As far as the potential design of the Apple Store on King Street, Boston just got a new Apple store either downtown or in some other urban area of the city. I found the following pics online; they might give us an idea of what to expect in Charleston:

I think it blends in rather tastefully with its historic surroundings.

^But would a monumental classical facade be in context with that part of downtown? I think something more industrial, yet grand, would work better. I think this project works more as a gateway to downtown in terms of presence and massing. In terms of architecture, it really needs to reflect its context, yet distinguish itself.

Back to my first point however I don't think the place has any identifying features.. it's just a place. I like the idea for the Marion Square hotel however because it'll have that nice copper roof that will naturally turn green with time. Maybe they could light up the roof a bit and it'll really look sharp.

I wish developers would more frequently enlist the services of other developers to develop the smaller plots within the project as a whole that way it looks like the community actually came together naturally. It would be pricier for sure but at least it would have a good feel to it.

You can see their intentions in the "outer layer/ fronting" of the building to blend the building in with its surroundings but in the end it's a boring conglomerate of a rectangles which is intended at its core to hold bodies with no regard of the exterior. Is it only me or is the newest rendering practically the SAME exact one that was shot down by the Charleston BAR a few weeks ago? We all applauded the suggestions made by the BAR and seemingly the firm was going to make some adjustments but it's the same darn thing! Where's the "we're going to role up our sleeves and get back to work"? Seems to me a guy spent an extra 15 minutes using an eraser for the trash disposal center on the side of the building but that's about it. Lackluster and unimaginative in its greatest sense.

^really?

It seems to me that this is not an architectural rendering. If you look at this in context with the other slides, the whole thing is about the general site plan and massing of the site. The buildings fronting King St appear to be similar in size, scale, and architecture to what is there, with the larger structure behind it.

Im truly disgusted

Ok, a brief search turned up the Project Plan page on the designer's website.

I thought at one time I saw plans for this that looked really neat. That was a good 2/3 years ago & then nothing happened. Also, I've seen nothing new about the supposed Central Mt P plan to go in around Rifle Range Rd & Bowman and Venning Rd. I have on the other hand seen another new cookie cutter subdivision type development on Rifle Range called Scotts Creek. Anyways, I hope Mt P can get its act together and bring some of these good revitilization plans to fruition.

Anybody hear about whats going to happen to Johnnie Dodds (hwy 17) in Mt. Pleasant? Pretty awesome stuff that includes street side retail, restaurants, wide sidewalks and overall beautification.

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/apr/23...ers_consi38225/

I found this article in the Post and Courier...wasn't sure where to post it? The bad news is that two area theaters are closing. The good news is that a new "megaplex" will be built (Citadel Mall) and a Sportsman's Warehouse added (Northwood).

Citadel Mall theater will show movies through July
By John P. McDermott (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, April 11, 2008


AMC Entertainment’s Citadel Mall 6 theater, which was due to shut down for good Sunday, will reopen temporarily April 18 under a new owner, Southeast Cinema Entertainment.

The aging theater also will be replaced.

Charlotte-based Southeast Cinema plans to operate the West Ashley theater starting next Friday until its demolition in July. A modern 16-screen megaplex will rise in its place next April, said Bryan Smith, regional manager.

Elsewhere, AMC Entertainment of Kansas City also is shuttering its eight-screen theater at Northwoods Mall on Sunday. That building will be razed to make way for the region’s first Sportsman’s Warehouse outlet.

Does anyone know about the development site off of Exit 205 in North Charleston and Highway 78? I drove by the frontage road that's visible from the interstate and saw CF Evans as one of the developers? It looks like it will be large-scale, so I was just curious if anyone had heard anything?

Ok, that may have changed my opinion on this project somewhat. If we're going to build beyond the urban boundary, it had better always look like this.

^But the question is, will these projects happen as planned? I know that Noisette in particular is experiencing some major difficulties right now.

Nope, it is quite a distance from the Ashley River Tower facility. The exact spot is on Bee St. precisely halfway between President st. and Ashley Ave. If you look on virtual earth you will see a cleared dirt lot. As of right now, just the steel frame of the building has been erected. However, you can see the steel frame driving over the ashley river bridge. I'm sure it's part of MUSC expansion but I have no clue which building it is.

I find it odd and worrisome that the image that comes up on the Central Mt. Pleasant website is of asphalt, concrete pavement, cinder block, and caution-yellow traffic barriers! There's absolutely nothing else in the picture . . what is up with THAT? How bizarre . . these folks need to fire their web designer and get some better photos that show off renderings, inspirations for their building designs, SOMEthing other than that hideous close-up view of the rear end of a generic grocery store located, I'm sure, someplace in the world . . . ???

This project is self-aggrandizing and speculative. It certainly isn't government or grass-roots driven, and so any claims to being Mt. Pleasant's official "downtown" are completely in the heads of the developers.

It looks like a nice development, though.

Is it not part of their campus expansion process? I think we have a thread on that somewhere...

edit: Is this it?

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/MUSC-Tow...ton-t28360.html