Charlotte area "ring cities"

[KJHburg]

Pineville rising Atrium Pineville building. Today from 485.   Side windshield shots are my worst LOL> 

[videtur quam contuor]

On 11/13/2020 at 4:22 PM, tarhoosier said:

Election story/joke. Feel free to tell this as your own with what changes you wish:

Small town where everyone knows all. Owner of barber shop always talks about how wonderful things will be when Democrats rule things. Every election when paper ballots are counted there is a single Democrat choice. Barber is a fine man, sponsors a Little League team, friend to all, and everyone in town. Each person has peccadillo and this, apparently, is his. Minor and benign, say his fellows. Sadly the barber dies. The funeral is a send-off to a valued member of the community. At the church after the ceremony memories are shared and much smiling recalling his lifelong support of Democrats and that single Democrat vote.

Next election officials overturn election box and sifting through they realize there is a single Democrat vote. Stunned silence. "You know what this means? We buried the wrong man!"

This may have happened in Glasscock County Georgia

Politics[edit]

Glascock County, a rural, sparsely-populated, majority-White county, is arguably the most Republican of Georgia's 159 counties, and one of the most Republican counties in the United States, with almost 90 percent of voters supporting Donald Trump in 2020. In addition, Republican percentages have been in the 80s since 2004, and the last Democrat to win the county was Georgian Jimmy Carter in 1980.(citation needed)

[KJHburg]

Outer ring town report.  Went to visit with my college roommate who lost both his parents in a span of 3 months in Star in Montgomery County in the Uwharries region. 

Drive through Mt Pleasant which is in Cabarrus really nice town with a fine white tablecloth restaurant 73 and Main downtown.   It attracts people from throughout Cabarrus County. 

1.2. town of Mt Pleasant and 73 and Main restaurant. Not photo'ed the Southern Grace Distillery in an old prison right in town as well.  You can tour it and taste if of legal age.

3.4.5.6.  NC 24.27.73 all come together and the state is widening the highway to and beyond the bridge over the Pee Dee River Lake Tillery.  Notice the Uwharrie mountains the last such "mountains" that far east in NC.  

7.8..9.10.  Town of Star, NC the center of NC or pretty close to it.  Nice older buildings and a great bed and breakfast the historic Star Inn which is pictured.

11.12. Back to Oakboro to eat dinner in downtown at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants.  It was busy and will get busier as the new Charlotte Pipe and Foundry will be built about 2 miles away just outside of town replacing the facility near Uptown and the Gold district. 

[KJHburg]

Downtown Mt Holly today.  Visit local shops like these in downtown Mt Holly.  I found several unique gifts here and many are made in NC!  Talk about supporting local.  

Just minutes from Charlotte out NC 27 or take I-85 over the river to Gaston County. 

[videtur quam contuor]

Perfect Tuesday

Drive to York city, seat of York County. I am embarrassed to say that I lived in Charlotte for too many years until I learned that the seat of York County was York city and not Rock Hill. The majority of the population of York County is in the eastern corridor of York County along the arteries of the Catawba River, the railroad from Charlotte to Columbia from the mid 1800’s and Interstate 77. We all know well the development from Lake Wylie, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill and the other communities in this corridor. Most of us are less familiar with the 40+ road miles from the eastern communities to the western reaches of the county. This distance is uniformly small farms, wooded areas, slightly rolling land and churches plus small communities. This includes York city. This makes York County a known development location but York city an overlooked location. 

The city is compact and lovely. Whether by decree or custom the central business area and residences on the surrounding blocks are in a high state of preservation, tidy and neat. The retail area is several blocks of Congress Street and 80% occupied with good quality tenants. Tuesday there were cars curbside along the street and several shoppers and strollers along with me. 

 

First up, the York County Courthouse. Now THIS is a courthouse. Yellow brick reflecting our area, ionic capitals for the columns, which is a first in my tour of overlooked county seats. NO memorial, tin soldier, tablet or other obstruction to obscure the beauty of the building. Anson County take note. A brass pediment above the tympanum is distinctive and red tile roof adds another point of visual interest. The doors are enhanced with a lintel supported by corbels with lights above. Proportion is maintained thereby. Lincoln County take note. The lights on either side of the steps on the post and pendants are continued in the hallway inside the building.  The decoration in the tympanum may resemble a heraldic white rose and the white rose is the symbol of York. I choose to believe it was designed as a white rose and it makes me happy. This is the best overall presentation of any courthouse in this series. 

Here is a closer look for detail and to see the lights inside that follow the design outside. Look through the right entry door.

