Excited about the new Target store?
Seen the new uptown Target yet?
Word raced through our newsroom last week, before Sunday's official grand opening, that the store's doors were open early for a "soft opening." So I went by one evening after work, and was thrilled by the experience of walking through a brand-new, clean, nearly-empty store with fully stocked shelves, eagerly beaming employees and nothing out of place.
It's funny to get excited about a Target, when there are so many around the region, but I know I wasn't alone. And when Wal-Mart opened its store on Wilkinson Boulevard not long ago - bringing some much-needed retail to an underserved area - it was mobbed by excited throngs too.
For me, the thrill isn't so much about the mass chain merchandise, but about seeing us finally get some "big-box" stores constructed for an urban setting. The Wal-Mart on Wilkinson is concealing its ugly sea of asphalt with a row of more-attractive outparcel stores on the street edge of its parking lot. Meanwhile, the new Target at the Metropolitan development, site of the former Midtown Square on Charlottetowne Avenue, is actually a two-story building. The first level is the Home Depot Expo Design Center, scheduled to open this Thursday. Instead of an unsightly giant asphalt parking lot, the stores adjoin a more compact parking deck.
Many of Charlotte's big-box retailers abandoned corridors such as Independence Boulevard and Albemarle Road to move further out into the suburbs in the last two decades. They left their empty carcasses behind, and many of them have yet to be replaced. I'm hoping that these newer urban-style developments - along with the new Lowe's store under construction on South Boulevard as part of a mixed-use block - won't meet a similar fate.
Have you had a chance to check any of these spots out? If so, what do you think?
Word raced through our newsroom last week, before Sunday's official grand opening, that the store's doors were open early for a "soft opening." So I went by one evening after work, and was thrilled by the experience of walking through a brand-new, clean, nearly-empty store with fully stocked shelves, eagerly beaming employees and nothing out of place.
It's funny to get excited about a Target, when there are so many around the region, but I know I wasn't alone. And when Wal-Mart opened its store on Wilkinson Boulevard not long ago - bringing some much-needed retail to an underserved area - it was mobbed by excited throngs too.
For me, the thrill isn't so much about the mass chain merchandise, but about seeing us finally get some "big-box" stores constructed for an urban setting. The Wal-Mart on Wilkinson is concealing its ugly sea of asphalt with a row of more-attractive outparcel stores on the street edge of its parking lot. Meanwhile, the new Target at the Metropolitan development, site of the former Midtown Square on Charlottetowne Avenue, is actually a two-story building. The first level is the Home Depot Expo Design Center, scheduled to open this Thursday. Instead of an unsightly giant asphalt parking lot, the stores adjoin a more compact parking deck.
Many of Charlotte's big-box retailers abandoned corridors such as Independence Boulevard and Albemarle Road to move further out into the suburbs in the last two decades. They left their empty carcasses behind, and many of them have yet to be replaced. I'm hoping that these newer urban-style developments - along with the new Lowe's store under construction on South Boulevard as part of a mixed-use block - won't meet a similar fate.
Have you had a chance to check any of these spots out? If so, what do you think?
posted by Leigh at
11:16 AM
79 Comments:
As I read this commmentary, I'm reminded once more that many people's ideas about why Charlotte is a great place to live are the numerous places you can go spend your hard earned dollar. Look, a new place to go shopping!! Are we really so cheap and superficial...are our lives really so empty, that we must always fixate on the next shiny new thing we can buy? What does that really say about this town. I've long said that this city is more of an "image over substance" type of place, and once again, I seem to be proven right. No wonder the City had to hire a consultant to determine what would make Charlotte a "cool" place to attract young professionals.
^
Get over yourself already you damn Buffoon.
People are excited because of the convienence Target bring to us in center city. We no longer need to trek to the burbs to get essentials for the home. Home Depot will provide the same relief. Now I will never have to leave the uptown area.
People are also excited because it represents the begining of more retail to uptown. For the people who live there it is a long wait that is almost over.
