Travel observations and new developments of other cities and countries

[Binbin98]

18 hours ago, nashmoney said:

I have to respectfully disagree. I currently live in Tampa. I'm from Nashville, but have lived in Atlanta, Charleston and now Tampa within the past 5 years.

The Tampa metro does not have a high unemployment rate. US national unemployment = 3.9%. Tampa metro = 2.6%. Nashville metro = 2.7%.

https://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laummtrk.htm

Regarding the infrastructure, yes I-4 to Orlando is a cluster. You have two major metropolitan, tourist, and convention cities within an hour and a half of each other with only 3 lanes each way, with no mass transit. 

Tampa does have toll roads which gives options to folks traveling north or south. One thing I will say is that FL and it's cities take really good care of both the interstates and city roads. They are paved, lighted street signs, signs that tell you which intersection is ahead, and pedestrian cross walks on major roads that require motororist to stop. 

Plus interstates aren't trashy (SC was the worst with litter) and a lot of the exit and on ramps are landscaped and well maintained... Something I wish TN would do more of. 

There are more than a "few" bus routes, plus there is a free trolley system downtown. The bus network actually operate nearly 500 buses, service more than 9000 transit stops, and provide rides to nearly 28 million passengers each year in Tampa Bay.

https://www.tbarta.com/en/commute-tampa-bay/transit/

Tampa Airport was rated number 1 in customer satisfaction and number 1 large American Airport by JD Power 

https://news.tampaairport.com/tampa-international-airport-ranked-no-1-in-industry-benchmarking-air-service-quality-awards/#:~:text=Airport ranked No.-,1 in industry benchmarking Airport Service Quality Awards,passengers for calendar year 2021.

https://news.tampaairport.com/jd-power-names-tpa-1-large-airport-in-2022-north-american-airport-satisfaction-study/

FL may not be for everyone, but it's kind of one sided to make statements with providing data to back it up. 

Tampa traffic is horrible. Tampa itself is a decently nice city with beautiful beaches. Anyone who doesn’t believe me about the traffic should visit Tampa for themselves. 

[MontanaGuy]

11 hours ago, nashville born said:

New high school south of Atlanta lauded for being an architectural marvel per Urbanize-Atlanta (images courtesy U-A)

Wow, I have to admit it's impressive, it almost looks like some giant corporate headquarters instead of a high school!

[chc3]

13 hours ago, MontanaGuy said:

Wow, I have to admit it's impressive, it almost looks like some giant corporate headquarters instead of a high school!

Final cost: $96 million.

[tragenvol]

3 hours ago, chc3 said:

Final cost: $96 million.

Meh (kidding)...compared to the Liberty Creek complex in Gallatin complete with two-story field house (you should see the football stadium) and flight simulators.

[nashville born]

So what if I missed adding street level activation to myself.  I'll just bolt it on or retrofit it in in the future!   That's what Bank of America Plaza, Atlanta's and the southeast's tallest is looking to do. 

 https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/atl-tallest-building-new-restaurant-space-cafe-images?utm_source=Urbanize+Newsletter&utm_campaign=286b032e83-news-atlanta-daily-2023-03-23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f2c8779a36-286b032e83-199748044

Images courtesy Urbanize-Atlanta

[markhollin]

Dubai:

[markhollin]

Zanzibar, Tanzania's renderings for Domino Tower, 984', 560 units, two hotels:

[markhollin]

Kansas City's renderings for the expanded Kansas City Transit Authority at 28 stories, 200 residential units:

[BeaveStirs]

https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2023/03/how-realistic-is-the-idea-to-bury-austins-power-lines-council-wants-to-know/

[bnacincy]

Memphis has about 40% of its power lines buried-MLGW-(Memphis Light Gas and Water) estimated that burying the rest of lines would cost in the billions.

Nashville needs to bury its power lines in Sobro, The Gulch and Midtown. That would also be very expensive but would be a big step forward.

[nashville born]

Penn 15, midtown Manhattan's newest planned supertall would be a 56-story commercial tower, stand 1,200', and yield  2.7 million sf of office space..  Images courtesy NY YIMBY.  The last photo is of the Hotel Pennsylvania being removed to make way for Penn 15.

