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

[Blue_Devil]

3 minutes ago, sakami said:

What do they have against vowels?

They cost money. They are already starting the VE'ing. 

[carolinaboy]

18 minutes ago, sakami said:

What do they have against vowels?

That's like reading Egyptian hieroglyphs. You supply your own vowels. Also kind of resembles a cartouche.

[tozmervo]

51 minutes ago, sakami said:

What do they have against vowels?

Letter inflation. They've even reduced the kerning to save on space. 

[videtur quam contuor]

A typography/design specialist online refers to this as brand Esperanto

[InTheYear2000]

21 hours ago, sakami said:

What do they have against vowels?

 You have to buy vowels.. 

I'll see myself out.

[SpiritOf76]

[RANYC]

2 hours ago, SpiritOf76 said:

I just love when a surface parking lot gets "blank-slated" like this.  

[turbocraig]

Some unhappy camper(s) sliced through all the fencing banners for this project.

[SpiritOf76]

1 hour ago, turbocraig said:

Some unhappy camper(s) sliced through all the fencing banners for this project.

 

[Matthew.Brendan]

Ahh, a bit of that authentic city flavor. 

[Richhamleigh, DC]

On 12/4/2021 at 3:29 PM, SpiritOf76 said:

 

"Bitter, table for one."  Commence rant.  Because maximizing the use of under-utilized land in a city where more people could have more access to more jobs and services....is a bad thing.  They would rather nothing change.  Or, haven't figured out that there's a finite amount of development.  It's either here or a cornfield in the middle of nowhere completely inaccessible to anyone without a car; oops, I guess climate changes isn't really that big an issue.  It's more important to save the slums (not suggesting this location is in the slums) because someone's feelings will be hurt or, worst of all...someone might make a profit (gasp!).

Edited December 6, 2021 by Phillydog

[JRCLT]

People understandably would rather avoid change and dynamics. They tend to get comfortable with what is known and hold on to avoid the new and the uncertain, despite what benefits it may bring. Truly human nature and they have a right to feel this way. Acting on those feelings is rather immature, but we all have our moments. Understanding through these changes makes us much better people and clearly that individual would rather make an unwarranted, unnecessary, and honestly insignificant message than to truly understand what this project is attempting to do. Instead of questioning out curiously and understanding they resort to denial and repulsion. People do it all the time and this is just a more prominent case albeit more dramatic… “Over a parking lot …” it’s okay the project will go on for better or worst though mostly likely for the better.

[SpiritOf76]

[rancenc]

New rehab for Plaza-Midwood!

 

[Guest]

I appreciate the economic use of the old post office. Most developers would just demo unless the building was historically significant/beautiful

[SpiritOf76]

[deleted account]

29 minutes ago, SpiritOf76 said:

I'm a firm believer in neighbors being able to shape development in their neighborhood but I'm frankly befuddled as to why some neighbors oppose this particular project. Considering what is being replaced and what is coming and the location itself, this is one of the best upgrades we'll see anywhere in the city. 

[SpiritOf76]

[SpiritOf76]

[rancenc]

Recent episode of PBS's "Carolina Impact".

 

[JRCLT]

What’s interesting to me is how some people will extend a place’s name to its surrounding area. Like NoDa for example which is rather more expansive as compared to PM’s generalization. Granted NoDa refers to North Davidson and therefore you could say anything north of first ward along N. Davidson St. up to Sugar Creek Rd. Is NoDa. Plaza Midwood on the other hand is a different story. Although this development by Crosland isn’t *actually* in PM (it’s in the commonwealth neighborhood), they refer to it as changing the “PM neighborhood”, but frankly it’s outside of historic area and the actual neighborhood itself. It’s truly an interesting thing especially when some of those who complain put emphasis on the *neighborhood it’s in* should have input. I’ve heard overwhelmingly more things from PM (and people who don’t even live there) than from commonwealth. I just thought I should point that out as a lot of people talk about other neighborhoods like Optimist Park being referred to as and the naming of developments there as NoDa or having NoDa in the name. Which frankly makes more sense given what I stated in the beginning…versus PM’s dilemma. Anyways (end rant).

I would like to note that it’s very sad when local and small business owners get pushed out over other tenants that have been there for decades and years. I would also like to note that those people didn’t always exist there, and that people will always come and go. It’s a fact of life as the video narrator said, “… the only constant is change.” And personally I think that’s okay. Neighborhoods are living areas people give life to and they form and are shaped by those who live and move there andddd (end *slightly smaller* rant 2.0).

The only thing I hope for PM is that it remains a thriving place with lots activity.

