110 East: 23 story Tower by Stiles/Shorenstein

[KJHburg]

13 hours ago, DMann said:

Does anyone know if this is a for profit garage or is parking free?  I could see Panther and Hornet fans driving there, parking for free, and taking LYNX into the city.

I am sure it might be free for tenants but gate controlled nonetheless or maybe it will be a paid parking garage.  I would say no to be free to park in anytime. 

[rancenc]

Various construsction projects that broke ground in the Southeast including 110 East

https://www.enr.com/articles/53436-pulse-southeast-construction-bids-for-january-2022

[KJHburg]

Speaking of construction at this site here are some photos today.  Brought  a deep foundation specialist from Alabama I noticed. 

[Mgelbach]

13 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Speaking of construction at this site here are some photos today.  Brought  a deep foundation specialist from Alabama I noticed. 

I MIGHT be mistaken, but I think I've that drilling machine at a few other projects, definitely Dimensional Fund. I wonder if they just truck it around back and forth from Alabama every time.

[KJHburg]

5 minutes ago, Mgelbach said:

I MIGHT be mistaken, but I think I've that drilling machine at a few other projects, definitely Dimensional Fund. I wonder if they just truck it around back and forth from Alabama every time.

Must be the soil type in Southend or this company is just that good or both.  it said deep foundation work. 

[tozmervo]

5 minutes ago, Mgelbach said:

I MIGHT be mistaken, but I think I've that drilling machine at a few other projects, definitely Dimensional Fund. I wonder if they just truck it around back and forth from Alabama every time.

It's entirely possible, or they moved it over here from another job site as it wrapped up. Birmingham is just a 6 hour drive, which is nothing in the construction world.

Morris-Shea • Deep Foundation Construction • Morris-Shea Bridge Co (morrisshea.com)

[Mgelbach]

12 minutes ago, tozmervo said:

It's entirely possible, or they moved it over here from another job site as it wrapped up. Birmingham is just a 6 hour drive, which is nothing in the construction world.

Morris-Shea • Deep Foundation Construction • Morris-Shea Bridge Co (morrisshea.com)

You've got a point there, but getting the trucks and permits together have to be a hassle for a trip that long.

It's not like its a Little 320e excavator that moves around and fits on a regular lowboy trailer.

I am nowhere near an expert though!

[KJHburg]

1 minute ago, Mgelbach said:

You've got a point there, but getting the trucks and permits together have to be a hassle for a trip that long.

It's not like its a Little 320e excavator that moves around and fits on a regular lowboy trailer.

I am nowhere near an expert though!

I see things like this on the interstates all the time I am usually behind them.     But this equipment is so expensive to make money they have to work all over the region.  

[tozmervo]

Yeah, the most likely scenario is that this thing came here from another job site and will go to another site immediately after. They don't want it sitting in a yard or on a truck. If it's not drilling, it's loosing money for that company.

[kermit]

This Austin building is getting some well deserved hate on urbanist twitter. While the building should look very familiar to us, at least the building in the photo is not adjacent to a rail transit station.

Edited February 15, 2022 by kermit

[atl2clt]

On 2/14/2022 at 5:58 PM, kermit said:

This Austin building is getting some well deserved hate on urbanist twitter. While the building should look very familiar to us, at least the building in the photo is not adjacent to a rail transit station.

Do people actually tolerate parking on the 8th floor (or higher) of a parking deck? I cannot imagine a more frustrating start to my day than driving up 8 floors of occupied parking spaces. And the frustration of waiting in line to leave during the 5:00 PM "I need to get home in time for dinner" rush? No thank you. 

W/r/t South End parking decks, have any of you noticed the Instagram account @100westworthingtongarage? In short, it's an account about the new parking deck at the Lowe's building (mostly pictures of parking promos, parking apps and stuff like that). Today, they even had staff outside waving signs for $5 parking. It seems apparent that South End developers do not view parking decks solely as a vehicle storage space for employees, but an independent and highly profitable revenue stream. I don't blame them (and who would?), but this is really a shame. We have the foundation for one of the best pedestrian districts in the Southeast, but there is overwhelming financial pressure to add more cars and more parking decks to shuttle visitors in and out. It's a weird kind of self-fulfilling prophecy where (1) a pedestrian-friendly corridor develops organically, (2) to capitalize on the growing demand, developers prioritize the development of hourly-rate, mega-size parking decks open to the public and (3) with automobile oriented-infrastructure at every stop light and entire blocks filled by lifeless concrete parking decks, the area loses much of what made it special in the first place. 

