History of Charlotte

[Scribe]

I had a discussion with an architect -- degree from UNC Charlotte School of Architecture.

Well, they would study plans for large projects and for her class, it was BAC (NCNB Corporate Center).  I got to learn something new.

The original approved plans had a hotel planned to be at Trade and College corner (on the BAC block) with valet and all. Today, I finally looked up the approved plans and sure enough... Hotel is there.

Now the question is: does anyone here know what happened to the hotel planned?

http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/Rezoning/1989/1989-014 site plan.pdf

[KJHburg]

^^^Bank of America owns and developed the Ritz on the very next block when they developed 1 Bank of America Center.   That area is more street level retail and part of Founders Hall on the upper levels. 

[Scribe]

The Ritz came 20 years later. The original plans from '89 had the hotel, so it would be interesting to find out what happened there.

[KJHburg]

another release from KJ's vault of old postcards.  Taken maybe 1974 or so.  Notice what is missing and it is a lot!  Ah Belks and Iveys still stores uptown.  No Radisson now known as Omni.   All 3 of the tallest buildings  were pictured. 

Edited February 8, 2018 by KJHburg

[tozmervo]

"Jefferson First Union"?

[KJHburg]

Jefferson Standard Insurance Co and First Union Bank were the anchor tenants. 

[Guest]

16 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Jefferson Standard Insurance Co and First Union Bank were the anchor tenants. 

well thats just plain confusing. Suprised companies weren't so vain as to let that happen

[stiluvclt]

It was announced in 67-68. Original construction price was $5,000,000.00, imagine that? 

[archiham04]

On 1/16/2018 at 2:33 PM, Scribe said:

I had a discussion with an architect -- degree from UNC Charlotte School of Architecture.

Well, they would study plans for large projects and for her class, it was BAC (NCNB Corporate Center).  I got to learn something new.

The original approved plans had a hotel planned to be at Trade and College corner (on the BAC block) with valet and all. Today, I finally looked up the approved plans and sure enough... Hotel is there.

Now the question is: does anyone here know what happened to the hotel planned?

http://ww.charmeck.org/Planning/Rezoning/1989/1989-014 site plan.pdf

I think they built the valet drop off... I walked past this everyday from 2000-2003.  I think they filled it in.  I always thought it was a little odd to have a valet drop off for a bank building, but figured they needed it for high rollers or something.  The planned hotel makes much more sense.

[KJHburg]

Just back from the vault of KJ old photos of Charlotte and to celebrate my 2 yr anniversary as someone reminded me today on UP, here is a gem I took on the Brookshire Freeway in the family car riding shotgun early 1980s.  Film processed by Eckerds.   I remember this Charlotte do you? 

[Norm2]

On 2/7/2018 at 9:26 PM, KJHburg said:

another release from KJ's vault of old postcards.  Taken maybe 1974 or so.  Notice what is missing and it is a lot!  Ah Belks and Iveys still stores uptown.  No Radisson now known as Omni.   All 3 of the tallest buildings  were pictured. 

Wow, that Belk building has almost no windows!

[archiham04]

12 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Just back from the vault of KJ old photos of Charlotte and to celebrate my 2 yr anniversary as someone reminded me today on UP, here is a gem I took on the Brookshire Freeway in the family car riding shotgun early 1980s.  Film processed by Eckerds.   I remember this Charlotte do you? 

I remember Eckerd's...  This one (now RiteAid) in Asheville  still has its original Eckerd's coffee shop inside.

[SgtCampsalot]

31 minutes ago, archiham04 said:

I remember Eckerd's...  This one (now RiteAid) in Asheville  still has its original Eckerd's coffee shop inside.

Oh man, bro, in this corner of downtown Matthews, exactly where the new library/City Hall that is so gorgeous, used to be an Eckerd's, and those stores on the right were originally crappier looking versions of single-story retail. And the whole entire rest of this space was a parking lot (save for KFC off to the left outside this pic, and the Kristopher's building). I wish I had a photo of it... Makes me all the more impressed with what they did here:
 

Edited February 13, 2018 by SgtCampsalot

[archiham04]

Shopping Center hell in Asheville.

[Nick2]

On 2/12/2018 at 8:28 PM, KJHburg said:

Just back from the vault of KJ old photos of Charlotte and to celebrate my 2 yr anniversary as someone reminded me today on UP, here is a gem I took on the Brookshire Freeway in the family car riding shotgun early 1980s.  Film processed by Eckerds.   I remember this Charlotte do you? 

In this picture, Charlotte actually has a nice skyline symmetry starting to develop even back then. I haven't seen that in other pics from around that time period.

[KJHburg]

I will miss this building from 1925.  Today. 

[nicholas]

Question for longtime Charlotteans: what happened to the area northeast of uptown bounded by Tryon St, 30th St, Catalina Ave, and 24th street?  There are just a bunch of empty blocks there now.  I assume houses and apartments used to occupy the now empty spaces, but why were they removed?

[11 HouseBZ]

Not a long time Charlottean but I got to see it happen. Use to be a bunch of one story low income projects that were bought up and torn down. Someone more familiar with the assemblage can fill you in on what's to be developed. But to answer your question, yes they were torn down a few years ago. 

[videtur quam contuor]

Might be this one:

https://orcolan.com/cs/north-carolina-projects/100-charlotte-mecklenburg-housing-partnership--double-oaks-redevelopment-charlotte-nc

[11 HouseBZ]

Nah, double oaks was out on Statesville where brightwalk is being built. Not sure if the same is being built for this site. 

[videtur quam contuor]

Then this is it:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/development/article145117794.html

[KJHburg]

Here is a story on the Tryon Hills redevelopment.  

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2017/04/18/city-council-wonders-will-tryon-hills.html

[KJHburg]

Not going to put under bad news because if you know of or how he felt Billy Graham would not want that.  He was very humble yet he preached the Message in like 175 countries around the world. He traveled the world with his crusades and met world leaders. He was and is the most famous person ever to be from Charlotte.  He often talked about growing up on the dairy farm south of now Park Rd shopping center.  He attended church at the church at the corner of South and East Blvd next to Tupelo Honey.  He often spoke of Charlotte and growing up here around the globe.  His Billy Graham Library is visited by 1000s every year from all over the world.  (and if you have not been you should go and look for the check from President Nixon  or the gifts world leaders and church leaders gave him over the years.)   Billy you will be missed and the world is a better place because of you.  I know Ruth is happy to see you join her.  Rest in Peace Billy Graham. 

I will leave you with one of his funny quotes:  "The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course."

 

[KJHburg]

Couple of photos from today's funeral procession through uptown Charlotte and I was up at 9th and N Tryon across from the Skyhouses. 

1. First Methodist Church next to 525 N Tryon tower

2. 3.  Billy Graham funeral procession 

4. Ben Long fresco inside the Transamerica 400 N Tryon tower atrium  the Continuum   http://www.benlongfineart.com/trans-america-dome/

There is an excellent photo of  300 South Tryon  in this set of photos from BGEA of 300 South Tryon and looking down Tryon St. 

https://billygraham.org/gallery/nc-residents-line-streets-and-highways-to-honor-billy-graham-as-motorcade-passes-by/

Edited February 25, 2018 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

the historical Barringer Hotel aka Hall House hopefully will  become a luxury hotel again.  It was the first high rise built in a decade when it opened back in 1940.   Photo from today.  Love all the brick of this hotel. 

http://cmhpf.org/S&Rs Alphabetical Order/Surveys&RBarringerHotel.htm

Edited February 25, 2018 by KJHburg