University City Projects/News

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

^Love that this area is finally getting some love!  Hopefully with the redevelopment of this area, that it trickles down to the other shopping center across from the football stadium (where the old Kohls was, Food Lion, and better known as where the Chipotle is).  I heard they were planning on converting that old Kohls into office at one point, but not sure.  The UC area is a sleeping giant.  30k students @ UNCC , coupled with all the business research parks (Wells Fargo (CIC), Electrolux, IBM, etc)...the people are there, the money is quietly there, as well.  

[kermit]

1 hour ago, CharlotteWkndBuzz said:

^Love that this area is finally getting some love!  Hopefully with the redevelopment of this area, that it trickles down to the other shopping center across from the football stadium (where the old Kohls was, Food Lion, and better known as where the Chipotle is).  I heard they were planning on converting that old Kohls into office at one point, but not sure.  The UC area is a sleeping giant.  30k students @ UNCC , coupled with all the business research parks (Wells Fargo (CIC), Electrolux, IBM, etc)...the people are there, the money is quietly there, as well.  

Yea, it is really nice to see improvements here after watching nearly 20 years of decline around JW Clay.

The JW Clay station is generating a huge amount of pedestrian traffic (although I think some of it is from students parking at U Place). This area could quickly transform itself if they can find a way to establish a good pedestrian corridor from U Place to the Khols center to the Saucer center. I hope UCP is working on this since walking down the sidewalk on  Tryon aint gonna ever create a stroll district. Its going to be impossible to get the multiple property owners to work together but providing a decent carless environment is pretty critical if they want to entice regular student visits. If they keep their current crappy walkability students will just go to NoDa instead.

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

11 minutes ago, kermit said:

Yea, it is really nice to see improvements here after watching nearly 20 years of decline around JW Clay.

The JW Clay station is generating a huge amount of pedestrian traffic (although I think some of it is from students parking at U Place). This area could quickly transform itself if they can find a way to establish a good pedestrian corridor from U Place to the Khols center to the Saucer center. I hope UCP is working on this since walking down the sidewalk on  Tryon aint gonna ever create a stroll district. Its going to be impossible to get the multiple property owners to work together but providing a decent carless environment is pretty critical if they want to entice regular student visits. If they keep their current crappy walkability students will just go to NoDa instead.

Man, would love to see some kind of pedestrian corridor like you mentioned.  And to be honest, the shopping center where Flying Saucer is, needs some sprucing up, as well.  Not a very welcoming shopping center and besides Saucer, not to much there (worth walking to at least).  I think the Angry Ales closed down in there too.  To me, the biggest issue with Tryon near the Univeristy is the elevations, pictured below.  Can't access any of the stores from the sidewalk.  Which basically starts from Panera Bread all the way down to the Saucer (access through main entrances).  

[kermit]

10 minutes ago, CharlotteWkndBuzz said:

Man, would love to see some kind of pedestrian corridor like you mentioned.  And to be honest, the shopping center where Flying Saucer is, needs some sprucing up, as well.  Not a very welcoming shopping center and besides Saucer, not to much there (worth walking to at least).  I think the Angry Ales closed down in there too.  To me, the biggest issue with Tryon near the Univeristy is the elevations, pictured below.  Can't access any of the stores from the sidewalk.  Which basically starts from Panera Bread all the way down to the Saucer (access through main entrances). 

You are right about the elevations, I didn't even think about that. They are a huge impediment to orienting pedestrians along Tryon.

It could be a huge amount of retail, restaurants and bars between the three centers. Enough to put just about any more established college strip to shame. Unfortunately the parking lots really ruin any chance for it to feel like a cohesive district, although U Place did an OK job of minimizing the negative aspects of all the asphalt.

[KJHburg]

One of the last large tracts of land is for sale in University Research Park is for sale now.  Seller Electrolux who once was going to build a large addition to their office but never did.  

https://universitycitypartners.org/mohr-partners-announces-sale-of-51-755-acre-development-site-in-university-research-park/

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

This makes more sense now that I see a visual for N. Tryon.  It's going to be more of a "rail trail".  But Tryon and the Boardwalks area with definitely become more dense with mix-used buildings and it appears will be all connected in various manners.  Future looks bright for the area.

 

Edited October 15, 2018 by CharlotteWkndBuzz

[Third Strike]

The boardwalk is really nice to walk on a Saturday night. It actually surprised me how pleasant it was. I’m definitely looking forward to whatever new development they bring to this shopping area.

And the southside of the development was packed. The new expansion of University Place and the light rail have really changed this area. 

[kickazzz2000]

On 10/15/2018 at 9:55 AM, CharlotteWkndBuzz said:

This makes more sense now that I see a visual for N. Tryon.  It's going to be more of a "rail trail".  But Tryon and the Boardwalks area with definitely become more dense with mix-used buildings and it appears will be all connected in various manners.  Future looks bright for the area.

 

This looks incredible

[Cadi40]

Is this going to actually take place? Really skeptical of this..

[AuLukey]

Haha I feel like I saw a plan JUST like that about ten-fifteen years ago. Traffic circle at Harris and Tryon and all. Which clearly can’t happen. This plan is obviously pre-BLE conception.

[CharlotteWkndBuzz]

The green circles dont represent traffic circles but rather "gateways" that emphasize unique streetscapes at each intersection. This is from the vision and plan for the jw station area.  Light rail is definately accounted for (at least in pdf).

*Can't attach, but just Google jw clay vision and plan. Looks like the draft is from 2015 so not sure how much has changed. 