I would imagine that the 110 East parking deck will turn into an hourly-parking, money-printing bonanza (same with the Portman Pedestal at 2151 Hawkins).

[Madison Parkitect]

39 minutes ago, atl2clt said:

Do people actually tolerate parking on the 8th floor (or higher) of a parking deck? I cannot imagine a more frustrating start to my day than driving up 8 floors of occupied parking spaces. And the frustration of waiting in line to leave during the 5:00 PM "I need to get home in time for dinner" rush? No thank you. 

W/r/t South End parking decks, have any of you noticed the Instagram account @100westworthingtongarage? In short, it's an account about the new parking deck at the Lowe's building (mostly pictures of parking promos, parking apps and stuff like that). Today, they even had staff outside waving signs for $5 parking. It seems apparent that South End developers do not view parking decks solely as a vehicle storage space for employees, but an independent and highly profitable revenue stream. I don't blame them (and who would?), but this is really a shame. We have the foundation for one of the best pedestrian districts in the Southeast, but there is overwhelming financial pressure to add more cars and more parking decks to shuttle visitors in and out. It's a weird kind of self-fulfilling prophecy where (1) a pedestrian-friendly corridor develops organically, (2) to capitalize on the growing demand, developers prioritize the development of hourly-rate, mega-size parking decks open to the public and (3) with automobile oriented-infrastructure at every stop light and entire blocks filled by lifeless concrete parking decks, the area loses much of what made it special in the first place. 

I would imagine that the 110 East parking deck will turn into an hourly-parking, money-printing bonanza (same with the Portman Pedestal at 2151 Hawkins).

Parking has always been a big money-maker, it's just in deck form now instead of paved lots.

[RANYC]

50 minutes ago, atl2clt said:

Do people actually tolerate parking on the 8th floor (or higher) of a parking deck? I cannot imagine a more frustrating start to my day than driving up 8 floors of occupied parking spaces. And the frustration of waiting in line to leave during the 5:00 PM "I need to get home in time for dinner" rush? No thank you. 

W/r/t South End parking decks, have any of you noticed the Instagram account @100westworthingtongarage? In short, it's an account about the new parking deck at the Lowe's building (mostly pictures of parking promos, parking apps and stuff like that). Today, they even had staff outside waving signs for $5 parking. It seems apparent that South End developers do not view parking decks solely as a vehicle storage space for employees, but an independent and highly profitable revenue stream. I don't blame them (and who would?), but this is really a shame. We have the foundation for one of the best pedestrian districts in the Southeast, but there is overwhelming financial pressure to add more cars and more parking decks to shuttle visitors in and out. It's a weird kind of self-fulfilling prophecy where (1) a pedestrian-friendly corridor develops organically, (2) to capitalize on the growing demand, developers prioritize the development of hourly-rate, mega-size parking decks open to the public and (3) with automobile oriented-infrastructure at every stop light and entire blocks filled by lifeless concrete parking decks, the area loses much of what made it special in the first place. 

I would imagine that the 110 East parking deck will turn into an hourly-parking, money-printing bonanza (same with the Portman Pedestal at 2151 Hawkins).

Hmm, South End...one of the best pedestrian districts in the Southeast?  I lived in the Ashton the first 2 years I was here in Charlotte.  Perhaps I need to rediscover South End. 

Edited February 16, 2022 by RANYC

[kermit]

19 minutes ago, RANYC said:

Hmm, South End...best pedestrian districts in the Southeast?  I lived in the Ashton the first 2 years I was here in Charlotte.  Perhaps I need to rediscover South End. 

Yea, I think the hyperbole about Southend pedestrian friendliness needs to stop. The railtrail is good, but Durham, Raleigh, neighborhoods outside downtown Greensboro, Richmond, Savannah, Charleston, Memphis, portions of Knoxville, most college towns, the Atlanta beltline  and even  parts of Birmingham (Five Points) have better pedestrian environments IMO. 

However, making Southend walkability measurably worse with these parking-centric office buildings is still a crazy bad plan for the future of the city.

