Charlotte area "ring cities"

[KJHburg]

on my hunt for great NC barbecue the roads all lead to Lexington just 55 miles NE of Charlotte.  Great downtown area ironically called Uptown too as it is the on the high point.  Very clean downtown and revitalizing lots of local retail shops.  Some apartments above the retail.  downtown Lexington today.   Statues of pigs downtown of course Lexington is home to the NC BBQ Festival.   a brewery, a cidery and candy shop.  And a Carolina Theater too which is open and also hosted Elvis.    New train station planned for downtown too.   So venture off I-85 N and visit Lexington and of course the famous Monk family owned Lexington BBQ on Smokehouse Way.   Their old courthouse downtown on the Square and it is really a square more so than just 2 streets intersecting is now a history museum.  

[jtmonk]

@KJHburg thanks for coming up!

[Cadi40]

Very excited for the Lake Norman resort, this will be a perfect weekend getaway minutes from Charlotte.

Edited September 30, 2019 by Cadi40

[rancenc]

1 hour ago, jtmonk said:

@KJHburg thanks for coming up!

Great pictures of the Lexington area...you should also post in the Triad section if you haven't already done so!!

[KJHburg]

2 more from Lexington.  Their Carolina Theater also hosted Elvis back in the day and is currently a city owned event venue.  Once Charlotte restores our theater we will join almost every other town and city in the state that has already done so.  

These 2 1920s buildings were both restored to apartments.  Really upscale apartments with granite and the all the goodies everyone wants and only $750 a month for a 1 bedroom I am told. 

[rancenc]

Spotlight on the Union County seat of Monroe.

https://businessnc.com/town-square-monroe-maintains-charm/

 

[KJHburg]

Over in the Gashouse G Town or Gastonia as many of you know it the FUSE development has started.  A new baseball stadium in an area linking downtown with the Loray Mill redevelopment.  This is the 2nd ring city in the metro  using a baseball stadium as a major anchor for their downtown other being Kannapolis.

https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20191003/fuse-is-lit-in-gastonia

Biz Journal has some great photos and renderings in their story

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/04/cbj-morning-buzz-major-milestone-for-development.html

Edited October 4, 2019 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

Kannapolis and the NC Research Campus might be home to the US Performance Center an Olympics related facility moving from south Charlotte.

https://www.independenttribune.com/cit/united-states-performance-center-proposes-athletic-research-based-training-facilities/article_6b9741ac-5e67-59fb-8b48-44cc0366b88d.html

Biz Journal subscriber article

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/08/kannapolis-leaders-look-to-bring-olympic.html

Edited October 9, 2019 by KJHburg

[rancenc]

New building in downtown Davidson could be materializing.

https://patch.com/north-carolina/davidson/3-story-commercial-building-proposed-main-street-davidson

 

[Nick2]

Not sure if this should have a topic of its own but York county bought 1900 acres of land on the Catawba river last December. Looks like they're going to turn it into a natural area/park or something. Sounds like they're planning on having river access and possibly various venues or other promising-sounding options.

https://amp.heraldonline.com/news/local/article235947402.html

Edited October 14, 2019 by Nick2

[QCxpat]

From the Charlotte Business Journal (10/14/2019) - "This small city north of Charlotte (Concord) ranks among tops in nation for economic growth" by Jenna Martin

Excerpt:  "Concord ranked at No. 16 in a new study by personal finance website WalletHub that analyzed 515 cities with varying populations to find where the fastest local economic growth has occurred in the nation.  To do so, WalletHub used 17 key measures of both growth and decline over the past seven years and assigned cities an overall score on a 100-point scale.  Those metrics, which ranged from population and job growth to unemployment rate decrease to regional GDP growth per capita, were grouped into two categories that carried equal weight in the ranking: socio-demographics and jobs and economy." ... "Concord's top rank came in growth in share of college-educated population, in which it placed seventh; its worst rank, at No. 422, was in increase in ratio of full-time to part-time jobs." ... "Both Concord and Charlotte registered in the top 10 for fastest growth in each's respective size category.  Of the nation's smallest cities, Concord placed at No. 5, while Charlotte ranked at No. 9 of the largest cities."  ... "Charlotte's top rank was in job growth, at No. 34, and its worst rank was in median household income growth, at No. 319."  ... "The South and West currently seem to be attractive places to move, as the U.S. Census Bureau reports eight of the 15 cities with the largest population gains in 2018 were located in the South and six were in the West."