[KJHburg]

Charleston one of the oldest cities in the country founded in 1670 is going through a lot of growth right now and is one of the faster growing metros in the Carolinas.  They excel in historic preservation and downtown retail.  They have very high design standards everywhere.  Photos from last week.  Notice the very new and modern office building on the edge of the historical district by the Ravenel bridge.   King Street downtown is the best shopping street in the southeast and has the best shopping in the entire metro Charleston area.  Lots of cranes for new apartment buildings all over the city and suburbs.  They have  downtown Publix  (pictured) and downtown Harris Teeter grocery store.  And an urban format Target which would be great in downtown Nashville.. 

Edited March 27, 2023 by KJHburg

[Binbin98]

Winston Salem North Carolina 

[markhollin]

 

Chicago: New renderings have been released of the potential future condition of the northern lakefront as part of the Redefine the Drive efforts currently underway. Led by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), the study of North Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive encompasses the area between Grand Avenue and Hollywood Avenue along the corridor.

With extensive community engagement and design development underway, the team has released the new renders to help answer some of the questions from the public and better illustrate the potential user experience along the north lakefront. Go the this website to see lots of before/after sliders. It's an amazing concept that will create much new park space along the lakefront (courtesy of ChicagoUrbanizeCity):

https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/new-renderings-released-redefine-drive
 

[KirbsMagurbs]

Took a trip down the Atlantic Coast of FLA to Miami last week. Pics in order: West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables (2), South Beach (2), Brickell and Downtown Miami(4). 

A few brief notes on the trip:

1) Downtown West Palm was nicer than I expected, and I really enjoyed the dinner/night scene on Clematis. 

2) The Riverwalk area in downtown Fort Lauderdale was definitely worth the visit. Very active with boats going up and down the river. I appreciate those who have highlighted that area in previous posts.

3) We stayed in Coral Gables while in Miami, and I really enjoyed the walkability and architecture there.

4) It was great to finally see the Miami skyline, which is exploding, in person. One of the only cities I've been to that has more construction going on than Nashville. 

5) My wife and I both agreed that the overall level of service we received at restaurants, our hotel, Ubers, etc. in Miami was outstanding, and unlike anything we've experienced in the last few years anywhere else. 

Edited March 30, 2023 by KirbsMagurbs

[Binbin98]

5 hours ago, KirbsMagurbs said:

Took a trip down the Atlantic Coast of FLA to Miami last week. Pics in order: West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables (2), South Beach (2), Brickell and Downtown Miami(4). 

A few brief notes on the trip:

1) Downtown West Palm was nicer than I expected, and I really enjoyed the dinner/night scene on Clematis. 

2) The Riverwalk area in downtown Fort Lauderdale was definitely worth the visit. Very active with boats going up and down the river. I appreciate those who have highlighted that area in previous posts.

3) We stayed in Coral Gables while in Miami, and I really enjoyed the walkability and architecture there.

4) It was great to finally see the Miami skyline, which is exploding, in person. One of the only cities I've been to that has more construction going on than Nashville. 

5) My wife and I both agreed that the overall level of service we received at restaurants, our hotel, Ubers, etc. in Miami was outstanding, and unlike anything we've experienced in the last few years anywhere else. 

Should have visited me X3

Here are some photos from charlotte

[markhollin]

Honolulu, Diamond Head:

[MLBrumby]

I haven't traveled to Memphis in months, but over on their forum they've announced per the Memphis Business Journal that the Sterick has been sold and it's now able to be renovated. 

From the MBJ:  https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2023/03/31/sterick-building-deal-stuart-harris-redevelopment.html

[markhollin]

San Jose, California's renderings for 250 Stockton Ave. at 15 stories, 207', 1.4 million sq. ft. of office space (courtesy of YIMBY San Fran):

[markhollin]

Miami's renderings for Vita Grove Isle, 20 acres, 6 stories, 65 condos (courtesy of YIMBY Florida):

[smeagolsfree]

That is a nice target for a tidal wave or a hurricane. Sorry guys, just never been a fan of the water, island's, beaches or cruises. For those of you that enjoy more power to you. For me it is just boring as hell.  

[Luvemtall]

Who is the insurance company for that one! Smeags, I’m with you my friend. 

[markhollin]

New York's Coney Island Shore Theater (circa 1925), abandoned for over 50 years, now being converted into a hotel (courtesy of YIMBY New York):

[markhollin]

Chicago River:

[markhollin]

Detroit's renderings for Cadillac Square, which includes several towers, 250 units, 400,000 sq. ft. of  office space, 100,000 sq. ft. of  retail, 60,000 sq. ft. restored theater, and a 1,600 parking capacity garage.