Edited February 16, 2022 by kermit

[atl2clt]

39 minutes ago, kermit said:

Yea, I think the hyperbole about Southend pedestrian friendliness needs to stop. The railtrail is good, but Durham, Raleigh, Richmond, Savannah, Charleston, Memphis, portions of Knoxville, most college towns, the Atlanta beltline  and even  parts of Birmingham (Five Points) have better pedestrian environments IMO.

I don’t think it’s hyperbole. I wholeheartedly believe that the pedestrian experience from the New Bern light rail station up to and through Uptown is among the best stretches in urban walkability in the Southeast.

Born and raised in Atlanta, lived adjacent to the Beltline for 3 years and walked it thousands of times with my dog. It is much less interconnected than most would think. On the Eastside Trail, yes, it’s great for visitors to walk from Ponce City Market to Krog Street Market, but as a resident, there aren’t many local conveniences along the Beltline (that is, it’s mostly devoid of grab-and-go lunch, convenience stores, etc.). As a South End resident, I can go weeks without touching my car; that’s something I couldn’t dream of while living in Atlanta. 

Other than Charleston and Savannah, I think Charlotte’s pedestrian landscape far outpaces the other cities mentioned. Yes, there are pockets of decent pedestrian activity in many Southern cities, but to compare Charlotte’s pedestrian experience to Birmingham? Memphis? Knoxville?  A pedestrian in Charlotte can walk through 3 miles of continuous density from Suffolk Punch in South End to Queen City Grounds in Uptown—the sole portion of dead space being I-277. That is unmatched in the Southeast, even before considering the light rail system.

Developers certainly recognize this, and that properties like 110 East are geographically situated right in the middle of this pedestrian corridor. 

Edited February 16, 2022 by atl2clt

[RANYC]

7 hours ago, atl2clt said:

I don’t think it’s hyperbole. I wholeheartedly believe that the pedestrian experience from the New Bern light rail station up to and through Uptown is among the best stretches in urban walkability in the Southeast.

Born and raised in Atlanta, lived adjacent to the Beltline for 3 years and walked it thousands of times with my dog. It is much less interconnected than most would think. On the Eastside Trail, yes, it’s great for visitors to walk from Ponce City Market to Krog Street Market, but as a resident, there aren’t many local conveniences along the Beltline (that is, it’s mostly devoid of grab-and-go lunch, convenience stores, etc.). As a South End resident, I can go weeks without touching my car; that’s something I couldn’t dream of while living in Atlanta. 

Other than Charleston and Savannah, I think Charlotte’s pedestrian landscape far outpaces the other cities mentioned. Yes, there are pockets of decent pedestrian activity in many Southern cities, but to compare Charlotte’s pedestrian experience to Birmingham? Memphis? Knoxville?  A pedestrian in Charlotte can walk through 3 miles of continuous density from Suffolk Punch in South End to Queen City Grounds in Uptown—the sole portion of dead space being I-277. That is unmatched in the Southeast, even before considering the light rail system.

Developers certainly recognize this, and that properties like 110 East are geographically situated right in the middle of this pedestrian corridor. 

Interesting perspective.  Might be something to that.

Edited February 16, 2022 by RANYC

[Mgelbach]

[Urban Cowboy]

Thank you for the drone photos @Mgelbach.  Always appreciate your contributions! The drone shots show just how big this footprint is. And IMO, larger footprints usually negatively impact "strollability" because there's less visual interest and buildings on a smaller pedestrian scale. No gripes on that front here - since we're replacing a parking lot. I think people forget that.

But as South End continues to change, I do think the larger scale buildings are going to impact the character. Part of what's unique about south end is the industrial/old warehouse vibe that some of the buildings evoke. I think the choice buildings are all going to be saved. Except...

One building that I personally worry about is the Charlotte Alamo. A global icon - we must protect the Alamo at all costs. Originally a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound - this is one of Charlotte's earliest buildings. Founded in the 18th century by Roman Catholic missionaries in what is now South End, North Carolina, United States. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where American folk heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett died. It was also the set  and backdrop of the 2004 drama entitled "The Alamo," starring Hollywood legends Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton. Today it is home to Miller Services, an office equipment supplier. This World Heritage Site needs to be saved and converted to a brewery ASAP - for historic preservation purposes of course. If a brewery is not established soon, Charlotte residents may forget the rich history of this UNESCO site and have no reason to save it. My biggest fear is that Lincoln Harris will renew his feud with the Miller family and raze the Alamo - only to build a 14 story parking deck.