Link:  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/14/this-small-city-north-of-charlotte-ranks-among.html

Edited October 19, 2019 by QCxpat
Add link to CBJ story

[rancenc]

Atrium submitting plans for a hospital for the Cornelius area.

https://www.wfae.org/post/atrium-health-proposes-30-bed-hospital-cornelius#stream/0

[QCxpat]

Huntersville  -  From Monday's (10/21/2019) Charlotte Business Journal - "What this new-to-market hotel flag has planned for Charlotte area" by Jennifer Thomas

Excerpt:   "This South Dakota brand will break ground on its first location in North Carolina" this week.  "My Place Hotels kicks off construction on a four-story, 84-room facility in Huntersville with a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday (10/22/2019).  It anticipates that location at 14725 Statesville Road will open next spring.  Celtic Services is the general contractor for the 39,000-square-foot Huntersville location.  Noble says the total investment will be between $7 million and $10 million.  All guest rooms feature a kitchen, complete with a cooktop, a microwave and a full refrigerator.  There are on-site laundry facilities, complimentary high-speed internet service, and a 24-hour My Store in the hotel lobby.  My Place Hotels also offers pet friendly accommodations."

Links:  https://www.myplacehotels.com/my-place-hotel-huntersville-nc

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/21/what-this-new-to-market-hotel-flag-has-planned-for.html

[Madison Parkitect]

Yikes

[KJHburg]

Concord's Great Wolf Lodge has undergone a renovation first since opened in 2009.     Great photos of the inside if you have never been in there.  The water park is awesome.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/23/photos-inside-great-wolf-lodge-s-7m-revamp.html

[QCxpat]

Adaptive Reuse in Salisbury - In today's (10/23/2019) Charlotte Business Journal, "Auto dealer to revamp old warehouses for new HQ," by Jen Wilson

Team Automotive Group plans to open a new call center, accounting offices and executive offices in downtown Salisbury that will create 19 new jobs and 25 “in-direct” jobs.  The center is located at 316-322 Depot Street, across from the Salisbury Train Station.  The building  is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Salisbury City Council agreed to provide a $10,000 local match for a Rural Building Reuse Grant, which supports renovations and expansions of facilities in North Carolina,  after applying for the funds on behalf of the company.  The N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority has awarded $100,000 to help fund the project.  The project will be a potential $400,000 investment in downtown Salisbury with an estimated $28,000 in new tax revenue over the next 10 years.

Image of 316-322 Depot Street, Salisbury - by WBTV.com

Links:  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/23/cbj-morning-buzz-auto-dealer-to-revamp-old.html

https://www.wbtv.com/2019/10/02/team-automotive-open-call-center-downtown-salisbury/

Edited October 23, 2019 by QCxpat
Add links to CBJ and WBTV stories

[KJHburg]

Couple photos south of the border in Fort Mill and the Baxter and Kingsley where LPL moved from Charlotte.  Great mixed use project for the suburbs.  Today.  Also shown the Lincoln Harris development on the old Knights ballpark site which is now home to Roundpoint Mortgage. 

first photo is the Lake Wylie area where SC 49 intersects.  2nd photo is Riverwalk in Rock Hill redevelopment of the brownfield site. 

