Misc. Uptown Projects/News

[abttown]

4 hours ago, Reverie39 said:

It might be minor but I believe small "marketing" things like this can matter in some ways. People want to live in and visit places they feel are important, impressive, and connected. Charlotte properly broadcasting its high-rises can affect that - while most people don't go around searching for # of high-rises on Wikipedia, who's to say that "Where Should You Live?" articles aren't quoting some of these figures? 

It's similar to a point I made a little while ago in the transit thread. I noticed that on Google Maps, the Lynx system is not shown in colored lines like almost every other transit system in the country is. Even other relatively new light rail lines (like Phoenix) have theirs shown. This sort of annoyed me because I wonder how many people are traveling through Charlotte, do a quick check of Google Maps to see how to get somewhere, and aren't even made aware of two rapid transit lines that exist in the city? Frankly I even wonder how many people living in the Charlotte area (mainly out in the suburbs) haven't even given Blue Line park and ride a second thought because they don't realize it goes exactly where they need to go? I think little things like this can matter in the long run. Most people aren't transit and urban planning nerds like us lol

You're right about our transit lines not showing up, which I'm a little ashamed to say I've never noticed until now.  Of course I know there are transit lines and how to get there, but certainly others may not.  I sent a feedback message to Google Maps asking them about the issue, so maybe something will happen?

[Reverie39]

1 hour ago, abttown said:

You're right about our transit lines not showing up, which I'm a little ashamed to say I've never noticed until now.  Of course I know there are transit lines and how to get there, but certainly others may not.  I sent a feedback message to Google Maps asking them about the issue, so maybe something will happen?

I did that too when I first noticed. I also brought this up in the transit (silver/red line) thread, and someone else said they had been talking to CATS about it, but I haven't heard anything since. I wonder what happened with that. Probably best to inquire/raise awareness in that thread. I think if we get enough people talking about it someone may know what to do.

[kayman]

On 2/3/2022 at 9:14 PM, Reverie39 said:

I did that too when I first noticed. I also brought this up in the transit (silver/red line) thread, and someone else said they had been talking to CATS about it, but I haven't heard anything since. I wonder what happened with that. Probably best to inquire/raise awareness in that thread. I think if we get enough people talking about it someone may know what to do.

Apply pressure by constantly emailing: [email protected]; [email protected] about the issues of real GTFS  information.  Also I recommend you call them out on their Facebook,  Twitter, and IG pages as well 

Edited February 5, 2022 by kayman

[Spartan]

On 1/12/2022 at 5:55 PM, kermit said:

$250 per month gets an eager young vendor a kiosk in downtown Atlanta. Seems like Uptown would be an even better space for these things (post covid of course). Why not give it a try?

 

 

I can confirm CCCP has looked at this in the past, specifically converting the old bus shelters from de facto affordable housing into small kiosks. This was a year or so prior to the pandemic, so I'm assuming the pandemic threw a wrench in things. The lack of foot traffic has killed off basically all of the street vendor operations there (well, except Halal), so currently it doesn't make sense. It will be interesting to see how the post-pandemic work environment uptown changes... but IMO I see no reason not to stay bullish on uptown. 

IMO, even if though its likely the hybrid model will remain, people still want to be in CLT, so eventually the office buildings will fill back up.

 

[NcSc74]

I can attest that Tampa's cbd is not that tall but there are many "midrise" districts and yes bayside condo buildings scattered around the city.  However, there are multiple projects going on downtown  on or near parts of the old shipyard channels.  They still are not or wont be more than 300 feet tall.   Surprised Charlotte doesnt have more verticle residential construction going on.  I guess southend's gravity is sucking up the momentum.

[DMann]

Does anyone have any leasing information for the recently completed facelift of the Independence Center on Tryon?

[KJHburg]

6 hours ago, DMann said:

Does anyone have any leasing information for the recently completed facelift of the Independence Center on Tryon?

heard rumors of a Shake Shack coming to one of the spots.  

[RANYC]

Obsessed with these crown-shaped bike racks in Uptown along the separated bike lanes on 6th street.

Can these be rolled out city-wide?  Find them charming.

By the way, this crown design is far better than the one at CLT entrance which, to me, looks more like blender blades.

[JRCLT]

Obsessed with these crown-shaped bike racks in Uptown along the separated bike lanes on 6th street.
Can these be rolled out city-wide?  Find them charming.
By the way, this crown design is far better than the one at CLT entrance which, to me, looks more like blender blades.
http://content.invisioncic.com/x329420/monthly_2022_02/365659639_CrownBikeRacks.jpg.d56288760e79ce2dd3662a3135574fe6.jpg

More Crowns Everywhere!

