Wednesday, December 21, 2011

LYNX Blue Line To Add Three-Car Trains

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Receives $18 Million TIGER III grant

“This grant provides CATS the ability to move towards operating three-car trains along extended platforms on the LYNX Blue Line,” said Carolyn Flowers, CATS CEO. “The money received today will also be used to enhance the power along the line for running more light rail cars, which will assist CATS in future operational savings by being able to run longer trains.

Read More at CATS Receives $18 Million To Increase Ridership Capacity Along LYNX Blue Line

Friday, December 16, 2011

UNC Charlotte Begins PORTAL Building

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) has come up with the financing for a new $37 million research and development building, without the help of the state legislature. The Partnership, Outreach, and Research for Accelerated Learning (PORTAL) Building is being built at University City on the 102-acre Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) campus.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Irwin Creek Wastewater Plant Upgrades Begin

The Irwin Creek Wastewater Plant treats about 10 million gallons per day of wastewater that is produced by people who live or work in its service area which includes much of uptown and west Charlotte. Constructed in the 1920's, much of the equipment and structures are decades old and in need of rebuilding a significant portion of the structures and equipment on the site. Council also approved a contract for $2.7 million with an engineering company, Hazen and Sawyer, to provide project management and administration services. This includes observation of construction, facility startup services and operator training.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Light Rail Extension Gets One Step Closer

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) received its Record of Decision from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the LYNX Blue Line Extension light rail project.

The 9.4-mile alignment would run from Uptown Charlotte to the UNC-Charlotte campus and include 11 light rail stations and four parking facilities. The system will operate generally within the existing railroad right of way from Uptown to NoDa, then transition into the median of North Tryon Street from Old Concord Road north, with the last station on the UNC-Charlotte campus.

The FTA Record of Decision determines that the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) have been met for this project. The next major step is attaining a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from FTA, which means the federal government would fund half of the cost needed to build the Blue Line Extension. State and local funds would make up the remaining half.

Final Design is the last phase of project development. It includes right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, preparation of final construction plans, construction cost estimates, bid documents and finalizing the project’s financial plan.

Read the press release CATS Receives Record of Decision from Federal Transit Administration

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Chiquita Headquarters Requires Access And Incentives

Working with State and Local Governments on an incentives package worth more than $22 million will bring Charlotte North Carolina another corporate banner. Chiquita Brands International also based their relocation decision on other sound criteria, such as accessibility, costs of living, and leading business climate. The promise of easier international travel from Charlotte Douglas Airport with a direct flight to San Jose in Costa Rica, where Chiquita has a regional headquarters, was critical.

In addition to the total investment of $30 to $35 million, the company will likely move its research and development functions here as well. The total number of jobs for the local economy could approach more than 400 positions during the next two years. The headquarters is rumored to be going to the largely vacant office tower adjoining the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in uptown Charlotte.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Carmel Commons Undergoing Renovation

Carmel Commons shopping center, built in the late 1970's and in need of updates, is getting a $3.5-million face-lift. To make it more attractive from the roadside and more pedestrian friendly: new pedestrian lighting, sidewalks, landscaping, entrance signs, and parking lot repairs. In addition, the facade of the buildings are getting an overhaul: fresh paint, new roofing, new sconces, and new awnings. More than 30 tenants fill the 133,000-sqft shopping center owned by Regency Centers, such as The Jewelry Stop, Fresh Market, Party City, Chuck-e-Cheese, and various boutique shops. The goal is for all renovations to be finished by 2012-March.

GPS:35.08694,-80.84894 Carmel Commons Shopping Center is less than a mile from I-485, located along NC Hwy 51 / Pineville-Matthews Road, between Johnston and Carmel Roads. More than 33,000 drive along the portion of N.C. 51 near Carmel Commons, and more than 25,000 vehicles per day drive on Carmel Road, south of Quail Hollow Road. Read More at Carmel Commons getting $3.5 million facelift - South Charlotte News

Thursday, October 6, 2011

EPRI Adds Former Verbatim Building

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has purchased part of the former Verbatim floppy-disk manufacturing plant from Paragon Media LLC for $5-million. The 108,000-sqft of office and lab space on 24-acres located at 1200 West W T Harris Boulevard, Charlotte, NC GPS:35.31628,-80.76322 is adjacent to its existing research facility at University Research Park. Current Address:1300 West W.T. Harris Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28262 GPS:35.31637,-80.76714. They're so close together that the institute plans to carve a path through the woods to connect the two sites, bringing the total to 258,000-sqft of facilities on 45-acres. EPRI is an independent research institute funded primarily by utilities to conduct and manage R&D programs in electric transmission and nuclear and fossil power generation.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Duke Endowment Buys Land In Dilworth

The Duke Endowment will construct a new 30,000-sqft headquarters building on 1.8 acres in the Dilworth community. The site where Frankie's Italian Grille was formerly located was purchased from an affiliate of Crosland company for $4.2 million.

