Misc. Uptown Projects/News

[DMann]

I am in favor of Duke closing their data center and putting a 50 story hotel on that corner connected to the Convention Center

[Dale]

^ yup, just a block (more if hotel on the Church st side). But the inability to market the convention hotel as 'next to' or 'attached to' the convention center will be an issue for some (lots of convention events have shockingly old demographics). Add in the risk of weather (something that event organizers will always consider) and this is not a non issue (even at 600 feet)

 

wow

[js4life]

While the distance to the CC might be a issue, if the hotel is on top of a Copley Place type retail center& is the center piece of a larger mixed use complex shouldn't be a deal breaker with most conventions.

[Spartan]

The downside of the Observer site for a convention hotel is that it is a sub-optimal distance from the convention center. On the plus side, it could funnel LOTS of pedestrians through the Crescent project as people amble between the hotel and the convention center (if Crescent designs the retail space appropriately).

 

What about building it on top of the convention center? It would probably take a massive overhaul of the building, but the building is mostly a grandiose waste of space from an functional urban design standpoint. It seems like a hotel would at least make the superblock more... multipurpose. They already have the space set aside for the driveway, and it has convenient access to transit, all of the sports venues, and most importantly it would be a quick trip down the elevator to the convention center.

[kermit]

wow

 

gezzz people, I said "sub-optimal." Clearly a block separation is a non-issue for about 80-90% of people. But as someone who has been involved in planning several convention-scale meetings I can say that the disconnect does put Charlotte at a disadvantage to the _many_ places that have connected hotel-convention setups. I was not trying to suggest that we would be better off without a convention hotel on the Observer site, merely that it was "sub-optimal."

 

My bigger fear is that the separation problem would be solved using hamster tubes above Tryon, College and Stonewall -- thus taking us back to the 1970s era of "pedestrian friendliness" and street activity.

 

I never realized that was a Duke data center on the corner at the convention center -- classic Charlotte! 

[Windsurfer]

The distance between Observer building and CC is less than the walk inside The Sands at Las Vegas. Perhaps they could build a tunnel or add to the Overstreet Mall (ready for the flames) and call it connected. 

[DMann]

gezzz people, I said "sub-optimal." Clearly a block separation is a non-issue for about 80-90% of people. But as someone who has been involved in planning several convention-scale meetings I can say that the disconnect does put Charlotte at a disadvantage to the _many_ places that have connected hotel-convention setups. I was not trying to suggest that we would be better off without a convention hotel on the Observer site, merely that it was "sub-optimal."

 

My bigger fear is that the separation problem would be solved using hamster tubes above Tryon, College and Stonewall -- thus taking us back to the 1970s era of "pedestrian friendliness" and street activity.

 

I never realized that was a Duke data center on the corner at the convention center -- classic Charlotte! 

It used to be the data center for NCNB

How about the site between St Peters Catholic and the Harvey Gantt AfroAmerican Cultural Center?

[Finkle]

Both the Hilton at 1 Wells Fargo and the Marriott at the square both have land that they could build a 600 room tower to bring the hotels to 1000 rooms.

[HopHead]

Both the Hilton at 1 Wells Fargo and the Marriott at the square both have land that they could build a 600 room tower to bring the hotels to 1000 rooms.

 

Yea, I know the Hilton has the option or had planned at some point to build another hotel tower... 

[dcharlotte]

This could also be a developer who is looking to build a hotel on some of the city owned land near the convention center that was reconfigured as part of the new interchange. The developer could be asking for cheaper land in exchange for giving the city a 1,000 room hotel. Nothing to confirm this, but curious to think. 

[dubone]

That is an interesting theory.   Crescent seemed to have a lot of hotel space in their plan on Stonewall, too. 

 

Yea, I know the Hilton has the option or had planned at some point to build another hotel tower... 

https://aca.accela.com/charlotte/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=LandDevelopment&TabName=LandDevelopment&capID1=12LDR&capID2=00000&capID3=00254

 

I hadn't seen this before, but Hilton had submitted 2y ago for a new 7-8 story parking structure on their land.   Perhaps the delay in that is to revise plans to include a second tower.   That would result in the thousand room hotel being more towards the heart of town.   The Hilton location is closer to both bank campuses, next door to the convention center, closer to Epicenter, has a rental car facility, light rail station, and is already the go-to hotel for majority of Wells Fargo travelers.    It seems plausible they could expand with the Conrad or other higher end brand, too, on their land so they fit both markets.  

 

I don't know how deep this hotel expansion can go, but I do think it will be more plausible that expansion happen closer to the center of the CBD than on the edge at Stonewall.  But the Observer site does have a lot going for it being on Tryon, by 277, between CC and BofA Stadium, and then near major office towers. 

[CLTProductions]

Correction. McCallisters Deli will be next to uncle Maddios in over street. Also. Chicken salad chick opens today

[tozmervo]

Time for a Jasons-Newks-McCallisters throw down. #uptownthuglife

[grodney]

Sorry if this is old news....I don't recall it being mentioned.