You see, our lifestyles are obviously different than yours. We prefer to take a short trolley, bike or hell......even walk to do our shopping. That's why this is so exciting to us.
Close your eyes and imagine another cul-de-sac coming to your neighborhood....see...now your juices are flowin'........now you get it.
If you absolutely can't stand the city then "take a hike".
I'll buy you the tank of gas.
why cant they find a real SOUTHERN TYPE of store for DOWNTOWN also Like IVEYS or Belks down there again; Look they cleared the loitering people off the CITY now if they could make a fishing pond about a mile right outside the city; Maybe all those People would go fishing ; so lets flood some areas and stock it .
Look People dont loiter downtown no more it isnt cool. Maybe the loiters have not been anywhere else like another city in years.
Wow ! Do you fools really talk like you write ? Holy CRAP is all I can say.
Haha. Buffoon? If you were drivin to the burbs for home "essentials" you're an idiot. Now you'll have...how did you say? Relief? Haha. And as far as that "trolley" you're talking about, you can't be serious, right? Please don't ever leave Yuptown. By the way, you're mom called from the Milestone and want's you to drive your toy trolley over there and pick her up. Go waste you're money on an overpriced beer downtown and hang out witht the plastic fantastic crowd. Later, yuppie clone.
You couldn't be more wrong dipshit.
I know all the watering holes and where to go for the beer deals any night of the week. I can get premium beer for less than you pay for your Bud light and not have to rub elbows with your type of scum.
All you have to know is where to go and what places to hit and what nights of the week to hit them.
So you go waste YOUR money on your over priced Bud - BUD !
As for trolley, rail , bike and foot - YEAH - I am serious - see above ^ DipShit.
Jealousy rears its ugly head once again in Charlotte.
Yuppie clone ? You Rednecks kill me. Why would you call this person a yuppie clone or dog their wanting to have all their needs within walking distance ? People like you are the reason the world is in the state it is. Sprawl, sprawl and more sprawl.
Go crawl back in your cave but don't forget to drag your wife about by her hair this afternoon.
Catch the gold rush, the region's first real live trolley. Actually, I prefer a nice Guinness to the bud you're sippin down at Buckhead.
Hey, look! A trolley!
Dude,
I'd shoot myself if I lived in your sterile little pretend city world. Hey where'd you get that? Tarjay? (Walmart for yuppies). You're so pretentious you wish people were jealous. Mama's still waitin at the Milestone. Catch the gold rush up tuckassegee and pick her up.
Finally retail comes to the Uptown area. It's good to see Target and Home Depo. I hear Marshall's, Best Buy, and Trader's Joe will open across from Target and Home Depo. Also, I heard H&M is looking for a Charlotte location, Uptown would be perfect. Hopefull, the area can land a Bloomingdales and or Barney's New York.
I heard Donald Trump is coming here. Does he have plans for retail?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Trump is planning a few levels of high end retail for his tower.
If you don't care about the Target near Uptown, why are you even writing about it? You have your way of life that you enjoy; I am entitled to enjoy my life as well. It is infantile of you to argue the merits of what I consider quality of life. You are being exclusionary than the people you are calling pretencious. You dont even see that do you? How sad.
Wow! I leave for an hour and look what happens. Some of these comments are crossing the line - and I will be more aggressive about deleting from here out. Check the anger and mean-spiritedness or I'll do it for you. Stay on topic please. --Blog administrator
^
Learn to write Buddy. At least better than first grade.
Stop sulking, wipe your snotty nose and get back to work.
By the way jackass, go ahead and read over this blog again. I didn't start the crap. People like you did right from the very first entry.
Don't fret, I am sure it will all be deleted within minutes anyway. Leigh doesn't have the stomach for confrontation.
Tah Tah
I hope Trump considers the following high-end retail for his project:
Gucci
Chanel
Barney's New York
Dolce & Gabbana
Salvatore Ferragamo
Ultra Diamonds
Tourneau
Au Bon Pain
Yeah Leigh,
Do you not see that "they" started the bickering ? Why not delete their posts ? Hypocrite.
