NC Music Factory / Uptown Village / Deco One

[Urbanity]

Comedy Zone opens next month. Summer line up has been announced.

http://thecomedyzonecharlotteiscoming.weebly.com/index.html

Edited May 12, 2011 by Urbanity

[Mobuchu]

I attended the Fuel concert at the Music Factory this past friday which was a part of their $5 friday outdoor concerts. While I'm just not a big fan of the music factory in general, it was a great time for a cheap night. The crowd was VERY mixed in age, and it didn't get overly crowded. I'll def be checking out a couple more of those concerts when there's a band I'm interested in.

Also stopped by VBGB for a drink. Decent beer selection, and plenty of long wooden tables to sit at. But I really didn't get the vibe of a German beer hall? Not sure if that's what they are going for, but it felt more like a bar with 106.5 playing (the brand new wood fence and bright concrete patio doesn't really help either). Still worth a trip though, especially with the warmer weather coming up, and it's great to see the JFG sign lit up.

[nonillogical]

Also stopped by VBGB for a drink. Decent beer selection, and plenty of long wooden tables to sit at. But I really didn't get the vibe of a German beer hall? Not sure if that's what they are going for, but it felt more like a bar with 106.5 playing (the brand new wood fence and bright concrete patio doesn't really help either). Still worth a trip though, especially with the warmer weather coming up, and it's great to see the JFG sign lit up.

I haven't been by yet, but for a place I was so excited about on paper, the photos made the place look pretty underwhelming and inauthentic. Also, some of the higher beer prices I've seen in town. I may check it out before the Primus show next month, but if I'm not over there already for something, its not too enticing.

The Comedy Zone lineup doesn't strike me as too great yet (first show is Rob Schneider??) but that is only through August. Still a steady stream of recognizable names and I'm confident they'll get some acts more up my alley before the year is out.

[Urbanity]

Hmmm. I've been to a beer hall in Prague and one in England and frankly they are by nature just open rooms with tables so not certain what the expectation was.

I personally love VBGB precisely because the decor and music take second stage to just being able to sit around with people and just have a pitcher and talk. I kind that the charm in itself. Maybe it's just me.

[HopHead]

I was at the NC Music Factory last night and noticed in the parking lot (the one behind Mattie's Diner) that there was a sign for "Condominiums at the Factory Coming Soon" (or something to that effect). There was a rendering along with a description for 1.2 million sqft feet of retail, hotel and residences. Has anyone heard or seen some more info on this? I think a lot of us believe this area needs some residents to maintain success in the future.

[Niner National]

I think that sign has been there since the facility opened.

[ScottCLT]

I actually noticed that same sign last week too. I think it's a new one, actually, though I know they have been talking about these plans for a while.

[HopHead]

I actually noticed that same sign last week too. I think it's a new one, actually, though I know they have been talking about these plans for a while.

Yea, I'm pretty positive it's a new one. There's a rendering on this one as well.

[caterpillar2]

Hmmm. I've been to a beer hall in Prague and one in England and frankly they are by nature just open rooms with tables so not certain what the expectation was.

I personally love VBGB precisely because the decor and music take second stage to just being able to sit around with people and just have a pitcher and talk. I kind that the charm in itself. Maybe it's just me.

You're right. I've been to them all. The Haufbrauhaus in Munich is the biggest, oldest beerkeller in Europe. It is basically open spaces with long tables with chairs, nothing more. Great Britain (and Ireland) has nice/quaint pubs that are cozy and nice but definately not built for hoards of people.

[ScottCLT]

You're right. I've been to them all. The Haufbrauhaus in Munich is the biggest, oldest beerkeller in Europe. It is basically open spaces with long tables with chairs, nothing more. Great Britain (and Ireland) has nice/quaint pubs that are cozy and nice but definately not built for hoards of people.

I'll throw a good word in for VBGB as well. I checked it out last week for the first time, and I loved it! Huge beers, a selections that changes daily, and the PRETZEL & BEER CHEESE. It's in CAPS for a reason. You need to try it.