 

From a source: "400 S Tryon wanted/tried/hoped to get Lola's to move into the old Rainbow Cafe space at the back of the building (on Church Street, sort-of across from Mellow Mushroom), but apparently a fitness place is going in there."

 

If true, that's a far cry from "beer garden" mentioned in the article on the Dev Map: http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2014/10/beer-garden-near-the-ballpark-trinity-looks-to.html

Edited January 21, 2015 by grodney

[CLTProductions]

"Charlotte Center City Partners has released its annual State of the Center City report,"

 

 

I love these reports, and here is the biz journal article:

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2015/01/charlotte-center-city-partners-report-were.html?page=all

 

and the report:

http://files.charlottecentercity.org/SoCC2015.pdf

Edited January 22, 2015 by Jayvee

[dubone]

I moved the discussion of the Observer site to the Observer topic.  

 

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php/topic/115797-charlotte-observer-relocation-and-site-development/

[Guest]

"Charlotte Center City Partners has released its annual State of the Center City report,"

I love these reports, and here is the biz journal article:

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2015/01/charlotte-center-city-partners-report-were.html?page=all

and the report:

http://files.charlottecentercity.org/SoCC2015.pdf

http://files.charlottecentercity.org/Center-City-Development-Report-Q4-2014.pdf

They also finally have the Fourth Quarter development report. I find it interesting that we have more access to more renderings than Charlotte Center City Partners.

Also I wish they'd add Wesley Heights to their roster of neighborhoods, as well as NoDa, Belmont and Optimist Park

[HopHead]

"Charlotte Center City Partners has released its annual State of the Center City report,"

 

 

I love these reports, and here is the biz journal article:

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2015/01/charlotte-center-city-partners-report-were.html?page=all

 

and the report:

http://files.charlottecentercity.org/SoCC2015.pdf

 

The Observer provided a cliff notes version: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2015/01/22/5465040/report-shows-strong-development.html#.VMG7FUfF98E

Edited January 23, 2015 by wend28

[js4life]

http://files.charlottecentercity.org/Center-City-Development-Report-Q4-2014.pdf

They also finally have the Fourth Quarter development report. I find it interesting that we have more access to more renderings than Charlotte Center City Partners.

Also I wish they'd add Wesley Heights to their roster of neighborhoods, as well as NoDa, Belmont and Optimist Park

They probably get added once the blue &gold line come online along with the eventual growth of 3rd& 1st ward

[CLTProductions]

http://files.charlottecentercity.org/Center-City-Development-Report-Q4-2014.pdf

They also finally have the Fourth Quarter development report. I find it interesting that we have more access to more renderings than Charlotte Center City Partners.

I found that rather interesting as well....most notably the SREE hotel, maybe they published this before that rendering came out. It just seems like they should have more information and renderings than us over here.

 

I also found it hilarious that for the first ward apartments they still had this: 

"Construction of these apartments on Brevard Street between 10th and 11th will begin during the second quarter of 2014."

 

Maybe you guys should update that CCCP?

Edited January 23, 2015 by Jayvee

[rugger62]

Anyone have any updates on Firehouse #4 at 420 W Fifth? The name of Kalil's company that bought the property is Albert Pennyworth Company, LLC. That is the name of the butler from Batman. Definitely some kind of bachelor pad crap going on.

 

I went through the minutes of the Historic Landmarks Commission and the only thing I could find was a meeting from early 2014 where they waived their right of first refusal to purchase the property. If anything is going to happen there, won't a Certificate of Appropriateness need to be filed? 

[birky]

^ Batman's butler's name is Alfred Pennyworth. Maybe it's just a coincedence? Hopefully it's not some bachelor pad.

[pgsinger]

Anyone have any updates on Firehouse #4 at 420 W Fifth? The name of Kalil's company that bought the property is Albert Pennyworth Company, LLC. That is the name of the butler from Batman. Definitely some kind of bachelor pad crap going on.

 

I went through the minutes of the Historic Landmarks Commission and the only thing I could find was a meeting from early 2014 where they waived their right of first refusal to purchase the property. If anything is going to happen there, won't a Certificate of Appropriateness need to be filed? 

 

He's married...to a smoking hot blond I might add.  I wouldn't think it is a bachelor pad.  Maybe our offensive players jsut have superhero nicknames we don't know...Cam = Superman, Kalil = Batman, Bell = (I can't think of any fat slow superheros...)

[ajfunder]

^He is building a new home in Eastover and married as someone mentioned, I doubt it is a bachelor pad.

[Miesian Corners]

http://files.charlottecentercity.org/Center-City-Development-Report-Q4-2014.pdf

They also finally have the Fourth Quarter development report. I find it interesting that we have more access to more renderings than Charlotte Center City Partners.

Also I wish they'd add Wesley Heights to their roster of neighborhoods, as well as NoDa, Belmont and Optimist Park

I don't think they even want to pretend those neighborhoods exists until Michael Smith can get tax revenue from them.  Gotta have those special tax districts to fund CCCP.