So now they are moving the big-box national chain stores near uptown!? I suppose they do need some shopping in that area, so at least people there can buy their groceries. Now, it will just give developers more reason to jack up the prices of the $1100+/month, over-priced 1 bedroom apartments! How about some more affordable places to in Charlotte to live that aren't out in the outer edges of the city, or that aren't filled with high crime.
To the poster at 12:42PM, who said "why cant they find a real SOUTHERN TYPE of store for DOWNTOWN also Like IVEYS or Belks down there again"...Home Depot is based out of the Atlanta area!
It would have been cool if Target had built a store right in uptown; similar to the one in downtown Minneapolis.
I've lived uptown for over 4 years and we have had a Harris Teeter and Reids grocery store within a 2 block walk the whole time I have been here.
These blogs really show you just how little the average Charlottean knows about their own city.
No one uptown is shopping for groceries at Target.
More like house hold items.
Many of these comments never fail to reinforce for me the feeling that some people in Charlotte are angry about every change that has taken place since 1970 or so. Their comments overflow with anger, resentment, ill will and no small amount of misinformation. I guess they have no other outlet for their anger and resentment. That's too bad.
This Charlotte native is thrilled with all the changes including a Target in Midtown.
BTW, to the first poster, Los Angeles built a very similar Target in midcity at LaBrea and Santa Monica replacing an old car wash and there was similar rejoicing. If it's cool enough for LA it's cool enough for Charlotte (and yes, I have lived in LA.)
It's not an home Depot Expo Design Center. It's a Home Depot Design Center. It's a new concept store (only one other in the country, so far).
Wooo Hooooo.... Trader Joes at MidTown just CONFIRMED for 2008 as a definite.
http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/320131.html
The last I'd heard, Trump's organization was backing off its plans for Charlotte. Has this changed again?
I heard Trump is not building anymore also.
That new Target will be nice, and I hope it will benefit the community.
Barney's would be nice also!
As a resident of uptown Charlotte, I can't begin to relate to you all how thrilled I am that I can now buy general merchandise without having to drive out to University City all the time. Wal-Mart on Wilkinson is alright, not really my taste, Target suits my needs better. And boy will I be excited when the additional shops at Metropolitan Mitdown open! Leigh, I apologize for all the immaturity in this forum, it's sad people have to stoop so low for something that should be great. A new Target beats an abanoned mall and movie theater any day! Rejoice...
I'm excited about it in the sense that it will attract more shopping in uptown. I have a Target right down the street from me today. It's surprising to go and see everything closed except some bars and restaurants.
well, I am excited and we haven't moved there yet. This helps us to decide on an area which to live and I'd been eyeing Center City again.
Old, stupis and WHITE said.....
The Trump deal is still on. Always has been. He just backed out of negotiations with lawyer Bill Diehl to purchase his land/office as well. Trump was just looking into the possibilities of buying that entire block.
I heard they may get a TRUMP CASINO with a tower downtown ; Its about time we had some fun in this town instead of NOISY, Bible thumpers who want money in their casinos coffers; They all wear HORNED rimmed glasses and look down from their nose; And most of them break the ten commandments on a daily basis; Just hope Hope GOD isnt a BLACK man when you get there , most of you will have a problem with that.
I heard most White People in the South hope JESUS is not black or dark complected; They may have a problem getting into the gates of Heaven.
I agree the “midtown” location is nicer and looks completely different than the suburban Target stores. There will always be criticism no matter what. When the Target Corporation opened the downtown Minneapolis location, there was also some naysayers who were not impressed.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200110/09_hughesa_newtarget/
and this store is very nice with a 3-story glass foyer.
http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200110/09_hughesa_newtarget/images/target_big.jpg
Wow.....I though this discussion was about Target...then it turns into Jesus. :)
Whether Jesus was white/black is irrevelant....I think most people are just glad to be 'saved'.
Save THIS Charlotte mortgage.
So I see that there are complaining Rednecks in Minneapolis as well.
Target will be selling chocolate Jesuses sometime around Easter.