Edited October 16, 2018 by CharlotteWkndBuzz

[KJHburg]

The site plan for the TopGolf along I-85 at University City Blvd and IKEA Blvd is shown in the rezoning request.  It shows an office building next to Top Golf right by the highway and apartments and small shop restaurant space in front of TopGolf.   http://charlottenc.gov/planning/Rezoning/RezoningPetitions/2018Petitions/Pages/2018-123.aspx

[tozmervo]

52 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

The site plan for the TopGolf along I-85 at University City Blvd and IKEA Blvd is shown in the rezoning request.  It shows an office building next to Top Golf right by the highway and apartments and small shop restaurant space in front of TopGolf.   http://charlottenc.gov/planning/Rezoning/RezoningPetitions/2018Petitions/Pages/2018-123.aspx

It also appears to show a new movie theater. Did we know about that one?

[KJHburg]

2 minutes ago, tozmervo said:

It also appears to show a new movie theater. Did we know about that one?

I thought I heard rumors but you are right nothing has been mentioned about it recently. 

[allthingsplanes]

I had understood that the movie theater was going to be in a complex across Tryon from the U City parking deck.  It's cool that it's by TopGolf though to have that real entertainment district.  

One thing that seems weird is that the large existing building looks like it's somewhat industrial - is it active?  The reason I ask is that all of the parking for the movie theater and TopGolf are going to be around it.  And that will stick out in a weird way from the TopGolf front doors.

Also, what is Parks Chevrolet going to do with all of their cars that are currently parked in that large lot?

[NCMike1990]

ClearSky has a new gallery focusing on that huge undeveloped parcel at Hwy 49/I-485. I think this land is supposed to eventually be a business park called "Caldwell Business Park", I believe. 

https://photos.clearskyimages.com/2018-10-485-land-parcel-charlotte-nc-aerials

I thought it was interesting that Clear Sky now has a gallery for it. Wonder if there will be some movement here soon?

[KJHburg]

Less than 8 months after the LYNX line opened UC is changing too.  New apartments under construction where single story office buildings once stood.  5 story building with retail on the bottom floor.    Have not seen a sign of upfitting for the Sabor at the JW Clay station maybe someone else has.  That would jump start that retail space to fill up.   And a photo of the most transit accessible Showmars in the world. 

[DavieNative]

UC has a bright future ahead of it! The University or legit developer needs to come in and purchase the Kohl's shopping center and turn it into a legit college downtown. Perfect location for mid rise apartments with retail, bars, and dining options down below. Also it could be tailgate central in the future with it close proximity to the football stadium.

[kermit]

Tower crane  base is in at the Mucullough mixed use project. 

[KJHburg]

The rezoning for the new Top Golf in the university area near IKEA is for just the HD huge screens.  See the attached pdf file from the community meeting presentation.  They look okay since there is no residential nearby.

http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/Rezoning/2018/113-125/2018-123 community report.pdf

Good stuff starts about page 27 with the site plan then the following pages are the HD screens and how it will look from the exit ramp and I-85

Edited November 19, 2018 by KJHburg

[NCMike1990]

6 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

The rezoning for the new Top Golf in the university area near IKEA is for just the HD huge screens.  See the attached pdf file from the community meeting presentation.  They look okay since there is no residential nearby.

http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/Rezoning/2018/113-125/2018-123 community report.pdf

Good stuff starts about page 27 with the site plan then the following pages are the HD screens and how it will look from the exit ramp and I-85

Do you think construction will start in Q2?

[KJHburg]

Just now, NCMike1990 said:

Do you think construction will start in Q2?

I would think once the rezoning is done they will start fairly soon thereafter. 

[KJHburg]

Big plans for redevelopment as rezoning was filed for University Place by the new owners EB Arrow. 

From a subscriber article in Business Journal

""EBA Crystal Real Estate LLC, affiliated with EB Arrow, has proposed a project with up to 300,000 square feet of commercial space, 20,000 square feet of civic uses, 600 residential units and, potentially, a hotel to a 20.6-acre site on J.W. Clay Boulevard in University City. EB Arrow acquired the property, which totals 30 acres, earlier this year for more than $18 million. The rezoning petition only includes the portion of EB Arrow's site that fronts University City's 15-acre lake.""

This is great for the University area and for the LYNX light nearby

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/11/28/hundreds-of-residential-units-commercial-space.html

 

[KJHburg]

another article about the EB Arrow development from WSOCTV

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/hundreds-of-residential-units-commercial-space-planned-at-university-city-redevelopment/879840923

[KJHburg]

Drove around the University area today after eating lunch at the most transit accessible Showmars in the country.  Lots going on in this the 2nd largest employment center in the city.

Photos 1/2 new 5 story apartment building with ground floor retail at University Executive Park replacing two 1 story office buildings at the McCullough station.

Photo 3 the new Proximity Park office building total renovation of the old Allstate building on McCullough https://universitycitypartners.org/proximity-park-project-turns-back-the-clock/

Photo 4 new Hyatt Place hotel part of the suburban hotel boom   Photo 5 the huge 2.1 million sq ft Wells Fargo Customer Information Center home of 10,000 employees one of the largest single use office buildings in the country   Photo 6 AXA at Innovation Park also home to huge offices for Allstate, Wells Fargo, Dirt Devil TTI Floorcare, Framatomme French nuclear company etc.     Last photo the headquarters of Rack Room shoes and Off Broadway shoes.