210 Trade | EpiCentre

[uptownliving]

Impressive show of construction equipment on 4th St today. They had most lanes closed on the street to accomidate a huge red mobile crane that is erecting the permanent blue crane on 4th St. I assume this will be used primarily for the construction of aloft Hotel.

The EpiCentre site now has 3 active cranes in 1 city block.

[eastsider]

Another crane rising:

[schmopperX]

This building will be halfway up before people stop wondering if it is going to be built! Bring on the cranes and the construction!

I don't know why, but I'm one of those people, for some reason I just doubt this project. I'm easily more optimistic about The Vue and they haven't turned one shovel of dirt.

Maybe it's because of how long it took for the old Convention Center to go away, I don't know.

[Charlotteman]

So aloft Hotel will be built during the same time period as Epicenter's retail buildings?

I just figured aloft was to be built "in the near future" which means uncertainty. So a foundation for aloft is under way?

[dubone]

Aloft is a for sure tenant, at least from what I understand. So that is definitely going up, as is all the Epicenter parts. Although it may just be the foundation if they haven't applied for the permits for the tower.

[Charlotte_native]

Does anyone know if Aloft will have a restaurant or bar that isn't part of Epicentre? Boutique hotel bars are something I personally would really like downtown and would certainly be a guaranteed patron!

[atlrvr]

It will have the chain-wide prototpye "Re: Fuel" which I believe is a 24-hour quick-service "food store", and "W XYZ" which is a bar/lounge.

[cinco]

Does anyone know if Aloft will have a restaurant or bar that isn't part of Epicentre? Boutique hotel bars are something I personally would really like downtown and would certainly be a guaranteed patron!

good question... hotel bars are very appealing to me as well. they are usually cozier and not as loud as your typical bar. not to mention the mysterious allure of meeting transients. i also used to love having drinks @ airport bars and lounges before 9/11.

knowing this is an aloft hotel... i bet the bar they will (might) have - will be pretty cool. this project just might have something that interests me... i'm not a fan of the "raving brands" portfolio.

Edited January 8, 2007 by cinco

[Charlotteman]

The only rendering of aloft I've seen is that of a small white box. Are there are renderings as to what it will actually look like?

[dubone]

There have been a few posted on this, and the predecessor thread. You also Mobuchu's pictures of the model. As you can see, it is just a basic building.

^^^But I still like giving previews...

Actually it opens to those on their "mailing list" tomorrow and the public on friday. They did say that they will be using the green color, someone else will have to elaborate on that, I was busy taking these.

Crown from the front:

Crown from the back:

Model looks great

[Charlotteman]

Wow that is what aloft will look like???

Looks like the hotels that sit near the Cameron Brown building~~not attractive at all.

Is this design acceptable to you folks? I find it distinctly boring and uninspired.

[dubone]

Note that once color is added, it will be a little bit more interesting, and much better than the [best Western/Sheraton 4Pts/Whatever it is now] hotel by the courthouse.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/...alofthotels_com

But also keep in mind that Aloft is the basically intended to be a hip version of Sheraton Four Points. It is the cheaper, suburban version of the W. We are, I think, the only city getting one downtown. But given the pricepoint, it is probably a good thing we'll get one downtown, for some of the price-sensitive visitors to the city.

But still, this isn't upscale, so you have a basic design, and HVAC in the vents below the windows.

[JerseyBoy]

Wow that is what aloft will look like???

Looks like the hotels that sit near the Cameron Brown building~~not attractive at all.

Is this design acceptable to you folks? I find it distinctly boring and uninspired.

I think it is just a "high-end place holder," meaning that the building will be in this shape but the materials on the outside will look dramatically different than what you see now (which is nothing). That certainly isn't our finished product (at least I hope so).

[MZT]

After walking by a huge hole every morning for a year, it's kind of impressive to see stuff accumulating and rising up at the site. There is a LOT of mass being installed.

[dxartist]

After walking by a huge hole every morning for a year, it's kind of impressive to see stuff accumulating and rising up at the site. There is a LOT of mass being installed.

Yes, its is. I would visit employees in Charlotte Plaza from time to time and wished I was one of the tenants sitting in Charlotte Plaza with window view to the Epicenter. The webcam is fine and all, but you can feel and see more happening seeing it live.

[Charlotte_native]

Yes, its is. I would visit employees in Charlotte Plaza from time to time and wished I was one of the tenants sitting in Charlotte Plaza with window view to the Epicenter. The webcam is fine and all, but you can feel and see more happening seeing it live.

Go have a cocktail at Bentleys in the Charlotte Plaza -- part of the bar overlooks the project and you are right, it is a great view.

[CLTfanatic]

Bentley's doesnt overlook the site!?!?!

[Mobuchu]

The actual bar lounge area doesn't, but you can order a drink and walk around the entire floor and look out all sides.

[Charlotte_native]

Bentley's doesnt overlook the site!?!?!

there is a room used for private parties that faces directly north. part of the bar.

[TONYCLT]

I thought that the Aloft Hotel was to be 17 floors when did this change?

[charlotte49ersuptown]

Can someone tell me why they are building a wood frame strcuture where aLoft will go. It does't seem like they would need these even for concrete forms since I thought it would be a steel frame. Also, I just looked at the webcam and there is a ton of material on the top level of the project. This really is a massive project.

[uptownliving]

I do not envy these guys hard at work on the EpiCentre.

[dxartist]

I do not envy these guys hard at work on the EpiCentre.

ugh... well, it couldn't be any more dangerous than that window installer from the the Avenue thread. Still, not a enviable job nontheless. I'll take my bland cubicle instead.

[Justadude]

For a good view of the project, try getting a dentists' appointment at Kalons and Glidewell. Granted, the sacrifice might not be worth the sweet view but their office looks directly over the project. I was able to watch the cranes move stuff around while I waited for a filling

Edited January 22, 2007 by Justadude

[revitalize]

Looks like Ghazi's got a little extra pocket change to work with now. Article. Wonder if this deal was made to boost the EpiCentre projects finances?