I wish we had a Target downtown too. I found some more photos of the one located in downtown Minneapolis.
Gotta love the cart escalators
http://p.vtourist.com/3151466-Other_Amusement_Parks-Minneapolis.jpg
http://www3.worldisround.com/photos/2/140/553.jpg
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/35143/photo42.html
http://www.cgstock.com/cgi-bin/quote.cgi?image=2054
First photo didn't work
http://p.vtourist.com/3151466-Other_Amusement_Parks-Minneapolis.jpg
Gotta love the cart escalators
http://p.vtourist.com/3151466-Other_Amusement_Parks
-Minneapolis.jpg
http://www3.worldisround.com/photos/2/140
/553.jpg
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/35143
/photo42.html
http://www.cgstock.com/cgi-bin
/quote.cgi?image=2054
Too bad this thread got off on the wrong foot with an ignorant comment right off the bat. This store IS a big deal because there is no other general retail near uptown. For the tens of thousands of people who live in the area, it is now practical to make a quick trip for clothes, appliances, or other miscellaneous items. That is a HUGE factor in how livable an area is, which means our central district is now a more appealing place for a home than it used to be.
Since we are on the topic of Target roping in new retail for uptown............Dean and Deluca uptown is now open on Saturdays 8am-4pm
FINALLY !!!!!!
Get out and support them on the weekend or they will change it back to Mon-Fri only.
There is also a great wine shop in the base of the Omni Hotel that has Saturday hours as well.
Give me convenience or give me death! - Jello Biafra
Leigh,
Do you know anything about the WalMart that's going in over on Stonewall (somewhere near NASCAR HOF, I heard)? I just can't wait to be able to walk to WalMart for all my shopping needs. I mean, all these losers that actually have a cul de sac in their 'hood need to wake up and smell the Chinese imports. Especially that first poster. What a buffoon!!Boo-Yah!!! Do you know if there will be a new trolley line extended to WalMart, or if it will carry specialty cheeses or posh spanokopita like Tarder Joe's? Oh, I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!
Walmart ??
Enough already. Target is good enough. We don't need uptown to turn into a damn cul-de-sac. We need clothing stores, name brand stores, gormet markets, deli's and such. That's what people want in an uptown environment. Keep the Targets and such right where they are - at the Metropolitan.
Someone please come into uptown and wipe that slop Fuel calls pizza off the face of the map. We need some real pie.
Opps.... "gourmet"
I hear H&M is looking for a Charlotte location. I hope Uptown lands the store.
Why would H & M locate in uptown when it makes more sense to open in the mall? Why the mall? Well, because there isn't enough people in uptown for a store to locate there.
It's called common sense people.
Mr. or Mrs. Thnktheynoitall,
The Uptown population is doubling in the next 3 years. It will increase from there many, many times over. Many residents are already very anxious to have more retail in uptown and WILL support it.
Likewise there isn't a weekend that goes by that multiple tourists to our city don't stop me and ask where they can shop.
There is a real pent up need and the Metropolitan project reflects that as does all of the retail proposed in all of the ground level of the new towers.
It's amazing to me how much negativity there is on these blogs towards uptown. My bet is that it's nothing more than jealousy.
Uptown will go through a major transformation over the next 3 years. Light rail, possibly the start of a leg of the street car, Epicenter with movies, bowling, bars, restaurants, clothing. New museaums at the Wachovia project, the renovation of The Charlotte Theater, a baseball stadium, the massive 3rd ward project currently underway with hotels, condos , an office tower and a 5.5 acre park. One Charlotte luxury condos, the Vue, on and on and on.................
Times are changing for uptown Charlote and they are changing fast. There's already 1.1 million sq. ft. of retail proposed for uptown over the next 3 years.
Ya'll come back now in 3 years.......ya hear ?
The biggest problem in this area is that most of these people are small town country folk or 'burban people. Not that it's really a problem, but more like this is the reason they don't "get it" and never will.
But, hey, that's okay. Would you really want them as your neighbor or even visiting the uptown area ?
I didn't think so.
