The Good News Report

[KJHburg]

Charlotte (and Raleigh and Durham) among the BEST places to  start a business and this is great for our state. 

Best Places to Start a Small Business | LendingTree

[KJHburg]

I predict this one coffee shop will make this city a much better place.  Tomorrow the grand opening of Bitty and Beaus

watch their video on their humble roots in Wilmington NC  and tomorrow in Southend.

About Us - View Our Story via Video | Bitty & Beau's Coffee (bittyandbeauscoffee.com)

here are their new Charlotte location hours go support this this cheerful coffee shop for it is no corporate coffee  (and who would drink that anyway LOL!)

Charlotte - Bitty & Beau's Coffee (bittyandbeauscoffee.com)   regular hours starting after tomorrow.  

and if you are in town of Belmont visit another special coffee shop

Cherubs Cafe — Holy Angels (holyangelsnc.org)

Edited October 9, 2021 by KJHburg

[videtur quam contuor]

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article50501510.html

Holy Angels is a unique institution. It recalls a time when families had no options for their special children. Often doctors wold say to the parents of newborns to withhold care because it is best that the infant not survive. and there was no infant hospice program (or hospice for any person of any age). This was the mission of the Sisters of Mercy, also the order which started and ran Mercy Hospital for 90 years in Elizabeth neighborhood. The best of us, and a standard few can aspire to, even fewer achieve.

[QCxpat]

Today's CBJ "Where Charlotte clocks in on a list of annual real estate markets to watch" by Jenna Martin

Excerpt:  "The Emerging Trends in Real Estate report each year highlights the U.S. markets with the top overall real estate prospects.  And for several consecutive years now, Charlotte has been a fixture on that list of the 10 top markets to watch.  In the 2022 report, released today, the Queen City places at No. 6 in the ranking of markets to watch — those which are demonstrating strength in growth, homebuilding outlook, affordability and job prospects." ... "The report is produced by accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute, a real estate research and education nonprofit."  ... "Charlotte is grouped into what the PwC and ULI report classifies as a "magnet market," described as migration destinations for people and companies, with most having populations and jobs growing more quickly than the U.S. average.   Within that group, Charlotte appears among the "18-hour cities," joining the likes of Denver; Minneapolis; Salt Lake City; San Diego; Portland, Oregon; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  All feature active downtowns and urban-like suburban nodes, according to the report." ...  "Of the 80 ranked markets in the report, Charlotte has the fourth-highest score for investor demand, development and redevelopment opportunities, as well as local public and private investment.  It has the fifth-highest score for availability of debt and equity capital, and the eighth-highest score for local economy."  

Top 10 cities

1. Nashville
2. Raleigh/Durham
3. Phoenix
4. Austin
5. Tampa/St. Petersburg
6. Charlotte
7. Dallas/Fort Worth
8. Atlanta
9. Seattle
10. Boston

Links:  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/10/14/emerging-trends-in-real-estate-report-released.html

https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/asset-wealth-management/real-estate/emerging-trends-in-real-estate.html

Edited October 14, 2021 by QCxpat

[KJHburg]

thanks for posting that @QCxpat lots of good information in there.   Like Charlotte is more affordable than Nashville by a fair amount in the Housing front.  For example the report states 69.8% of locals can at 120% avg median income can afford median house here vs. 45% in Nashville.  Our business costs are 98.1% of the national average vs. 102% in Austin or 101.6% in Raleigh Durham.  

But the fact NC is only one of 2 states with 2 metro areas in the top 10 best real estate markets of all types is great so we are tied with Tejas. 

[KJHburg]

Here is the latest market report for Charlotte office market.  I would say the market has stabilized and starting to improve.  Vacancy is up but sublease space growth has slowed.  

Note the new leases like the big one for Credit Karma in the new Overlook tower at Ballantyne over 94,000 sq ft.

Charlotte MarketBeats | United States | Cushman & Wakefield (cushmanwakefield.com)

There is a flight to quality buildings either new or highly amenitized.  