Interesting side note...Zane Lamprey and his crew from the "Drinking Made Easy" and "Three Sheets" shows was there last week and loved this place - he was in an apparent beer cheese coma when he left. I talked to some of his crew and they said he had 5 or 6 pretzels that night (and they are big). He also made it to Philosopher's Stone, Crave, Phil's Tavern, and Prohibition. The "Drinking Made Easy" episode for Charlotte is supposed to air in January, and you might just see me and my fiance hanging at the bar at VBGB because I was there when they were filming. He's off to Charleston for his next drinking journey.

[Urbanity]

I stopped by the Comedy Zone at NCMF and really like the space a lot. They seem to be working hard at attracting key talent too, I think this another feather in the cap for the Factory.

[HopHead]

Well, it looks like apartments are finally on tap for the NC Music Factory. 200 units are set to be built here, along with a boutique hotel. Construction on the apartments is set to begin in the spring (so should be in the next month or two) and should be ready in about a year. It will be two 5 story buildings called "NC Music Factory Apartments" (how creative). I'm hoping there are plans for more soon because I really think they are grossly underestimating the demand for apartments here.

[Niner National]

Good news. That area will become a nice sub district once housing is in place.

Brightwalk will also make this area more of a pedestrian destination (http://brightwalkcharlotte.com/)

[HopHead]

To add to my original post about the apartments, per Kermit's post on the map thread the buildings will also have 40,000 sqft of retail as well. So, begin to speculate what could go there

[dubone]

I can't wait to see some of these parcels closer to Graham built up, especially if an apartment community can go in and get some of the cachet of NCMF.

I suspect the retail will be more entertainment and restaurant space. Seems they are successful at making those happen.

[Guest]

I like the look of these! This will definitely give this a much more urban feel! Also will really help liven up the area and the entrance to the music factory.

[dubone]

It's definitely the furmanesque midrise style that is a lot of places these days, but still I am excited about this project. Not only the location bridging 4th Ward and NCMF, but the density on a plot that is unexpected.

Given the young people they will market to, I'm sure that street-side pool will be quite the 'streetlife'.

[HopHead]

I like the look of these apartments as well. It will definitely "brighten up" the entrance into the Music Factory district (as I call it).

[southslider]

How can the NCRR/CSX grade-separation project get built without impacting this street?

And if that's a complication, how can this development (apartments, deck, and restaurant) even be built prior to the rail project?

[DCMetroRaleigh]

awesome project. can't wait to see it built!

[Urbanity]

Just echoing others about being thrilled about this project. In many ways the lack of something there causes a mental block for many people between NCMF and Downtown. Hopefully that will lead into further development on Graham

[Prodev]

Owner is shopping the project to developers to sell of rather than develop themselves, so the rendering/architecture/site plan you see today may not be what materializes. I've also seen a rendering of the hotel planned for the music factory. Very art deco 70's mod. Not sure the timeline on that or how it would be branded using the existing design. I don't know how that would do in that location assuming a high end boutique concept that it appears to be.

[dubone]

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=28202&hl=en&ll=35.23694,-80.842901&spn=0.003383,0.004206&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.956457,68.90625&t=h&hnear=Charlotte,+North+Carolina+28202&z=18

The mainline crossing project is going to make the Johnson crossing a small bridge while CSX is dropped into a trench. I would love to see NCMF buy up these industrial projects and expand the entertainment options closer into town.

The city has been looking at adding a pedestrian bridge across the tracks to return access to the cemetery. I could see these buildings being a great annex for NCMF further building out the area as an entertainment district. The green space of the cemetery could be an asset in the long run, and the buildings seem suitable to similar types of reuse like in the original project.

[southslider]

I would love to see NCMF buy up these industrial projects and expand the entertainment options closer into town.

Would be nice, except the ADM plant is no longer planning to relocate.

[dubone]

That is really disappointing. The ADM is such an eye sore and puts a damper on a lot of rail options to Gateway station.