Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate Blog

Join the Queen’s Feast

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:04:00 +0000

The winter version of Charlotte Restaurant Week returns January 22 – 31 – yes, this is a 10-day week – bigger and better than ever. New and established eateries throughout the area offer a prix fixe menu of 3 courses for $30. Uptown alone features 20 participants, from “cow houses” to seafood, Americana to ethnic.

Personal favorites include Blue where Executive Chef Gene Bridges creates dishes with a Mediterranean flair. For the Queen’s Feast, sample Papa al Pomodoro, a classic tomato and basil peasant soup, and Seared Jumbo Scallops – then finish it off with the Cake di Chocolate.

For an Asian twist, venture into Basil Thai – one of the hottest additions to the Uptown dining scene. Here, a glass of house red or white accompanies the Feast selections, which include stuffed shrimp – a house (and personal) favorite, and Pad Kee Mow – a spicy, noodle dish that’s just divine.

Tables book up, so reserve early. Reservations for many of the participating restaurants can be made through Open Table, a free and convenient service.

Blues, Brews and BBQ

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:12:00 +0000

It is time again for the annual Blues, Brews & BBQ festival in Uptown Charlotte.The event is held in our wonderful center city on September 11th and 12th. Come in and experience live music, great food and of course brews.

Click here for the event schedule.

Food Lion Speed Street

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:42:00 +0000

For more than 25 years, the 600 Festival Association has been commemorating the May races at Lowe's Motor Speedway with spectacular family-oriented events that personify the tremendous growth of motor sports.

Celebrating its 15th year, Food Lion Speed Street transforms the streets of Uptown Charlotte into a showcase of motor sports with non-stop entertainment on three stages, appearances by top Sprint Cup Drivers, dynamic exhibits for all ages and an amazing assembly of NASCAR show cars and simulators.

600 Festival

Urban Living Showcase

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Please join us at the Savvy booth on May 8th & 9th at the EpiCenter. We will have agents on hand to answer questions and help you navigate the urban marketplace.

Experience the Urban Lifestyle!

Are you ready to discover the extraordinary...the unexpected in our Center City? Are you curious about urban living? Get to know the new residential developments and all the amenities of Uptown and South End...dining, nightlife, entertainment, sports, parks and recreation, shopping, family fun, arts & culture and all the conveniences. Center City is more than an address. It's a lifestyle!

It's all here for you and it's available now! Learn about owning or renting a home in Uptown or South End. Take a trolley, guided or "skyline" tour. Come explore our urban lifestyle through the Urban Living Showcase.

Register and join us on May 8th and 9th. Tours begin at the EpiCenter on May 9th.

Urban Living Showcase

Lessons of History

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:44:00 +0000

Last week, a handful of movers and shakers from the last decades of Charlotte's development converged to discuss the future of Uptown. Hugh McColl, Jr., Harvey Gantt, Rolfe Neill, Wendell White and David Ivey all played a role in creating the vibrant center city we enjoy today. Having watched Charlotte grow across a forty-year period, this group remembers that the climb was not always directly upward, and views our current condition as a short pause in our long-term economic rise. Click here for the complete Charlotte Observer story by Doug Smith.

Charlotte leaders predict uptown will rise again
By Doug Smith
dougsmith@charlotteobserver.com

High-rise residences, office towers, museums, an arena and an entertainment complex have fueled an unprecedented boom in the urban core that could surpass $6 billion in investment by the end of the decade.

Now, as that wave of projects nears completion, center city backers worry that the lingering recession and the troubles of uptown's big banks will bring development to a halt.

There is a pause, but uptown's growth will resume, say five leaders who helped guide center city development during the past 30 years.

Like them, I lived in Charlotte in the late-1980s when mortgage rates ran in double digits and homes languished on the market for ages. I feared this was the new norm and that I would never afford my own home. Well, in time things did change - interest rates dropped (they're currently at their lowest point since the 1950s) and homes sold. I even bought one. So, as we ponder whether we are now living the new norm, pause and remember the ups and downs of our recent past.

First Night

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:33:00 +0000

First Night Charlotte is back!!

