History of Charlotte

[Windsurfer]

26 minutes ago, jtmonk said:

Do not blame City Planners!!  The blame should be placed on developers and those who hold office such as City Council, Mayor, State Senate, etc.  As a City Planner myself, there's nothing more I would love to do than take these proposed developments that are submitted and change them drastically.  Unfortunately, City Planners are bound by local, state and federal laws.  If a development meets the development standards laid out in our ordinance then I have to sign off on the development.  I can make recommendations, but the developer is not required to make changes based off my recommendations.  If you want better development standards then tell your City Council Member and the Mayor.  Also vote in state elections because the people in Raleigh have a lot of say in what we can and cannot regulate.  So let me state this again because I see many people mention this often, DO NOT BLAME CITY PLANNERS! Thank you.

Does the mayor or City Council Members even know they wield such power?  Aren't they listening to you guys, and can't you say something like, "We're bound by law to approve this City Council Member, but if I were in your shoes I'd ask for.... ?

[jtmonk]

Yes, they know they wield such power.  And yes, we make recommendations to them as well.  There is always dialogue between staff and the Mayor and City Council.   But then things get political and that is where many things get lost.  For instance, staff presents a text amendment to City Council for increased design standards for apartment building that states "EFIS and hardie board are no long allowed on new apartment buildings in the City".  We give our reasoning for this amendment and everyone seems to be on board until affordable housing is brought up.  It is mentioned that this requirement will lead to higher construction cost therefore higher rent. Studies are provided to back this up and now staff cannot get a majority vote to adopt the text amendment.   This is just a very shortened hypothetical situation but it gives you an idea of what we deal with.

[Scribe]

Edited original post.... The developers always want the minimum viable option that will get approved. While I can and do blame them, it really is no different then a massive corporation using every loophole to not pay taxes (or pay the very least).

It really sucks that there is no real framework in place to entice/force the developers to not put beige turds throughout the city...

[videtur quam contuor]

Those drive in theatres were the Twin Drive ins. Two screens. I saw The Last Waltz there, 1979 or so.

[Matthew.Brendan]

We need a Urban Planet PAC (only half /s)

[Windsurfer]

1 hour ago, jtmonk said:

Yes, they know they wield such power.  And yes, we make recommendations to them as well.  There is always dialogue between staff and the Mayor and City Council.   But then things get political and that is where many things get lost.  For instance, staff presents a text amendment to City Council for increased design standards for apartment building that states "EFIS and hardie board are no long allowed on new apartment buildings in the City".  We give our reasoning for this amendment and everyone seems to be on board until affordable housing is brought up.  It is mentioned that this requirement will lead to higher construction cost therefore higher rent. Studies are provided to back this up and now staff cannot get a majority vote to adopt the text amendment.   This is just a very shortened hypothetical situation but it gives you an idea of what we deal with.

Makes sense.... Keep up the good work. It must be frustrating.  You're the voice(s) of reason.

 

[rockhilljames]

Man, that library was gorgeous. Dang.

[KJHburg]

some then and now aerial photos of various parts of Charlotte aerials of Ballantyne, SouthPark, and University Place.  

https://ui.uncc.edu/gallery/charlotte-suburban-redevelopment-gallery

[QCxpat]

Charlotte 1910  -  Photo courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

Belk Bros. Dept. Store 1910 - Photo courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library 

 

Mill Houses in Charlotte 1920 - Photo courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

U.S. Mint Charlotte Branch 1920 - Photo courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

Southern Railway Mainline 1948 - Photo courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

Trade and Tryon Streets 1955 - Photo courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

Charlotte 1966 - Photo courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

 

Link: https://www.charlottesgotalot.com/articles/history/the-history-of-charlotte

Edited June 18, 2019 by QCxpat

[Windsurfer]

My dad wrote a letter to the editor in the late 50s or early 60s expressing his dismay at the relocation of the train station.  Things come full circle so many times.   I kind of remember when they moved the mint branch out to Randolph. Wasn't that in the 70s ?

[KJHburg]

Great photo find @QCxpat my mom has a picture hanging in her house a drawing of Charlotte in the 1950s just like that photo.    Notice how wide Tryon was 6 lanes and the best thing they did was expand the sidewalks and plant trees uptown.  

[CLT>]

On 6/18/2019 at 4:11 PM, Windsurfer said:

My dad wrote a letter to the editor in the late 50s or early 60s expressing his dismay at the relocation of the train station.  Things come full circle so many times.   I kind of remember when they moved the mint branch out to Randolph. Wasn't that in the 70s ?

