CTC Redevelopment - Crescent, BPR & Whitepoint Proposals for Transit Center Redo + More

[InSouthPark]

24 minutes ago, RANYC said:

Read a quote from Tariq Bokhari saying the proposal is "a bag of excrement."  

On what grounds is he saying that?  Is Charlotte one of the only cities with an obligation to keep its NBA Arena modernized?

Just incredibly strident language and soundbytes, and what's he hoping to accomplish?  

 

Tariq Bokhari, "a bag of excrement."

[Miesian Corners]

52 minutes ago, InSouthPark said:

Tariq Bokhari, "a bag of excrement."

That's exactly what he is.

[49er]

I wonder if the city is considering a bid for the epicentre? Would be strange if it came back full circle since the city previously owned the site when it was the convention center. 

[KJHburg]

3 hours ago, RANYC said:

Read a quote from Tariq Bokhari saying the proposal is "a bag of excrement."  

On what grounds is he saying that?  Is Charlotte one of the only cities with an obligation to keep its NBA Arena modernized?

Just incredibly strident language and soundbytes, and what's he hoping to accomplish?  

 

He was referring to the original agreement that tied the Bobcats/Hornets to this arena that has an open ended upgrade clause.  Most of the council agrees with him if you read their quotes.  It was a bad agreement but that council back then made it and this current council is having to live with it.  

[RANYC]

2 hours ago, KJHburg said:

He was referring to the original agreement that tied the Bobcats/Hornets to this arena that has an open ended upgrade clause.  Most of the council agrees with him if you read their quotes.  It was a bad agreement but that council back then made it and this current council is having to live with it.  

Driggs said "onerous," which seemed a fair representation.

Bokhari said "excrement," once again over-the-top, un-productive and likely an oversimplification.  Was the city's deal out of market at the time?  Is Bokhari making his comments to save face for himself and the council as they vote to approve the package?

Edited June 1, 2022 by RANYC

[Desert Power]

9 hours ago, RANYC said:

Driggs said "onerous," which seemed a fair representation.

Bokhari said "excrement," once again over-the-top, un-productive and likely an oversimplification.  Was the city's deal out of market at the time?  Is Bokhari making his comments to save face for himself and the council as they vote to approve the package?

He just wants attention, don't give it to him.

[Hushpuppy321]

This seems to be a very good idea - but I do agree that after this is finished (2030-2033) that the city needs to get out of the business of keeping up with the Arena.  Maybe selling it to the highest bidder.

[RANYC]

29 minutes ago, Hushpuppy321 said:

This seems to be a very good idea - but I do agree that after this is finished (2030-2033) that the city needs to get out of the business of keeping up with the Arena.  Maybe selling it to the highest bidder.

City extended lease with hornets until 2045 as part of deal 

[Hushpuppy321]

2 hours ago, RANYC said:

City extended lease with hornets until 2045 as part of deal 

Dang….

[Reverie39]

Great to see some proper Hornets practice facilities in the works. That makes me feel a little better after the Panthers facility debacle. Our teams now represent a major city and should act/exist as such. That means nice facilities that players will be happy to use.

[Desert Power]

Poking around on Polaris, its kinda surprising how many parcels that Brevard block is split into.

[TGIBridays]

Some new renderings have come out via Joe Bruno and Ely Portillo on twitter.

Aerial rendering. 

 

Rendering of the "oculus" underground bus terminal. 

Stacking/Layout of the terminal.  Seems like 6 stories of parking is a lot for a transit center... but what do I know?

Rendering of Brevard ST as a "festival Street".

Another aerial.

 

Edited June 6, 2022 by TGIBridays
Added a thought about the parking.

[KJHburg]

Parking would be for the office tower and hotel.  That is a great looking project and I hope it gets off the ground. 

[JRCLT]

If this doesn’t get off the ground- I don’t what I’ll do…

[TGIBridays]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

Parking would be for the office tower and hotel.  That is a great looking project and I hope it gets off the ground. 

Yeah, true.  Still seems like a lot.  But at least it seems to be integrated into the project fairly well unlike some new buildings (looking at you 110 East). 

