More Retail For The Center City

Another important step towards making the Center City more livable is retail. In this story Charlotte Eye reports more retail is on the way. The Founders Hall revamp will certainly contribute to making the Trade/College Street intersection more appealing to pedestrians. Currently a stark wall, interrupted only by false windows and the former valet parking entrance, this facade is dull by day and dark by night. The planned renovation, combined with the visual excitement promised by EpiCenter, will hopefully lead to the invigoration of the entire College Street corridor. Now, if only the other College Street property owners will step up.

BofA adding retail face to its banking headquarters
RICK ROTHACKER
Founders Hall is getting a $40 million facelift.

Bank of America Corp. said it's renovating the shopping and gathering place attached to its Uptown headquarters, adding room for street-level retail and greening the plaza area at Trade and Tryon streets.

The project will contribute to Uptown's small but growing retail scene. It also adds to a College Street corridor poised for new vitality with the construction of the nearby EpiCentre entertainment complex and Bank of America's Ritz-Carlton hotel/office tower development.

Retail "is a next natural step for the development of center city," said Michael Smith, chief executive of Charlotte Center City Partners, which promotes Uptown neighborhoods.

Smith said his organization has been working with government officials, developers and executives with Bank of America and Wachovia Corp. to study Uptown's retail prospects. The group expects to issue a report Dec. 6.

Shoppers aren't likely to bypass suburban malls to come Uptown, but retail adds to the experience of visitors and a growing cadre of center-city residents, Smith said. In the most recent addition to the retail landscape, a Target/Home Depot opened last month just outside the Interstate 277 loop.

The Founders Hall project is designed to improve the pedestrian experience on College and Tryon streets, Bank of America said. It will tie in to the $450 million hotel/office tower project across College Street via previously announced skybridges.

The Ritz is set to open in 2009; the office tower in 2010.

Founders Hall is a mini-mall that largely caters to office workers with restaurants, a coffee shop, clothing stores and other retail outlets. In the makeover, the College Street facade -- now largely a blank brick wall -- will get a new look with a lot more glass, an escalator and a new entrance.

Charlotte Housing Prices

This article appeared in today's Charlotte Observer. For months we have been hearing nothing but bad news as national trends were reported rather than local numbers. Go Charlotte!

Charlotte bucks housing trend
Home values grew while other cities saw declines
J.W. ELPHINSTONE
Associated Press

Housing prices in Charlotte and Seattle enjoyed the biggest gains over the last year, according to data released Tuesday, rare good news from a sector widely battered elsewhere in the country by foreclosures and swooning home valuations.

In a Standard & Poor's index measuring housing prices in 20 metropolitan areas, only five cities gained ground.

Charlotte and Seattle tied with an increase of 4.7 percent compared with the same time last year. However, S&P data showed the pace of that increase was slowing.

Atlanta (0.4 percent), Dallas (0.2 percent) and Portland, Ore., (2.2 percent) rounded out the winners.

Overall, U.S. home prices fell 4.5 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, the sharpest drop since S&P began its nationwide housing index in 1987 and another sign that the housing slump is far from over, the research group said.

WBT Holiday On Ice 2007

Great traditions start with WBT... and WBT's Holiday on Ice is no exception. Tucked away in Uptown Charlotte's most scenic park is the area's only outdoor ice rink. There's no better way to get in the holiday spirit than skating with your friends and family among the holiday decorations in uptown. Join us for skaing, carriage rides and holiday cheer at WBT's Holiday on Ice... on the Green in Uptown.

The Grand Opening is Wednesday, November 21st and runs until Sunday, January 6th.

Hours vary between holidays and school dates.

Admission: $7
Skate Rental: $3
Season Passes are available

wbtholidayonice.com

Street Closings for LYNX Blue Line Grand Opening

As part of the opening festivities for the LYNX Blue Line, some streets will be closed on November 24. Click here for more information on Grand Opening.

1. Seventh Street from the Trolley Line to Brevard Street beginning Saturday, November 24 at 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

2. Camden Avenue from Tremont Avenue to the intersection with West/East Boulevards beginning Saturday, November 24 at 6:00 a.m. to Saturday, November 24 at 6:00 p.m.

3. Fifth Street from the Lynx Blue Line rail line to Brevard Street beginning Saturday, November 24, at 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.


Click here for more information about the LYNX Blue Line.

Main Library Focus Groups

Speak Out about the Uptown Library
Wednesday, December 5
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Apply: www.plcmc.org/programs/mainplan.asp

Whether you are a regular library visitor to the Main Library (7th and Tryon) or have never set foot in the building, the library is interested in your perspective and ideas! That is you are invited to consider participating in a focus group where the library will gather information about Uptown commuters’ needs, interests, and preferences as they relate to library spaces and services.

The focus group will be led by a library consultant who is not from the Charlotte area. It will take place on Wednesday, December 5, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, in the Main Library’s Francis Auditorium.

Because the library wants this focus group to accurately reflect the demographics of Main Library patrons and Uptown workers, they're asking those interested to complete the application form at http://www.plcmc.org/programs/mainplan.asp. Those selected to participate will receive $75 for their time and contributions.

If you are unable to participate in the focus group but have some ideas about the Main Library that you’d like to share, contact Linda Vitlar at lvitlar@plcmc.org or 704-416-0605. Thank you for considering this opportunity to express your opinion!

charlottecentercity.org

Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Carolinas'
Thanksgiving Day Parade
presented by Belk
Grand Marshal - Mike Minter


WHO: Your Family, Friends, Neighbors and more!

WHAT: The Carolinas’ Thanksgiving Day Parade presented by Belk benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina with Grand Marshal Mike Minter - former NFL Carolina Panther along with his Junior Grand Marshal Raggs – band leader of the Raggs Kids Club Band. As a tribute in honor of the parade’s founding fathers’ George Ivey will serve as honorary Grand Marshall.

WHEN: Thanksgiving Day – November 22nd at 1pm

WHY: A great way to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. This year there will be great surprises….you don’t want to miss it! The parade will also feature at its core the six decades of its history. Sections of the parade will be devoted to each decade with floats and units showcasing a slice of Charlotte in those years. You’ll see high school marching bands, clowns, and much more…and at the same time helping end hunger by bringing non-perishable food items to one of the Second Harvest Food Bank “donation stations” located in several areas in Center City.

WHERE: Beautiful Center City Charlotte! For a parade route, visit www.carolinasthanksgivingparade.org or call 704-525-0250.

Veterans Day Parade

Saturday, November 10 - 11:00am - Uptown Charlotte - Veterans Day Parade - The parade takes the standard parade route and marches through Uptown Charlotte from the Hal Marshall Center and ends at Marshall Park. Come out an honor the veterans!