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Plaza-Midwood Projects (Central, Commonwealth, The Plaza)


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Ummm....can't really say at the moment, but think lower rise in general.....I don't have an update on the streetcar.

Here is a project that I'm really curious about.

http://www.helenadamsrealty.com/new-constr...il.cfm?nc_id=23

I like the idea of urban art deco, though I have no idea where this would go. I would love it if this is what Faison is planning for their project between Sunnyside and Central (next to the PR site), but I doubt Faison would do something this retro-mod. It looks like we'll have to wait a month to know.

The grove will be on Dotger just off of Randolph. It is currently an apartment complex that will be converted to condos. 700-950 square feet each- 70 units or so.

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condo,condo,condo!Am I the only one who thinks that us funky and liberal but poor apt dwellers being driven out of the slightly run down but full of character apt buildings that are bulldozed into trendy condos in PMElizDilworth is wrong? I am still hanging on in Dilworth with a few others and choose to believe my landlord when he says he is not selling the building. Sigh. All the yuppies want to be cool and live in hip neighborhoods but they end up ruining the character of the area by driving out the people who made it attractive in the first place.

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Your point is well taken, voyager, but at the same time, the process of converting to more stable demographics and home-ownership helps to cement the neighborhoods' newfound success. If the neighborhood remained lower rent apartments, there is a higher likelihood that the neighborhood would not remain hip as everyone moves on at some point. Persistent low rent often does not create cool and hip places and usually attracts people that are not into improving the culture or social stability of the area.

Every neighborhood has cycles in its lifetime. Most in town neighborhoods have had heydays but then turned into downtrodded neighborhoods. Many are on their way back, but others remain behind.

When these neighborhoods finally turn a corner and start drawing the more affluent, who are willing to invest in trendy condos, it might drive out lower rent units, but those people can then start branching out into a neighborhood that is further back on the road to recovering.

Also, unless you own, you aren't guaranteed a permanent residence. I completely understand the frustration, but at the same time it the underlying assumption of renting that you are borrowing some one elses property and that their needs might change for better or worse when the neighborhood changes.

The best thing is to buy into a neighborhood that isn't turned around, be a part of turning it around, and then staying.

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I understand that dubone, but not everyone can afford to buy a condo these days. The other tenants in my building are all responsible employed people and the fact that we rent should not make us inferior. We like our apts and take pride in our building. I don't appreciate being characterized as borrowing a place to live. Its my home and renting happens to be what is feasible for me at this point. I know you did not mean to be insulting but its irritating that this society only seems to allocate safe and nice neighborhoods to the affluent and to hell with everyone else. Call me socialist or whatever but the fact that I am not a banker and lawyer should not prevent me from living in a nice area, but thats the way it is unfortunately for the working class in America.

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I'm not characterizing renters, but the act of renting. Everybody rents at some period in our lives.

As for socialism, there are already fairly solid socialist-inspired programs in the city to provide subsidized and free housing based on income. I support those, and many other programs, to keep housing affordable and allow for mixed income neighborhoods. I am extremely angry that the current presidential administration continually cuts programs like HOPE VI. I also strongly support balanced federal budgets to keep long term interest rates low.

I understand that people must rent, because of circumstances in their lives. But people who own property have circumstances, too. A significant amount of properties are owned as second or third properties by middle class people who are trying to supplement their income. They might be saving for retirement, or kids' college, or day care. Even corporations have issues, too, as they must meet numbers in order to stay in business and make payroll.

When neighborhoods become highly desireable, land values and property taxes increase substantially. It becomes a charity or a business loss to charge less than market rent. That just isn't sustainable, no matter how utopian it might be.

The only pragmatic thing to do to stay in a neighborhood that is turning around and becoming valuable is to find some way to scrounge up a down payment. If that isn't possible, then you've got to strike up a long term lease contract with the owner. Without owning or a long contract, it is always a possibility that the owner will need to sell or raise rent to meet their finances.

As for safe and nice neighborhoods being only for the affluent, I am not quite sure what you mean. A friend of mine rents on a teacher's salary in the heart of Myer's Park. There are also very many safe middle income neighborhoods throughout the city where rental rates are fairly stable. The only thing, though, is that as long as there are people richer than you or me, there will always be a nicer place to live that are out of our reach. That goes for renting and owning.

Also, I must say, the whole reason that there is demand enough to push values up so much in town is because our economy has created many good jobs, including drawing many bankers and lawyers here. If lower income people are entitled to the nice neighborhoods, where should the affluent go? How should society allocate its desireable resources? Money with prices set mostly by supply and demand has been proven to be the fairest method for distribution of property. It sure beats fiefism, warlordism, and anarchy.