1933

[KJHburg]

Happy Independence Day and here is a flag that is in land formerly called North Carolina, formerly in the state of Franklin and now in Tennessee Johnson City to be exact. But in 1776 this would have been NC territory.  Before Tennessee broke off from NC in 1794.,  people in eastern TN wanted to become their own state and proposed the name of Franklin as their state name.  Unfortunately Congress did not accept it.   Charlotte still the largest city in the state of NC, state of Franklin and the state of Tennessee.   This flag is from Johnson City TN formerly state of Franklin formerly NC. 

short history of state of Franklin https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/true-story-short-lived-state-franklin-180964541/

 

[NCMike1990]

I have an awesome find. A member over at Facebook group "Charlotte Over The Years" has posted a video of driving around Charlotte in the early 80s. It was shot in 1982 because Charlotte Plaza is wrapping up construction it looks like. I think you all should check it out because it shows construction in Fourth Ward and other cool stuff. Really awesome find and thanks to the guy who posted it. 

Source

[videtur quam contuor]

This is great. I followed him the whole way and identified the route. Much of Elmwood Cemetery for some reason. Cavalier Apartments=Hall House, Carolina Theatre marquee there but inactive. Carolina Drugs (I think) is where Duckworth's is/was.

[Guest]

56 minutes ago, tarhoosier said:

This is great. I followed him the whole way and identified the route. Much of Elmwood Cemetery for some reason. Cavalier Apartments=Hall House, Carolina Theatre marquee there but inactive. Carolina Drugs (I think) is where Duckworth's is/was.

 

1 hour ago, NCMike1990 said:

I have an awesome find. A member over at Facebook group "Charlotte Over The Years" has posted a video of driving around Charlotte in the early 80s. It was shot in 1982 because Charlotte Plaza is wrapping up construction it looks like. I think you all should check it out because it shows construction in Fourth Ward and other cool stuff. Really awesome find and thanks to the guy who posted it. 

People could hardly stay in their lane on Kings back then too.

[KJHburg]

No one better complain about my dirty windshield when this guy from the 80s could not get his windshield wipers to lay down LOL.   I remember this Charlotte going uptown to pick my aunt at Belks uptown (basement hosiery department)   Look for a young guy with a 110 camera hanging out the window could be me LOL

Great find I love this old videos and how Charlotte was and I gave up on moving to DC to move back to this up and coming city called Charlotte pre Hornets, pre Panthers.  

From KJ's vault of photos from the overstreet mall walkway over Tryon between Belks and Iveys department stores around the same time as the video above. 

 

[NCMike1990]

I found this hour long documentary on Charlotte from 1968 over at the Facebook group “Charlotte over the years”. You can find a lot of stuff about the city over there. The documentary is called “Discover Charlotte”. Never seen it before but from the first few minutes it looks interesting. Here is the link.

https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/104484

Also, here is the article that goes along with the doc.

http://www.digitalnc.org/blog/discover-charlotte-a-city-in-motion/

Edited July 31, 2019 by NCMike1990
Adding link

[NCMike1990]

Some screen shots from the video I posted. Notice the huge Logos that rival the WeWork signage.

 

Edited August 1, 2019 by NCMike1990
Add pics

[KJHburg]

Yes Charlotte has in the past quite a bit of signage up on buildings then we went through a phase with very little now it is coming back in style so to speak.  You could fit that NCNB on anything.   One not shown was the huge Jefferson First Union sign on what is now 2 Wells Fargo.    Check out my postcard from the KJ Vintage Postcard Vault.  and the Lincoln Harris memorial pyramid collection atop the Charlotte Civic Center.

[KJHburg]

stopped by Levine Museum of the New South which by the way tells the history of Charlotte since the Civil War.  Great place for you newbies to the area.  (free museum day thanks to Bank of America)   Last photo is my office LOL. 

They explain why Charlotte rose to prominence as a banking center and it just did not happen had mostly to do with state laws. 

2nd photo is Highland Park mill #1   5th photo notice the Charlotte  boosterism from 1924!   sounds like some Urban Planet threads now

anyway you should visit this museum if you have not I learn something everything and I have been multiple times. 

[Nick2]

One of my all time favorite museums/exhibits!

[King of the Queen City]

On 8/3/2019 at 6:48 PM, KJHburg said:

 Last photo is my office LOL. 

Does that typewriter have blue font?

[KJHburg]

4 hours ago, King of the Queen City said:

Does that typewriter have blue font?

Of course it does when I put the blue ink ribbon in but it makes it difficult to change back to black ink.

[KJHburg]

from my old Charlotte postcard  collection Monday Quiz:  what was this building and where was it located?    Hint it is was uptown. 

and the winner will get 3 pack of the finest doughnuts ever made Krispy Kreme and season tickets to the KJ Burgers UP league games. 

Edited August 20, 2019 by KJHburg