downside I've heard from many that looked at the place.

I also have a friend under contract there for one of the larger units.  They were recently told by the listing agent that they needed 12 more contracts to begin, that "spring advertising" was about to begin, and they 'hoped' to break ground in June.  They requested to be released from their contract since the building was supposed to be complete about the same time as they now "hope" to begin.  The developer has not "decided" yet and it has been over two weeks since that request.  It has now gotten to the stage of lawyer letters.  

I hope the project moves forward, but these are not good signs.  I would imagine the scaffolding disappeared because they no longer wanted to pay rent for it!

[dubone]

Is one parking space per bedroom a problem?  I thought that was pretty standard uptown.

[Charlotte_native]

dubone, on Mar 29 2006, 08:06 PM, said:

Is one parking space per bedroom a problem?  I thought that was pretty standard uptown.

It is standard, but most projects that only provide one space per bedroom have street parking or auxilary parking adjacent to the buildings.  In this case, that is your ONLY parking - none really for guests, overflow...don't have too many guests over...

This building is set apart unto itself and Graham is a pretty busy road (I used to work out of The Silos building -- quite familiar with this block) as is 10th Street.  Lots of trucking traffic going to the actual Silos and the industrial area behind it, traffic coming on and off 277 -- it isn't a comfortable set of streets to walk on and the sidewalks are right on the road.  Traffic on Graham flies by.

Not bashing the project, but it is a tough sell when there are so many other options.

[manyurd]

Are there anymore updates as to what has been done at the site so far?  This project doesn't sound like it is any closer to being built than about 6 months ago.

[Charlotte_native]

manyurd, on May 1 2006, 01:28 PM, said:

Are there anymore updates as to what has been done at the site so far?  This project doesn't sound like it is any closer to being built than about 6 months ago.

I've been told that there have been a few more reservations getting the project closer to the minimum needed to break ground.  The last I heard, also, was that they were slated to start in June if they did get the minimum needed.