Edited October 24, 2019 by KJHburg

[QCxpat]

From today's (10/24/2019) Charlotte Business Journal - "New name for Kannapolis baseball team gives nod to area's textile history" by Ken Elkins

Excerpt:  "The new name for the Kannapolis Intimidators, the minor-league team that was once partially owned by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr., is the Cannon Ballers — or the Ballers, for short."  ... "The Cannon Ballers will play in 2020 in the new Kannapolis Sport and Entertainment Venue, a ballpark being built as a part of a $500 M reinvention of the downtown area..."   "Speaking before the announcement, Temerity baseball owner Andy Sandler said Cannon Ballers was the “very clear choice” from the 1,300 names suggested by Kannapolis baseball fans.  Cannon Ballers is also true to the mill town’s history, Sandler says.  The Cannon family of Cabarrus County founded textile manufacturing operations in the region under the Cannon Mills name."  "A grinning Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant says the Cannon Ballers name is further evidence that the total remake of downtown is hitting a fever pitch."  “Within the next 120 days, we have six projects we will make decisions about,” he says.  “Behind those are nine more for 2020.”  One project is the first hotel for the reinvented Kannapolis.

 

                            

Images - New Cannon Ballers logo (Temerity Baseball) and new Kannapolis ballpark (City of Kannapolis)

LInk:  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/24/new-name-for-kannapolis-baseball-team-gives-nod-to.html

Edited October 24, 2019 by QCxpat
add link to CBJ story

[jednc]

On 10/23/2019 at 9:56 AM, KJHburg said:

Concord's Great Wolf Lodge has undergone a renovation first since opened in 2009.     Great photos of the inside if you have never been in there.  The water park is awesome.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/23/photos-inside-great-wolf-lodge-s-7m-revamp.html

It is hard to believe this has been open for 10 years. I'm getting old....

[Nick2]

On 10/23/2019 at 9:56 AM, KJHburg said:

Concord's Great Wolf Lodge has undergone a renovation first since opened in 2009.     Great photos of the inside if you have never been in there.  The water park is awesome.

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/10/23/photos-inside-great-wolf-lodge-s-7m-revamp.html

I know it's mostly geared towards families/kids but is the great Wolf Lodge worth it for adults? Never been but I've thought about going for a weekend with friends.

[KJHburg]

26 minutes ago, Nick2 said:

I know it's mostly geared towards families/kids but is the great Wolf Lodge worth it for adults? Never been but I've thought about going for a weekend with friends.

Lets put it this way the big funnel slide scared me a little as we dropped straight down so I say yes go have fun with friends

Edited October 24, 2019 by KJHburg

[nicholas]

4 hours ago, QCxpat said:

"A grinning Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant says the Cannon Ballers name is further evidence that the total remake of downtown is hitting a fever pitch."  “Within the next 120 days, we have six projects we will make decisions about,” he says.  “Behind those are nine (!!!) more for 2020.”  One project is the first hotel for the reinvented Kannapolis.

Woooooow!  I almost don't even know what to say!  Up here in Raleigh, people would probably be panicking with this many proposals to deal with!

Edited October 24, 2019 by nicholas

[TheOneRJ]

On 10/24/2019 at 1:36 PM, Nick2 said:

I know it's mostly geared towards families/kids but is the great Wolf Lodge worth it for adults? Never been but I've thought about going for a weekend with friends.

No. You’re better off going to Carowinds. 
 

What is being constructed across from the Walmart in Huntersville? Lots of land clearing. 

Edited October 25, 2019 by TheOneRJ

[JacksonH]

Sights around Kannapolis on Friday, including the downtown revitalization.

 

[videtur quam contuor]

I have driven around Kannapolis a few times in the past two to three years and the downtown"revitalization" is lacking the vital element. My experience mirrors the photos above. Vistas with grand new buildings and renovations of the classic downtown streets and not a human in sight.

There was (is?) an interesting museum of the Cannon Village and Textile history in a former movie theatre (not the GEM). Still, the lack of pedestrians and activity was jarring with the imposing buildings in the area.