Legacy Union (former Charlotte Observer redevelopment)

[CLT_sc]

1 hour ago, SydneyCarton said:

I honestly don't see the problem with this complex.  I think that it's beautiful.   

I think the same about this project.  While it’s not my favorite design, it is not offensive.  Deloitte maybe saving it for me, they did a nice job with the cantilevered front and even slightly bending the building to follow the road.  The lighting on BofA is really good.

The site does need a hotel and residential to make this site even better.  I am surprised that a hotel has not been announced.  The parking deck is huge and would have been way too costly to build under ground.  

[SydneyCarton]

1 hour ago, Desert Power said:

That garage looks so bad....

Yes, but even Chicago’s new towers have parking.

[KJHburg]

walk by and  few drive by photos today.   Working on 16th floor of the Legacy 2 tower and floor 2 of the 23 story Honeywell Tower.   and a photo of the future LYNX spur line through Legacy. as for the garage will be blocked by view on all sides but one (and that is heavily screened) and it does not bother me one iota but the multitude of 2-3 story garages along Church and elsewhere in Third Ward now those should be removed and I think many will like the AutoPark (sorry @tozmervo )will in the future be removed.

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

one more and lots of workers working on this tower deadlines to be met with Honeywell.

 

[Richhamleigh, DC]

Thanks for the pix!  Do they really have a pink portable toilet?!  Please say yes.

[KJHburg]

it appears so and they have more female construction workers now than ever maybe just for the ladies but not sure.  

here you go from Gastonia 

https://www.drain-proinc.com/portable-restroom-rental/

Edited December 28, 2019 by KJHburg

[NCMike1990]

^^Next thing you know they'll have a pink parking hut.

[KJHburg]

drive by and looking great in the sun today.  

[Spartan]

On 12/26/2019 at 12:25 PM, Hushpuppy321 said:

Gonna pass Charlotte in what?  

High-Rise Residential Construction in Charlotte has no chance ever of catching/surpassing Austin - But as far as Office Construction, CLT is & will hold it’s own against Austin.  Charlotte’s a vey business oriented city.

Nashville won’t catch either I’d agree too but does definitely has a more City feel & look because it’s a lot of the Center City Buildings are spread out and more visible across the flatter (less-tree canopied) landscape than CLT.  Also - Nashville has more Interstate highways and much more tourism too.  

There was an earlier conversation on the Highways thread about NC Metro’s feeling less urban than other States Metro’s But with NC actually being much larger overall.  The massive tree canopy throughout CLT and greater NC Metro areas does tend it to give off much less of a big city feel.

 

It's not the tree canopy so much as it is the low density buildings. And it's not just our lack of old, high density buildings, it's the lack of neighborhoods built prior to 1945. Charlotte's only real issue is that it was a small city up until VERY recently relative to the age of older/larger cities in the US.  Atlanta, Austin, and Nashville were all medium sized cities with a larger core of neighborhoods built on a grid. That's really all there is to it. So much of what makes a city look and feel like a city its based on what you experience as you travel around on streets. If most of your city core is single family homes (not townhomes, condos, apts, etc) then it's going to feel small.

 

 

On 12/26/2019 at 4:44 PM, AirNostrumMAD said:

 

It's impressive until you look at the pedestrian atmosphere. It looks absolutely dreadful as a pedestrian.

 

Charlotte is throwing up really great, really good buildings all through uptown, NoDa and Yes SouthEnd. Yes, all those little stickbuilt podium things in SouthEnd  are amazing. It adds so much life and energy. SouthEnd is now much more energetic and vibrant than NoDa. Isn't that sad? Because NoDa has an awesome strip but the area is so rinky dink it's not even funny. Looking on a google map. It's peanuts even by Charlotte standards.

 

Now Uptown, like this, is throwing up really great quality buildings. Please, show many any city that is building skyscrapers that is fabulous at the base....

 

In London. Look how pretty:

 

 

Oh, but that entire area is DREADFUL and dead. Here's a picture of the base (but the entire area is blahhhhh)

 

 

Ya'll are looking at pictures of Glossy renderings for other cities and it's still new to see. Believe me. They are not throwing up better buildings.

 

 

DC is throwing up amazing, amazing high quality buildings everywhere. BUT. That's DC. Outside of NYC, DC and I assume, but I don't know, a few others like maybe Chicago and SF and LA.... Charlotte's projects are good. Great, even. Denver, Seattle, Nashville, Austin. I ain't buying the hype with their new projects. (Which btw I find it odd that downtown Nashville is building sooo many residential, yet Charlotte's uptown is someone adding more units and people now, last year and future projects. This was per a Local Downtown Nashville publication I don't feel like looking up right now).

 

I can't think of any bad buildings built recently in Charlotte. Clock Tower I guess. Embassy Suites. The rest are good to great. Especially compared to cities like Atlanta, Nashville, etc. 