Wednesday, December 31
3:00pm - 7:00pm First Night Kids
7:00pm – People’s Processional
8:00pm – Midnight – First Night Charlotte

www.FirstNightCharlotte.com

Where will you be on December 31? If your plans to bring in the New Year are still up in the air (and even if they’re not) consider First Night Charlotte. It’s no secret that with the current state of the economy and the holidays being just around the corner, wallets have been feeling the pinch. First Night is the most affordable, exciting, imaginative, and dynamic option for your New Year’s Eve festivities.

Click here for more information.

Charlotte Center City Partners

WBT Holiday On Ice 2008

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:03:00 +0000

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 skating and holiday cheer at WBT's Holiday on Ice... on the Green in Uptown.

The Grand Opening is Wednesday, November 26th and runs until Saturday, January 10th.

Hours vary between holidays and school dates.

Admission: $7
Skate Rental: $3

wbt.com

Thanksgiving Day Parade

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:06:00 +0000

The Carolinas' Thanksgiving Day Parade, a tradition since 1947, is scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2008, at 10:00am in Uptown Charlotte. Click here for general information and click here for a photo gallery.

Parade route: Begins at Tryon at 9th, turns left onto 3rd and ends between Davidson and McDowell on 3rd.

The Carolinas' Thanksgiving Day Parade has evolved over more than six decades as a regional tradition and highlight of the Holiday Season. Founded in 1947 by four local businessmen to attract holiday shoppers to downtown Charlotte, the Thanksgiving week events have become so much more. The Parade and its ancillary events are produced by an independent, volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization, Carolinas' Carrousel, Inc.

Center City Trifecta:

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:38:00 +0000

A trio of Uptown Charlotte happenings for your weekend and beyond

One
Mother Load
The Blumenthal Center opens its new Stage Door Theater with the one-woman show Mother Load. This off-Broadway hit by Amy Wilson, inspired by her trials as a mother of three, promises to have moms and non-moms alike laughing over Wilson’s satirical quest to be the perfect mother.

When: Through October 26 with various matinee and evening performance times.
Where: Stage Door Theater
How Much: $29.50-$34.50

Two
Novello
This festival of books and reading opens its 18th season on Thursday with suspense writer and attorney Scott Turow, best know for “Presumed Innocent.” Novello runs through October 30 and features best-selling authors Khaled Hosseini and Armistead Maupin as well as interactive and family-focused events. Many are free.

A Novello Evening with Scott Turow
When: October 2 at 7:00
Where: Imaginon
How Much: $15

Three
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
The handsome and dynamic Andrew Grams is back! This popular candidate for CSO Music Director returns – this time leading the orchestra through Dvorak and Berlioz. Argentine pianist and 2006 Gilmore Artist Award winner Ingrid Fliter performs Schumann.

When: October 3 & 4 at 8:00
Where: Belk Theater
How Much: $15-$72

Deborah Cox is a free-lance writer and residential real estate broker who lives in Uptown Charlotte’s First Ward. Contact her at dcox@livinguptown.com.

Center City Trfecta

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:38:00 +0000

A trio of Uptown Charlotte happenings for your weekend and beyond

One
Charlotte Shout’s Culinary Arts Experience
Learn the culinary secrets of celebrity chefs, taste the best from 14 of Charlotte’s finest restaurants, experience fine wine and boutique vodka – if this sounds like your kind of festival (it’s certainly mine) head down to Johnson & Wales University this weekend. Activities kick-off Friday at 5:00 and run through Saturday evening.

September 26-27
Johnson & Wales University
Tokens are required for restaurant booths; tickets to the Grey Goose Vodka tasting are $10, otherwise most events are free.
www.Charlotteshout.com

Two
The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Plot twists, humor and carnage abound in this story of political terrorism involving a ruthless Irish Liberation Army Lieutenant and his beloved cat, Wee Thomas. Don’t let finances keep you from this dark comedy by award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh -- Wednesday, October 1, is “Pay What You Can Night”.

Through October 11
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte
Tickets from $24 at www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org

Three
NBC’s Last Comic Standing Live Tour
If you loved it on TV, experience it live! Laugh to finalists Marcus, Jeff Dye, Louis Ramey, Iliza Shlesinger and Jim Tavare. Even if you never saw the TV version, check it out – Charlotte’s a bit thin on stand-up, and these days, we could all use a good laugh.