Potential brewery names include:

• Alamo Brewing
• Last Stand Brewing
• Coonskin Cap Brewing
• LoSo Brewing (jk)
• Alamo'd Brew Pub - A pour yourself your own beers establishment
• MILLER Coors Brewing
• Garrison Brewing

 

[Mgelbach]

Thank you so much for the kind words!!

As far as that dumb building goes though.... I'm a bit jaded. I live in the condos across the street and hate everything about it at the moment. A giant waste of space, there's never more than 4 cars in the parking lot, it's backside is one of my least favorite spots on the rail trail because of the giant unlit concrete wall, it just doesn't fit in at all.

And on a much much more selfish, less serious note: The roof ruins pictures from my building looking south, its huge!

 

Not saying there's no way to save it. I would LOVE it if they converted it into a food hall, or even adaptive reuse offices. Just something other than what it is right now.

[DonkeyKong]

3 hours ago, Urban Cowboy said:

Thank you for the drone photos @Mgelbach.  Always appreciate your contributions! The drone shots show just how big this footprint is. And IMO, larger footprints usually negatively impact "strollability" because there's less visual interest and buildings on a smaller pedestrian scale. No gripes on that front here - since we're replacing a parking lot. I think people forget that.

But as South End continues to change, I do think the larger scale buildings are going to impact the character. Part of what's unique about south end is the industrial/old warehouse vibe that some of the buildings evoke. I think the choice buildings are all going to be saved. Except...

One building that I personally worry about is the Charlotte Alamo. A global icon - we must protect the Alamo at all costs. Originally a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound - this is one of Charlotte's earliest buildings. Founded in the 18th century by Roman Catholic missionaries in what is now South End, North Carolina, United States. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where American folk heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett died. It was also the set  and backdrop of the 2004 drama entitled "The Alamo," starring Hollywood legends Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton. Today it is home to Miller Services, an office equipment supplier. This World Heritage Site needs to be saved and converted to a brewery ASAP - for historic preservation purposes of course. If a brewery is not established soon, Charlotte residents may forget the rich history of this UNESCO site and have no reason to save it. My biggest fear is that Lincoln Harris will renew his feud with the Miller family and raze the Alamo - only to build a 14 story parking deck.

Potential brewery names include:

• Alamo Brewing
• Last Stand Brewing
• Coonskin Cap Brewing
• LoSo Brewing (jk)
• Alamo'd Brew Pub - A pour yourself your own beers establishment
• MILLER Coors Brewing
• Garrison Brewing

 

I for one always thought this building would make a killer Farmers Market/Food Hall Concept.

Edited February 16, 2022 by DonkeyKong

[deleted account]

1 hour ago, Urban Cowboy said:

Thank you for the drone photos @Mgelbach.  Always appreciate your contributions! The drone shots show just how big this footprint is. And IMO, larger footprints usually negatively impact "strollability" because there's less visual interest and buildings on a smaller pedestrian scale. No gripes on that front here - since we're replacing a parking lot. I think people forget that.

But as South End continues to change, I do think the larger scale buildings are going to impact the character. Part of what's unique about south end is the industrial/old warehouse vibe that some of the buildings evoke. I think the choice buildings are all going to be saved. Except...

One building that I personally worry about is the Charlotte Alamo. A global icon - we must protect the Alamo at all costs. Originally a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound - this is one of Charlotte's earliest buildings. Founded in the 18th century by Roman Catholic missionaries in what is now South End, North Carolina, United States. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where American folk heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett died. It was also the set  and backdrop of the 2004 drama entitled "The Alamo," starring Hollywood legends Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton. Today it is home to Miller Services, an office equipment supplier. This World Heritage Site needs to be saved and converted to a brewery ASAP - for historic preservation purposes of course. If a brewery is not established soon, Charlotte residents may forget the rich history of this UNESCO site and have no reason to save it. My biggest fear is that Lincoln Harris will renew his feud with the Miller family and raze the Alamo - only to build a 14 story parking deck.

Potential brewery names include:

• Alamo Brewing
• Last Stand Brewing
• Coonskin Cap Brewing
• LoSo Brewing (jk)
• Alamo'd Brew Pub - A pour yourself your own beers establishment
• MILLER Coors Brewing
• Garrison Brewing

 

Very entertaining! Unlike Mgelbach (whose pictures are the BEST), I love this building but agree it needs work. There seems to be broad agreement that this would kill as a food hall (mentioned by posters now and for years). It is definitely under utilized. I'd personally be seriously bummed if it was demolished for something new...