[stw52]

How is this in such bad shape? I remember it was damaged not too long after it was installed but that was maybe 3 years ago. It looks poorly on the city as you walk uptown to southend.


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[RANYC]

On 2/12/2022 at 9:21 PM, stw52 said:

How is this in such bad shape? I remember it was damaged not too long after it was installed but that was maybe 3 years ago. It looks poorly on the city as you walk uptown to southend.


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Completely agree.  I think the city must do a better job of managing perceptions.  I suspect this is being worked on by the city (or whoever is responsible for this road) and a repair plan is working its way through the bureaucracy, but in the interim, I think the city should start posting "Repair-In-Process" signs at such locations...an acknowledgement that there's work to be done and the city is on it.  Sorry the acronym for my signage is "R-I-P."

Also, I think every road that's the responsibility of the state should have "state" in the posted name...posted accountability.

South Mint State Street

McDowell State Street

East Independence State Blvd

Edited February 14, 2022 by RANYC

[DMann]

That was put in when the bridge was changed from 2 lanes to 1 lane in each direction.  Speaking of direction, I would love to see all the downtown streets become 2 way!  It would clear up that terrible swap meet where 3rd and 4th merge to become a terrible way to get to the Belk Freeway.  It might also reduce some of the insane nighttime drag races through downtown.

[Windsurfer]

32 minutes ago, DMann said:

That was put in when the bridge was changed from 2 lanes to 1 lane in each direction.  Speaking of direction, I would love to see all the downtown streets become 2 way!  It would clear up that terrible swap meet where 3rd and 4th merge to become a terrible way to get to the Belk Freeway.  It might also reduce some of the insane nighttime drag races through downtown.

Agreed...and, I'd add, eliminate left turns through traffic. That would keep traffic from backing up while some guy tries cutting across. (people still do it in areas marked no left turn)

[RANYC]

1 hour ago, Windsurfer said:

Agreed...and, I'd add, eliminate left turns through traffic. That would keep traffic from backing up while some guy tries cutting across. (people still do it in areas marked no left turn)

As a matter of silent protest, when driving, I've stopped making right-turns at nearly all red lights unless I'm in the middle of nowhere.  I find such attempts at turns somewhat hostile to pedestrian vitality.  Drivers creep into the turn to look for oncoming traffic coming from the left, and now you're actually occupying the pedestrian right of way.  Also, as drivers tend to have their faces turned to the left looking for oncoming traffic, they may not be looking to the right for pedestrians entering the walkway, so that when traffic to the left clears, they continue their creep into the turn and aren't even considering pedestrians newly entering the walkway from the right.

Now you might say, well there aren't enough people walking to make that a concern.  But I'd submit that people don't walk because of the pedestrian hostilities baked into how we design roads and intersections and the driver protocols that introduce so much risk at every turn.

I hate how as a culture, we've made life so difficult for people who walk as we deify our cars while eating drive-thru crap, and run up health care bills that we expect everyone to support.  Social media gets exercised about "fat-shaming," but frankly all I see in the design of our communities is fit-shaming.

Edited February 14, 2022 by RANYC

[KJHburg]

One Wells Fargo aka 301 South College aka the Jukebox has a new management team and some changes.

""Cushman & Wakefield will now handle leasing at One Wells Fargo Center, the 1 million-plus-square-foot tower at 301 South College St. Cushman's Jessica Brown and David Dorsch will lead leasing efforts for the approximately 400,000 square feet of space that's vacant at the building.  The building's landlord, Vision Properties, is completing significant renovations to the tower that cost around $10 million, CEO Fred Arena told the Charlotte Business Journal last week. The renovations come as longtime anchor tenant Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) left a large vacancy at the tower at the end of 2021.  One Wells Fargo Center might also undergo a rebrand, Arena said. It could be renamed 301 South College, as CBJ reported in 2020, depending on how the leasing process shakes out. The renovations include improvements to the tower's lobby and outdoor plaza. It also called for converting the top two floors of the 42-story tower into an amenity center that includes a lounge, meeting spaces and event space with balconies.""

those top floors were the old First Union exec levels.

Cushman & Wakefield to handle leasing for One Wells Fargo Center in uptown - Charlotte Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

3 hours ago, RANYC said:

As a matter of silent protest, when driving, I've stopped making right-turns at nearly all red lights unless I'm in the middle of nowhere.  I find such attempts at turns somewhat hostile to pedestrian vitality.  Drivers creep into the turn to look for oncoming traffic coming from the left, and now you're actually occupying the pedestrian right of way.  Also, as drivers tend to have their faces turned to the left looking for oncoming traffic, they may not be looking to the right for pedestrians entering the walkway, so that when traffic to the left clears, they continue their creep into the turn and aren't even considering pedestrians newly entering the walkway from the right.

