Charlotte area "ring cities"

[rancenc]

Of Kannapolis which is undergoing a transformation of it's downtown area.

The Gaston County town of Mount Holly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIC6xfwFpLU

The Town of Matthews

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCqryzVuhoU

 

 

[Desert Power]

The LPL Site definitely looks pretty big from around exit 85 at night.  Haven't noticed it before

[KJHburg]

This is a great project for Mooresville and if you haven't seen it you need to.  2 restaurants, office space in old mill above retail, huge indoor antique mall and furniture store all it needs is some residential.  http://www.lakenormanpublications.com/mooresville_weekly/office-space-planned-for-merino-mill/article_ba4e789c-ec0c-11e7-b96c-476201f11a47.html

[KJHburg]

Had some time to kill before an appointment drove through downtown Kannapolis.  It is really impressive the NC Research Campus and their city hall has to the best design in the region.   1. first building in the Nutritional lab,  2nd photo is the UNC Building holding several branches of the UNC system, then 3rd is City Hall./Police dept.   6th photo is the David Murdock core laboratory building.  

[KJHburg]

And here is the Kannapolis Amtrak station and yes nicer than its big city neighbor to the south.  And it right downtown. 

[cjd5050]

10 hours ago, KJHburg said:

And here is the Kannapolis Amtrak station and yes nicer than its big city neighbor to the south.  And it right downtown. 

1

It's 16 minutes from Salisbury to Kannapolis and 33 minutes from Kannapolis to Charlotte.   I know the Piedmont runs a much longer line but it's so sad that Amtrak can't find a way to run a commuter line from Salisbury to Charlotte Mon-Friday in the morning and evening.   Without a single line improvement, I would assume you could open up both of these towns and their downtowns to a massive amount of development and at the same time reduce the pressure on 85 traffic.  I know Charlotte does not have an uptown station...yet...but it's so damn close.  

 

 

[rancenc]

Exciting opportunities for the City of Kannapolis.  This proposal is on top of previous announcements concerning the development of the core of the city...

http://www.salisburypost.com/2018/01/19/new-300-million-investment-proposed-in-downtown-kannapolis/

 

[videtur quam contuor]

For those unfamiliar with Kannapolis and its history it was the sole survivor of the "Company town" culture of the industrial era. Not just in North Carolina but anywhere in the US. Cannon Mills, the largest manufacturer of sheets and towels and also the town itself was owned, built and operated by the Cannon family. By 1980 it was the largest unincorporated unit in the country. The entire operation, town, homes and all,  was sold in 1982 and incorporated in 1984. Residents and renters were allowed to buy their homes at attractive terms.

Much of what we consider as distant history, such as company towns, owners controlling every part of the lives of the workers and their families, benevolent paternalism, dominant business and a painful decline phase all took part here with the end coming within the life of many here on this board. Downtown Kannapolis and much of the city would never have survived the scythe of capitalism without the company town system. It saves what we appreciate today, the modest homes, the Main Street and Gem Theatre, Amtrak station and much besides.

http://plancharlotte.org/story/kannapolis-nc-city-planner-purchase-downtown

[KJHburg]

from the Business Journal subscriber article "" The first phase of the proposed Corporate Realty project — the five-story, 280-unit apartment building, along with a parking deck adjacent to the planned ballpark and entertainment venue — would be complete by spring 2020.""   this is great to have some new residents living in the downtown and I do believe this is the ring city to watch in the coming years with the plan for the new ballpark and the NC Research Campus gaining some steam now.  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/01/19/kannapolis-downtown-redevelopment-may-get-300m.html?ana=e_du_prem&s=article_du&ed=2018-01-19&u=oAaDx%2B74FoP4qOJ%2By4AU6dhJPpc&t=1516403600&j=79536431

[Cadi40]

I am excited to see what this has to bring, It's going to be a lovely area and has the potential to turn out like a Concord but even better and less touristy. 

[SgtCampsalot]

A downtown thrice master planned, Kannapolis' downtown architecture is probably the most uniform and unique of all of our towns.

[southslider]

The uniformity of Kannapolis can be a bit creepy. I think New Urbanism developments may someday give off a similar vibe after they've aged, feeling a bit off compared to more organic Old Urbanism.

[SgtCampsalot]

54 minutes ago, southslider said:

The uniformity of Kannapolis can be a bit creepy. I think New Urbanism developments may someday give off a similar vibe after they've aged, feeling a bit off compared to more organic Old Urbanism.

