Independence Corridor

[DownEast]

Maybe Bladerunner had it all wrong, and buildings will evolve into billboards instead? I mean, balconies are in now, right?

Edited June 22, 2022 by DownEast

[atlrvr]

Rooftop bar on mid-century mid-rises, giant billboards low to the ground....smog over the skyline in the afternoon....change Independence to Sunset, and we're in Hollywood baby.

[slipperypete]

So weird. Didn't they originally propose a huge video billboard atop the Ervin building? I seem to remember that getting shot down. This developer must have a thing for ad revenue. 

[TCLT]

So weird. Didn't they originally propose a huge video billboard atop the Ervin building? I seem to remember that getting shot down. This developer must have a thing for ad revenue. 

With the restaurant that close to the highway I’m sure they’ll get more money from ads than from the lease. That patio and balcony dining area won’t exactly be charming.

[drawscape]

I am probably in the vast minority, but the more Independence looks like  a Tokyo/Hong Kong/Cyberpunk  City, the more I will love it

[CLT2014]

55 minutes ago, drawscape said:

I am probably in the vast minority, but the more Independence looks like  a Tokyo/Hong Kong/Cyberpunk  City, the more I will love it.

How is it making steps to look like Toyko haha? All I see are more car washes springing up, Walmart, gas stations, car dealerships, et... It looks like an overgrown Shelby or Hickory versus a baby Tokyo.

[drawscape]

2 hours ago, CLT2014 said:

How is it making steps to look like Toyko haha? All I see are more car washes springing up, Walmart, gas stations, car dealerships, et... It looks like an overgrown Shelby or Hickory versus a baby Tokyo.

True, those kind of establishments aren't helping But I would say LEDs billboards are

[TCLT]

On 6/21/2022 at 7:52 PM, TCLT said:

Saw a piece of heavy equipment in the grass lot behind the Aldi at Idlewild and Monroe. Anyone have any idea if something is imminent here?

Another truck was there yesterday. Drill drill drill.

[lit]

Nice day for a River adventure!

[Reverie39]

Ah, the US National Whitewater Center, one of Charlotte's best attractions.

[willdarden]

Amazing mural recently complete on the big wall next to the Ervin building by Eva Crawford and Hilary Siber! Worth checking out. Too big to capture in one or two photos. Hard to park near there, but I found a spot off the road and was able to grab some photos. It's MASSIVE! Love this for the east side.

 

 

Edited July 1, 2022 by willdarden
Editing to include JPEGs

[tarhoosier]

Massively strong entry post @willdarden and welcome to the fray

[KJHburg]

East side Revitalizing!   the Ervin tower renovation today. 

[TCLT]

On 6/21/2022 at 7:52 PM, TCLT said:

Saw a piece of heavy equipment in the grass lot behind the Aldi at Idlewild and Monroe. Anyone have any idea if something is imminent here?

Looks like there's a rezoning petition open for this parcel, 22-050, to permit residential units. Up to 270 multifamily or 80 single family attached (townhouses?). 

[KJHburg]

Rolling up Independence from Union County and Varnadore/Erwin building looking good.  Skyline always looks great from here very spread out and full of tall buildings. 

those new  townhomes in Chantilly have a great view of the traffic conditions on Independence LOL. 

[Reverie39]

20 hours ago, KJHburg said:

 

 

The skyline view from this point will be completely transformed when the Queensbridge development is complete.

[lit]

A Pedestrian was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver last night near the Walmart. 

 

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/1-person-dies-after-being-hit-by-vehicle-in-east-charlotte-north-carolina-pedestrian-struck-police-investigation/275-b1921f54-65f3-4524-9db5-d9eafa7adef4

[RANYC]

4 hours ago, lit said:

A Pedestrian was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver last night near the Walmart. 

 

https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/1-person-dies-after-being-hit-by-vehicle-in-east-charlotte-north-carolina-pedestrian-struck-police-investigation/275-b1921f54-65f3-4524-9db5-d9eafa7adef4

Tragic.  I'm all for protected bike lanes, and design elements like  pavers, raised pedestrian crosswalks, and other traffic-calming elements to force drivers to slow down; however, just in the past week I've seen so many examples of Russian roulette pedestrianism.  Last week, in the dark of evening, this woman was heading south in the northbound right lane of N. Tryon pushing a shopping cart.  Drivers were slamming on brakes as she would come into their vision only once their front lights were right on her.  

That's just one example but I've seen about 5 such examples in recent weeks.

On the other hand, I've seen a number of near-misses at Uptown cross-walks, where cars plan to make a right turn at red and run right into the crosswalk just as a pedestrian is approaching.  I'd say use signage stopping right turns on red but, of course, those will be ignored.  It's almost as though we need sensors to detect folks in the cross-walk to let those in a right lane know that the cross-walk is occupied because they can't often see that.

[#1Son]

Tragically another example of poor planning by the NCDOT.  I never understood why they didn't make the upgrades to Independence fully controlled access.  As the road is expanded the traffic flow is constantly 10 to 15 mph over the posted 50 mph signs.  I dread pulling on to Independence from the Walmart and having to gun it just to get up to speed in order to exit on to Albemarle Rd.    

[lit]

6 hours ago, #1Son said:

Tragically another example of poor planning by the NCDOT.  I never understood why they didn't make the upgrades to Independence fully controlled access.  As the road is expanded the traffic flow is constantly 10 to 15 mph over the posted 50 mph signs.  I dread pulling on to Independence from the Walmart and having to gun it just to get up to speed in order to exit on to Albemarle Rd.    

I know it's a pain-in-the-a$$, but if you fear for your safety it might be better to go a different route. Utilize the Pierson exit to get to Sharon Amity either by cutting through the neighborhood or getting on Independence, or use the side-road that goes behind the 7-11 to "backtrack" and enter the highway earlier so you have a little more time/space to cross-over the 4 lanes to take the Albemarle exit. I guess it depends on where you're trying to go.

[#1Son]

@lit Thanks for the alternate options.  Depending on the time of day I go the long way or cut through the neighborhood.  I guess my point is that NCDOT chooses to leave crossing 4 lanes of traffic as an option instead of closing the access points and re-routing the traffic to a frontage road when the traffic flow on Independence is at a speed equal to that of the area interstates.