Misc. Uptown Projects/News

[nicholas]

22 hours ago, Mgelbach said:

Is there a real reason that security doesn't want people to take pictures on their property?

Legacy Union, Ally, BOA Corporate Center all have ridiculous security who barely even let you get a camera up to your eyes before they stop you. Truist has gotten better, they'll come over and talk/hang out and have no issues with photography.

Everyone is so freaking paranoid about literally everything.  Can't take a picture of some building because it's a national security issue.  Can't go to a climbing center without signing your life away.  Can't go into a restaurant without proof of vaccination.  Etc.  I'm not saying we should all be running around willy nilly doing whatever comes to mind, but there are way too many people obsessed with covering their a$$es and minimizing anything unpleasant happening to them (no matter how unlikely) that we're all forgetting how to just live.  Rant over.

On a more related note, I have been told by security in North Hills not to take pictures of buildings due to "branding".  Sorry but this does not make any more sense than "terrorism".  Someone please explain to me how preventing photography minimizes terrorism.  There are pictures of every company's buildings all over the internet, and Google Earth lets you pinpoint exactly where every building is in each city, and usually will let you toggle around in a 3D view.  I find it hard to believe that a terrorist trying to blow up a building is going to conspicuously be taking pics of it.

[atlrvr]

The compromise in recent years of a more inclusive society has been removing discretion in assumptions and willing to mitigate risks by restricting individual rights 

If security let's stereotypical looking banker bro stand in a private plaza and shoot a picture of the building where they work to send to a friend, how does security then justify stopping stereotypical looking terrorist bro from standing in same plaza next to building taking a picture of the access card reader system to send to terrorist friend.

For better or worse, we as a society would rather err on restricting rights, than empower discretion that could either intentionally or accidentally be viewed as discriminatory.

[videtur quam contuor]

So it is an error to do so.

[Eightane]

2 hours ago, nicholas said:

Everyone is so freaking paranoid about literally everything.  Can't take a picture of some building because it's a national security issue.  Can't go to a climbing center without signing your life away.  Can't go into a restaurant without proof of vaccination.  Etc.  I'm not saying we should all be running around willy nilly doing whatever comes to mind, but there are way too many people obsessed with covering their a$$es and minimizing anything unpleasant happening to them (no matter how unlikely) that we're all forgetting how to just live.  Rant over.

On a more related note, I have been told by security in North Hills not to take pictures of buildings due to "branding".  Sorry but this does not make any more sense than "terrorism".  Someone please explain to me how preventing photography minimizes terrorism.  There are pictures of every company's buildings all over the internet, and Google Earth lets you pinpoint exactly where every building is in each city, and usually will let you toggle around in a 3D view.  I find it hard to believe that a terrorist trying to blow up a building is going to conspicuously be taking pics of it.

I agree about the first two of those, but vaccination is headed towards being *rightfully* mandatory. As I type this my aunt is in a hospital, intubated, and has been given a 20% chance to live. She is unvaccinated. This pandemic is historic and horrific and bears no meaningful resemblance or similarity to overcaution about taking pictures, because photos aren't a contagion.

There, I've said my off-topic yet personal piece. Resume.

[tozmervo]

32 minutes ago, Eightane said:

I agree about the first two of those, but vaccination is headed towards being *rightfully* mandatory. As I type this my aunt is in a hospital, intubated, and has been given a 20% chance to live. She is unvaccinated. This pandemic is historic and horrific and bears no meaningful resemblance or similarity to overcaution about taking pictures, because photos aren't a contagion.

There, I've said my off-topic yet personal piece. Resume.

Really sorry to hear about your aunt. Treatments have improved, so I hope for the best.

[nicholas]

1 hour ago, Eightane said:

I agree about the first two of those, but vaccination is headed towards being *rightfully* mandatory. As I type this my aunt is in a hospital, intubated, and has been given a 20% chance to live. She is unvaccinated. This pandemic is historic and horrific and bears no meaningful resemblance or similarity to overcaution about taking pictures, because photos aren't a contagion.

There, I've said my off-topic yet personal piece. Resume.

Sorry to hear about your aunt, hope she overcomes the odds and makes a full recovery.