It does kinda feel like a Disney World or something

[KJHburg]

Outer outer ring but within 70 miles of Charlotte in Rutherford College a new gun plant employing 150 people in a small town in Burke County. https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/01/22/handgun-maker-to-bring-more-than-150-jobs-to-town.html?ana=e_ae_set2&s=article_du&ed=2018-01-22&u=oAaDx%2B74FoP4qOJ%2By4AU6dhJPpc&t=1516657879&j=79569591  More manufacturing jobs in small towns surrounding Charlotte is good for the big city too. 

[kickazzz2000]

http://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article196232999.html

 

Uxit?

[CLT2014]

3 minutes ago, kickazzz2000 said:

http://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article196232999.html

 

Uxit?

On the surface, Union County isn't getting much out of the Chamber. Their neighboring counties of Mecklenburg, York, and Lancaster seem to be getting all the jobs and employment growth and then Union County residents do long commutes. BUT those jobs in Ballantyne, Fort Mill, Indian Land, etc.. are really the only job clusters that are within a 30-40 minute commute of Union County. It is unlikely Union County is going to become a job hub due to infrastructure and distance from interstates. This sounds like a move by the Union County officials to try to blame the fact Union County doesn't get any of the job announcements on the Chamber, rather than on Union County's poor infrastructure and sprawl. 

 

[Cadi40]

Union County is home to quite a few factories in Monroe and surrounding areas. Everyone that I know in Union County works in Union County, Granted there isn't tons of job growth. I'm all for this decision if it promotes more job growth for Union County, If only they upgraded 74 to interstate standards.

[kickazzz2000]

I blame the state for the extremely poor connectivity and crap highways (looking at you, 74).   

 

Compare 74 to US 1 and US 64-264 around Raleigh.

[KJHburg]

^^^ Yes Union county is big on manufacturing and agribusiness.  It has an aerospace  cluster of companies, every Ludwig drum is built there, and lots of other manufacturing.  Eat an egg in the Charlotte area?  Probably came from a huge egg production in the county (Simpsons Eggs)  Not to mention the chicken processing plants.  I see this county really growing with manufacturing jobs when the Monroe Bypass is built.      It probably wont be a huge office center but could be in the future as many execs live in Weddington Marvin or Wesley Chapel or even Waxhaw.   List of biggest employers

http://developunion.com/existing-industry-data

Ludwig drums http://developunion.com/existing-industry/company/100

[Cadi40]

Charlotte has a lack of interstates compared to other cities its size, If only we could get 74 into an interstate and the maybe another freeway that would be in the come up from Ballantyne north into the City or something like that. However Charlotte does make up for this lack by having a plethora of main roads. 

[KJHburg]

another building going up at the NC Research Campus in Kannapolis a new Rowan Cabarrus Comm. College building next to the existing one.  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/01/24/rccc-s-17m-advanced-technology-center-under.html

[KJHburg]

Concord named the best place to live in NC according to Money Magazine.  http://www.independenttribune.com/news/concord-best-place-to-live-in-nc/article_8629c91e-0777-11e8-8808-ab43ef05d620.html

[SgtCampsalot]

11 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Concord named the best place to live in NC according to Money Magazine.  http://www.independenttribune.com/news/concord-best-place-to-live-in-nc/article_8629c91e-0777-11e8-8808-ab43ef05d620.html

These things are based on how new and clean the subdivisions and strip malls are (which Concord has a ton of right now). Though it's nice that the downtown is getting press.

[KJHburg]

Lincolnton old mill will have the county's first brewery.   https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2018/02/02/historic-lincolnton-mill-3pm-brewery-craft-beer.html?ana=twt&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5a74d15200bd4700089f3a48&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

[KJHburg]

Downtown Concord the region's 2nd largest city. A few vacancies but lots of small businesses including a Thai restaurant, donut shop, French bakery, French restaurant,  a Cuban restaurant, Union St Bistro, coffeeshop, winery etc.  Not a very big downtown only 4 blocks or so.  Historic Hotel Concord to be apartments with event space on bottom. From earlier today.  1. Lofts 29 (apartments)  3. Hotel Concord converting into apartments with event space. 5. Event space on the bottom floor of this building not sure about the upper floors but would be a great apartment conversion. 6. Old Courthouse is now a theater arts center.   Last photo is a running store with beer no lie!   Here is their downtown Concord website they have some great venues for events there.   https://www.concorddowntown.com/Welcome.aspx

Edited February 7, 2018 by KJHburg
link added