Learning from Other Places

[KJHburg]

Charlotte can learn a thing or two from downtown Fort Worth.   Overlooked many times by its larger rival 30 miles to the east, Fort Worth holds its own.  They have about 9 million sq ft of office space downtown vs. Charlotte's 19 Million sq ft.   However downtown FW has a lot more retail on the streets around Sundance Square a focal point of downtown.  It seems to be managed by one firm and has security in addition to the city police department.  Lots of national retailers like H&M, Ann Taylor, national restaurant chains like PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory but plenty of LOCAL owned shops and restaurants too.   There is no reason that Charlotte could not support retail like this as we have so many more office workers.  It was bustling with people on this sunny Sunday afternoon with temps in the low 80s,  Families, couples, young people, tourists etc.  With large landowners owning huge swaths of uptown we could have this too if the city insisted upon it.  Like in the N Tryon corridor where city county own land,  Levine vast holdings in 1st ward, Brooklyn village in 2nd ward.   I realize some of these buildings are historical but we could do a more varied streetscape with false fronts to make it look like older buildings instead of one long same color facade. 

 

all over their downtown historical buildings converted to residential saw at least 3 examples of that. old hotels restored.    Plus downtown FW was as clean as a whistle much like uptown Charlotte.      https://sundancesquare.com/      https://ssqmgmt.com/     The Big D to the east may be bigger but this downtown is more vibrant. 

ironically their 2 almost twin glass office towers are named Bank of America Tower taller one and shorter one is Wells Fargo Plaza connected by an overstreet walkway. 

Also most convention centers are very bland but this one in Fort Worth is brick and it really looks nice.    Convention center photos are the top of the last 3 photos.  The very last photo is the Hilton where President Kennedy spoke in the morning before leaving for Dallas.  

 

[Dale]

On 10/8/2019 at 7:22 PM, KJHburg said:

this is interesting in a preventive measure to prevent wildfires in northern California including large parts of the tech heavy Bay area they shutting off the power for 800,000 customers that is not people but customers.

https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/PG-E-power-outage-800-000-customers-length-number-14501984.php

would not want to be out there in any of the affected areas for sure.  

One California fail after another.

[urbanlover568]

4 hours ago, Dale said:

One California fail after another.

It's a private company sued into bankruptcy. Blame sue happy people, not the state of California. Happens in lots of States.

[Scribe]

53 minutes ago, mpretori said:

Blame sue happy people, not the state of California.

I do not know what you're smoking but ... the sue happy people in Cali are the elected officials ...

Quote

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey is considering manslaughter charges against PG&E and some of its employees for the Camp Fire that killed 85 people and leveled the town of Paradise last year. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra told a federal judge in December that the state’s largest utility could even be charged with murder

this is just one example...

 

src: https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/Criminal-charges-against-PG-E-could-send-message-13963763.php

[urbanlover568]

2 minutes ago, Scribe said:

I do not know what you're smoking but ... the sue happy people in Cali are the elected officials ...

this is just one example...

 

src: https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/Criminal-charges-against-PG-E-could-send-message-13963763.php

No.....

 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/insurance-companies-sue-pge-over-california-wildfire-damages-2019-01-03

 

 

Now they have to be extra safe to reduce liability. Really sad...

[Dale]

https://thefederalist.com/2019/10/09/the-lights-are-out-in-california-and-that-was-the-plan-all-along/

[urbanlover568]

4 minutes ago, Dale said:

https://thefederalist.com/2019/10/09/the-lights-are-out-in-california-and-that-was-the-plan-all-along/

Talk about a conspiracy nut (Chuck DeVore)....

Here are some of his stories ... Also, he thinks Obama is not a Citizen of the United States. 

First, The EPA Came For The Navajo; Next, They’re Coming For Everyone

Ballot Initiatives Weaponize Emotion To Centralize Power

Local Governments Are The Source Of Housing Inequality

 

https://jolt.law.harvard.edu/digest/henley-v-devore

 

[Dale]

Dude thinks Obama’s Kenyan. California off the hook.