[Also, to expound on that, I'm not against the vaccines.  They have clearly been overwhelmingly safe and effective against Covid.  I'm against governmental mandates for them because that has the potential to turn into a very slippery slope.]

[J-Rob]

I already regret wading into this off topic conversation, but I feel obligated to note mandatory vaccines have been accepted public safety measure for decades. The slippery slope argument seems to me to be a result of recent political divisions where it has become unacceptable to agree on anything. 

NC DPH, WCH: Immunization: Family: Immunizations for Children

 

Now  in attempt to steer back to miscellaneous uptown topics, does anyone in the know on this board know anything about Levine's' garage?  Can this city require it to be torn down if it is truly not up to code, as rumored?

[slipperypete]

18 hours ago, J-Rob said:

Now  in attempt to steer back to miscellaneous uptown topics, does anyone in the know on this board know anything about Levine's' garage?  Can this city require it to be torn down if it is truly not up to code, as rumored?

I don't know about that specific question, but I have gotten code enforcement involved for trash and high weeds on that property. I think everybody who passes by there should make a complaint via the CLT+ just as if they were a Karen homeowner in a bossy HOA.  

I've gotten to the point where I ascribe malice to Levine's inaction on this and their many other properties. Because it's either malice or incompetence, right? And surely nobody could be this incompetent.  

[KJHburg]

This 32 story office building now mainly occupied by Duke Energy will be 80-90% VACANT when the new DEP building is done.   My idea would be this: convert most of the floors to apartments and maybe the lower floors with hotel rooms.  I just don't see this building going on as an office tower with the flight to quality AA newer buildings.  We did this with 230 S Tryon converted the old NC Federal Northwestern Mutual building into condos.   We don't need a vacant office tower on our skyline like New Orleans (45 story  Plaza Tower vacant before Katrina and still is)  , Memphis (their tallest building 37 stories 100 N Main ) and even a vacant huge tower in St Louis (44 story vacant AT&T building)    (something is in the water along that Mississippi River as all these buildings are along the river) 

In Dallas they turned a 36 story vacant office building into the Gables Republic tower apartments.  We need to be thinking about this for this tower.   Any new tenant would want a newer building with balconies, LEED certs, etc.  

Last 2 photos 230 S Tryon a condo tower formerly NC Federal's HQ.  

[RANYC]

12 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

This 32 story office building now mainly occupied by Duke Energy will be 80-90% VACANT when the new DEP building is done.   My idea would be this: convert most of the floors to apartments and maybe the lower floors with hotel rooms.  I just don't see this building going on as an office tower with the flight to quality AA newer buildings.  We did this with 230 S Tryon converted the old NC Federal Northwestern Mutual building into condos.   We don't need a vacant office tower on our skyline like New Orleans (45 story  Plaza Tower vacant before Katrina and still is)  , Memphis (their tallest building 37 stories 100 N Main ) and even a vacant huge tower in St Louis (44 story vacant AT&T building)    (something is in the water along that Mississippi River as all these buildings are along the river) 

In Dallas they turned a 36 story vacant office building into the Gables Republic tower apartments.  We need to be thinking about this for this tower.   Any new tenant would want a newer building with balconies, LEED certs, etc.  

Last 2 photos 230 S Tryon a condo tower formerly NC Federal's HQ.  

You're right about getting in front of some of these usage changes and promoting the idea of them as residential.

[abttown]

Believe Trinity Partners spent some money a couple years back renovating that building.  I'm not sure how extensive the renovations were, but I know the lobby was rehabilitated a good bit.  I'm sure they're perusing the market for any interest, but I do love the idea of such a large building becoming residential.