September 28, 7pm
Belk Theater
Tickets from $21 at www.BlumenthalCenter.org

Autumn Entertainment Uptown

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:16:00 +0000

Despite sultry temps, the fall entertainment season rolled in to Uptown Charlotte this past weekend with Blues, Brews & Barbecue, an annual festival of Southern food and music. Over this two-day event, visitors watched pig races, competed in the corn hole championship and sampled barbeque prepared by some of the country’s best grillers – not to mention groovin’ to some great music and washing it down with a brew or two.

For musical tastes that run toward the classical, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra opened its 77th season with performances Friday and Saturday night of Mahler and Mozart, conducted by Christof Perick and featuring world-class soprano Heidi Meier The CSO’s season runs through early May and offers 18 Classics and Pops Concerts featuring internationally-recognized performers backed by Charlotte’s own professional orchestra. Season and individual tickets are available and affordable, with individual tickets starting at only $15. So if you’ve never seen a professional symphony in action, give them a listen. Next performance: September 26 & 27 starring the Smothers Brothers.

In theater, this weekend brought Collaborative Arts’ Sitcoms Live! and sketch comedy troupe Robot Johnson to Spirit Square. Don’t worry if you missed this comedic combo – performances continue Thursday - Saturday through September 27. (Friday and Saturday only for Robot Johnson.) Tickets are a bargain at $15 for Sitcoms and $10 for Robot Johnson.

Charlotte is home to several small theatre groups that lend their talents to a wide range of works in a variety of venues, mostly Uptown. The Blumenthal Center presents traveling Broadway hits like Legally Blond, the Musical, and spotlights a variety of contemporary music, comedy and drama.

For the sports minded, the Carolina Panthers opened their at-home season Sunday afternoon with another teeth-gnashing victory -- this time over the Chicago Bears. The Panthers will soon be joined by the Charlotte Checkers and Charlotte Bobcats who open their home seasons in the coming months at Time Warner Cable Arena.

This is just a sampling of what Uptown Charlotte offers in the coming months. So get out and enjoy your favorite entertainment, or better yet, try something new. With ticket prices as low as $10 – some events are even free – you only risk a couple hours of your time.

Parking is relatively easy and cheap, but better yet, ride the Lynx Blue Line. Park-n-ride lots are free and round-trip tickets are only $2.60. Now, get Uptown and have fun!

Deborah Cox is a free-lance writer and residential real estate broker who lives in Uptown Charlotte’s First Ward. Contact her at dcox@livinguptown.com.

Uptown Charlotte v. Historic Pineville

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:59:00 +0000

I came across some Pineville bashing on The Naked City blog and I thought what a perfect example of the anti-uptown.

Even more significant, compared to the rest of Pineville, its downtown is like a b-b rolling around a six-lane highway. The rest of Pineville is the worst of suburban retail sprawl: strip centers, power centers, a enclosed regional mall, big box stores clear to the horizon -- all of it unwalkable, all of it a traffic nightmare at virtually all times of day. Pineville is famed throughout the metro Charlotte region as the worst possible example of unplanned retail development -- not that that has stopped other places (Concord Mills in Concord, University City, Albemarle Road, etc.) from trying to steal that designation.

It is famous in local circles, also, for refusing to let Charlotte's newly opened light rail line into town. The wildly successful transit line now ends at the Pineville city limits.

I will not pick at P-ville but rather extol the livability of center city Charlotte. We are eminently walkable. We have a myriad of housing options. Retail is here with more on the way and the night life is booming. Our bus system is extensive and the light rail line is a big success. The uptown crime stats are always some of the lowest numbers in the city. And as we are theoretically in a "buyers market" there is no better time to find a place in uptown Charlotte.

Hey, You're Blocking My View!

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Szy...) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:08:00 +0000

I read, with much amusement, this recent article in the Charlotte Observer. Some owners in the Arlington are whining about losing their view.

“I bought here strictly for the view,” Stern said. “There's no other reason to buy here. I believed, mistakenly or not, that the view was sacred.”

Oh my! Where was their outrage when they were blocking the view of the folks at Factory South Lofts. Here's the deal. If you want to maintain your view the answer is simple, buy all the existing property between you and the view. If not, you have no complaint.

