Edgar Allan Poe-themed townhomes rise in NoDa — even COVID-19 can’t stop construction
Riding around Charlotte, it’s impossible to go a mile without running into a construction site. Most of us are hunkered down at home because of the coronavirus, waiting to go back to the office, but construction sites have stayed abuzz with activity, building for the hopeful future instead of the uncertain now.
In contrast to the citywide visual of tower cranes at work against blue skies, the real estate industry faces unprecedented and uncertain times.
Will COVID-19 change where and how we live? Will current trends toward urban living shift back to the suburbs? Will people want space again instead of being so close together?
Despite these questions, one fact still remains: There is a housing crisis in town, and being able to deliver quality housing quickly becomes more important by the day. Additionally, walkability and proximity is still desirable, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
Charlotte is poised to rebound in a big way, with a possible influx of people leaving the Northeast on the horizon, it’s important that we are building unique housing for all types of people.
A community rises in Noda
Despite uncertainties in the industry, Rock Hill-based ByFiorenza has remained steadfast in delivering its newest townhouse community, Poe, in NoDa. When complete, the 29-unit townhouse community will be the first thing you see after crossing under the Matheson Bridge, serving as the gateway to the NoDa community.
One of ByFiorenza’s quirks is that the company adds an element of poetry, by name and by style, to every one of its communities. In the case of Poe, the team wanted to pay homage to NoDa’s unique and artistic history, with one of literature’s darkest and most unique writers Edgar Allen Poe.
The overall aesthetic of the community will be modern and largely monochromatic, featuring clean, black elevations, mixed with pops of wood and white, and units will be topped with rooftop decks. The common areas will also include a Tim Burton-inspired courtyard, decked out with a trellis, swings and truly unique landscaping and hardscaping — as well as a separate dog park.
It might sound like a lot to take in, but the developer has enlisted the talents of local companies Southern Tiger Collective and Made to Last Tattoo to help reign in the vision, consult on art, make design choices and keep the programming as authentic as possible.
How the company has prepared for the ‘new normal’
With Poe, ByFiorenza has positioned itself well, both in price point — units will start in the lower 400s — and in its ability to cater to its buyers. These days, we are used to having access to nearly anything just by pulling out our phones and making a few clicks, so applying this concept to buying a home has been essential for the developer.
“As COVID-19 brought countless businesses to a grinding halt, we feel very fortunate to be positioned in a way that allows us to continue serving people. We are a small, nimble builder, which allows us to react quickly to market conditions in addition to being creative and approaching projects differently than the “big” builders,” founder Adam Fiorenza said.
“In fact, in an effort to streamline the antiquated home buying process, several months ago we created a one-of-a-kind custom virtual builder tool that allows potential homebuyers to customize and build their dream home online, similar to building a car online. In this complicated time where sales centers are closed, people want instant answers and transparency from the comfort of their home. This has been an invaluable tool for us and what we think the way of the future will look like.”
Poe has begun site work, and land development will take around 3 months. Townhouses will start going up in August and people will be able to start moving in by the end of this year.
This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 10:34 AM.
