Charlotte area "ring cities"

[KJHburg 67721]

KJ  south of the border in downtown Fort Mill and it reminds me  of Waxhaw and Mooresville with thriving local restaurants, shops, a brewery and a train track runs through it.  Today.    Like the Southern RR passenger car off Confederate Ave. 

[KJHburg 67721]

dinner in downtown Fort Mill last night lunch with friends  today at the Rock Store BBQ in Stallings.  I am eating my way around the ring cities.  (and yes I have favorite places in Mooresville, Waxhaw, Gastonia, Concord, Kannapolis, Oakboro,  Belmont, Locust too) 

My friend's daughters rib plate and she finished them off except for one.  (and she is petite)

 

Edited June 11, 2019 by KJHburg

[drumsy 129]

The Rock Store used to be a killer coffee shop 15 or so years ago.

[Neo 199]

Concord just approved a 166 unit apartment building downtown which significantly ups the ante for Concord's downtown. There are currently a couple of converted buildings that were made residential, but this certainly has the potential to change the vibe in a significant way:

https://www.independenttribune.com/news/concord-approves-construction-of-unit-apartment-complex-in-downtown/article_02bb3336-8ee6-11e9-b3af-dbc286cf2731.html

[Bikeguy 803]

On 6/11/2019 at 2:50 PM, KJHburg said:

dinner in downtown Fort Mill last night lunch with friends  today at the Rock Store BBQ in Stallings.  I am eating my way around the ring cities.  (and yes I have favorite places in Mooresville, Waxhaw, Gastonia, Concord, Kannapolis, Oakboro,  Belmont, Locust too) 

My friend's daughters rib plate and she finished them off except for one.  (and she is petite)

 

Off the Square in Al-be'marle... would be a very nice place to spend some time...        http://www.offthesquarenc.com/ 

[KJHburg 67721]

10 hours ago, Bikeguy said:

Off the Square in Al-be'marle... would be a very nice place to spend some time...        http://www.offthesquarenc.com/ 

Been there on my way back from Morrow Mtn and yes it is really good. 

[KJHburg 67721]

Big pet food manufacturer opening in Burke County outside of Morganton in Hildebran with 237 jobs.

https://edpnc.com/pet-care-products-manufacturer-synergylabs-locating-237-job-plant-in-hildebran/

Edited June 18, 2019 by KJHburg

[QCxpat 9498]

Today's CBJ story about Locust new town center (Stanly County) - "What the final phases hold for a major town center development in eastern part of Charlotte region," by  Ken Elkins.

Subscriber Article - Photos by Melissa Key - Jim Nicholson Steel Pony that faces the highway from the commercial center of Locust. It’s an homage to the horse farms in the area and to the mascots of the local public schools.

Locust Government Center

• 

"Troubles for the western Stanly County city of 3,200 residents started with the decimation of downtown in 2002 for the widening of N.C. Highway 24/27.  The modest city offices were also displaced by the road project.  ...  When they widened the highway they really took the old buildings — the business district — that had been Locust for 100 years,” says Bob Barbee, founder of Oakboro Main Street Development, which is working to rebuild Locust’s downtown. ... Locust Town Center is planned by national leader in New Urban design, Miami-based Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co.  as a neo-traditional-style city center.  The developers eschewed chain-store development in Locust Town Center opting instead for local or regional retailers, banks and other business. ... For example, when developers noticed that Locust needed a drug store, they recruited pharmacist and N.C. legislator Wayne Sasser and convinced him to open an additional Medical Pharmacy in Locust.  Locust Government Center follows the "traditional Piedmont" architecture of Locust Town Center."  

Link to CBJ Subscriber Article:   https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/06/19/photoswhat-the-final-phases-hold-for-a-major-town.html

[KJHburg 67721]

Locust is great and I have been to the town center and yes eaten there too at SoJo.   It does have a mixture of uses and I did not the original downtown or older buildings were knocked over the highway widening.  Stanly County especially this area is really growing as it is only about 12 miles from I-485 and is more affordable than even Cabarrus County. 

