Charlotte Greenways and Trails

[KJHburg]

The city needs to finish this stretch of the Rail Trail behind Auto Bell on South Blvd or start a campaign from other landowners to contribute to completing this missing link.  The new apartments at the Designer Shoe Warehouse will finish the other stretch.   (and yes Auto Bell should contribute too but the neighboring property owners)  I have said once I will say it again Charlotte needs a trail and greenway private fundraiser like Atlanta has to get things like this done.   Even a gravel path until the Auto Bell site is developed is fine and that would not cost much.  Where is Charlotte Center city partners which collects a tax in this area? 

Photos today of the missing link on the South Blvd side of the Rail Trail 

Once again here is how Atlanta does it  and this is something Charlotte should learn from our big brother to the south. 

PATH Foundation

 

Edited November 27, 2021 by KJHburg

[KJHburg]

the tract the Auto Bell is on is owned by Marsh Realty longtime Charlotte property owner.  However according to my map the city of Charlotte owns the right a way for a trail there so this is on the city.   They could build a temporary trail or do a full one paved on but this is property right by the tracks is city owned.    Doesn't Charlotte have a bunch of money they are trying to spend from Covid relief?  

[go_vertical]

The new apartments at the Designer Shoe Warehouse will finish the other stretch. 

 

Speaking of this, is there any info out as to when this may get started? Any renderings? 

[KJHburg]

Yes so there will be only one stretch not developed on this side of the Rail Trail but the city needs to complete it with some private donations even if just a saw paved path until that property is redeveloped where the Auto Bell sits. 

[deleted account]

Personally, I don't mind just crossing to the other side of the tracks. Now about that bridge into Uptown and the path through the convention center....that's what I want the city to fix asap (I know the bridge is coming, not addressing the CC access during recent construction is befuddling).

[KJHburg]

if the county parks department can grow vines like this why the Ascent tower?   Sugar Creek Greenway today.  

and remember Build out the Greenway Map before any Freeway Cap! 

[KJHburg]

Little Sugar Creek Greenway trail near Park Road Shopping Center and Myers Park along Westfield.   When is the greenway opening south towards Park Rd and Park Rd Park?  Saw it under construction.

Why the vandalism?   also last photo greenway construction further south at Park Road.  

Little Sugar Creek Greenway (mecknc.gov)

Build out the Greenway Map before any Freeway Cap

 

[kayman]

On 11/27/2021 at 8:50 AM, KJHburg said:

Yes so there will be only one stretch not developed on this side of the Rail Trail but the city needs to complete it with some private donations even if just a saw paved path until that property is redeveloped where the Auto Bell sits. 

Contact the Victoria Watlington about it!  The portion of the Rail Trail is within the Charlotte City Council District 3.  It's in Mecklenburg County Commission District 2  has Vilma Leakes.  Since the Greenways are apart of the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department purview, you should contact her about this so that the county will contact the city to make this happen quicker. We must make the existing elected officials to work for you not just say things online. Otherwise things won't get done. 

Another poster said in a previous post on the subforum that there is an existing private entity that does the advocacy for green spaces and greenways.   

As a former resident of Atlanta, PATH Foundation only has made strives at best piecemail level at best. Intown Charlotte in comparison to Intown Atlanta is much better covered by active greenways and trails. The Atlanta Beltline is still only 60% complete as the northwest portion is still not even designed nor the right-of-way is even reserved yet.   Meanwhile, by next fall (Fall 2022) you can bike or hike from the James K. Polk site in Pineville to NoDa via the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Although we must do more, that's very impressive for a region our size.  

[EllAyyDub]

18 hours ago, KJHburg said:

 When is the greenway opening south towards Park Rd and Park Rd Park?  Saw it under construction.

Should be done by this time next year. They seem to have cleared close to the whole length and graded ~80% of the length. Lots of dirt to move so hope for a drier spring/summer to keep it moving. Only a year delayed from the original timeline once funding was approved (from ~2 to 3-3.5 years).

[Guest]

2 hours ago, EllAyyDub said:

Should be done by this time next year. They seem to have cleared close to the whole length and graded ~80% of the length. Lots of dirt to move so hope for a drier spring/summer to keep it moving. Only a year delayed from the original timeline once funding was approved (from ~2 to 3-3.5 years).

Correct. I know a lot of people only realize the pocket park is being worked on but that’s become an entry point/ staging area for the greenway. Won’t be complete until after the greenway is

[QCxpat]

Today 12:45 p.m.  -  blue heron and mallards along Little Sugar Creek Greenway

[TGIBridays]

Looks like the rail trail bridge might get a little more plain looking...  

Quote

There will be a public meeting on the rail trail bridge project next Tuesday. The city says some of the design is changing due to rising material costs #cltcc -  Joe Bruno

 

[deleted account]

3 hours ago, TGIBridays said:

Looks like the rail trail bridge might get a little more plain looking...  

 

Better to wait than VE this project IMO (unless they believe costs will never come back down).

[JRCLT]

I got ahold of the new renderings early…I kind of dig it. Fitting for crossing that freeway canyon.

[KJHburg]

Four Mile Greenway  in Matthews. Evidently Mecklenburg county has 52 miles and growing of greenways.   However just the town of Cary in Wake County has 80 plus miles and growing.  Charlotte meet Cary.  Cary show Charlotte.  Be like Cary.  My goal for 2022 is to walk on all the greenways in Meck County.  