Edit: On second thought, having all of this parking on top of the city's transit hub that serves: local buses, express buses, the gold line, and the blue line is insane.  This is THE PLACE to not have so much parking. 

Edited June 6, 2022 by TGIBridays

[j-man]

I hate the concept but love the way it could turn out looking. The whole underground transportation center is just odd. 

[JRCLT]

I hate the concept but love the way it could turn out looking. The whole underground transportation center is just odd. 

Would it be better 100 stories up in the air? Or… open air is what you’re getting at?

[tozmervo]

The below-grade transit concept is giving me Port Authority Bus Terminal vibes... which isn't a great thing. It needs to be really open, airy, and light or it will become a dungeon that makes people feel insecure. I'm having a failure of imagination in picturing how the public, semi-public, and private spaces interact with each other at the ground level and below.

[DonkeyKong]

Where will the Hornets new training facility be?  I don't see it anywhere in the renderings.

[JRCLT]

Are all those really parking…? ^^^

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

44 minutes ago, tozmervo said:

The below-grade transit concept is giving me Port Authority Bus Terminal vibes... which isn't a great thing. It needs to be really open, airy, and light or it will become a dungeon that makes people feel insecure. I'm having a failure of imagination in picturing how the public, semi-public, and private spaces interact with each other at the ground level and below.

Here’s a pic of Salesforce transit center and theirs is above ground for the buses. Not open and airy but everything else makes it work. Hopefully the market hall labeled in the rendering, will make it feel more open and less enclosed and offer retail/food/bev to generate foot traffic. 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2022 by CharlotteWkndBuzz

[carolina1792]

1 hour ago, TGIBridays said:

Some new renderings have come out via Joe Bruno and Ely Portillo on twitter.

Aerial rendering. 

 

Rendering of the "oculus" underground bus terminal. 

Stacking/Layout of the terminal.  Seems like 6 stories of parking is a lot for a transit center... but what do I know?

Rendering of Brevard ST as a "festival Street".

Another aerial.

 

Basically a larger RUSBUS but the composition is the same.  Even has an 'oculus' feature as well. Haha

Edited June 6, 2022 by carolina1792

[kermit]

23 minutes ago, tozmervo said:

The below-grade transit concept is giving me Port Authority Bus Terminal vibes... which isn't a great thing. It needs to be really open, airy, and light or it will become a dungeon that makes people feel insecure. I'm having a failure of imagination in picturing how the public, semi-public, and private spaces interact with each other at the ground level and below.

I don’t disagree. I guess I am hoping that a fully electric bus fleet is feasible and that should address most of the air quality and noise issues. Also wondering if the more limited access to the transit level might help security?

I think the dungeon feeling might also be reduced by having the Silver and or Gold line stop there as well [I do understand the impossibility of this].

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

I’m not sold on the hornets implementing their practice facility 7 or so stories above a parking garage, however, it does appear the hornets would be taking several floors of the entire structure potentially. Could be interesting though if they put offices and maybe some fan/entertainment options in there as well. I feel like they would have more flexibility if that just built a new structure on an adjacent lot but this could be unique. Especially if there is a hotel aspect, you could tie in a sports gambling (sports book) area, nice restaurant/bar overlooking the practice court, etc. Matter of time for it to be legalized so might as well plan for it. This could be a unique project and be a spark this area has long needed. 

Edited June 6, 2022 by CharlotteWkndBuzz

[atlrvr]

If this happens, I would really like to see the 3rd street station of the LRT removed, and CTC station to be aligned fully between 4th and Trade.

3 stations in 5 blocks is laughable, and it would decently improve potential headways, even if by 1 minute.

The biggest reason for the 3rd street station (I think) is due to the Convention Center as a major "gap" in the rail trail.  With the renovation supposedly fixing that (allowing rail trail to remain un-interrupted) the 3rd St station is no longer needed, and moving CTC just 1/2 block would make the spacing better, and likely transfers between bus and LRT more integrated (it's very awkward currently).

Lastly, pointing out the renderings/stacking plan from today don't show Hornet training levels.