[KJHburg 67721]

News from Troutman just north of Mooresville south of Statesville 

""A developer is following up on its large speculative building in Troutman with an even larger shell building there.  Kathy Godley, an industrial developer with Statesville roots, has started construction of a 1 million-square-foot industrial structure, which she believes is one of the largest industrial shell buildings in the Carolinas.""

that is  a huge spec building more common in Atlanta but that must have some interest already.

from subscriber article

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/06/20/developer-doubles-down-on-iredell-county-town-with.html

[KJHburg 67721]

Marketing brochure for downtown Kannapolis the city's plans look great.  Stadium and apartments under way. Brewery coming. 

http://www.ltpcommercial.com/pilotFiles/propertyMgmt/files/Kannapolis-Development-Brochure-NC-Updated.pdf

[Jasons0013 434]

12 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Marketing brochure for downtown Kannapolis the city's plans look great.  Stadium and apartments under way. Brewery coming. 

http://www.ltpcommercial.com/pilotFiles/propertyMgmt/files/Kannapolis-Development-Brochure-NC-Updated.pdf

Kind of got a Greenville vibe to it.

[KJHburg 67721]

Drove through downtown Kannapolis and this downtown is hopping. New ballpark under construction and crane at the first Class A apartment complex downtown.  This is the downtown to watch in the ring cities.  Today.  and a great little Amtrak station right downtown.  The large grassy area in the Loop is where special events take place.   and yes #KannapolisRising you heard it here first.  Warning I was snapping photos like I have never been there LOL. 

[SgtCampsalot 4205]

Kannapolis is such a fascinating specimin. 

A historic downtown that was THRICE master planned by three different rebovations, and a collection of research buildings that look like they were built by some (albeit highly Americanized) Duke or Duchess who wanted to build a town in open country (very expansive). 

Also the merry-go-round in the nearby park is so totes cute. Pepper on some Amtrak and oh my, you have an interesting place to watch. 

[KJHburg 67721]

Concord Mills area growth.  New dual lane drive through and sit down Krispy Kreme opens July 16 next to the Chick-fil-A across from the mall.  New TJ Maxx and Homegoods larger stores opening in former expanded closed ToysRUs building.   Road construction for the new flyover also shown.   This Krispy Kreme will quickly become one of the busiest in the Carolinas just watch. 

[rancenc 2747]

I didn't realize that TJ Maxx/Homegoods was relocating from Concord Mills Mall.  If I am not mistaken, they were one of the original tenants when the mall opened up in 1999.  I wonder if a new tenant has been selected to fill the upcoming spot!

[KJHburg 67721]

45 minutes ago, rancenc said:

I didn't realize that TJ Maxx/Homegoods was relocating from Concord Mills Mall.  If I am not mistaken, they were one of the original tenants when the mall opened up in 1999.  I wonder if a new tenant has been selected to fill the upcoming spot!

I would not be surprised if they TJ Maxx Corp. puts another concept in that space at the mall like Marshalls or the Sierra Trading they are trying to grow now.   the store at the mall does extremely well but it is a destination store that will draw people to it wherever it is located.  

[KJHburg 67721]

Concord's huge super Kmart empty big box will be redeveloped and it has already attracted several tenants.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/07/10/here-s-what-s-happening-to-a-former-kmart-site-in.html?iana=hpmvp_clt_news_headline

Elevation Church, a bowling alley, the current Sears Outlet store

https://www.theshoppingcentergroup.com/property-search/?propertyId=249315-lease

[A2. 923]

So I was curious......

While many love the vibe of Uptown and the surrounding urban enclaves like Dilworth, Myers Park, Elizabeth, Southend, etc.,

My question would be if you had to be in the Burbs of Charlotte, which one would you choose and for what reason???

And by Burbs I mean Concord, Moorseville, Huntersville, Gastonia, Rock Hill/Fort Mill, Mint Hill, etc......

Any Takers!?

If it were me, I would probably choose somewhere close to Lake Norman (Davidson maybe), but I’m partial to Natural features like water and mountains. 