Parks, Greenways & Environment | Town of Cary

Your Guide to All 52 Miles of Greenways in Mecklenburg County (mecknc.gov)

 

 

[carolinaboy]

On 12/4/2021 at 10:04 PM, KJHburg said:

Four Mile Greenway  in Matthews. Evidently Mecklenburg county has 52 miles and growing of greenways.   However just the town of Cary in Wake County has 80 plus miles and growing.  Charlotte meet Cary.  Cary show Charlotte.  Be like Cary.  My goal for 2022 is to walk on all the greenways in Meck County.  

Parks, Greenways & Environment | Town of Cary

Your Guide to All 52 Miles of Greenways in Mecklenburg County (mecknc.gov)

 

 

I like how the sign says "For your safety walk with a friend."

Edited December 6, 2021 by carolinaboy

[TGIBridays]

Newest renderings for the 277 rail trail bridge. Via @CBJoconnell on twitter  I was expecting it to be more plain. 

 

Here's an older rendering for reference. 

[kermit]

^ While the value engineering does not look too bad at this point, I'll jump back on my regular soapbox and say that the biggest value engineering is leaving 277 in place at all. I can't understand how anyone can look at the 11 traffic lanes shown in these renderings and think this is an appropriate use of land in the CBD of the 17th largest city in the country.

The Belk (from 77 to Independence) takes up roughly 130 acres of space. This is land that could be providing housing, recreational space and mobility space for urban residents. In addition to putting the land to work generating revenue for the city, it would provide very attractive space for new firms in Charlotte. As you can see in the renderings it is currently just a revenue sucking, air quality damaging noose around Charlotte's neck -- its gotta go!

[even if you believe that the Belk is necessary to get suburban drivers to their uptown jobs, you gotta admit that 11 traffic lanes between Southend and Uptown is just a crime against Charlotte's humanity]

Edited December 7, 2021 by kermit

[DMann]

sure shows a lot of light rail cars in the rendering.

[TGIBridays]

34 minutes ago, kermit said:

^ While the value engineering does not look too bad at this point, I'll jump back on my regular soapbox and say that the biggest value engineering is leaving 277 in place at all. I can't understand how anyone can look at the 11 traffic lanes shown in these renderings and think this is an appropriate use of land in the CBD of the 17th largest city in the country.

The Belk (from 77 to Independence) takes up roughly 130 acres of space. This is land that could be providing housing, recreational space and mobility space for urban residents. In addition to putting the land to work generating revenue for the city, it would provide very attractive space for new firms in Charlotte. As you can see in the renderings it is currently just a revenue sucking, air quality damaging noose around Charlotte's neck.

100%.  This section of 277 is never congested (that I've seen) and people speed like crazy which just makes the bottle neck after Exit 2A even more dangerous (I'm guessing the same could be said towards 77, but I'm always going towards Independence so I don't know for sure).

Edited December 7, 2021 by TGIBridays

[TheRealClayton]

8 minutes ago, TGIBridays said:

100%.  This section of 277 is never congested (that I've seen) and people speed like crazy which just makes the bottle neck after Exit 2A even more dangerous (I'm guessing the same could be said towards 77, but I'm always going towards Independence so I don't know for sure).

That's because it carries 30-40K less cars than the Brookshire side and 90K less cars than I-77.

Edited December 7, 2021 by TheRealClayton

[JacksonH]

4 hours ago, kermit said:

^ While the value engineering does not look too bad at this point, I'll jump back on my regular soapbox and say that the biggest value engineering is leaving 277 in place at all. I can't understand how anyone can look at the 11 traffic lanes shown in these renderings and think this is an appropriate use of land in the CBD of the 17th largest city in the country.

The Belk (from 77 to Independence) takes up roughly 130 acres of space. This is land that could be providing housing, recreational space and mobility space for urban residents. In addition to putting the land to work generating revenue for the city, it would provide very attractive space for new firms in Charlotte. As you can see in the renderings it is currently just a revenue sucking, air quality damaging noose around Charlotte's neck -- its gotta go!

[even if you believe that the Belk is necessary to get suburban drivers to their uptown jobs, you gotta admit that 11 traffic lanes between Southend and Uptown is just a crime against Charlotte's humanity]

I think Charlotte is now the 15th largest U.S. city, not 17th.  But I don't disagree at all with what you're saying here, though I think this is more than just a Charlotte issue.  I live in the 8th largest city in the U.S., and around the same time those freeways were breaking up Charlotte's core, the same thing was happening here in my city, and in cities all over this country.  Offhand, I can't think of any city that got spared except maybe DC and Manhattan.  In my city, the highway commission bulldozed right through the Little Italy community to build the Interstate 5 freeway, effectively destroying that community. Same thing with the building of I-15 and I-805.  Communities all across the nation were ripped apart like this.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that Seattle is the only city seriously trying to fix the damage and sew its urban communities back together.

Edited December 7, 2021 by JacksonH

[deleted account]

Lol, I like the VE'd version better (not sure what that says about me...).

[midtownclt]

Looks to be the 2 car trains we currently have now.

Not sure the freeway will go away soon.  The state leaders keeps the DOT budget so tight  that they will never spend the money to remove 277.  

I like the John Belk in this area as it is rarely congested  but I hate the merge with 77/Wilkinson and we all know most of the ramps are too short and congested.  

I think it has been proposed to redesign some of those.  This thing was built by removing space for development.  While that may have been a mistake I do not 

see that removing it anytime soon would be wise given all the space available for development downtown.  I do like the idea of selling air-rights to develop above it.

I like the benefit of having freeway access directly to the center city.  I think other cities (even some in Raleigh) would love to have direct interstate access downtown.

[KJHburg]

I like the revised bridge too.  Is that glass on the lower half of it?   We need this for sure and just get it started.