[Desert Power]

The Las Vegas Monorail without a human driver but with 5 minute headways is pretty fun

On 10/8/2019 at 11:44 AM, Madison Parkitect said:

I can't imagine the cost of buying up light rail right-of-way in a place like Dilworth.

Not just that, the fight to upzone anything there.

[rancenc]

Looks like Microsoft's announcement of an expansion in Charlotte coincided with a similar announcement in the Dallas-Forth Worth area today.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/2019/10/25/microsoft-plans-to-add-up-to-575-jobs-at-irving-campus/

 

[KJHburg]

Learning from other places Dallas edition.

We need to keep an eye on this city for sure.  Recently we have competed and continue to compete for big economic development prospects.  the score as I see it on major projects a tie 1-1   Toyota strongly considered Charlotte when they were moving their North American HQ from the LA area and KY and according to the Toyota employee I talked to and other reports we lost for a couple of reasons.  No direct nonstop flights to Japan (and this is something we need to work on with AA or one their partners)  DFW has flights to Hong Kong, China, Japan etc not to mention now New Zealand. Australia, year round service to lots of European cities and soon to Tel Aviv! )  Other reasons for lost bid was the thought too many families relocating here could not be absorbed by our local real estate market.  I rank that one as a maybe.  Central time zone for Dallas could not do anything about that.  Plus  you are comparing a metro area of 7,5 Million 4th largest in USA to Charlotte at 2.5 M.     However we did recently win one the 2000 job tech center for Lowes which despite HQ being close to the QC we were not guaranteed this project for sure.  

Dallas has the largest light rail system in the USA connecting DFW airport to downtown and I as saw to their major medical centers which was heavily used.  All their lines converge right downtown too.  

They have great master planned business parks like our Ballantyne but only bigger like the 12,000 acre Las Colinas which has DART light rail too.  

They have a huge system of toll roads and TEXpress lanes tolled lanes on an otherwise freeway.  

Their roster of corporate headquarters is quite impressive and I think I read or heard they have the most Fortune 500 HQ outside of NYC.  

Charlotte's strengths is our size, location in the southeast and comparable cost of living.    They have a huge tech community that is getting bigger and bigger even though in state rival Austin gets all the press.   The business of Dallas is business just like Charlotte.   Very well diversified roster of companies.  

Of course their freeway cap if that ever becomes something Charlotte wants to do we will have to do it the Dallas way private public partnership 

Even Mr Tepper wants to model his new practice facility after the Dallas Cowboys complex in the  far north suburb of Frisco.   https://www.thestarinfrisco.com/

They could learn a thing or two from Charlotte on our streetscapes, tree ordinances etc.  Their downtown is devoid of street plantings in most areas and they have uneven sidewalks that caused problems for my blind cousin when he lived there. 

They have a Six Flags but we have a Carowinds which I think is even better. 

1. big eyeball downtown    2. Huge Parkland Hospital right on the DART line  3.4. freeway cap park Klyde Warren park   5. decorative bridge we need one like the one once proposed for the greenway over 277 Independence.    6. notice apartment complexes look like ours from this aerial shot.   7. downtown from the air.  8.  and some of these would complete our fine city.

Charlotte  > Dallas   

as the Dallas Fort Worth UP is pretty dead I lit it up with photos check them out if you are interested

https://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/forum/216-dallas-fort-worth/

Edited October 29, 2019 by KJHburg

[Dale]

Dallas’ growth is just off the hook. Ex: its new apartment permits DWARF all other cities.

[KJHburg]

Say what you want to about Raleigh and Cary but they have the best greenway and park systems in the state bar none.  Look at the video for the Dorthea Dix Park which they bought the land from the state.  

https://video.unctv.org/video/dorothea-dix-park-e0eeuj/

[KJHburg]

check out this new 20 story condo tower one of 4 towers on the News and Observer block in downtown Raleigh.  20 story office tower, a condo tower, a rental apartment tower and a hotel all 20 stories or slightly less.  Called the Nash after Nash Square will feature 100 1-3 bedroom condos.  Great looking building.   https://www.thenashraleigh.com/

Edited November 6, 2019 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

Learning from other places Carolinas edition

1. first from downtown Asheville.  Not only a leader in historic preservation  but downtown retail too.   This is something that could be done EASILY in uptown Charlotte under the bus shelters that line up and down Tryon that are mainly unused.  Pop up retail vendors adding street life.    This photo was taken at 830 am this morning so no one was out but they use these tables to sell their wares.  Imagine people selling art, jewelry for a low fee and at least we could have some non food retail uptown.  