Most that I know enjoy living uptown because it is an escape from the reality that we are actually in the South.
Uptown can do an H&M. As several posters have mentioned, Uptown will be filled with retail in 3 years, so why not H&M????
Makes a lot of sense...
Malls come and go, but street level retail is timeless. It's time for Uptown to grow up.
Urban sprawl is Charlotte's biggest problem. I'd love to live uptown, but they charge an arm and a leg for a place to rent there...because all these developers think it's NYC or they are trying to make it appear trendy.
Oh My God.
It's nowhere close to NYC rent. For $1,500 a month you get a roach infested 600 sq. ft. dump. For that amount in uptown you get a 800 sq. ft. hirise.
Check out 715 N. Church if you want entry level uptown rentals. Building is only 4 years old with secured parking. You can get into some of the 600-700 sq. ft. ones for just under $1,000 a month.
Awesome deal for being on Church St. with a pool and roof top terrace.
Anonymous said...
It's amazing to me how much negativity there is on these blogs towards uptown. My bet is that it's nothing more than jealousy.
Uptown will go through a major transformation over the next 3 years. Light rail, possibly the start of a leg of the street car, Epicenter with movies, bowling, bars, restaurants, clothing. New museaums at the Wachovia project, the renovation of The Charlotte Theater, a baseball stadium, the massive 3rd ward project currently underway with hotels, condos , an office tower and a 5.5 acre park. One Charlotte luxury condos, the Vue, on and on and on.................
Times are changing for uptown Charlote and they are changing fast. There's already 1.1 million sq. ft. of retail proposed for uptown over the next 3 years.
Ya'll come back now in 3 years.......ya hear ?
I don’t think it is jealousy my friend.
The fact is that several downtown areas (both large and small) throughout the country are undergoing major transformations. Cities are seeing condos rising, new arenas built, office space added, and light rail lines laid, but hardly any new retail filling added space. Why? It has to do with the fact that it’s inconvenient for people to shop downtown and retailers need consistent numbers.
Cities like Atlanta, Minneapolis, Denver, Dallas, Portland, and Seattle already have great shopping in their downtown areas and each has a downtown area that has experienced or is currently experiencing the same growth or more than Charlotte. Each one is struggling to keep retail going. There is no way a city with a downtown population the size of Charlotte’s (roughly 12,000) can support the same type of shopping that the above cities have to offer.
BTW, all those cities have far more tourists than Charlotte.
Thanks for the laugh.
20,000 residents and 1.1 million sq. ft. of retail already slated by 2010 (if you actually knew anything)
That's just over the next 2.5years. More projects are being announced everyday and currently the uptown office vacany is at an all time 2% low.
The offerings we already have uptown are 10 fold what they were just 3 short years ago.
Like I said - jealousy. Nothing more, nothing less.
Enjoy your weekend being misserable and knocking everything and everyone.
Part of the problem is that there is no retail space available uptown. Let's say you were the CEO of Macy's and wanted to put a signature store in the heart of the center city. Where would you put it? There are no large, empty older buildings to renovate into a department store. The newer projects don't incorporate enough space for serious retail to work (look at the tiny spaces open at the bottom of the new condo towers). So you'd have to actually buy land and construct a new building, which is not fiscally sensible for a retail store.
So we have no choice but to wait. Eventually it'll get to the point where it's worth the cost for retailers to move uptown. But for now, we have to suffer for the fact that all the old warehouses and storefronts were wiped out decades ago, leaving us with no place to put non-corporate businesses in our center city.
The plan is still on the table to turn Brevard into a walkable retail street. Close it off to cars and redesign it in a curving street design with retail on both sides of the street from Stonewall up to the Arena on Trade.
I am very optomistic that it will happen. Brevard street has got The Park condos, EpiCenter condo, Ritz Carlton, Westin, Convention Center, Arena, Ratcliff, A Loft Hotel, Hilton, Omni and the newest Charlotte ONE condos all within a 2 block walk.
It's ideal. Give it a few years, it will all come together.