It Was Bound To Happen

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:28:00 +0000

The Charlotte Observer is reporting that housing prices in our area have dropped, over a twelve month period, for the first time in seventeen years. There is no need to panic as the decline was .1 percent, as in one tenth of one percent. The article points out that the bottom may not have been reached but also that our local economy is doing well. I've said it before and I'll say it again...it is a good time to buy.

Charlotte home prices slip for the year
It's the first such drop since 1991, and things are a lot worse elsewhere – but that's little comfort for homeowners who can't sell.
By Kirsten Valle
kvalle@charlotteobserver.com

HOW CHARLOTTE STACKS UP
For the first time in 17 years, average Charlotte-area home prices fell year-over-year, according to a survey released Tuesday. But the Charlotte market was strongest in the survey of 20 cities. How home prices compare, April 2008 vs. April 2007:

Charlotte
-0.1% (Best in survey.)
Las Vegas
-26.8% (Worst in survey.)
Composite of 20 cities
-15.3%

Average Charlotte-area home prices have fallen for the first time over a 12-month period since 1991, figures released Tuesday show – and they might not have hit bottom yet, experts say.

Still, many remain optimistic, saying Charlotte's historically steady market, population growth and strong job outlook will help the city stay afloat in this increasingly sluggish economy. They point out that things are far worse elsewhere, with steep declines in urban areas nationwide.

Area prices dropped 0.1 percent in the 12 months through April 2008, according to the widely followed S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index, ending a three-month streak as the only one of 20 urban markets across the country still showing rising home prices.

“Charlotte is still holding up better than any other market,” Wachovia economist Mark Vitner said. “I think our economy is very resilient.”

That means homeowners should be ready to give up some price appreciation when trying to sell, he said.

Home Prices Still Rising

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Szy...) — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:49:00 +0000

As I watched CNN yesterday I heard the news presenter state that Charlotte is the only real estate market in the U.S. which is still rising. The Charlotte Observer agrees in this story. We have been spared big losses which many cities have experienced. Our local economy is still good and our unemployment numbers are good as well. The reality is it is a better time to buy than to sell but our housing market is stable.

The Charlotte region notched its third month Tuesday as the only one of 20 urban markets nationwide still showing rising home prices.

Area prices rose a little less than 1 percent for the 12 months through March, according to the widely followed S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index. That's less of an increase than in previous months but compares favorably with a 14 percent national decline on what is often a person's largest investment.

Fourth Ward Condo

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:51:00 +0000

Top floor, fabulous park and skyline views from living room, master bedroom and balcony -- one of the best locations in Park Plaza!

This, two bedroom - two bath, spacious Fourth Ward flat is in move-in condition and features a huge master suite, bright kitchen with Corian countertops, secured covered parking and secured entry.

MLS# 741054

Click here to visit web site.

Click here for a brochure.

Good News For Charlotte Housing Prices

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:53:00 +0000

Vinnee Tong of the Associated Press recently wrote how Charlotte home prices were actually up. We were the only market to show gains. Obviously this is good news for us but we still have challenges in our area. I continue to see properties, even those which are well priced, stay on the market longer. With that in mind buyers continue to be in a strong position which has not always been the case in Uptown Charlotte. Charlotte center city is a great place to live and now is a good time to find your perfect home or condo.

Charlotte housing prices defy trend

Queen City the only exception as values slide in 20 other U.S. cities

VINNEE TONG
Associated Press

Home prices in many cities continued to plunge by record levels in January as sellers cut their asking bids and rising foreclosures took their toll -- except in Charlotte, new data showed Tuesday.

Only Charlotte squeaked by as a gainer in the Case-Shiller index, with a 1.8 percent rise in January compared to a year earlier.

Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber, said the news is a positive reflection on the Charlotte area's economy.

"I think it says we're very fortunate in Charlotte that we're continuing to attract new jobs and that our population is growing," he told the Observer.

Real estate agents and local officials cited Charlotte's history of more modest house price growth during the boom years as reasons the market was holding up now.

"We've never seen the huge double-digit appreciation," said Dot Munson, president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association. "We have less of a correction to make than most other markets."

