Metropolitan, Midtown Redevelopment

[49er]

How big is that space again?It might even be marketable to two junior anchors by splitting it in half. With Best Buy/Marshalls/Staples across the street as well, I'm sure you could attract xyz big boxes and have a true urban big box center in the general area.

[Niner National]

would be a solid spot for a container store.

[DigitalSky]

How big is that space again?It might even be marketable to two junior anchors by splitting it in half. With Best Buy/Marshalls/Staples across the street as well, I'm sure you could attract xyz big boxes and have a true urban big box center in the general area.

127,653 square feet is vacant space where the Home Depot Design Center was.

[Guest]

127,653 square feet is vacant space where the Home Depot Design Center was.

I have it on good authority that there is an 80% chance this will be a Kohls by mid-late 2013.

[rjp212]

The construction behind the sales center seems to be just part of the greenway. Most likely restrooms for the greenway...

[dubone]

I heard a rumor recently from someone who was pretty confident when they said it that it would be a large H&M. I'd rather it not be an H&M honestly, but just passing on what I heard so I can do the 'i told you so's in the off chance it happens .

[DigitalSky]

Interesting developments... Kohl's and H&M

[SmellyCat]

Pisces is going to be expanding into the unused space between it and Vivace's.

[ScottCLT]

I passed by the new Chipotle and Vitamin Shoppe today, which don't look too far from opening. The third space is a Mattress Firm - the signs are up, and they are rather large. Boring if you ask me.

I agree about the sidewalks. It's too bad they didn't widen these and accommodate street-level entrances for these stores.

[Guest]

I passed by the new Chipotle and Vitamin Shoppe today, which don't look too far from opening. The third space is a Mattress Firm - the signs are up, and they are rather large. Boring if you ask me.

I agree about the sidewalks. It's too bad they didn't widen these and accommodate street-level entrances for these stores.

NO STREET LEVEL ENTRANCES!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!! >

[nonillogical]

^Yeah when I first saw these going up I thought "Oh, they're building really close to the street. Maybe this won't be too bad." But no, there isn't an ounce of pedestrian consideration or visual interest on Kings except for a staircase up between the buildings. The signs are absolutely repulsive.

Edited December 14, 2011 by nonillogical

[tozmervo]

The whole thing is a suburban disaster. Some developer just wanted to vomit up a strip mall and be done with it. I'm really disappointed the city didn't wield more authority to keep it from happening.

[dubone]

At the the buildings are up against the sidewalk, that will help them eventually be more sensible in a future generation when there is more streetlife. Let's note that the same developer (or land banker, etc.) didn't put sidewalk-oriented entrance on the ABC store or the Original Pancake House either.

Also, there will be street-level entrances, just not street-facing. It would be pretty fun, though, if they had a ladder and then a hatch on the roof. I wouldn't put it past them.

This isn't quite as bad as standard suburban hell, though. It does have parking on the interior of the block rather than, say, the old strip mall with the dominos next to the Arbys. It's just still auto-oriented, which is disappointing.

[ScottCLT]

At least the buildings themselves are more visibly appealing than a typical strip mall, I guess. I do think they look nice, and I am glad that they aren't matchy matchy fake stucco facades. They are modern, and each is different. So I guess it isn't a total loss. But I really don't expect the Vitamin Shoppe and Mattress Firm to get much business from people walking. Would have been nice to see some different stores move in here instead.

[southslider]

The whole thing is a suburban disaster. Some developer just wanted to vomit up a strip mall and be done with it. I'm really disappointed the city didn't wield more authority to keep it from happening.

The site already had existing "suburban" Business zoning, similar to the Bojangles just up the street. The developer could have placed the parking between the buildings and the sidewalk, if they wanted to do so. It's my understanding that the City lacks any architectural review, outside urban or conditional zoning requests.

Edited December 15, 2011 by southslider

[Norm2]

How hard would it be to get the council to institute an architectural review of developments?

[southslider]

^In theory, Charlotte could. North Meck Towns already do.

However, the NC Senate considered a bill last year (SB 731) that would have forbidden any NC city from doing so. Ironically, SB 731 was led by State Senator Dan Clodfelter, a former Charlotte City Councilman, who lives in well-designed Elizabeth. Sen. Clodfelter did exempt historic districts. Still, many situations, such as Metropolitan area development, seem to point to a need for architectural review for new buildings. Fortunately, the bill did not become law, in large part, due to the NC chapter of the American Planning Association fighting it.

Edited December 16, 2011 by southslider

[Norm2]

We should all just run for city council next election and just make a bunch of new urban design rules LOL!

[DigitalSky]

Someone needs to take some pictures of this! I forgot all about going to look last time I was in town!

Your wish is my command.

[DCMetroRaleigh]

nice pics

[ScottCLT]

The guys that run Pisces Sushi (excellent spot if you haven't been yet!) have leased the next door space, and will be putting in a lounge with small plates for food. The two will connect and share bathrooms - there will be some construction going on (but Pisces will stay open) to open up the current venue to the one beside it.

[dubone]

That's cool. I go sometimes to Dresslers and Vivace but haven't tried Pisces. I'm sure when more of those restaurants are open it'll help them all collectively.

[caterpillar2]

The guys that run Pisces Sushi (excellent spot if you haven't been yet!) have leased the next door space, and will be putting in a lounge with small plates for food. The two will connect and share bathrooms - there will be some construction going on (but Pisces will stay open) to open up the current venue to the one beside it.

Does "small plaets for food" mean tapas?

[ScottCLT]

Does "small plaets for food" mean tapas?

I guess you can call it that, but I usually think of "tapas" as Spanish. This will be still an Asian theme according what I've heard from a friend of the owner.

[Temeteron]

La Paz & Hickory Tavern opened today....I went in La Paz to have a drink but there bar was closing around the time i got there..(10:30), so I decided to go to Hickory Tavern. I must say the Met is definitely looking a lot busier now that they have opened. I can only imagine what Friday & Saturday will feel like.