The only drawback on the North End would be I-77. I still feel like I-85 flows MUCH better in peak travel times.

 

[A2. 923]

^I might also take a look across the border. Lower Taxes! 

[tozmervo 8367]

11 minutes ago, A2. said:

So I was curious......

While many love the vibe of Uptown and the surrounding urban enclaves like Dilworth, Myers Park, Elizabeth, Southend, etc.,

My question would be if you had to be in the Burbs of Charlotte, which one would you choose and for what reason???

And by Burbs I mean Concord, Moorseville, Huntersville, Gastonia, Rock Hill/Fort Mill, Mint Hill, etc......

Any Takers!?

If it were me, I would probably choose somewhere close to Lake Norman (Davidson maybe), but I’m partial to Natural features like water and mountains. 

The only drawback on the North End would be I-77. I still feel like I-85 flows MUCH better in peak travel times.

 

Toll lanes. North meck is back on the menu, boys!

[kermit 11929]

Belmont!

or downtown Concord if I didn't need to commute on 85 (and if the sprawly part didn't exist)

[KJHburg 67721]

If commuting to an office or work location is a concern I would need to know that.  If you work uptown I would look to Cabarrus County Concord, Harrisburg and west to Belmont and Mt Holly if we are talking about  living outside of Charlotte.   I would consider Waxhaw it is a great little lively town and convenient to south Charlotte not so much to uptown of course.  Mint Hill is nice too.   If you don't need to commute into Charlotte I would consider Mooresville great little downtown, lake living etc.  

The northern Meck towns are all good too Davidson Cornelius and Huntersville the latter being the biggest by far. 

I tell people all the time there is a neighborhood and or town to suit every lifestyle in the Charlotte area and all reasonable commute to the center city if that is what you are doing. 

As for SC Fort Mill is great and growing and convenient to Charlotte.  Of the true ring cities I prefer  Concord over Rock Hill.   I also like the 3 lakes of the region. 

 

Edited July 11, 2019 by KJHburg

[A2. 923]

1 minute ago, KJHburg said:

If commuting to an office or work location is a concern I would need to know that.  If you work uptown I would look to Cabarrus County Concord, Harrisburg and west to Belmont and Mt Holly if we are talking outer living outside of Charlotte.   I would consider Waxhaw it is a great little lively town and convenient to south Charlotte not so much to uptown of course.  Mint Hill is nice too.   If you don't need to commute into Charlotte I would consider Mooresville great little downtown, lake living etc.  

The northern Meck towns are all good too Davidson Cornelius and Huntersville the latter being the biggest by far. 

I tell people all the time there is a neighborhood and or town to suit every lifestyle in the Charlotte area and all reasonable commute to the center city if that is what you are doing. 

As for SC Fort Mill is great and growing and convenient to Charlotte.  Of the true ring cities I prefer  Concord over Rock Hill.   I also like the 3 lakes of the region. 

 

I can dig that KH! 

[King of the Queen City 4338]

10 minutes ago, A2. said:

So I was curious......

While many love the vibe of Uptown and the surrounding urban enclaves like Dilworth, Myers Park, Elizabeth, Southend, etc.,

My question would be if you had to be in the Burbs of Charlotte, which one would you choose and for what reason???

And by Burbs I mean Concord, Moorseville, Huntersville, Gastonia, Rock Hill/Fort Mill, Mint Hill, etc......

Any Takers!?

If it were me, I would probably choose somewhere close to Lake Norman (Davidson maybe), but I’m partial to Natural features like water and mountains. 

The only drawback on the North End would be I-77. I still feel like I-85 flows MUCH better in peak travel times.

 

Kannapolis and Salisbury would be good options once Gateway Station opens. You could hop on the Amtrak and be Uptown in about 30 minutes from Kannapolis or 45 minutes from Salisbury. It’s not so easy with the current station though since connecting to an Uptown-bound CATS bus requires dangerously darting across N. Tryon with no crosswalk or sidewalks.