The courthouse is not at a square or circle, but a crossroad. This at the edge of the courthouse property and under the tree seen above describes that before rail and highways there were paths and wagon roads

At the far end of the courthouse parking area is the new courthouse and county services center. Tuesday, and it was busy with people entering and leaving. Modern yet sensitive to the building it is facing. York commissioners have done their work well.

The Rose Hotel, facing the courthouse on Congress Street. Built 1852 and now apartments above and offices on ground floor. Note street lights.

Next building on Congress is this one which looks remarkably like one in Dallas, my first courthouse visit. Wedding chapel on ground floor. Other uses unknown.

At the corner across from the courthouse is the First National Bank. No longer a bank and I did not investigate the use. Note how complementary the design and brick color is to the courthouse. These people had a sense of art.

The next 2-3 blocks of Congress complete the central shopping area of York. The Sylvia Theatre. I wager the small windows were for projectionist as the high intensity bulbs for projectors made a projection booth over 100º if not ventilated. The Sylvia, with a tree in front.  Extra points to you if you connect the symbolism.

Now Showing: a moment in time. March 6 2020 (sad face)

Across from the theatre is Brandon House from 1871. This house had a French restaurant in the early 2010's. I ate here twice. A local man studied in France and returned to treat his community to his education. Now closed, and a realtor office currently.

York has a rare coherence with the central area and surrounding residential area contributing to a whole that is pleasing and complementary. Though a small town, population 8,000 or so, it is growing in population. Less than a mile from the center the established area drifts into the 21st century retail drek. Not far away is the Museum of Western York County, which by name alone emphasizes the distance and difference from the Rock Hill corridor. 36 miles and one hour today from Freedom Park. Worth the drive and a respite from the I-77 welter.

Edited November 26, 2020 by tarhoosier

[KJHburg]

Felt the need to walk around some after a HUGE dinner in Ktown to  nearby downtown Kannapolis.  Lots of new shops set to open Chophouse 101, a bakery, a coffee shop, a boutique, a Sabor in addition to the Gem theater, the Armory brewery, other existing shops.  New apartments racing towards completion.   a whole new downtown Kannapolis.   Plus the new Atrium Ballpark home of the Kannapolis Ballers minor league team.  As I said people feel real sense of pride in their new downtown and love to walk around it and their open stadium this year no games just open for people to sit and buy stuff from the concession stands was very successful.  Check it out and their main street through it has so many seats, parklets, fountains etc.  Really nice. 

LOTS of photos as I took an extensive walk around downtown LOL. Warning 46 photos.    New for sale townhome development getting ready to start on south edge of downtown beyond the new Vida apartments. 

[videtur quam contuor]

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Posted Wednesday at 08:16 PM (edited)

Perfect Tuesday

Drive to York city, seat of York County. I am embarrassed to say that I lived in Charlotte for too many years until I learned that the seat of York County was York city and not Rock Hill.

----------------------------------------------

Regarding my education about York County Seat, as mentioned above, I told my story to a friend who is an architect with projects in the region. He said messengers and young employees going to Caldwell County  Building Inspection and permit office with project papers are specifically told to set the GPS for Newton, NC and not Hickory.

[KJHburg]

Birkdale Village still looks good after all these years.  These photos are from Wednesday and here is a story on their new ownership too.  and new shopping center renovation of New England looking buildings across the street in front of the Birkdale neighborhood. 

North American Properties, Nuveen Real Estate now own Birkdale Village in Huntersville - Charlotte Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

 

[Nick2]

On 11/20/2020 at 7:21 PM, KJHburg said:

Outer ring town report.  Went to visit with my college roommate who lost both his parents in a span of 3 months in Star in Montgomery County in the Uwharries region.   

7.8..9.10.  Town of Star, NC the center of NC or pretty close to it.  Nice older buildings and a great bed and breakfast the historic Star Inn which is pictured.

My family lives near star in the countryside. The town library has a plaque on the side of it declaring that location as the exact geographic center of NC.

Star is an old mill town that is a shell of itself during its heyday since the mills left but the people and town remain. 

The cool thing is that many of those borded up abandoned buildings are having their second floors converted apartments.

There's also an Aberdeen and western train museum in town. As well as Starworks which is a glass blowing/pottery/art guild with a neat cafe/tavern.

Edited November 28, 2020 by Nick2

[KJHburg]

here is good story from WFAE about downtown Kannapolis development to follow up on my photos from Thanksgiving today above.

Kannapolis Sells Off More Blocks As Downtown Vision Takes Shape | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source

[videtur quam contuor]

On to Albemarle in Stanly County* this beautiful, bright blue day.

