Charlotte wishlist - scorecard

[Matthew.Brendan 4194]

1 hour ago, Yeahdoug said:

Can we add getting rid of that ugly Duke building on college 

What is that terrible building? It looks so bad next to the convention center. The stupid metal grid thing they made as decorative has its faded paint peeling off and is all rusted to hell. 

Data Center. It's in the process of being decommissioned. Site will be the convention center hotel.

[southernnorthcarolina 205]

 

How about bringing back "Downtown"?

The word "Uptown" has always struck me as a silly affectation.  But some people like it, so keep it to refer to the part of the central business district north of Trade Street, and call the part of the central business district south of Trade "Downtown."  The intense development of the Stonewall/Tryon area merits its own geographic name, anyway.  And having an Uptown and a Downtown would mirror the same designations as in New York and Atlanta, with Uptown being north, and Downtown being South.  (Of course, Tryon runs approximately southwest-to-northeast, but North Tryon and South Tryon are the street names.)

 

[CarolinaDaydreamin 1611]

On 6/20/2020 at 6:07 PM, southernnorthcarolina said:

 

How about bringing back "Downtown"?

The word "Uptown" has always struck me as a silly affectation.  But some people like it, so keep it to refer to the part of the central business district north of Trade Street, and call the part of the central business district south of Trade "Downtown."  The intense development of the Stonewall/Tryon area merits its own geographic name, anyway.  And having an Uptown and a Downtown would mirror the same designations as in New York and Atlanta, with Uptown being north, and Downtown being South.  (Of course, Tryon runs approximately southwest-to-northeast, but North Tryon and South Tryon are the street names.)

 

There isn't an "uptown" Atlanta, and New York's is very geographical. I think the Uptown vs Downtown is a native vs. non native debate. As a Charlotte native growing up in the 90's I always have and always will call it Downtown. Uptown for areas in "North End" makes sense.

[MothBeast 87]

As a Charlotte native who grew up in the 00's, I and everyone else I knew (native or otherwise) called it uptown. Only outsiders called it downtown and were swiftly corrected. Shows how successful the city's campaign to rename it was.

[Yo Diaz! 1350]

I’ve always thought since moving here in 02 that it should’ve been called “midtown” Charlotte just because of its location. That was never gonna take though obviously.
It seems it wasn’t even just a campaign to call it Uptown. They did outright name it that. There are actual signs saying Uptown as you cross 277.


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[Guest]

3 hours ago, MothBeast said:

As a Charlotte native who grew up in the 00's, I and everyone else I knew (native or otherwise) called it uptown. Only outsiders called it downtown and were swiftly corrected. Shows how successful the city's campaign to rename it was.

as a Charlotte Native who grew up in the late 80s and 90s, we called it downtown, I can remember the first time I heard uptown, I was very confused.

Edited June 22, 2020 by Guest

[KJHburg 68050]

Since I have been alive and noticed things such as this it has always been uptown to me.  When I met my grandmother working at Belks uptown or my aunt who worked there until it closed it was always "Lets go uptown to pick up aunt Frankie"  and little KJ was there with my 110 camera.   Uptown is physically UPtown when compared to rest of the city it is on a ridge where the major Native American trading path and Great Wagon road intersected.  That is why the skyline is easily seen from Lincoln Catawba county line on Hwy 16 or from many points in Concord always located on ridge.   Walk Trade St from county jail to the Square (trade and tryon) and you will walking up a slight hill.   Notice there are no creeks in uptown because it was up land.  

[KJHburg 68050]

Here is a topo map of Mecklenburg county and you can the see original city of Charlotte was located on ridge following Tryon St  and other ridges are shown as the city swallowed up half of the county.   and yes I am a Charlotte native though not always lived here (absent for 20 years) always visited Charlotte and its uptown yearly. 

https://en-us.topographic-map.com/maps/kh1/Charlotte/

Edited June 22, 2020 by KJHburg

[ertley 771]

39 minutes ago, Tyree Ricardo said:

as a Charlotte Native who grew up in the late 80s and 90s, we called it downtown, I can remember the first time I heard uptown, I was very confused.

My 86 year old uncle (married my aunt who's 15 years younger than he), who was born and grew up in Charlotte in the '30s on Townes Road (off Park), confirmed for me years ago that it  was definitely Downtown Charlotte when he was young, and well after World War II. I was told "Uptown" was an '80s marketing ploy, to recast the central area in a more positive light, when it was trying to revive. 

I can personally remember a television commercial from that era promoting the Overstreet Mall and the like, with a conceit of the commercial that two women who'd had an *amazing* time shopping there arguing continuously whether it was "Downtown" or "Uptown" Charlotte, never resolved even upon their return via car (!) to their leafy neighborhood and shutting the trunk of the car (if I remember correctly).  

Perhaps it was always a toMAYto versus toMAHto thing... Could be a cute conceit for adapting "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," for Charlotte (if there would ever be such a need). 

Edited June 22, 2020 by ertley

[tarhoosier 5401]

I recall this blog post by Brad Panovich which led me to investigate the highest point in Mecklenburg. It is in the back yard(s) of some homes in a development off Gibbon Road. The rail line follows the ridge which this high point is the crest upon. 890 ft +/-

http://wxbrad.com/the-highest-point-in-charlotte-is-a-cul-de-sac/

Yes, I drove there to investigate. I wonder if the residents there know their situation. I hope they have lightning rods and surge protectors. (surge protectors will not prevent damage from a direct strike)

 

[davidclt 413]

On 6/22/2020 at 1:14 PM, ertley said:

I can personally remember a television commercial from that era promoting the Overstreet Mall and the like, with a conceit of the commercial that two women who'd had an *amazing* time shopping there arguing continuously whether it was "Downtown" or "Uptown" Charlotte, never resolved even upon their return via car (!) to their leafy neighborhood and shutting the trunk of the car (if I remember correctly).  

Has the Overstreet Mall outlived its usefulness? From this weeks 99% Invisible, they explore the Skyways of MSP: EPISODE 428: Beneath the Skyway. Good listen