Charlotte Uptown Real Estate Market

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:07:00 +0000

On Friday, March 21, 2008, the Charlotte Observer ran an article, by Doug Smith, which discussed the slow down in the Charlotte uptown condo market. Several new projects have been canceled and others are proceeding slowly. I have noticed properties are sitting on the market longer as buyers can pick the perfect home as opposed to settling for any old property. In 1996 I bought in Fourth Ward and this was not the case. I bought what was available and worked my way to my perfect property. Now is a good time to buy in the center city. It was not all bad news for the new projects as the article did report on several condo projects which are being buit.

4 projects moving forward

Construction is proceeding on four high-rise residential projects

• The Garrison at Graham was delayed last fall when financing fell through. But the developer, Thomas Barnes, found local replacement investors and resumed construction this month on the 11-story, 41-unit condo building on North Graham Street.

• Catalyst, a 27-story tower being developed by Novare Group, is up to 18 floors at South Church Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, said Tony Skillbeck, president of the company's Carolinas Division.

"We actually had financed before the credit crunch," he said. "But our lenders are looking at us on a monthly basis. It's a little bit more stringent than it used to be."

Condo sales in the 462-unit project are to begin in six to seven weeks, Skillbeck said.

• The Vue is under construction in Fourth Ward, and the first of the 50-story project's 409 units should be ready for occupancy in summer 2010, said developer Dan McLean, president and chief executive officer of Chicago's MCL Cos.

• The Tower, a 15-story, 26-unit condo project, is under construction between the Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden hotels on East Second Street. Developer Lee Curry said a model condo should be ready in about a month.

In an uncertain market, he said, he's being cautious.

"We want people to know what it is going to look like before we start selling," Curry said. "We want them to know it is going to be built."

The Garrison

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:53:00 +0000

The Charlotte Observer is reporting good news for another uptown Charlotte real estate project. In the article Doug Smith states that while some uptown projects have been delayed the Garrison at Graham is going up.

A Charlotte developer plans to resume work this week on an 11-story, 41-unit condo building on North Graham Street.

Construction of The Garrison at Graham stalled last fall when a portion of the project's financing fell through.

The Garrison at Graham is alive and well and soon you could be living in there. Units are still available and buyers should be moving in around May of 2008.

Childers, who is handling sales and marketing for The Garrison at Graham, said Barnes completed construction loan arrangements Friday and expects general contractor Cox & Schepp Construction Inc. back on the site this week.

The first buyers should be able to occupy their units in about 14 months, he said.

Of the 41 loft units, 21 have been sold. Childers said remaining two-bedroom and larger units range from 1,250 square feet to 2,550 square feet and sell for $427,500 to about $800,000.

This project sits in the northwest corner of Fourth Ward which makes it convenient to the many amenities which center city Charlotte has to offer.

Urban Getaway

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:51:00 +0000

The Charlotte Observer ran a wonderful article on suburbanites who are buying Uptown Charlotte real estate as their second home. They spoke with several people who lived in Fifth and Poplar, a Condo with many amenities, near Fourth Ward Park. By all accounts this is a great place to live and play.

You've heard of city people who flee to the country on weekends. The building boom that's transforming uptown Charlotte offers a different twist -- suburbanites such as the Palmers who'd rather spend weekends walking among the skyscrapers than tending yards or piloting boats.

The story went on to discuss the growing center city population and mentioned a few other new complexes which have been completed or are being built.

The center city's population is expected to jump from about 10,000 today to about 21,000 people by 2012. Many are young professionals and empty-nesters who moved uptown when kids moved away. Just about every new uptown condo complex -- from Courtside to 230 South Tryon to TradeMark -- includes a small corps of suburbanites who bought city homes as weekend getaways.

As someone who has lived in uptown since 1989 I know how these new comers feel. What a great place to live. We walk nearly everywhere and there is always something happening. Whether you live here on the weekends or full time center city living is not to be missed.

Developer suspends bold condo project

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:33:00 +0000

This appeared in today's Charlotte Observer. The jest of the article is that perhaps this project was to ambitious given that it had such a high concentration of million dollar units.

40-story One Charlotte was to begin construction this summer
DOUG SMITH

Portman Holdings, citing an uncertain economy, is postponing development of One Charlotte, a high-end, 40-story condo tower planned uptown next to the Westin Charlotte...

Further down the page Emma Littlejohn, of the Littlejohn Group, gives a "thumbs up" to the Uptown market. I agree with her. With so many price points and projects to choose from Charlotte's Uptown housing market is still going strong. Charlotte's center city is a great place to call home.