[Mgelbach]

2 hours ago, JBS said:

Very entertaining! Unlike Mgelbach (whose pictures are the BEST), I love this building but agree it needs work. There seems to be broad agreement that this would kill as a food hall (mentioned by posters now and for years). It is definitely under utilized. I'd personally be seriously bummed if it was demolished for something new...

LOL just because my pictures are good does not mean I should get a pass for my bad opinions! Thank you by the way!

Whatever they do with it is fine with me, so long as it brings more people to the area, there's retail incorporated, and a better connection to the rail trail is made.

[TheRealClayton]

4 hours ago, Urban Cowboy said:

Thank you for the drone photos @Mgelbach.  Always appreciate your contributions! The drone shots show just how big this footprint is. And IMO, larger footprints usually negatively impact "strollability" because there's less visual interest and buildings on a smaller pedestrian scale. No gripes on that front here - since we're replacing a parking lot. I think people forget that.

But as South End continues to change, I do think the larger scale buildings are going to impact the character. Part of what's unique about south end is the industrial/old warehouse vibe that some of the buildings evoke. I think the choice buildings are all going to be saved. Except...

One building that I personally worry about is the Charlotte Alamo. A global icon - we must protect the Alamo at all costs. Originally a historic Spanish mission and fortress compound - this is one of Charlotte's earliest buildings. Founded in the 18th century by Roman Catholic missionaries in what is now South End, North Carolina, United States. It was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where American folk heroes James Bowie and Davy Crockett died. It was also the set  and backdrop of the 2004 drama entitled "The Alamo," starring Hollywood legends Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton. Today it is home to Miller Services, an office equipment supplier. This World Heritage Site needs to be saved and converted to a brewery ASAP - for historic preservation purposes of course. If a brewery is not established soon, Charlotte residents may forget the rich history of this UNESCO site and have no reason to save it. My biggest fear is that Lincoln Harris will renew his feud with the Miller family and raze the Alamo - only to build a 14 story parking deck.

Potential brewery names include:

• Alamo Brewing
• Last Stand Brewing
• Coonskin Cap Brewing
• LoSo Brewing (jk)
• Alamo'd Brew Pub - A pour yourself your own beers establishment
• MILLER Coors Brewing
• Garrison Brewing

 

It's as good as gone. Price for this land is so high now that its enigmatic owner is talking to a high rise residential developer out of the Windy City.

[RANYC]

2 hours ago, JBS said:

Very entertaining! Unlike Mgelbach (whose pictures are the BEST), I love this building but agree it needs work. There seems to be broad agreement that this would kill as a food hall (mentioned by posters now and for years). It is definitely under utilized. I'd personally be seriously bummed if it was demolished for something new...

Love this building as well.  What I think we're advocating for is to save it, but to implement some design enhancements and improve its context.  Cars and their associated accommodations like surface lots surrounded by chain-link fencing just kill everything. 

Unfortunately, market comparables aren't helping matters.  Lowe's building just sold for 889/square foot.  That's likely making a whole range of low-rise property-owners all throughout South-End re-imagine their low-rises as demolished and replaced by intense mid & high-rise uses, and since we're so car-centric, those mid & high-rise uses will be designed to sit atop parking podiums.  Low-rise charm is an endangered species in South End, and it's unclear what disrupts this reinforcing feedback loop.

 

[JacksonH]

2 hours ago, JBS said:

Very entertaining! Unlike Mgelbach (whose pictures are the BEST), I love this building but agree it needs work. There seems to be broad agreement that this would kill as a food hall (mentioned by posters now and for years). It is definitely under utilized. I'd personally be seriously bummed if it was demolished for something new...

Same here!  This building actually does have historical significance in Charlotte.  Somebody posted here about a year ago an article from when this building first opened in the early 1920s.  It was a merchandise mart, or something of that nature.  Major trade/commerce events  took place there.  And at the time it was the largest building in Charlotte in square footage.

If you notice, on the Rail Trail side of the building, you can see where old doorways have been bricked over.  It would be wonderful if those doorways were restored and spaces for individual stores or restaurants could be created, or yes, a food hall!