Albemarle is in the Metro Area but the connection to Charlotte is difficult to sense. One reason Albemarle is overlooked is that it was the last nearby seat to be connected to Charlotte by a four lane highway. NC 27 was widened a few years ago. No US or Interstate connector to Mecklenburg County which kept Stanly County from developing compared to peers in the region. The highway goes through an 8 mile stretch of Cabarrus County on the way from Meck to Stanly.

42 miles and 50 minutes today, Sunday, from East Boulevard.

The key word for downtown Albemarle is adaptive re-use. Here is the former Lillian Mill, now, and for ten years, housing for developmentally disabled. It is on a hill and this is the top level so the building is much larger than appears from this vantage point. 

 

 

Next is the former Albemarle Hotel on First Street. The windows have been removed for renovation and if you look closely on the small banner covering the plywoood window on the ground floor right it shows the new 4 over 1 windows to come. 

 

Across the street from the Hotel is this lovely Art Deco service station now a going business of auto repair. Note reception desk and wooden chairs for customers inside.

 

I like this little building saved and renewed so I post two views. If someone can identify the brand of national gas and oil that used this design for their stations, very much obliged.

Note churches on both sides of this building. This auto shop is facing the hotel.

 

On the third corner of this intersection is this church. Albemarle downtown is littered with large churches. About half steepled and half domed. Hybrid capitals on columns.

 

The feeling of the Uwharrie Mountains is everywhere in Albemarle with steep streets and elevation change all around.

Albemarle High School. Year of construction unknown. There was a time in many locations when a high school was the highest expression of a city's hopes for its future. Clearly this was for the city of Albemarle. Now part of the Albemarle Elementary School.

 

Next to the High school building is the football field, now a park and playground. Just beyond the field is another mill/factory now a senior service center plus other uses.

Next to the high school opposite side from the ball field is this building, a former school used now for senior housing.

 

Next to the senior housing and completing the block of school properties is this building. Leasing available. Albemarle Central School Apartments. More adaptive re-use.

 

Congratulations to Albemarle for knowing their future was not in new construction but in re-using their solid and impressive buildings from their past. Quite an impression made on me and I salute them.

 

The city businesses were uniformly closed today. Nothing open downtown. Highway 27 bypass had the usual suspects and activity. 

Downhill from the church/hotel/repair station corner is this building, clearly well cared for and loved. The black façade is from the 40's maybe?

The rest of the block looks like this. Some vacant stores downtown, some secondary use tenants such as small odd churches and second hand goods. The city looked clean and neat and the downtown blends into a quality historic looking neighborhood beyond the 6-8 block commercial area. 

 

Last, and certainly least is the county courthouse. Anyone can date this easily by the style as 60's to early 70's. The best courthouses suggest the dignity of Justice to be obtained within. Not here. If the sign said JAIL instead of courthouse no one would question the use. There is a detention center at rear of building. No obvious bail bond offices seen in the vicinity. Albemarle never had a neoclassical courthouse. It is my guess that the county will continue to use this building for another 50 years which I find sad.

*My mnemonic: StanLY (no E) CounTY (no E). Stanley, the town, is in Gaston County.

Edited December 7, 2020 by tarhoosier

[Bikeguy]

^Reliable source says the gas station was Wilhelm's Esso/Exxon.  

..and the reliable source also highly recommends a visit to the Albemarle Sweet Shop located just behind the Starns Jewelry store.  Get several of the " fruit " bars.  "Fruit in name only as they will send blood sugars through the roof.  But worth it. 

Edited December 7, 2020 by Bikeguy

[videtur quam contuor]

Very much obliged, Bikeguy. I saw the sweet shop on my drive. and it appeared to be a going business though everything closed Sunday. 

Checking historic gas station designs today and it appears that this specific design, and its variations, was not particular to a brand. It is similar to that of several brands built during a mid-century burst of station construction. 

A tour through the empty city displayed the primary element of re-use so I focussed on that for my post. Learning from our overlooked neighbors.

[videtur quam contuor]

My tour of overlooked surrounding counties, what we can learn from them, what their courthouses say about their history and desires, has been guided by the Charlotte MSA and CSA listing of counties. I also find this additional information:

Counties[edit]

The official Charlotte metropolitan area includes the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia MSA (Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Union counties in North Carolina; Chester, Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina). The Charlotte CSA includes all the MSA counties along with the following micropolitan areas in North Carolina: Albemarle (Stanly County) and Shelby (Cleveland County). (Census Bureau definition for CSA)^[12]

The Charlotte Regional Partnership also identifies four additional counties to the what they refer to as the 'Charlotte Region'-Alexander, Anson and Catawba counties in North Carolina, and Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Catawba and Alexander counties are currently part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area or 'The Unifour', and Anson County was once part of the MSA and CSA, until it was removed in 2011. Factoring in the Unifour, as well as Anson and Chesterfield counties, if one considers these regions to be part of the Charlotte area, as many in the area regard them as such, the population according to 2018 Census estimates, increases to 3,190,390.