2.   Wow is all I can say about this new mixed used project in Raleigh on the Beltline near North Hills but not apart of it.   Look at the architecture   They bought the land for cheap over the years got it rezoned now they plan to start building.  

https://midtownexchangenc.com/#gallery

[Cadi40]

Extremely jealous of Raleigh’s development. While Charlotte’s CBD is far more expansive than Raleigh’s, their suburban and secondary CBD developments are outstanding. 

[KJHburg]

Back from Nashville the other IT city often mention in the same breath as Charlotte in econ development circles and population stories and best places to live lists.

Things we can learn from the Music City:  that is the first thing branding.  Obviously we can't have use that one (even though Charlotte was neck and neck back in the 1920/30s for country music) but I digress.  They use this branding a lot including Music City Center their huge convention center which is beautiful as much as things can be.  

Historical preservation in the heart of the city is good even though they have lost some great building.  

Things can learn from the QC: 1. Transportation: roads, highways, sidewalks, mass transit etc. Unfortunately their status as state capital gives them no beneficial treatment.  Sidewalks are a big problem there a problem we had about 10-15 years ago.  Literally some of their downtown freeways look the exact same as they did in late 1970s 1980s you can't really say that about any major highway here.  Transit they voted it down but their plan was way too ambitious.  

Airport they are adding on to theirs about $1 Billion but not a hub (was at one time for American) reminds me of the Raleigh Durham airport growing but no where as big at CLT.  

Housing affordability they have the same problems.  I think our landscaping and tree ordinances are far better here.  Not many street plantings there compared to Charlotte. 

Nightlife they have it in abundance but not sure if hot tubs on wheels through uptown Charlotte is in our future.   They are the #1 Bachelorette  destination in the country!  Mega bars with 3-4 levels rooftop patios it is pure crazy on Broadway on the weekends.  I get the sense some in the city want to hide from that just like some here want to hide from our NASCAR races and tourists. 

Nashville even has a signature dish Hot Chicken.   We need a signature dish and I don't think Bojangles would work but maybe fried chicken?  

City is booming like ours lots of construction.  As talked about in the buildings underway over 10 stories count we are about the same.  But Charlotte has much taller buildings underway and completed.  In fact Legacy BOAT would be the tallest in Tennessee if there.  

anyway you should visit to see what people are talking about.  I enjoy Nashville but love Charlotte and could never move that far from the salty ocean. 

1. the Gulch area closer to downtown than southend but reminds me of it nonetheless.   2. Murals everywhere  3. day time traffic jams 4. skyline and of course a river is nice unless it floods

5. 40 story Four Seasons Hotel and condos and they have 1000s upon 1000s of new hotel rooms downtown.   6.7Broadway area and zoning limiting height along Broadway for a few blocks.

8. Alliance Bernstein new HQ remember them?    9.  old building now hotel Indigo 10. house in downtown now restaurant near Amazon new building.  11. their new Federal courthouse 12.  new 21 story first Amazon tower to the right center of the aerial  photo from their new 34 story JW Marriott   13.14. 15 16 17. Broadway nightlife area and 1st street which is much nicer in my opinion and has TREES   18.   new Joseph hotel    19. pan from first Hot chicken restaurant in town Princes  20. 21. West End near Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities like Southend but with large universities.  

Edited November 20, 2019 by KJHburg

[Matthew.Brendan]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/20/realestate/14th-street-manhattan-a-congested-thoroughfare-transformed.html

 

Quote

the new 14th Street busway, a pilot program that began in early October and limits automobile access to the street for most of the day, transforming a formerly congested artery into a largely empty boulevard, save for the speedy buses that ferry people along it.