By the way, thanks for debating this with me. It is an important topic as the city becomes more dense and desireable. :)

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I do read in the Observer that City Council at least talks a lot about supporting affordable housing. I realize that most cities are in a money crunch but one of the best ingredients for a vibrant urban neighborhood is a diversity of incomes which lends to an ethnic mix. It would be nice but perhaps too idealistic of me to hope that more private developers and the city would allow for a mix of prices in their projects to allow for affordable housing. The attitude here seems to be well " we did First Ward Place" so we don't have to work on this anymore. The only project offering city incentives that I know of is Walnut Hill near Uptown. Its also tougher for larger cities with more budgetary responsibilities to accomplish this goal. The only town that I know of in NC that has been successful in allocating mixed income residential is Carrboro and we can't exactly compare that village to Charlotte. Asheville has also been more proactive. Charlotte lacks the progressive mindset to be a leader on this issue unfortunately.

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Ahhh....gotcha....I saw that the property was sold a couple of weeks ago, but didn't put 2 and 2 together. Well they be updating the facade? Any new contruction?

My understanding is that it will have almost no new construction, but that the inside will be completely gutted and there will be cosmetic updates to the facade.

Does anyone have any more information on Seigle Point -Previously Piedmont Court? I hear that it will be subsidized and will provide affordable housing in that area. I am assuming it will be similar to the first ward project on 7th street.

Edited by carolinaron
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All rental units will be subsidized (no market rate units like in First Ward)....there will be a mix of public housing, Section 8 housing, and Tax Credit housing for those making less than 60% AMI. I believe there will also be some affordable "for sale" townhouses and some market rate for sale townhouses.

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The attitude here seems to be well " we did First Ward Place" so we don't have to work on this anymore. The only project offering city incentives that I know of is Walnut Hill near Uptown.

Those who qualify could also get assistance on the Tuscan projects in Optimist Park--Duncan Gardens and Opt 12. The city will give up to $10,000 and if the person lives there for 10 years then he won't have to pay anything back.

Here is the website for the program, House Charlotte. It is good for other neighborhoods too.

http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Neighb...seCharlotte.htm

Edited by f0xym0p
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It makes me extremely happy to see this. Faison is relocating the old houses on the block they are redeveloping at Hawthorne/Sunnyside/Central. Hopefully this is a sign that they will also save the old structures in First Ward that are no longer going to be baked into the Levine Urban Village (Faison is now his partner in that project).

Anyway, here are the photos of the remaining homes on that block, and the others that are already in the process of being relocated:

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101406500_eb324c6e96_o.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

The Grove project I mentioned earlier now has a website up, and is supposed to be officially announced tomorrow. Possibly a Next Big Thing.

Anyway, here is is.

http://www.thegroveelizabeth.com/thegrove/

The 88 existing apartments on the site will be converted, and there will be 15 new units constructed.

It will be gated, but I guess that's not the end of the world as there is no exisiting connection as is. Architecturally nothing awe inspiring though the new townhouse style units look pretty good.

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I don't know if this has been said already but I believe these are the houses headed for NODA. There is a big swath cleared over there that I was told is where a developer would be bringing old houses from a site he was clearing in the Elizabeth area. I'm proud of these folks for doing something that responsible with these old houses.

Edited by appatone
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I was by the Central 27 projoect today and they have erected a construction fence around the entire project. There is also some heavy equipment and it appeared grading had begun!

Finally.....

I usually grit my teeth each time I approach the site in anticipation of it being under construction, then squint my eyes as it appears to have no activity, and then relax my face all together into a scowl as my double take confirms the scene. I used to do that with the Renwick too. My wife thinks I have issues.

Edited by atlrvr
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The Grove project I mentioned earlier now has a website up, and is supposed to be officially announced tomorrow. Possibly a Next Big Thing.

Anyway, here is is.

http://www.thegroveelizabeth.com/thegrove/

The 88 existing apartments on the site will be converted, and there will be 15 new units constructed.

It will be gated, but I guess that's not the end of the world as there is no exisiting connection as is. Architecturally nothing awe inspiring though the new townhouse style units look pretty good.

Well it made it to the paper today, and sales began. Already by 3pm this afternoon they have sold 70 of the 103 units.

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  • 2 weeks later...

That is great! Where specifically?

I'm so happy that the developer is saving the buildings, but that they'll stay intown is really great.

I think they are being moved to Ritch Ave or Bernard Ave. These streets are off 36th street near the intersection of N. Tryon. Two houses have already been moved.

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