 

[rancenc]

Great news for the state's film industry!

https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/regional/article_9d375f88-2f26-11ec-a293-df89ee4440db.html

[rancenc]

Good news concerning the plethora of startups throughout the state.

https://www.unc.edu/posts/2021/10/18/unc-chapel-hill-startups-deliver-economic-boost-to-pandemic-recovery/

[CarolinaDaydreamin]

Charlotte will join the American conference (from the smaller Conference USA). App State and Coastal Carolina were overlooked for this move. I would expect the American conference to ask the school to expand their stadium as part of this move. 

https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-the-aac-close-to-massive-6-school-expansion-to-reshape-conference-014015069.html

[KJHburg]

Charlotte and Raleigh and Durham all ranked high as the best places for a startup business.

Study: the best and worst U.S. cities to start a small business (cnbc.com)

[KJHburg]

Okay somewhat good news as we are dropping of the list of most rat infested cities.   #1 you ask?   Chicago!

The Rat Pack: Former Top Five Cities Remain Leaders on Orkin’s 2021 Rattiest Cities List

[rancenc]

State grants helping to create jobs and additional tax revenue for locales throughout the NC!

https://www.nccommerce.com/news/press-releases/governor-cooper-announces-22-grants-rural-communities-attract-417-new-jobs-and

[KJHburg]

How the top 50 cities fare in how much of a $100,000 salary you have left over.  Charlotte is pretty good and San Fran is actually negative which means you can't live on a $100K salary there!

How Far $100K Goes in 50 Major U.S. Cities | GOBankingRates

[QCxpat]

Today's CBJ "Outside Magazine names Charlotte among 'most livable'  places in America" by Jen Wilson

Excerpt:  "Despite receiving dismal ratings for parks in recent years, Charlotte has earned a lofty spot on Outside Magazine's list of "The 20 Most Livable Towns and Cities in America."  The feature considers WalletHub reports on diversity and sustainability,  Zillow data on housing affordability and the Trust for Public Land's parks report — where the Queen City has shown some improvement — to determine its ranking.  Charlotte is listed second, trailing only Atlanta, on Outside's list.  The magazine credits a growing local greenway network as well as the U.S. National Whitewater Center as the area's key assets.  It also makes reference the  recently opened Innovation Barn among the city's sustainability efforts.  Coming in third on the list is St. Paul, Minnesota, with Albuquerque and Philadelphia rounding out the top five."

Link:  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/10/25/cbj-morning-buzz-outside-magazine-most-livable.html

Edited October 25, 2021 by QCxpat

[kayman]

41 minutes ago, QCxpat said:

Today's CBJ "Outside Magazine names Charlotte among 'most livable'  places in America" by Jen Wilson

Excerpt:  "Despite receiving dismal ratings for parks in recent years, Charlotte has earned a lofty spot on Outside Magazine's list of "The 20 Most Livable Towns and Cities in America."  The feature considers WalletHub reports on diversity and sustainability,  Zillow data on housing affordability and the Trust for Public Land's parks report — where the Queen City has shown some improvement — to determine its ranking.  Charlotte is listed second, trailing only Atlanta, on Outside's list.  The magazine credits a growing local greenway network as well as the U.S. National Whitewater Center as the area's key assets.  It also makes reference the  recently opened Innovation Barn among the city's sustainability efforts.  Coming in third on the list is St. Paul, Minnesota, with Albuquerque and Philadelphia rounding out the top five."

Link:  https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/10/25/cbj-morning-buzz-outside-magazine-most-livable.html

Good news! Hopefully we can make the Queens Park concept ong with more pocket parks into a reality so our number of parks will go up.  Those population figures in the Outside magazine rankings are suspect though...

[Crucial_Infra]

ACC announced its considering moving its headquarters from Greensboro. This is basically Charlotte’s to lose at this point. 

 

[rancenc]

I know most of us gravitate to the CHARLOTTE forum here on Urbanplanet, as well as the sneak peek at the other top four forums on the NC page (Triad, Triangle, Wilmington, and Asheville).  However, I definitely encourage everyone to take a peak at the other locations around the state which are also experiencing new and exciting announcements in their communities.  I personally try to contribute to the various forums listed further down.  I also want to commend @KJHburg  among others who provides updates in all areas of our growing state including the smaller communities.     Again, keep our lesser know areas of the state in the mix of growth and development news.