 

[KJHburg]

Here is something we can learn from Atlanta their new Secure the Neighborhoods program where police officers get help buying homes in the most crime ridden parts of town.  In Atlanta neighborhoods where this has been done crime has gone dramatically.

Big business is helping out and the big business of Charlotte needs to help lower our crime problem in Charlotte.  Wells Fargo is a sponsor there. 

https://atlantapolicefoundation.org/secure-neighborhoods/

[rancenc]

There is discussion at times bemoaning the fact that there is limited retail in the center city of Charlotte.  The borough of Bronx with 1.5 million people doesn't even have one bookstore in the vicinity  The article is from 3 years ago, but I assume it is still the status quo!

https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-bronx-loses-its-only-bookstore

[KJHburg]

okay which UPer was in Miami this morning?   daredevil climbs 740 foot high crane.  

https://www.thenextmiami.com/watch-as-daredevil-dangles-from-crane-740-feet-above-miami-at-elysee-tower-construction-site-in-edgewater/

[KJHburg]

things done right and things we can learn from our sister cities in the Triangle.  I know there is a lot intrastate competition between the QC and the Triangle cities but I would rather live in that area  over Atlanta or Nashville any day of the week.  2 interesting downtowns.

Durham first  1.2.3  West Village these old warehouse renovated for Duke University and their Clinical Research Organization.  the 3rd photo that warehouse factory is from 1916.   4. 5. Durham's Carolina Theater what a gem!  Their newer DPAC Durham Performing Arts Center not pictured is one of the highest grossing such facilities in the USA! 6.   we need a chess set in uptown or southend like this.  7. colorful crosswalks. 8.  a bull for the Bull City   9. 10. Raleigh Cary and the entire Triangle have a greenway system that blows Charlotte out of the water.  It is truly fantastic. 11. just interesting probably the largest Astroturf lawn in the state at North Hills Midtown remember the fake grass was invented in nearby RTP.  

[KJHburg]

Now part 2 from downtown Raleigh. 

1. 2.3. Historical buildings galore including the Briggs Hardware from 1874 right in the heart of downtown.  4. Tallest building in NC outside of Charlotte the PNC Plaza.   5. the brand new just  opened 22 story FNB Tower offices on lower floors apartments on top (taller version coming to the QC) 6. all brick hotel nice use of something other than stucco as in the QC.  This was built in the late 1980s I think. 7. Capital City Club building is another great historical tower.  8. new Dillon a podium style office tower with parking on lower levels but ground floor all retail. 9.  Dillon deck and we need more of these in Charlotte.  We seem to have a few office balconies but this could hold an event and does from what I understand.  10, downtown view.  11. 12. 13. old facades can be saved!  Take note Charlotte developers! ask Kane in Raleigh about it!  14. shipping containers at the Morgan St Food Hall and I know some have long advocated this in the QC again makes city life interesting.  15. 16. yet another top floor amenity deck this time at One Glenwood.  Love these and we need to squeeze some of these into our new buildings.

So take the train up to downtown Raleigh the Union Station is right across the street from the Dillon and spend the day exploring downtown Raleigh, the Warehouse district, Glenwood south and some of the great state museums our NC tax dollars pay for (and they are great!)  

[U_R_]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

 

Durham first  1.2.3  West Village these old warehouse renovated for Duke University and their Clinical Research Organization.  the 3rd photo that warehouse factory is from 1916.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stayed at an AirBNB in West Village and it was fantastic.If you're still in town, check out Dame's Chicken and Waffles, all the staff and students at Duke and people who live in the area recommend it. 

Edited December 6, 2019 by Ric0_0

[videtur quam contuor]

I was at Raleigh station Thanksgiving day delivering family who rode from Kannapolis. A day trip for them with two boys age 13 and 11. New and clean. Large christmas tree and a temporary stage with folding chairs set with microphone in main area so caroling, or special event or performance of some type. Maybe meeting with announcement. Something for a stage and speaker and chairs for 80 or so but room there for many more. Large three story windows with tallest buildings in view. An airport feel. Train "Carolinian" was on time. Parking available.