Southend Living

[kermit]

The Pewter Rose will close after this Sunday's dinner. I always liked it, but I only went there rarely.

 

Its a nice space, I hope something interesting replaces it soon.

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/01/17/3794425/the-pewter-rose-a-charlotte-landmark.html

[nonillogical]

That is too bad, I liked it too. A bit of a stuffy crowd at times, but the food was great. There'll be no trouble filling that spot with another good restaurant.

 

I kept forgetting to mention, the former On The Rocks (or was it Roxx?) space on South Blvd next to Carrabbas is becoming 'Stache House. They are clearly going for a younger crowd than the previous place and will also be a hookah lounge. I tend to roll my eyes at the whole "hey, aren't mustaches funny?!" schtick now, which I think smacks of trying too hard to attract a hipster clientele and being 5 years late on a meme, but still I am hopeful about this, and I do enjoy a good hookah place.

[HopHead]

The Pewter Rose will close after this Sunday's dinner. I always liked it, but I only went there rarely.

 

Its a nice space, I hope something interesting replaces it soon.

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/01/17/3794425/the-pewter-rose-a-charlotte-landmark.html

 

My wife was bummed to hear this news. We were both a big fans of their brunch. Sounds like the owner just got tired of the maintenance that came with the place and wanted to move on.

Edited January 18, 2013 by wend28

[RVA2CLT]

Anyone else looking forward to the grand opening of Stache House this weekend?
If you aren't aware of what this place is about you can read a description Here:
It should be a great addition to the neighborhood and a welcomed alternative to the sports-oriented bars currently dominating the neighborhood.

 

Edited January 24, 2013 by RVA2CLT

[SouthEndCLT811]

I'll definitely check it out.  Not big into hookah but it sounds like a different concept than what we have currently.

[SouthEndCLT811]

Stopped into Stache House last night.  I'll give it a pass since it was packed and the grand opening.  Long waits for drinks despite what seemed like friends of the staff being able to walk right up and get served while the rest of us waited.  People were falling on the floor and for the first time in my 2.5 years of going out here I saw a fight, between two girls at that.  They escorted the girl out but she charged back in and made a run at someone. 

[HopHead]

Does anyone know when the new Italian place, that's where La Paz used be, is opening?

[RVA2CLT]

Yeah, we didn't make the evening out of it that we thought. Stopped in for a couple of drinks and to check it out but, left early once it started to get crowded.
I'm looking forward stopping by after work on the weekdays though to see what the Happy Hour crowd/feel is like.
Hopefully, it'll have a more relaxing, upscale lounge feel they are claiming to be going for b/c Saturday was not that way at all.

 

Luciano's is way behind their anticipated opening date. I know they are now hiring staff, but it's been a long time coming.
This article from Dec 2nd said they were supposed to open up months earlier, so it has to be soon (within a month maybe?).

It could be all dependent on the liquor license though and I am not familiar with how long that usually takes in this town.

[Matthew.Brendan]

Anyone familiar with rent prices for larger units in any of the many new (and older established) buildings in South End?

I'd really like to move my family to the area but we would need 3 bedrooms. Total sqft isn't a huge concern but the couple places I have called so far said they don't even offer a 3 BR option.

[RVA2CLT]

Anyone familiar with rent prices for larger units in any of the many new (and older established) buildings in South End?

I'd really like to move my family to the area but we would need 3 bedrooms. Total sqft isn't a huge concern but the couple places I have called so far said they don't even offer a 3 BR option.

 

Mosaic SouthEnd has several 3 Bed/2 Bath available immediately for between $1703 - $2901.

Moving in immediate and signing a 12 month lease will get you the low end of that price range. where as, moving in a couple months from now and signing a 6 month lease will get you in the high end of that price range.

[Matthew.Brendan]

I have no issue with signing a longer lease if the fit is right but holy smokes, when it comes to price I think that explains why suburbia continues to thrive.

The sheer scale of residential development in SouthEnd is awesome though. Perhaps in a year when several more buildings are online it'll help price competition a bit.

[kermit]

^Its not quite Southend (and its not even particularly urban yet) but you can still find 3br SFH in the Sedgefield / Colonial Heights area (walkable to Scalybark LRT) in the thousand dollar range.

[nonillogical]

Or you could almost definitely find a 3br house to rent on the Southend side of Dilworth or Wilmore for less than 1500. 

 

The prices of the core Southend apartment buildings have fluctuated pretty wildly year-to-year, so if you want to be in one of those I'd say to time it to coincide with the opening of some of these new buildings. I think Circle (Post Southend) has some 3 bedroom units. 

[RVA2CLT]

I have no issue with signing a longer lease if the fit is right but holy smokes, when it comes to price I think that explains why suburbia continues to thrive.