The uptown market seems OK, she said, because some of the largest projects have secured financing and developers are offering a range of prices for a variety of buyers.

New Fair Isaac Rules - Good or Bad?

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:13:00 +0000

Fair Isaac scoring offers credit providers a tool to judge the likelihood that a borrower will repay on time. These new rules, which are coming this spring, should help to avoid the loan defaults which we saw in the recent past. Based on this article from the Wall Street Journal the changes seem to be a good thing.

Fair Isaac's new credit score to be more forgiving
But the FICO guidelines will be harder on repeat offenders

JANE J. KIM
Wall Street Journal

The company that comes up with credit scores for millions of Americans is changing its formula -- and that could affect how easily you get credit in the future.

Fair Isaac Corp., maker of the popular FICO credit score used by most lenders, says its new scoring model will better predict the likelihood of a borrower defaulting on a loan. For one thing, the new model, dubbed FICO 08, will be more forgiving of occasional slips by consumers, but will take a harder line on repeat offenders. Fair Isaac predicts its new system will help lenders reduce default rates on their consumer credit by between 5 percent and 15 percent.

The rollout of the new credit-scoring system comes at a time when lenders say they are eager for more-accurate measures of credit risk, in part because of rising loan defaults as subprime mortgages go bad and housing prices fall. And there are signs that delinquencies are creeping into other types of consumer debt, including auto loans, further prompting lenders to tighten up on credit...

However, the new rules eliminate the authorized user from the equation. While this is a good thing in that it eliminates those who "bought" the right to be an authorized buyer, some consumer advocates think this will have a negative impact on the credit scores of many. This article, which I found, on credit.com offers good insite into these new rules.

Consumer Alert:
FICO Scores Dropping Authorized User Accounts

John Ulzheimer and Emily Davidson
Credit.com

A major change to the FICO® credit score formula was announced by Fair Isaac Corporation earlier this week. FICO scores will no longer factor authorized user accounts into their credit scoring formulas.

Consumers who are listed as authorized users on credit card accounts will likely see a significant change in their credit scores when this modification takes place later this summer.

For most consumers, this change will have a negative impact on their credit scores. Only consumers who are listed as an authorized user on negative accounts or accounts that have balances that are close to the credit limit will possibly see an increase in their credit scores...

Ninth Annual First Ward Holiday Party

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:29:00 +0000

It is hard to believe that this is the ninth year for this event. From humble beginnings (a few cases of soda and a few bags of potato chips) this party has become a huge success. The buffet is marvelous and the crowds get bigger each year. Organizers expect several hundred party goers - the majority of them children. The children will have the opportunity to visit with Santa and play games for prizes. The question is which "big shot" will be spotted at the party? Past visitors have included Congressman Mel Watt, Mayor Pat McCrory, Councilman James Mitchell and Michael Smith the President of Charlotte Center City Partners. Come out and meet your First Ward neighbors and have some fun!

Ninth Annual First Ward Holiday Party
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
First Ward Recreation Center
6:30 to 8:00pm

Click here for more information on the First Ward Community Fund.

Center City Neighborhood Forum

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:49:00 +0000

What: Center City Neighborhood Forum
When: Thursday, December 13, 2007. 7:00pm
Where: Main Library Auditorium (basement level)

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent of CMS

Other Speakers: Michael Smith from CCCP, CMPD, CDOT, Park It, City Services, Duke Power, Code Enforcement

Why: To discuss livability in Center City; focus is public education opportunities for Center City families

Charlotte's Center City is a strong and diverse neighborhood. As the Center City population continues to grow, and more families begin to call the Center City home, education, open space, public safety and a sense of community become more important to our residents each and every day.

Families in the Center City want to be recognized by CMS as more than a collection of businesses and fragmented condo projects. This is a cohesive neighborhood with a vested interest in quality public schools. This meeting is an opportunity for residents to meet and dialogue with Superintendent Gorman.

Representatives from city departments and organizations that contribute to center city livability will also present their priorities for 2008 and give residents a chance to be heard.

Charlotte Center City Partners

More Retail For The Center City

noreply@blogger.com (dcox) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:52:00 +0000

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.