274 replies to this topic

[The Escapists]

Just a random photo I took on my iPhone from the Greenway looking toward the I-277/Independence split. Considering how maddening that junction is in a car, I was pretty impressed with how serine it looked from this angle.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[tozmervo]

There are a lot of finishing touches and landscaping to be done, but the greenway is open and used now all the way to 7th Street. Just finished a run that took me all the way to the end. Lots of bikers and families already taking advantage of it. This really is a magnificent addition to Charlotte!

[dubone]

There is a gap on the books from 7th to the playfields by Seigle Point that always bothered me in the planning of this greenway.  I wish they'd join the two sections better with bike lanes and wider sidewalk in lieu of the unnecessary two-way-left-turn lane in the middle.   They can then just run a path in the green section between M Street and 277.  

It's awesome it is completed to 7th though for usage.  I can't wait to use it.

[The Escapists]

There is a section of the LSC that has been reclaimed and rebuilt by Storm Water Dept up in NoDa too. It's on Culman Ave. There is a project for this to be a small pocket park, and eventually should be connected to the trail system (we had heard 20 years). But it's pretty amazing to see the creek uncovered, regraded and with features added here.

[archiham04]

dubone, on 03 January 2012 - 12:05 AM, said:

There is a gap on the books from 7th to the playfields by Seigle Point that always bothered me in the planning of this greenway.

I think this gap is one of the best opportunities to introduce community prioirites other than automobile traffice into the Loop study that was in the news last month.

[dubone]

That loop study seemed to just be looking at the interchanges to help make them more urban like they did with South Blvd and Tryon shortly.  I don't know if 7th is in their scope, but hopefully is.

[CharlotteDave]

T

Today I got my first look, at least up close and personal, at some of the newer parts of the greenway. I'm speaking of the stretch next to Thompson's Park and on down in the area of the Captain Jack statue. I was very impressed and actually like it better than the high profile stretch on King's Drive. Even in its unfinished state, it has more nuance and there is just something about the layout that I like better. There are still unanswered questions: I have no idea if they're planning to do any landscaping on the opposite banks of the creek, which has a lot of unattractive overgrowth or exactly what they're getting ready to do with all that construction near the Captain Jack statue. - looks like they may be about to build another large fountain.

[The Escapists]

^Love that first one because it almost looks like a streetcar! Sooooooon....

[dubone]

And pretty much the greenway is now the perfect way to get from the streetcar (or gold rush for now) stop to Met Midtown for some shopping.

[rworkman09]

Excited to see this nearly finished! I just bought a place on the greenway and my company is looking into getting an office building at the Met. I'd love to be able to walk the greenway to work every morning.

[Spartan]

The only way to deal with improving 7th St is for the City and NCDOT (since they own 7th St) to commit to sacraficing vehicular capacity so that pedestrians and cyclists will be a true priority. Until that happens, 7th St will continue to suck.

As for the greenway, I'd rather see an awesome bridge that goes directly over Independence.

[nashbill]

Like that idea Gigalopolis.  You'd get a stunning view of the city.

[ricky_davis_fan_21]

nashbill, on 11 January 2012 - 03:57 PM, said:

Like that idea Gigalopolis.  You'd get a stunning view of the city.

haha, his name is Spartan, Gigalopolis just references his 16,928 posts

[southslider]

Only wish Chiquita could show some love for their new town and give back some of their subsidy towards a signature bridge (thinking a design similar to Greenville, SC) over Independence.  Chiquita would get naming rights.  Charlotte would get a cool place to see the skyline.

But seriously, just imagine how popular a continuous greenway from NoDa to Freedom Park would be.  I see that "big idea" as much of a transformer of Belmont and Optimist Park as the BLE.

[CharlotteDave]

Apparently the grand opening for the urban section of the greenway, as they call it, is April 20.
The greenway was very active yesterday during the middle portion of the day, especially near the Metropolitan and the newer stretch towards Target and CPCC. It was the first time I noticed the little overlook they've built next to the Duke Power building overlooking the creek, which I thought was a nice touch. I was also glad to see they have a pretty decent parking area near the Captain Jack statue.(photo below) Does anyone know what they're building at the old CPCC parking lot on Elizabeth next to the greenway?

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 
• 

Edited by CharlotteDave, 24 February 2012 - 10:47 AM.