Now you might say, well there aren't enough people walking to make that a concern.  But I'd submit that people don't walk because of the pedestrian hostilities baked into how we design roads and intersections and the driver protocols that introduce so much risk at every turn.

I hate how as a culture, we've made life so difficult for people who walk as we deify our cars while eating drive-thru crap, and run up health care bills that we expect everyone to support.  Social media gets exercised about "fat-shaming," but frankly all I see in the design of our communities is fit-shaming.

I’ve always wanted a 4-way cross/diagonal walk at our Trade & Tryon intersection. You can’t turn left or right from any direction and would be perfect. One of the busiest/walked intersections and would allow pedestrians to to criss or cross in any direction. Intersections like these below are cool, I’ve seen them in Seattle and other places. Good for busy intersections. 

[videtur quam contuor]

delete

Edited February 14, 2022 by tarhoosier

[KJHburg]

I just saw one in the Brickell section of Miami which is not the most pedestrian friendly place despite the thousands of walkers.  That would be a great idea at the Square and some other places around town like Camden and West Blvd with the station right there.  

[tozmervo]

As much momentum as Southend has had on UP in the past few weeks, it feels worth pointing out that Uptown ain't dead. We were there for a show Saturday evening and it was jam-packed. Every restaurant had a wait, and traffic was as heavy as I'd ever seen it pre-2020. During the work day, there are definitely areas that have not bounced back (notably College street), but other areas seem more or less normal (Tryon and parts of Church). Overstreet mall has been eviscerated, but street-level businesses seem to be bouncing back strongly. What few street storefronts shut down have new businesses getting ready to open. 

[deleted account]

2 hours ago, tozmervo said:

As much momentum as Southend has had on UP in the past few weeks, it feels worth pointing out that Uptown ain't dead. We were there for a show Saturday evening and it was jam-packed. Every restaurant had a wait, and traffic was as heavy as I'd ever seen it pre-2020. During the work day, there are definitely areas that have not bounced back (notably College street), but other areas seem more or less normal (Tryon and parts of Church). Overstreet mall has been eviscerated, but street-level businesses seem to be bouncing back strongly. What few street storefronts shut down have new businesses getting ready to open. 

And should pick up even more when Wells employees return shortly. Our office returns mid-March on a hybrid work schedule. Based on the employee shortages at restaurants and transit (among others), maybe hybrid is better for the near future. Less traffic on the commute won't be awful either. I do hope not everyone is in office Tuesday through Thursday (which is what it seems currently with Bank of America). If they can spread the schedule it will be better for everyone. 

[DMann]

Mural is being painted on the former Duke Data Center on MLK Jr. Blvd and the rail line.

[KJHburg]

Some say Charlotte is not growing as fast as other sunbelt cities.  I counted 7 cranes on US 74 from Plaza Midwood to Uptown to the Gold district and I missed one or two but hey I was driving.  

[Desert Power]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

Some say Charlotte is not growing as fast as other sunbelt cities.  I counted 7 cranes on US 74 from Plaza Midwood to Uptown to the Gold district and I missed one or two but hey I was driving. 

Cranes outside of 277 really picking up steam lately.

[j-man]

12 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Some say Charlotte is not growing as fast as other sunbelt cities.  I counted 7 cranes on US 74 from Plaza Midwood to Uptown to the Gold district and I missed one or two but hey I was driving.  

 

I think that when the downtown of a city isn't growing, then that's when people say or believe that the city is not growing as fast. To be honest it does feel like that at times because Uptown's growth has slowed down drastically from the last few years, but of course most of the recent developments have completed in the last year or so. Duke,  the hotel near the Ellis, and the Theater are currently the only things that seem to be under construction right now, and Duke is the only one that actually seems to be changing the skyline. 

Edited March 5, 2022 by j-man

[Desert Power]

2 hours ago, j-man said:

I think that when the downtown of a city isn't growing, then that's when people say or believe that the city is not growing as fast. To be honest it does feel like that at times because Uptown's growth has slowed down drastically from the last few years, but of course most of the recent developments have completed in the last year or so. Duke,  the hotel near the Ellis, and the Theater are currently the only things that seem to be under construction right now, and Duke is the only one that actually seems to be changing the skyline. 

Yeah, it is further odd because Duke is a bit covered up from a few angles. Still, I can look out my window from my desk and see two cranes up in Optimist Park. Probably adding another 5-600 housing units between them.