[JRCLT]

I think these are pictures of what you may be referring to:

http:// https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2016/05/26/2-million-lobby-renovation-of-400-south-tryon-now.html


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Matthew.Brendan]

21 hours ago, KJHburg said:

This 32 story office building now mainly occupied by Duke Energy will be 80-90% VACANT when the new DEP building is done.   My idea would be this: convert most of the floors to apartments and maybe the lower floors with hotel rooms.  I just don't see this building going on as an office tower with the flight to quality AA newer buildings.  We did this with 230 S Tryon converted the old NC Federal Northwestern Mutual building into condos.   We don't need a vacant office tower on our skyline like New Orleans (45 story  Plaza Tower vacant before Katrina and still is)  , Memphis (their tallest building 37 stories 100 N Main ) and even a vacant huge tower in St Louis (44 story vacant AT&T building)    (something is in the water along that Mississippi River as all these buildings are along the river) 

In Dallas they turned a 36 story vacant office building into the Gables Republic tower apartments.  We need to be thinking about this for this tower.   Any new tenant would want a newer building with balconies, LEED certs, etc.  

Last 2 photos 230 S Tryon a condo tower formerly NC Federal's HQ. 

 

 

To me this represents an easy opportunity to blow out the entire lobby (ok, at least that corner) and build it so that it can be enclosed over winter, but come spring you can have large wide open air space and make that a truly amazing people friendly market space.

I guess I'd settle for at least replacing these lobby arches with some modern glass and most importantly getting rid of the horrendous super dark tint. You'd want to showcase the light and space inside I'd think.

[TheOneRJ]

I was out and about in Uptown this weekend and the atmosphere was very energetic, probably from The Rolling Stones concert. I did hear multiple people complaining about the lack of food options open during the day. 

[Vitamin_N]

13 hours ago, TheOneRJ said:

I was out and about in Uptown this weekend and the atmosphere was very energetic, probably from The Rolling Stones concert. I did hear multiple people complaining about the lack of food options open during the day. 

Uptown on Friday afternoon was the most lively it had felt in a while.

[KJHburg]

39 minutes ago, Vitamin_N said:

Uptown on Friday afternoon was the most lively it had felt in a while.

I was there Saturday morning and felt the same as special events were going on and I saw tourists too I could just tell. 

[KJHburg]

Miscellaneous uptown photos from my walking tour on Saturday.  After being in downtown Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston in the last few weeks we have something pretty good here in uptown Charlotte.  Much more street activity than Dallas or Houston for example,  very dense, not as much retail as Fort Worth or Nashville but lots of street activity.   More parks and trees than any of the cities mentioned.    Overall we have a great downtown uptown CBD whatever you want to call it.  For example 3 major sports facilities there which other cities have some but not 3 and concentration of museums (Houston's has its own district outside of downtown)  arts facilities all very concentrated in a dense urban core.  

Captured a solar fare on the Firebird.   Still love the Barings 300 South Tryon building. 

[tozmervo]

The only restaurants I know of not open in Uptown are the higher end options during lunch at this point. I think a small number in Overstreet aren't reopen but even that's changing (Showmars & Panera both recently reopened). 

One issue to reckon will be the ones that closed entirely, like Amelies Uptown or Jason's Deli.  I'm still holding out hope Amelie's will reopen that location. 

[CLT2014]

It could be because people are walking around the Legacy Union area right around the stadium and see everything is vacant still so they are making comments about no / closed food options. If you walk along 5 empty storefronts... it greatly discourages venturing even further. 

Locals know you have to walk towards Tryon or the other wards to find food, but if you are visiting and park near the stadium, you'll see lots of empty storefronts. 

If you are looking for lunch options, a good amount of places close to the stadium are closed on weekends:
Fin and Fino (closed lunch Sat, closed Sun)
Reid's (closed all day Sat and Sun)
Hasaki (closed all day Sat and Sun)
Caroline's Oyster Bar (closed lunch Sat and Sun)
Angeline's (closed at lunch Sat and Sun)
French Quarter (closed all day Sun)
Nefelie's (closed all day Sun)
Clover Joe's (closed all day Sat and Sun)
Phil's Deli (closed all day Sat and Sun)
Bernardin's (closed lunch Sat, all day Sun)
Sandwich Club (closed all day Sat and Sun)
Matt's Chicago (still shut down)
Brazz (closed lunch Sat, all day Sun)

Restaurants are still VERY short staffed. In theory, a restaurant should open for a one-time special event like the Rolling Stones Concert... but many restaurants have staff that are working at other places due to reduced hours. If you are usually closed Saturday - Sunday, half your staff may have another part-time job working at a different restaurant open on Saturday and Sunday. If you just try to open for a single day, your staff may say "nope, can't come in, have my other job." Given the upper hand most employees have in the current labor market, the restaurants either needs to open permanently and give staff those consistent hours even when foot traffic is lower so they can quit the other job.... or they stay closed and miss out on special events. They can't really just force staff who have other jobs in on the occasional busy day.