 

You make good points. I don't know if I would say anything is "great" but the quality of the street level of new buildings is definitely on an upward trajectory. Stonewall is a good case study of this. S Tryon from Stonewall to Summit is going to be a much better walk in just 12-18 months.

 

 

On 12/26/2019 at 4:45 PM, TheOneRJ said:

Charlotte leads Austin and Nashville in center city population and tourism. 
 

CBD Population
Charlotte - 30,000

Nashville - 12,000

Austin - 11,000

Annual Tourists

Charlotte - 28.3 million

Austin - 27.4 million

Nashville - 15.2 million

As I said, both are playing catch up. 

 

Nashville feels more alive than Charlotte, despite having fewer people living downtown. The key difference is that most of Nashville's tourists are going downtown just for Broadway and country music stuff. We have nothing remotely close to that here, and that's what affects the vibe/feel of the city outside of the buildings.

[SydneyCarton]

I rarely take photos when I come to Charlotte because, among other things, I’m not a good photographer, and my phone is my only camera.  However, I snapped a few today.  I think that LU is great!

Edited December 31, 2019 by SydneyCarton

[TheOneRJ]

1 hour ago, Spartan said:

Nashville feels more alive than Charlotte, despite having fewer people living downtown. The key difference is that most of Nashville's tourists are going downtown just for Broadway and country music stuff. We have nothing remotely close to that here, and that's what affects the vibe/feel of the city outside of the buildings.

That is subjective and not really relevant to what I said. Nashville does not have more people living in it’s downtown or visiting than Charlotte. 

[SydneyCarton]

11 minutes ago, TheOneRJ said:

That is subjective and not really relevant to what I said. Nashville does not have more people living in it’s downtown or visiting than Charlotte. 

Nashville is pretty awesome, but so is the QC.  I quite like Nashville, but it’s in the middle of nothing and nowhere near the ocean.  It’s great to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

[Hugo704]

[Spartan]

18 hours ago, TheOneRJ said:

That is subjective and not really relevant to what I said. Nashville does not have more people living in it’s downtown or visiting than Charlotte. 

Perhaps, but the discussion was about how the city feels.  Have you been to Nashville? Broadway is the entertainment district Charlotte dreams of. Where people are going while they are in town is absolutely relevant. 

[SoDoSoPa]

3 hours ago, Spartan said:

Perhaps, but the discussion was about how the city feels.  Have you been to Nashville? Broadway is the entertainment district Charlotte dreams of. Where people are going while they are in town is absolutely relevant. 

It really is all tourists on Broadway though, most locals are in places like 12th South, etc..  That being said, I would love to have an entertainment district just half that size here in Charlotte.  At least have somewhere to take people when they come to visit.

[KJHburg]

12 South in Nashvegas is over run with tourists now too especially since the Frothy Monkey and Reese Witherspoon's shop gets so much press.

again bringing back to Legacy do you realize the BOAT would be the tallest building in Tennessee if in that state?

can't wait to see the next tower of the mega block go up and Legacy 2 and 3 to finish up.  Legacy 4 coming in 2020.  

[KJHburg]

the Honeywell cam shows that site barely and a glimpse of Spectrum's southend project and maybe a close up of a crane at the FNB?

I wish this camera would be moved to the Duke bldg on S Church. 

 

[UPEnergy]

Looks like this cam is housed on the Mint Street deck, and that's the crane currently there to replace the huge steel staircase.

[KJHburg]

Honestly this Legacy thread should be for each phase LOL.  Anyway Honeywell tower shots and Legacy 2 which is turning out great.  Today from all around walking driving etc. 

as you can see the sun was going in and out every couple of minutes.   But warm today low 60s and the sun is shining! 

Notice that corner at Stonewall and Mint so much room for really big building.  They could get 4 more high rises on these 2 blocks if you ask me and maybe they will.  

[Matthew.Brendan]

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

I was on the top floor of the parking deck this past weekend and thought this rooftop could have been perfect for some green space (like DEC).  Would have been a cool community/mingling area for both LU1 and LU2.  These type of surfaces can become an eyesore/ugly real fast.  I think it's been mentioned before that this is capable of having a tower built on top, but I don't see that coming to fruition anytime soon until the full build-out of LU is completed.  A little park or green space up there could have been an awesome amenity overlooking south end.

Edited January 6, 2020 by CharlotteWkndBuzz

[KJHburg]

Great OxBlue cam shot of Legacy 1 and 2 and Ally Bank Center today.  remember the foggy shot last week.  Today sunny and 60.  

[SydneyCarton]

The Duke blue is really prominent in the Carolina sunshine!

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by SydneyCarton

[Blue_Devil]

34 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

The Duke blue is really prominent in the Carolina sunshine!

 

 

I am not seeing it lol. 

[KJHburg]

Sunshine and winter clear skies makes for great photos.   Notice the indoor wonder wall inside of the lobby of the BOAT.    this is almost topped out Legacy 2.