Thirteen 21 Lofts (formerly Vsion, the Dakota)

[emerging.me]

The building officially went on the market this week... $4.9 million. Any takers?

[Spartan]

Yeah let me bust out my monopoly game. They do take fake money right?

[krazeeboi]

^LOL. It would be nice for it to get scooped up and undergo a major renovation as higher grade office space.

[waccamatt]

While the redevelopment of this building will no longer be called "Vsion", The State reports tonight that Capitol Places will redevelop this building as "The Dakota", a highrise residence for seniors.

The Dakota

[CorgiMatt]

This project does two things I like. It brings new bodies downtown while not blocking out the First Presbyterian church steeple on the skyline from the West Columbia view.

[krazeeboi]

It's good to know that this building will still have a use. I wonder if they will still overhaul the exterior of the building.

[Spartan]

I'm not thrilled about this development. It says: "It will be totally contained. Residents will have almost every convenience they might need on a day-to-day basis. And those that aren

[CorgiMatt]

Didn't it say 80 apartments, not hundreds? One person per apartment probably. Meals aren't included. That means walking to restaurants and driving, and I'm sure in some cases walking, down to Publix.

[mainstreeter]

Rendering on scbiznews.com

[digital_sandlapper]

While the redevelopment of this building will no longer be called "Vsion", The State reports tonight that Capitol Places will redevelop this building as "The Dakota", a highrise residence for seniors.

The Dakota

Glad it will be renovated still--the rendering looks decent. Seniors living downtown is fine with me of course, too. The only thing I don't like is the name, again ("Vsion" was terrible, too, IMO): "The Dakota"? What does this have to do with the Dakotas? Is this an attempt to sound upscale like the Dakota Apts. in Manhattan with its Central Park view?

A better name would've been "The Madeline" or "St. Jeffrey Place". Much more appropriate, IMO.

[Spartan]

Probably because its different. There is nothing remotely Dakota sounding in this part of the world.

I think that I like that rendering better than Vsion. Particularly considering that its a renovation.

[krazeeboi]

The color scheme is a bit too drab for me--I actually liked the proposed renovation for Vsion better as it was more contemporary--but the ground floor looks OK. It would be nice if they'd use real brick.

That whole block could use new investment.

I'm with you on the name, digital_sandlapper, and it looks like you were right about its inspiration: "The development will be named the Dakota, to evoke the legendary building on New York’s Upper West Side that once was home to John Lennon," per the article in the Columbia Business Report. I think "Capitol Places, Senior Edition" would be more appropriate.

[dobboard]

Personally, I like the new look.

[krazeeboi]

I suppose the reason I'm not fond of the new look is because I have a local reference. A 13-story building here in uptown Charlotte was renovated into condos about 2 years ago, and I don't really care for the way the exterior turned out. It's too vanilla and suburbanish for my tastes:

[colajnp]

I like the look - it is a renovation and not new construction - so i am sure they are limited to what they can do. But I LOVE the thought of Independent Living downtown - near churches, health care, university, and nightlife. Columbia is becoming a retiring haven from the Florida group and these are still somewhat active adults - so it will bring some additional life to that area - JMO

[krazeeboi]

I like the look - it is a renovation and not new construction - so i am sure they are limited to what they can do.

True, but if a vacant office building in Greensboro can go from this

to a condo building that looks like this

then I know it's possible for this building. But since this isn't a high-profile project targeting yuppies, I suppose there's no need to really go all out on the exterior. But still, it would be nice to have it jazzed up a bit.

[CorgiMatt]

Different strokes, I guess, but I love the new rendering. I thought Vsion was too glassy. This has architectural style and texture. And it looks like it belongs in the downtown of a southern city. Nothing wrong with that.

[krazeeboi]

Different strokes, I guess, but I love the new rendering. I thought Vsion was too glassy. This has architectural style and texture. And it looks like it belongs in the downtown of a southern city. Nothing wrong with that.

So will the Tower at Main and Gervais look out of place in downtown?

[CorgiMatt]

I prefer the first "this" in Greensboro. Clean, simplistic lines are always tops with me. The second "this" is too busy and glassy.

[CorgiMatt]

It's an office building, not a place to live.

A side-by-side comparison of the Minter building as it currently is and the rendering of what it will become is strikingly impressive to me.

[krazeeboi]

I prefer the first "this" in Greensboro. Clean, simplistic lines are always tops with me. The second "this" is too busy and glassy.

But it's a condo building now. In its original condition, it would have been much less functional as a residential building. I posted that it as an example to show that just because it's a renovation doesn't mean the architecture has to be drastically constrained.

It's an office building, not a place to live.

But you didn't mention anything about use, only architecture. That's why I asked.

A side-by-side comparison of the Minter building as it currently is and the rendering of what it will become is strikingly impressive to me.

I agree that it's an improvement. I just think the design could be better. It doesn't necessarily have to be glassy to be better.

[CorgiMatt]

To me the design is a major face lift that respects and preserves the building's simplistic design. I think it's beautiful. But to each his own.

[growingup15]

wow the design is kinda old looking. i think a futuristic senior center will look nice in that spot. with the most technological stuff inside.

[BrasilnSC]

The design looks a little old and bland to me, but it's still an improvement. The front looks much better than the sides, which need more detailing IMO. As for seniors living there, I think it's good to have a mix of people downtown.

[Captain Worley]

I with Corgi on this one. I like the look that doesn't stray to far from today's look. Plus, they are marketting it to seniors, so steel and glass may not be percieved as a good thing. Rarely is 'senior living' seen with 'edgy architecture.'