QUESTION 

How many of you consider Chesterfield SC, Alexander and Caldwell NC part of the "Charlotte" region, in the development and Urban Planet sense which guides us here?

[tozmervo]

38 minutes ago, tarhoosier said:

My tour of overlooked surrounding counties, what we can learn from them, what their courthouses say about their history and desires, has been guided by the Charlotte MSA and CSA listing of counties. I also find this additional information:

Counties[edit]

The official Charlotte metropolitan area includes the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia MSA (Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Union counties in North Carolina; Chester, Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina). The Charlotte CSA includes all the MSA counties along with the following micropolitan areas in North Carolina: Albemarle (Stanly County) and Shelby (Cleveland County). (Census Bureau definition for CSA)^[12]

The Charlotte Regional Partnership also identifies four additional counties to the what they refer to as the 'Charlotte Region'-Alexander, Anson and Catawba counties in North Carolina, and Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Catawba and Alexander counties are currently part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area or 'The Unifour', and Anson County was once part of the MSA and CSA, until it was removed in 2011. Factoring in the Unifour, as well as Anson and Chesterfield counties, if one considers these regions to be part of the Charlotte area, as many in the area regard them as such, the population according to 2018 Census estimates, increases to 3,190,390.

QUESTION 

How many of you consider Chesterfield SC, Alexander and Caldwell NC part of the "Charlotte" region, in the development and Urban Planet sense which guides us here?

If I'm an economic development guru in Alexander county, I'm definitely trying to sell "Charlotte Region" more than "Unifour" or "Hickory Region."

If I'm a politician in Alexander county, "we don't need Charlotte, we have everything we need here in the Hickory area."

[videtur quam contuor]

As you, meaning you, Tozmervo, singular you, personal you, what is your answer?

Edited December 9, 2020 by tarhoosier

[KJHburg]

4 hours ago, tarhoosier said:

 

QUESTION 

How many of you consider Chesterfield SC, Alexander and Caldwell NC part of the "Charlotte" region, in the development and Urban Planet sense which guides us here?

having been to all 100 counties I think Alexander county is in the orbit of Hickory and statesville not so much Charlotte but also Caldwell county.  Chesterfield in my opinion is apart of our tv market but so is Ashe County in the NW corner of NC.  I really dont think it is a part of the Charlotte metro or even region.  There is a huge Walmart distribution center there that I am sure serves our metro but beyond that there may be some commuting into Union County with its manufacturing jobs.  Caldwell is part of the Hickory metro but parts of Catawba county are more Charlotte centric the SE corner in Sherrils Ford and Terrell communities around the lake.  

[rancenc]

Some new economic opportunities could be coming to Lincolnton/Lincoln County.

https://www.lincolntimesnews.com/news/lincolnton-city-council-consider-a-new-manufacturing-company-and-a-tattoo-studio/article_e95f81f2-3a1b-11eb-adaa-2b76eebbc927.html

[KJHburg]

when you see a crane in downtown Concord you have to take some photos.  New Cabarrus County Courthouse construction.

first photo.  Lunch plates for the homeless in Concord too. 

[rancenc]

Great things may be on the horizon for the Gaston County town of Lowell!

https://www.charlottestories.com/plans-moving-forward-to-transform-lowell-into-industrial-hub-of-charlotte-region/

[rancenc]

Aerial view of Bessemer City along with some mountain shots!!

 

[JRNYP2C]

Thanks for the Gaston County shoutout!!  Small town, but a neat place!

[rancenc]

Massive residential development for the Sherrill Fords area of Catawba County!

https://hickoryrecord.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/1-744-home-development-approved-in-sherrills-ford-over-objections/article_1766768e-4488-11eb-ae72-f7f6075b3d6f.html

[rancenc]

Updates on the new baseball stadium that will opening up in downtown Gastonia!

https://www.gastongazette.com/story/news/2020/12/20/inside-gastonias-26-million-fuse-stadium-opening-day-approaches/3981700001/

[rancenc]

On 10/8/2020 at 7:39 PM, rancenc said:

Controversial project planned for downtown Huntersville.

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/huntersville-proposal-town-center-community-responds/275-942f09ac-6df3-4e0b-bb7a-111e9de83e05

Looks like this rezoning has been given the green light from the Town Council!

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/plans-controversial-development-move-forward-downtown-huntersville-despite-backlash/WZNRKYSYGNCOVLV62WPF3YOFWU/