GPS:35.21470,-80.84548
Address:800 East Morehead Street Charlotte, NC 28202

Duke Endowment Plans Move

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

CATS Buys Eastland Transit Center Land

The Charlotte City Council last week unanimously voted in favor of the Charlotte Area Transit System buying the 1.4 acres for $771,150. That property is currently home to a small community bus station, and CATS wants to stop paying annual land rent. In 2006, CATS spent $2 million building the Eastland Community Transit Center on the mall parking lot. The transit center is a nicely landscaped bus station, with eight shelters and a ticket booth. The center serves two main bus lines, the Albemarle Road Express and Route 9, which runs along Central Avenue and is one of the busiest in the city. It also serves three neighborhood shuttles. CATS has leased the property for $55,000 a year, and the city said the deal will pay for itself in 14 years because it will no longer have to pay rent. Despite the mall's closure in 2010, CATS said more people are getting on buses at the Eastland stop compared with 2007. The city hopes to eventually build a streetcar to the site, though that's unlikely to happen for at least 20 years.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

BECO Management Markets Innovation Park

BECO Management of Rockville, MD paid $42-million for 184-acre campus formerly known as Meridian Corporate Center near University City. As part of the re-branding, plans call for spending $30-million on upgrades to the corporate campus.

IBM made a big splash into the Charlotte North Carolina market back in 1979 with the creation of a 1,200-acre campus. In 1994, First Union, now Wells Fargo, bought 155 acres for its own employee campus and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bought nearly 200 acres for a four-school complex. In 2002, Charlotte Corporate Center Acquisition, a limited liability company that included Blackacre Capital Management and other New York investors, bought the 12-building complex for $114 million.

Monday, August 22, 2011

UNC Charlotte Supports Center City Building

A twisted Rubik's cube or a giant stack of books anchor's a planned development by Levine Properties along Brevard from Ninth to Seventh streets. Ultimately, Levine plans to build an urban neighborhood of residences, shops, restaurants, parking decks and a 6-acre park from the UNCC building to Seventh. The architectural firms include James Timberlake of KieranTimberlake of Philadelphia with Gantt Huberman Architects of Charlotte.

UNCC's Center City Building
Address: 320 E. Ninth St.
Size: 12-story, 150,000-sqft
Cost: $50.4-million
Function: home for UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture, MBA and other graduate programs.
Purpose: To better link Charlotte to main UNCC campus, and make the university more accessible to uptown workers.
An uptown twist for UNCC’s image | The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Electrolux Completes Headquarters Move In Charlotte

Electrolux selected Charlotte, North Carolina as the location of its new North American headquarters back in 2009-December. A global leader in household appliances, it has consolidated a number of its U.S. corporate office operations and support functions. Investing $8.3 million for building changes and equipment property at the former First Charter building at the University Research Park complex located at 10200 David Taylor Drive Charlotte, NC. The 216,000 sqft office facility plans to support the 740 jobs that the company committed to bringing in exchange for economic incentives by state and local governments.

SKYE Building Signs Hyatt Place

Small Brothers of Naples, FL have signed a franchise agreement with Hyatt Hotels Corporation. After entering the building through a two-story lobby on the first floor, hotel guests will check in at a lobby on the 10th floor. The 172-room hotel with panoramic views of uptown will continue up to an open-air rooftop restaurant on the 20th floor. Located at 222 South Caldwell Street Charlotte, NC 28202 and Third Street in "Uptown" Charlotte GPS:35.22258,-80.84097 is ideally suited for convention and business activities.

