First Ward Urban Village / North Tryon Vision Plan

[urbanlover568]

32 minutes ago, kermit said:

maybe.

I heard about the GF death from three different folks on various levels of the subcontracted installation crews. Work has stopped, but a few 'ready to go' installations may still be completed.  Google is hoping for a sale of assets, but is ready to walk away if necessary. They have moved on to wireless broadband provision. 

GF death? I'm sure they are still expanding. I would rather rely on statements/directives from google rather. IMO 

[Niner National]

I've seen Google installing fiber at 3 apartments in my neighborhood in the last week.

[KJHburg]

Google Fiber will finish out where they started but the whiz kids from Silicon Valley found it is a lot more difficult to reach that last mile so to speak. But with Google entering Charlotte caused AT&T to roll out more aggressively so as always competition is a good thing. I just wish I could get Google fiber where I live. 

[cjd5050]

5 minutes ago, KJHburg said:

Google Fiber will finish out where they started but the whiz kids from Silicon Valley found it is a lot more difficult to reach that last mile so to speak. But with Google entering Charlotte caused AT&T to roll out more aggressively so as always competition is a good thing. I just wish I could get Google fiber where I live. 

I started to benefit from GF the day it was announced.  Spectrum increased my downloads 10X and kept me at the same price.  That's what competition in the markets does.  

[AuLukey]

My only concern is, what happens to GF in the long run? Do they sell their customers and assets off to the highest bidder? Or do they continue to operate as a small fiber utility for the long haul? I'd much rather the latter honestly. I don't want AT&T or Spectrum again.

Back on topic, walked by Levine's parking deck a couple days back... crickets

[SgtCampsalot]

18 hours ago, kermit said:

So now that Google Fiber is all but officially dead anyone care to speculate on what might happen to their very nicely renovated space on the park?

That would be wonderful, and exactly what I was hoping from the moment we first heard Google Fiber was renovating that space.

[urbanlover568]

2 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Google Fiber will finish out where they started but the whiz kids from Silicon Valley found it is a lot more difficult to reach that last mile so to speak. But with Google entering Charlotte caused AT&T to roll out more aggressively so as always competition is a good thing. I just wish I could get Google fiber where I live. 

Rumers that Google Fiber is ending service or selling assets are false. 

Edited September 2, 2017 by mpretori

[KJHburg]

Here we have a new parking garage for Amazon HQ2 employees the rest can take the light rail or bike.   Hey nobody else is  using this and it has been under construction for months and months. 

[GeauxCLT]

^they have added a little brick...

[Hunted]

2 minutes ago, GeauxCLT said:

^they have added a little brick...

Is it just me or are both of those telephone poles crooked? The one on the left corner appears to have a curve and is on the verge of snapping like a twig, and the one on the right looks about as stable as a J-Lo relationship. All the more reason to bury these eyesores.

[UPNoDa]

^lipstick on a pig!!

[ssh214]

Did you guys know that in Taiwan, Manila, capital of Philippines, and some parts of India, that developers are taxed for vacant land to limit the amount of speculation and encourage development? If only Charlotte could impose this for a certain individual... 

[kermit]

A different angle on ‘progress’ at Levine land (weeds are growing).  

Bonus new fare machine closeup from 9th st station. There is still station work to be done at 9th street (missing wind gards  mostly). Rail trail is open on both sides of track to 12th street. 

 

[Desert Power]

Amazing how this stupid parking garage just sits there unopened with no progress and blocking a lane.

[elrodvt]

Does the city have any recourse?

[Scribe]

Just imagine that ugly unfinished garage looking like this rendering below

[dubone]

On 11/10/2017 at 10:40 PM, elrodvt said:

Does the city have any recourse?

Sure hope so.  The city has a strange push-pull relationship with Levine, as he is the land holder and has ultimate power in the neighborhood.   It is beyond absurd.  I have developed such a strong emotion about this slimebag, it's not healthy.  

But his penalty from the city is that he no longer receives a discount on his property taxes, but now that that has already happened, there is now no new incentives or penalties for him other than just the opportunity cost of not making revenue on the deck.  

 

[deleted]

I usually oppose using eminent domain because it's often used to take property from people of lesser means and sell it to wealthy developers who become richer as a result.  In this case, it probably could be justified for a project involving economic development  of a blighted area.  Extreme measures should be taken because Levine has literally sat out the last two booms (at least) and is holding the city hostage as a result.  There is no logical reason why he hasn't started the promised development yet.  AND, he initially talked about something like Country Club Plaza being a model for his land.  I was in KC Monday and there is zero chance that he would produce anything close to what is there.  He's a total bullcrapter and I'm pissed that I have to run on a busy street because he's got that sidewalk blocked and is doing NOTHING!  I know little about him or his family but I always cut them slack since his uncle has donated millions to virtually every good cause in town.  This guy though...

[atlrvr]

Eminent Domain for private development is constitutionally illegal in NC.

[deleted]

On 11/15/2017 at 6:26 PM, atlrvr said:

Eminent Domain for private development is constitutionally illegal in NC.

Wasn't aware, thanks!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article185036078.html

 

Edited November 17, 2017 by JBS

[KJHburg]

Love the park and its view and if the surrounding land will be vacant for years I say we put community gardens veggies etc on the property.  Charlotte's longest parking garage still not open. 

[KJHburg]

Noah built his ark quicker than this parking garage.  Wonder if the state has any recourse since they paying Levine for some of the spaces?  

[uptownliving]

Update in the Observer this morning. They are switching from wood frame to concrete and steel construction. Also they are increasing the size of the building to 400 apartments. So this really is a wholesale redesign of the building. No new renderings yet.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article187521323.html

 

Edited December 4, 2017 by uptownliving

[jtmonk]

Per the article, deck will open March 2018, building will be 9 or 10 stories tall, design to take place over the next several months.  Construction of the building COULD start in the second or third quarter of 2018.  Another wait and see...

[jednc]

1 hour ago, jtmonk said:

 design to take place over the next several months.  Construction of the building COULD start in the second or third quarter of 2018.  Another wait and see...

 

I think the redesign is probably a good thing. It will hide the top of the deck and add more apts. to First Ward. On top of that, I know lots of people on UP will be happy this is no longer stick-built. I'll be honest, I'm glad they will be taller. With all that said, the part that bothered me was the fact it was going to take until the 2nd or 3rd quarter to get these started. I assume the redesign has been happening behind the scenes to cause the delay we've already seen. It's probably just my ignorance, but it seems as though it wouldn't take months and months to design a basic apt. building where I assume the floor plans will be repeating in many cases. Since I'm no architect, I'll just assume I'm wrong to feel that way.