I doubt we are ever going to have a Magnificent Mile but we should manage to get some decent retail soon. Already some clothing store uptown are opening on Saturdays.
Anonymous said...
20,000 residents and 1.1 million sq. ft. of retail already slated by 2010 (if you actually knew anything)
That's just over the next 2.5years. More projects are being announced everyday and currently the uptown office vacany is at an all time 2% low.
The offerings we already have uptown are 10 fold what they were just 3 short years ago.
Like I said - jealousy. Nothing more, nothing less.
Enjoy your weekend being misserable and knocking everything and everyone.
You need to stop buying in to the information that the Charlotte Chamber is putting forth.
As of the 2000 Census, Charlotte had a downtown (uptown) population of 6,327. The uptown area might hit the 20,000 mark by 2010, but I think that’s a stretch.
The offerings Charlotte has now may be 10 fold to what they were just 3 years ago, but the chances of uptown gaining much more in terms of retail are slim for the simple fact that there isn’t the population to support it. Now days a retailers need a downtown area with more than 20,000 to justify opening a store.
Downtown Populations as of 2000:
Boston 79,251
Philadelphia 78,349
Midtown Manhattan 71,668
Denver ~ 50,000
San Francisco 43,531
Chicago 42,039
Los Angeles 36,630
Baltimore 30,067
Washington, D.C. 27,667
Atlanta 24,731
Minneapolis 24,149
Dallas 22,469
San Antonio 22,206
Seattle 16,443
Miami 19,927
San Diego 17,894
Milwaukee 11,243
Colorado Springs 14,377
Portland 12,902
Houston 11,882
Cleveland 9,599
Memphis 8,994
Pittsburgh 8,216
St. Louis 7,511
Charlotte 6,327
Enjoy your weekend in Lala Land.
No Bud, you need to stop pulling your info out of your butt. I happen to be a four year resident of uptown (20 of Charlotte -metro) and I am closely involved with many developers, realtors, members of Center City Partners and city council.
As far as your 2000 Census goes, THAT WAS IN 2000. Many of the cities on your list have lost residents while Charlotte has gained.
It is now 2007 and we are at about 12,000 residents. This is just inside the loop. This doesn't count the numerous neighborhoods of Myers Park, Dilworth, South End, NoDa, Plaza/Central, Wesley Heights and Elizabeth who are all dying to get more retail. YES, they do frequent inside the loop as well. YES, they are factored into the eqaution by retailers.
As far as you thinking it's a stretch to hit 20,000 by 2010. It doesn't matter what you think, it's fact.
TradeMark-currently moving in (estimated 500 residents)
Avenue - move ins start in 2 weeks (estimated 650 residents)
The Park - 2008 (estimated 500 residents)
EpiCenter - 2009 (estimated 1,000 residents)
Vue - 2010 (estimated 1,000 residents)
300 S. Tryon 2010 (estimated 700 residents)
Hilton condos 2008 (estimated 150 residents)
Catalist 2009 (estimated 500 residents)
Twelve 2010 (estimated 700 residents)
Unamed Novare 42 story 2010 (estimated 600 residents)
Citadin 2010 (estimated 1,000 residents)
Garrison on Graham 2009 (estimated 100 residents)
Enclave 2008 (estimated 500 residents)
The lofts at NC Music Factory 2010 (estimated 1,000 residents)
One Charlotte 2010 (estimated 125 residents)
Wachovia condo Tower 2010(estimated 700 residents)
Encore 2009 (estimated 200 residents)
Trump project 2010-2011 ? (still underway - appx. 70 stories - ?? residents)
Massive 2nd Ward negihborhood ( construction plans to start 2008 )
That's well over 10,000 new residents. Pushing the population to over 24,000. This isn't including any smaller developments or the numbers for 2nd Ward or Trumps project.
Now if Portland could have major retail in 2000 with just a 12,000 population why on earth would you think the wealthier city of Charlotte couldn't get it with twice the population ?
Oh, I forgot about the condos that are currently being proposed directly behind the new baseball stadium.