The lobby's style is elegant modernism with a nod to art deco.
imported marble and granite flooring and wall accents
full valet service for visitors and residents

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Home2 Suites Tyvola Glen Circle Groundbreaking

C.N. Hotels of Greensboro has started a new extended stay hotel called Home2 Suites by Hilton.
Located at 6025 Tyvola Glen Circle Charlotte, NC GPS:35.16477,-80.89396
The 89-room is scheduled to open in September 2012.
Features include an indoor saline pool and a meeting room, comfortable, affordable extended-stay accommodations
a distinct style of contemporary, comfortable accommodations with an emphasis on flexibility and easy access to technology.
an integrated guest laundry and fitness room, a patio and grill, outdoor lounge, an exercise trail and a bright, inviting indoor community space.
feature an open lobby area with an approximately 4,200-square-foot community space called the “Oasis.” The Oasis, which includes communal and individual work zones, wireless access, a 52” flat-screen TV and an expansive complimentary continental breakfast service, is designed to encourage a social environment
A fully accessorized kitchen will contain a refrigerator / freezer, dishwasher, place settings for six, microwave oven and coffee maker, and the media/working zone will feature a queen-size sofa/sleeper, 42” flat-screen TV, roll-around ottoman, ambient task lighting and an iHome alarm clock with iPod port and MP3 jack.


C.N. Hotels Greensboro Sunil Patel, executive vice president
Rick Gabriel, Vice President Commercial Relationship Manager, High Point Bank

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Duke Energy Center Welcomes Wells Fargo Securities

Wells Fargo Securities, the investment banking and capital markets operations of the San Francisco bank will occupy 14 floors in the building. Originally designed for their predecessor Wachovia Bank before the merger, the firm will still honor half of the original commitments for the 48-story tower. Opened in January 2010, the space was specially designed to house sophisticated trading operations with top-of-the-line generators and ventilation systems needed to protect critical systems.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Mosaic Village

Charlotte City Council agrees to subsidize a part of the Mosaic Village development, adjoining Johnson C. Smith University, the primary tenant. The $29 million mixed-use project will include:
  • 6,800 sqft of retail space
  • 80 student dorm room
  • 45,000-sqft art learning center and office building
  • 403-space parking deck with 223 public parking spaces

City subsidy of $3.2 million in exchange for spaces in a parking deck from city's Business Corridor Fund.
Reimburse the developer up to $181,860 for expenses from public right-of-way improvements.
In addition, the city pledging to build a streetcar line along West Trade Street.

Located on West Trade Street in the depressed northwest corner of downtown is to be built by Griffin Brothers.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Ballanmoor Begins Preconstruction Sales

Lennar announces the start of its newest community, Ballanmoor in South Charlotte North Carolina. These luxury new homes now available for pre-sale are priced from the $370's. With plans ranging from just under 3,500 to nearly 4,300-sqft all homes in Ballanmoor feature five or six bedrooms, four and a half or five bathrooms and third-floor bonus rooms.

Located in the desirable Ballantyne area just minutes from Charlotte’s Uptown and near the intersection of Ardrey Kell Road and Wade Ardrey Road, Ballanmoor not only offers great shopping and dining nearby but also is zoned for some of Mecklenburg County’s best schools, including Elon Park Elementary School, Community House Middle School and Ardrey Kell High School, which is in walking distance of the community.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ballantyne Corporate Park Groundbreaking

Bissell Companies started construction on a $100 million speculative office project of 550,000 sqft. Two new 10-story office buildings and parking decks will join the existing 2,000-acre mixed-use development in Charlotte, NC. Located at the northwest corner of North Community House Road and Ballantyne Commons Parkway GPS:35.05561,-80.83659 To learn a lot more about this development see our region-wide website at http://CLT-NC.us

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Ballantyne Welcomes 135 More Jobs

Charlotte is suddenly becoming a world class cluster of energy related companies. Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems Inc. will locate its main U.S. engineering center in Charlotte North Carolina. The company plans to lease 26,000 square feet of office space in the Ballantyne Corporate Park with a capital investment of $4-million. A leading supplier of nuclear power plants and replacement components will be offering 135 high-paying engineering jobs to the region, which is already home to about 240 other energy companies, that employ more than 26,000 people.

Gov. Perdue Announces 135 jobs with Mitsubishi

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

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Looking for more information on the community of Charlotte North Carolina? Learn about new homes, apartments, townhouses, and condos. Also discover senior living solutions, hotels and extended stay options around employment centers, hospitals and universities.

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