Can Charlotte’s neighborhoods keep their funky vibes with all this development?
I’ve had this conversation with so many people over the past few weeks — How can Charlotte neighborhoods keep their fun/interesting/funky vibes while offices and apartments are being built at such a rapid pace?
It’s something we’ve written about here, when Katie spelled out what South End would lose if it loses Common Market. She wrote this before the news became official — that the South End lot that holds Food Truck Friday, Common Market and other local businesses would be home to a new office tower.
Over the weekend, Observer development reporter Ely Portillo wrote two more pieces on this issue.
First, there was Friday’s piece: “In Plaza Midwood, there’s talk of protecting older buildings and local businesses.”
Ely writes: “In Plaza Midwood, an older, inner ring suburb with one of Charlotte’s true walkable business districts, change is happening fast. More than a thousand apartments are under construction or planned for a one-mile stretch of Central. Some local businesses are under pressure, seeing their buildings sold or parking and access interrupted by construction.
“That flood of growth is what drew more than 50 people to Snug Harbor in Plaza Midwood on Wednesday night to talk about options for protecting the character and flavor of their neighborhood. The meeting was organized by Plaza Midwood Shows Up, which formed after a developer announced plans to tear down local dive bar Tommy’s Pub and build apartments on the lot.
“The theme of the night: ‘Can Plaza Midwood survive?'”
Saturday, Ely looked at South End: “Does office influx risk South End’s funky vibe?”
He writes: “Some say that’s just the way it goes: Grungy areas become cool, cool areas become expensive, and the artsy folks move on to another, cheaper area in need of some rehab. Adding office space, which has been scarce in South End, will bring more daytime workers and could help lure more businesses in addition to the large apartment blocks dominating South End now.
“‘It’s absolutely right that creative people move to the next area. That’s how cities grow and develop,’ said David Walters, an urban planner and professor emeritus at UNC Charlotte. ‘If all the cool, trendy people stay in South End, the rest of the city is screwed.'”
But, as Common Market co-owner Blake Barnes notes, world-class cities should have cool old buildings in them. They add character. “We’re just eradicating it,” he told the Observer.
Don’t expect this conversation to go away any time soon. How will these neighborhoods change? What will happen to our favorite local spots? What area will become the new funky bastion in Charlotte?
It will be fascinating to watch in the coming years.
IN OTHER DEVELOPMENT NEWS …
That Cherry deal wasn’t as dead as we thought. Charlotte City Council said no to the rezoning request last week but voted again Monday on a major mixed-use development in the Cherry neighborhood. This time, City Council approved it. What changed? The developer promised to reduce the height of his building by six feet.
J. Crew is coming to Park Road Shopping Center, it seems. Katherine Peralta reported that a building permit was issued last week for J. Crew Mercantile at 4217 Park Road, the former Toys & Co. space. J. Crew Mercantile is a new concept from the company. Basically, it sells J. Crew Factory products at “more traditional shopping locales.”
Photos: Diedra Laird/Charlotte Observer; John D. Simmons/Charlotte Observer; Charlotte Observer file
This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 12:07 AM with the headline "Can Charlotte’s neighborhoods keep their funky vibes with all this development?."