Who knows what else I am forgetting. Or what else will be announced in the next few months.
Face the facts my Jealous Little Buddy, you are dead wrong and you can't stand it. Like I said, enjoy your miserable self this weekend. PLEASE stay out of the uptown that you hate so much.
My mistake, pushes it to over 22,000
I think the Uptown hater is non other than Bill James.
It's not jealousy. It's just a response to the complete pretentiousness and arrogance of the downtown crowd. 800 sq. feet? Laughable.
I'm in 1,300 sq. ft, not 800 and that's a decision I made. My previous house was 3,900 sq. ft. in Ballantyne. I decided I didn't need all that space to constantly clean, water, mow, etc.
Now I spend my spare time(which I have a lot of)relaxing by the pool, working out at the gym, enjoying a game of billiards, watching a movie on our 80 inch plasma in the theater room - all just an elevator ride away. I like going for a walk, grabbing a beer on the way or a bite at any one of over 70 eateries within a few blocks walk of my home. I can catch a play 1 block away, a concert, baskeball or hockey game 3 blocks away and soon a ball game a few blocks walk as well.
And it's not being pretentiousness or arrogant. We've chosen a lifestyle of relaxation and convienance over the past headaches of suburban life. We know all about it. Most of us in uptown fled that lifestyle as soon as we had the option to do so here in Charlotte.
As a kid I grew up with a 5 person family and our first home was 1,200 sq. ft. A bit cramped I admit. Our second home was 2,100 sq. ft. and that one was plenty big enough. My current 1,300 sq. ft. condo is more than enough for me and my spouse.
It's not a matter of "who's lifestyle is laughable".
It's just different strokes for different folks. Some enjoy the cul-de-sac, others the hirise and walkability of a city. Neither is wrong or incorrect.
It's just a matter of what suits you best.
I have 850 sq. ft, a 3-person family and 2 dogs. We have more than enough room for another child if we choose (a full extra bedroom). I find that uptown living is actually much more relaxing than when I was in the suburbs, despite the stereotype of city living. I can walk to work at my leisure, come home for lunch and have 50 of my 60 minutes to eat with my wife, catch up with my friends as they leave the parking decks and chitchat on the way back to the office. After work I can casually stroll to the nearest watering hole for happy hour, or trot home and take the dogs for a quick jog around the park. At night I never need a DD because I'm close enough to walk or take a cab to any entertainment I desire. I can go to Panthers and Bobcats games on a whim without having to worry about parking or beating the traffic to get home. I have not spent more than 10 minutes driving in over a year... that alone is probably the biggest benefit. I have literally added days to my life that would have been wasted listening to drive-time radio and sitting behind a bus in gridlock.
Living uptown is not perfect, but it beats what I had before. I'm healthier, happier and more relaxed here. And I never touch a lawnmower or leafblower ;)
What's with all the constant talk of "pretentiousness and arrogance" ?
Why do you think that of someone just because they choose to live a life where they are not dependent on a car ?
Sounds to me more like YOU are the pretentious and arrogant one.
I grew up in the burbs and loved it. Now I'd love to live in centercity, but my budget doesn't allow for that yet. So I settled somewhere in between the two and it works out great for now.
No Bud, you need to stop pulling your info out of your butt. I happen to be a four year resident of uptown (20 of Charlotte -metro) and I am closely involved with many developers, realtors, members of Center City Partners and city council.
That’s part of your problem. Developers will never admit their project might not make it; a realtor will always say sales are going well; and members of Center City have a job to sell Charlotte, even if they have to skew numbers.
As far as your 2000 Census goes, THAT WAS IN 2000. Many of the cities on your list have lost residents while Charlotte has gained.
It may be true that some of the cities listed have lost overall city population since 2000, but all have downtown populations that are growing.
Now if Portland could have major retail in 2000 with just a 12,000 population why on earth would you think the wealthier city of Charlotte couldn't get it with twice the population ?
Portland has major retail for a few reasons.
1) It’s more of tourist destination than Charlotte.
2) Portland residents embrace the urban lifestyle much more than Charlotte residents do.
