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Central City-Some
Projects Beside Condos
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Towering over the city, the steel birds
work every day...on South Tryon, they seem to have found a rich feeding
ground...for there are many, silently pecking, or so it seems, at the
ground around them in every direction.
They are cranes. Building cranes. The ones made of steel that tower in the
Carolina Blue sky against a backdrop of glistening new buildings, a
mammoth called the stadium, and yes, off in the near distance, a pink
glass tower.
Welcome to the New South, a city that prides itself on its newness, yep,
it's Charlotte, NC. Not Charleston, Chapel Hill, or Charlottesville.
Charlotte.
Besides the focus on Uptown Charlotte Condos, there's much more going on
here. I have heard it said and say it myself, we're building a city here.
And it is hard to keep up with everything...so here is a list along with
status. And it will change before it has a chance to be old. It seems that
is our custom.
City Life:
1. Spirit Square
The cultural arts center was originally supposed to be
sold as part of the baseball stadium swap, but the property was taken out
of the deal.
Currently, a committee of residents, arts groups, and county staffers is
studying how Spirit Square should be redeveloped.
 by
Warren Burgess for AtHomeCharlotte.com
2.Wachovia Arts Complex
The complex on South Tryon Street will include The Mint Museum,
Afro-American Cultural Center, Bechtler Art Museum and Knight Theatre. The
Mint is scheduled to be completed in early 2010; others will open in late
2009.
3.Uptown Baseball Stadium
The Third Ward Park will be a new home for the Charlotte Knights. The
project which involves a complicated land swap ( see above Spirit Square
note) is moving along. Officials hope the Knights will play there in 2009.
4. N.C. Music Factory
An uptown entertainment district. North of Fourth Ward in Center City.
Outdoor stages, restaurants, bars, night spots, music venues, and other
arts and entertainment businesses. A four lane road to the area should be
complete this spring. Outdoor stages may open in late summer. Bars, cafes
to open late 2008.
5. Uptown Dog Park
A 1.3 acres dog park will be built by Park and Rec in Frazier Park.
Building in the spring with other dog parks to follow uptown.
6.Charlotte Trolley
The trolley will run on the light-rail line from Atherton Mill in South
End to Ninth Street in Uptown. Open this spring or sooner.
7. NASCAR Hall of Fame
Ground was broken in February for the $157 million hall of fame next to
the Convention Center on College St. To open in early 2010.
8. UNCC Charlotte's uptown campus
First Ward At Ninth and Brevard streets, this classroom building
(138,000sq ft) is for for the school's MBA program, graduate
level courses in the college of engineering and the departments of
computing and informatics, health and human services, arts and sciences,
and architecture urban studies. Plans are being
reviewed by the state construction office. Construction is scheduled to
start in the fall. Scheduled opening 2010.
9. Rhode Island School of Design
Center City Partners is spearheading the effort to bring RISD to
Charlotte. The branch if negotiations are successful would be located
uptown.
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