Edited October 6, 2021 by CLT2014

[KJHburg]

I just mentioned this for 400 South Tryon for a conversion to apartments due to the fact it will be mostly empty when the new Duke Energy Plaza opens. 

Here is national story written by Ashley Fahey formerly of CLT Biz Journal.

More than 20,000 apartment-conversion units are slated to deliver this year. A growing number are in old office buildings. - The Business Journals (bizjournals.com)

""Yardi Matrix found, of all the converted apartments delivering this year and that finished in 2020, 41% are in former office buildings, the most of any property type.  It's a more challenging, and expensive, conversion project but one that's increased in popularity since the pandemic.    Paynter said, generally speaking, office buildings dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, when floorplate sizes were smaller and contained more shallow footprints, are the most ideal buildings for conversion into housing. Buildings from the 1980s and 1990s tend to have much larger floorplates in comparison.  Historically, developers would pursue office-to-residential conversions in markets that saw a sudden surge in vacancy, likely from a major company or industry shuttering offices.""

400 South Tryon built in 1974 so it might be perfect according to this article. 

[Madison Parkitect]

21 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

I just mentioned this for 400 South Tryon for a conversion to apartments due to the fact it will be mostly empty when the new Duke Energy Plaza opens. 

Here is national story written by Ashley Fahey formerly of CLT Biz Journal.

More than 20,000 apartment-conversion units are slated to deliver this year. A growing number are in old office buildings. - The Business Journals (bizjournals.com)

""Yardi Matrix found, of all the converted apartments delivering this year and that finished in 2020, 41% are in former office buildings, the most of any property type.  It's a more challenging, and expensive, conversion project but one that's increased in popularity since the pandemic.    Paynter said, generally speaking, office buildings dating back to the 1960s and 1970s, when floorplate sizes were smaller and contained more shallow footprints, are the most ideal buildings for conversion into housing. Buildings from the 1980s and 1990s tend to have much larger floorplates in comparison.  Historically, developers would pursue office-to-residential conversions in markets that saw a sudden surge in vacancy, likely from a major company or industry shuttering offices.""

400 South Tryon built in 1974 so it might be perfect according to this article. 

Once you get more than about 40 feet from the core to the windows, you're out of apartment range unless you're packing non-leasable mechanical and storage units around the core just to take up space. But then you're really killing your efficiency numbers.

[kermit]

Not Charlotte (yet), but if true it may have lots of local implications:

 

[Madison Parkitect]

43 minutes ago, kermit said:

Not Charlotte (yet), but if true it may have lots of local implications:

 

An alternate angle photo shows that specific building to be just those two masses (in other words, there's no short mass on the other side we're not seeing) so it's one of the few buildings in Peachtree Center that would be perfect for apartments. If those windows are 3' wide or so, you're looking at about a 30' depth for each mass, which is perfect if you put your corridors down the center.

[KJHburg]

I am telling you we will see office to residential conversions in uptown Charlotte in the next 5 years as there is a flight to quality newer buildings maybe smaller spaces but newer and more amenitized.  Otherwise we will join New Orleans, Memphis, St Louis with a vacant high rise office tower and I don't think it will come to that.   With construction costs of high rises so high now it does make sense to renovate existing high rises if they are predominantly empty which a few could be shortly. 

 

Edited October 20, 2021 by KJHburg

[J-Rob]

What does everyone make of this? It seems odd to me. Didn't they rezone large swaths of land along blue line because of location (next to transit) instead of specific site plans?  This seems like awkward political posturing to out Tepper as potential buyer or something.  Also, someone alluded to there being a public/private partnership in the works with Tepper that might result in a few high rises?  I assumed that was here, but if so, and there is a public/private partnership being negotiated, a UMUD rezoning in Uptown seems like a weird thing to protest. 

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/11/05/cbj-morning-buzz-charlotte-pipe-rezoning.html