3) Retailers started moving in to downtown Portland when it was still feasible to do so. Many retailers now find it to be too much of a risk to enter downtown areas.
BTW, Charlotte isn’t a much wealthier city than Portland. For example, the number of families earning over $200,000 annually in metro Charlotte is 24,820 while in metro Portland it’s 24,674.
Finally, nice list of projects. Every downtown listed also has a long list of projects, but it doesn’t mean anything until ground has been broken and the building rises. Even then it doesn’t mean much if the building isn’t occupied. Look how long it is taking Courtside and Trademark to sell remaining units. Heck people who have bought at Courtside have been trying to sell their unit(s) for over a year and no one is biting. 210 Trade could end up being a disaster. People were lining up for pre-sales at the peak of the housing boom. A lot has changed with housing market since then.
^ Ground is being broken on new projects even this week in the center city. Developers won't make that kind of leap unless they are certain of selling enough units to turn a profit.
Most of the cities you listed have seen many projects fail since the housing bubble burst. How many projects can you name that have failed in Charlotte?
Yeah...pretentious and arrogant. Here's a prime example from a previous poster:
"Not that it's really a problem, but more like this is the reason they don't "get it" and never will.
But, hey, that's okay. Would you really want them as your neighbor or even visiting the uptown area ?
I didn't think so.
Most that I know enjoy living uptown because it is an escape from the reality that we are actually in the South."
See what I'm talking about...or would you likie to clarify that statement?
Why is the uptown crowd so extremely defensive about their lifestyle choice? Jesus..grow some thicker skin.
^
How true, well said. I have been down South so long I am bickering like the rest of you little school bitches.
Seems a visit back to old NY would do me good to thicken the skin. You are right, who gives a flying crap what any of you think of our lifestyle choices.
Andate tutti a 'fanculo
anon 11: 42 AM you forgot to mention that portland was part of the list for most toxic cities in the u.s. It was third on the list.Weblink :http://money.aol.com/bw/realestate/most-toxic-cities-in-the-united-states
11:42 AM poster,
The more I read through this blog the more I realize you are an imbecill !!
Out of the 19 projects the other poster listed 11 of them are complete, near completion or at the very least broken ground.
Two of the remaining 8 that haven't broken ground yet are Novare projects and I personally know for a fact that those two, Twelve and another yet to be named tower will be built and completed by 2010.
NOW SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY !!
Of all the condo projects that have either been completed, are under construction, or are proposed; how many of them are 100% sold?
BTW, before you start talking about how toxic some city is remember that Charlotte is constantly ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the country.
Avenue was 90% sold in the first month. It is scheduled for the first move ins at the end of October. It is currently SOLD OUT.
TradeMark , last I looked had 6 units left for sale from Blvd. Centro. That was a few months ago.
210 Trade and the Vue wont release their sold numbers. But I have looked at what is available from the sale centers and I would guess that they each have about 15- 20% of the building left for sale. So, about 80-85% sold. Not bad for 2 projects that are pretty far out from completion.
Catylst hasn't opened a sales center yet but began construction a few months ago. Typical Novare style. They don't worry about the sales. They always sell out.
The Park looks to have about 10 units for sale on the MLS.
These projects will continue to sell out as long as the city keeps adding entertainment, which they are doing. Retail and QUICK will also help. But we all know that only comes after we hit a magic number of residents. Best guess from everyone is within 3 years we will get some heavy hitters moving in.
The projects also have to offer a great value. The amenities, views, interior floorplans all need to be top notch in order to compete. Some of the insides of these newest hirises are simply incredible.
^^
"Charlotte is constantly ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the country"
Yeah, but we don't need a light rail do we ?
Keep on laying the asphalt you Bozos.
anon 10:26
Charlotte is constantly ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the country"
Can you back up your claim?
No, it's not in the top 10 but it seems to be close enough.
Charlotte is # 16 for 2007 for smog and not even on the top 26 for particles.
http://www.citymayors.com/environment/polluted_uscities.html
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