[RANYC]

2 hours ago, JeanClt said:

What’s interesting to me is how some people will extend a place’s name to its surrounding area. Like NoDa for example which is rather more expansive as compared to PM’s generalization. Granted NoDa refers to North Davidson and therefore you could say anything north of first ward along N. Davidson St. up to Sugar Creek Rd. Is NoDa. Plaza Midwood on the other hand is a different story. Although this development by Crosland isn’t *actually* in PM (it’s in the commonwealth neighborhood), they refer to it as changing the “PM neighborhood”, but frankly it’s outside of historic area and the actual neighborhood itself. It’s truly an interesting thing especially when some of those who complain put emphasis on the *neighborhood it’s in* should have input. I’ve heard overwhelmingly more things from PM (and people who don’t even live there) than from commonwealth. I just thought I should point that out as a lot of people talk about other neighborhoods like Optimist Park being referred to as and the naming of developments there as NoDa or having NoDa in the name. Which frankly makes more sense given what I stated in the beginning…versus PM’s dilemma. Anyways (end rant).

I would like to note that it’s very sad when local and small business owners get pushed out over other tenants that have been there for decades and years. I would also like to note that those people didn’t always exist there, and that people will always come and go. It’s a fact of life as the video narrator said, “… the only constant is change.” And personally I think that’s okay. Neighborhoods are living areas people give life to and they form and are shaped by those who live and move there andddd (end *slightly smaller* rant 2.0).

The only thing I hope for PM is that it remains a thriving place with lots activity.

small edit, I hope our city starts to consider "thriving" as flourishing with pedestrian access and activity

One other key distinction in the video, one small business merchant owned his space and held his ground and had to be built around.  The other owner small business merchant leased her space and is boxing up and being forced out.  I wish there were a way for small and local business owners to own their commercial spaces...perhaps even to own their spaces and to live above or behind them.  All the more reason to "liberalize" our zoning laws...to allow a range of uses and avenues for people pursuing livelihood.  The UDO is a livelihood issue.

Edited January 22, 2022 by RANYC

[JRCLT]

small edit, I hope our city starts to consider "thriving" as flourishing with pedestrian access and activity
One other key distinction in the video, one small business merchant owned his space and held his ground and had to be built around.  The other owner small business merchant leased her space and is boxing up and being forced out.  I wish there were a way for small and local business owners to own their commercial spaces...perhaps even to own their spaces and to live above or behind them.  All the more reason to "liberalize" our zoning laws...to allow a range of uses and avenues for people pursuing livelihood.  The UDO is a livelihood issue.

Absolutely.

[archiham04]

On 1/22/2022 at 9:55 AM, JeanClt said:

What’s interesting to me is how some people will extend a place’s name to its surrounding area. Like NoDa for example which is rather more expansive as compared to PM’s generalization. Granted NoDa refers to North Davidson and therefore you could say anything north of first ward along N. Davidson St. up to Sugar Creek Rd. Is NoDa. Plaza Midwood on the other hand is a different story. Although this development by Crosland isn’t *actually* in PM (it’s in the commonwealth neighborhood), they refer to it as changing the “PM neighborhood”, but frankly it’s outside of historic area and the actual neighborhood itself. 

The whole "neighborhood boundary" issue is funny, contrived and not always exact.  Plaza-Midwood was a neighborhood name that was coined during a down-zoning and highway rejection effort.  Several subdivisions created a Neighborhood Association to advocate for issues, many of which included initiatives in the CBD area like retaining a branch library.

I think when the city "drew" neighborhood boundaries and designated PM as separate from Commonwealth and the PM CBD it was an issue of convenience in communication and using streets as boundaries.  I don't think anyone has referred to the shops on Central Ave as "the Commonwealth neighborhood" in the past 50 years. 

I don't think it is at all a misnomer to refer to anything in the PM Central Business District as Plaza Midwood.  That area is as much if not more "Plaza Midwood" to most people than the majority of the residential area, and legitimately so.  All neighborhoods are really "feelings" anyway.  They sometimes follow formal subdivision boundaries, but when the city made official designations they actually polled people on where they identified with and what neighborhood they thought they lived in... Very subjective.

[Nathan2]

Looks like Midwood Corner is getting renovated. This place had definitely needed some TLC, though I am not a fan of the white washing of the building and the ousting of some of the long time tenants. If you look closely the building has beautiful brick that has been hiding underneath that I wish could be restored and used instead of plastering everything white. Better yet demo the whole building and get rid of the awful parking lot fronting central. 

 

Edited January 25, 2022 by Nathan2