Edited October 26, 2021 by rancenc

[turbocraig]

43 minutes ago, rancenc said:

I know most of us gravitate to the CHARLOTTE forum here on Urbanplanet, as well as the sneak peek at the other top four forums on the NC page (Triad, Triangle, Wilmington, and Asheville).  However, I definitely encourage everyone to take a peak at the other locations around the state which are also experiencing new and exciting announcements in their communities.  I personally try to contribute to the various forums listed further down.  I also want to commend @KJHburg  among others who provides updates in all areas of our growing state including the smaller communities.     Again, keep our lesser know areas of the state in the mixed of growth and development news.

I see KJH post often in the Triangle forum when I check that out every quarter or so.  He’s so ubiquitous I don’t know how he has time to make the doughnuts. 

Edited October 26, 2021 by turbocraig

[KJHburg]

1 hour ago, turbocraig said:

I see KJH post often in the Triangle forum when I check that out every quarter or so.  He’s so ubiquitous I don’t know how he has time to make the doughnuts. 

when you are executive level I do have the time but so many shops to visit.  One of my favorite old school shops with old school sign is the Krispy Kreme in downtown  Raleigh. 

I am PRO North Carolina first and that includes from Manteo to Murphy both towns have I have been visited. 

Edited October 26, 2021 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

From Business NC magazine:   ""Shark Tank, the CNBC show that has popularized the business pitch process, is scheduled to feature TheMagic5, a Charlotte-based company that makes custom-fitted swimming goggles on Friday. The business is owned and operated by three natives of Denmark including Bo Haaber, who lives in Charlotte.  The company's hook is that its robot technology and 3D printing process helps it create better, face-fitting goggles. They are priced at $55 to $65, according to the company's website. Its investors and endorsers include Matt Grevers, who won four gold medals at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012.""

Custom Fitted Swimming Goggles - By TheMagic5

[kermit]

Some serious good news for pedestrian friendliness, biking, placemaking and road dieting in NC. It sounds like NCDOT is willing to give control of segments of state-maintained streets to cities. This N and O article describes the process in Chapel Hill for the town to take control on Franklin Street through downtown. An agreement has not yet been reached between the town and NCDOT but the article says that NCDOT is “open to the idea” which will allow for more crosswalks, traffic calming and sidewalk expansions.

State control of streets has been a huge roadblock for placemaking in Charlotte so this change would be a very big deal, particularly for Tryon st in multiple locations, Graham through uptown and Silver-Line era Wilkinson (whenever that finally happens).

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article255326271.html

 

Edited October 28, 2021 by kermit

[videtur quam contuor]

North Carolina has the second most miles of state highways of any state, only to Texas. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Highway_System

In the  1910's to 1930's North Carolina was a poor, rural state with isolated communities. State construction was the only way to connect the population. There is some similarity to the statewide educational system which occurred in the 1930's when bankruptcy threatened counties. 

[kayman]

2 hours ago, kermit said:

Some serious good news for pedestrian friendliness, biking, placemaking and road dieting in NC. It sounds like NCDOT is willing to give control of segments of state-maintained streets to cities. This N and O article describes the process in Chapel Hill for the town to take control on Franklin Street through downtown. An agreement has not yet been reached between the town and NCDOT but the article says that NCDOT is “open to the idea” which will allow for more crosswalks, traffic calming and sidewalk expansions.

State control of streets has been a huge roadblock for placemaking in Charlotte so this change would be a very big deal, particularly for Tryon st in multiple locations, Graham through uptown and Silver-Line era Wilkinson (whenever that finally happens).

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article255326271.html

 

There's an initiative of NCDOT-Integrated Mobility Division (NCDOT-IMD) to roll out a complete streets program allowing such.  There will be a toolbox for local planners to implement traffic calming measures such as reduction of travel lanes, on-street parking, bollards, etc. to create zones for protected, separated bike lanes.  This is something that will be rolled out in 2022 by NCDOT

[navigator319]

JP Morgan developments may be deserving of a thread soon 

Funny you mention this. There was an out of town JPM contingent in town on Tuesday. Including their facilities VP and HR SVP. [emoji848]

[Blue_Devil]

The Chase portion of JPM has been hiring Control and AML people for the last year here.