The sheer scale of residential development in SouthEnd is awesome though. Perhaps in a year when several more buildings are online it'll help price competition a bit.

 

Just my 2¢

I can understand those prices being shell shock to those not used to seeing rates like that but, if you've ever lived in the North East from DC on up, $1,800 for a 3 bedroom in a new building, luxury amenities, covered parking, next to transit, surrounded by bars, restaurants, retail and close proximity to the city is unheard of and a steal.

For example we paid about $1700 for a 1 bedroom in NoVA about 1.7 miles from the Metro, no updated anything or even close to 'luxury' and our building was seasonally switched from to heat or A/C, each unit could not run interdependent as the whole building had to be switched. This was the best compromise we could find over a month of looking, without settling for some place and being unhappy.

So from a personal prospective I am absolutely thrilled at what my NoVA cost of living gets me down here. I'm sure that new demographics coming from the north down here have the same sentiments versus the local/regional population who's never had to deal with such high costs of living.

 

[kermit]

In other 'transformative' news the light rail trail adjacent to the Silos project is now closed. They have pulled up the asphalt and it looks like they are prepairing to pour its concrete replacement.

[SouthEndCLT811]

Here's an awesome picture taken this morning from the Ashton.

 

[tozmervo]

That's beautiful! That may be one of the best photos I've ever seen posted on UP!

[kermit]

In other 'transformative' news the light rail trail adjacent to the Silos project is now closed. They have pulled up the asphalt and it looks like they are prepairing to pour its concrete replacement.

Southend neighborhood email says that they are also building the new grade crossing at Poindexter.

[kermit]

the space beside All American Pub (the former Lux) is being renovated. Banner on the front says "All American Theatre"

 

Sounds intriguing, anyone know anything?

 

On the Dilworth side of the street 32 Flavors Boutique is moving to East blvd (from Birkdale!) near Cleveland ave

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2013/03/27/32-flavors-boutique-relocating-to.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2013-03-27&u=jDmEk+CKbYnAvaVfOFOlFGXcGSC

[RVA2CLT]

^^ During previous conversations with the staff there, All American takes up that whole building.
They have 3 additional uniquely designed bar areas that are only opened up for special events (New Years Eve) or private functions.

I've never seen them open during normal daily operation so maybe they are looking for way to utilize the space to generate revenue that the "Pub" (term used extremely loosely) currently cannot generate by itself.

[nonillogical]

If they are renovating to make those bar areas a more frequently-used performance space as the name implies, I think that's a good move. I really have been pretty underwhelmed with the place in my few visits though...the space, the menu, and the service all create this impression that they're just barely trying. It's not bad its just lazy. I hope they either reinvent themselves or step aside for a place that can make better use of that prime space. 

[kermit]

Yay! Pedestrian improvement(s?) coming to South blvd. Refuge island at Rennsalier

 

http://southendclt.com/2013/04/17/pedestrian-improvements-to-south-blvd/

 

EDIT: about damn time!

Edited April 18, 2013 by kermit

[tozmervo]

EXCELLENT. I have an email from back in 2009 I sent to the city pleading for a pedestrian crossing at that location. I would certainly prefer something a little more robust, frankly, but this is better than what the situation is like now.

 

(Good to know they're working on a solution for the stretch from Tremont to Iverson, too)

[SouthEndCLT811]

That's definitely good news.  I live on a courtyard at Post you can see in that picture and unfortunately I heard the person get hit by a car crossing South about two weeks ago.  So anything to help pedestrians is going to be huge.  Especially where I see fellow residents playing frogger to get their coffee at Einstein's in the morning.

 

Also some neighborhood news.  Luciano's (old La Paz spot) is opening on April 22.  All American Pub has finished off it's renovation of the whole building at 200 E Bland.  All American Theatre has opened right next to the pub and will host concerts.  On the far left of the building will be the Oak Room which is a new club/lounge.  Grand opening for this is Saturday at 10PM.

[RVA2CLT]

^^ This is actually the very first project and start to long-term traffic-calming plans on South Blvd through the neighborhood. Eventually there will be a road-diet a-la East Blvd through the neighborhood. Tryon is still being studied but, the more that SouthEnd-West is developed with new residences, like the 34 units by Gateway, the sooner a plan will come together.

 

Also, the next initiative is focused on the Rail Trail.
I encourage you all to come out to Byron's next Tuesday for the Rail Trail Vision Community Meeting to see what's envisioned and to share your ideas.
The vision is to make the current trail into a series of interconnected vignettes/gardens/parks to become a destination shared by the all neighborhoods adjacent to the Light-Rail and to become a destination for the entire city and visitors.