The Official Charlotte, NC Discussion Thread

[Tribal Outkast]

The club was called Kandy Bar and here's the dude sliding down the building

Still couldn’t believe it when I saw it lol. Had to talk to Chewy after it happened and we both were trying to understand. I simply couldn’t believe it when he showed it to me

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

Charlotte’s first car-free apartments are well underway in Optimist Park


Charlotte’s first car-free apartments are well underway in Optimist Park

By Katie Peralta Soloff | June 15, 2021

As the city debated over a car-free development in west Charlotte last year, another developer was quietly building a similar project in Optimist Park.
Flashback: After hours of public comments last fall, City Council approved a rezoning for a carless apartment complex in west Charlotte. The plan caused a stir, as many neighbors worried residents without parking spots would wind up parking on side streets.

• Eliminating parking, developer Grubb Properties said, would be a cost-saver, making rents lower for tenants.
• Residents have to agree in their leases not to have cars. Grubb has said they’ll evict them if they break that contract.

Grubb and other proponents touted the 104-unit Seversville complex as the first car-free residential development in town.

Except, it wasn’t the first.
Over in Optimist Park, construction has been underway for months on a six-story apartment building across from the light rail. Called The Joinery, the property will have 83 units, 2,000 square feet of retail space and no structured parking.

This is the first Charlotte project for the firm Space Craft, formerly called Cohab, which is co-developing it along with the construction company Swinerton. The architect on the project is Shook Kelley. Its exact address is 1824 N. Brevard, near 22nd Street.

Why it matters: Charlotte is a sprawling, traditionally car-centric city. Efforts to wean residents away from cars underscore how the city is becoming denser, especially in walkable neighborhoods with nearby transit like the light rail.

Driving the news: The Joinery is just the latest in a deliberate push to make Charlotte more walkable.

• Grubb is also developing a mixed-use complex in NoDa (the former Herrin Ice site) that’ll have a scaled-down parking setup. Apartment renters and the daytime office work crowd will share parking spaces.
• And last year, Charlotte marked off 2.5 miles of city streets to encourage more pedestrian use as part of its Shared Streets pilot program.

Construction at The Joinery in Optimist Park. Photo: Katie Peralta Soloff/Axios

Elsewhere in the U.S., residential developments with minimal or no onsite parking are popping up in cities like Minneapolis, Austin and Tempe, Arizona, as the New York Times reported last fall.

About The Joinery: The area was already zoned for transit-oriented development as part of a sweeping policy change the city adopted in 2019 to encourage density in transit corridors. That’s why the developer didn’t have to go through the rezoning process like Grubb did in Seversville.

• “Optimist Park, because of TOD, has seen so much multi-family investment that we thought the area made sense for a more urban product,” Mohit Shewaramani, director of operations for Space Craft, tells me.

“Charlotte does a nice job of looking out for neighbors’ interests as well as working with developers,” Shewaramani adds.
Space Craft is calling the development “Charlotte’s first multi-modal building.” That means it will offer residents a range of transportation options, including electric bikes and scooters to rent, walkability, access to the light rail (the Parkwood light-rail station is a 3-minute walk), and electric cars including Teslas available to rent.

• City planning director Taiwo Jaiyeoba has said that Charlotte is never going to eliminate the automobile. “But if we can reduce the use of it substantially, it frees people up in terms of the economic advantages.”

Details: The Joinery will offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

• Amenities include an outdoor courtyard with grills and green space.
• It’ll also have an agreement with an off-site parking garage to provide “competitive rates” for residents who want to keep their car nearby.
• Leasing will begin in late fall, and it’ll open early 2022.

Sustainability: Space Craft aims to make the development Charlotte’s “most sustainable building,” Shewaramani says. For instance, the plan is to offer residents the option to compost their organic waste and to eventually install solar panels onsite.

Cost: Like the Grubb property, Space Craft plans to pass down the cost-savings from not having a parking garage to residents. Shewaramani wouldn’t give an exact figure, but one-bedroom apartments in Optimist Park typically rent for $1,100 to $1,400 a month.

Here’s what The Joinery will look like. Renderings are by Shook Kelley and courtesy of Space Craft:

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

16 things to do in Charlotte this Juneteenth, including Durag Fest and wine tours


16 things to do in Charlotte this Juneteenth, including Durag Fest and wine tours

By Symphony Webber | June 15, 2021

Juneteenth is coming up this weekend. Here are 16 ways to commemorate the day.
Backstory: On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers told enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, that they were free following the end of the Civil War. The day officially marks the end of slavery in the U.S.

MULTIPLE DAYS
11th Annual Charlotte Black Film Festival
Online | June 15-25, various times | $19-$49 | Details

Why you should go: The Charlotte Black Film Festival is one of the largest gatherings of multi-cultural content producers and creatives in the Southeast. This 11-day virtual festival will allow attendees to connect with filmmakers and creatives of color and experience premiere film, fashion and music.

Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas
1215 Thomas Ave. (House of Africa) | June 17-20 | Free, donations appreciated | Details

Why you should go: Now in its 24th year, the Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas celebrates the end of slavery by bringing the community together to reflect and remember the historical event. Festivities will include a youth day camp, a drum circle and performers from around the globe.

Blumenthal Performing Arts 1st Annual Juneteenth Jam
Victoria Yards & The Square at Spirit Square | June 18th-19th, 4:30pm & 7:30pm | Free | Details

Why you should go: Juneteenth Jam is a two-day, artist-filled celebration highlighting the history, joy and significance of Juneteenth through interactive dance sessions, art installations and live music.

JUNETEENTH: JUNE 19, 2021
2nd Annual Juneteenth Block Party
525 Johnson Rd. | 11am to 8pm | Free | Details

Why you should go: Riziki Zafira of Sesa University is hosting a family-friendly block party with live performances, DJs, a community circle, good from local vendors, raffles and giveaways. Family activities will happen from 11am to 4pm, and an after party for adults will be from 4-11pm.

Juneteenth Drum Circle With Drums 4 Life at The Gantt Center
551 South Tryon St. | 11-11:45am | Free | Details

Why you should go: Join the esteemed percussive group, Drums 4 Life for an interactive drum circle in the Gantt Center plaza.

Queen City Juneteenth Festival
2600 West Trade St. | Noon to 6pm | Free | Details

Why you should go: This family-friendly Juneteenth festival will have more than 40 Black-owned companies and vendors, food, and kids’ activities among other things.

Durag Fest 2021
Multiple locations | Noon to midnight | Pay what you please | Details

Why you should go: This year Durag Fest will start at Victoria Yards for the Deep Wave Day Party from noon to 6. There will be vendors and food trucks. Starting at 2pm, day party-goers can go by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza to watch a live art installation titled “Durag Hall of Fame,” dance performances and a cypher. From 7-11pm the festivities will move to Camp North End for “DU After Dark” also called “Adult Swim.” There will be an outdoor street fashion show and live performers.

[Related Axios story: The unapologetically Black Durag Festival is back]

QC Juneteenth FEST
7601 The Plaza, | Noon to 8pm | Free | Details

Why you should go: This celebration hosted by the Black Business Owners Corporation (BBOC) and The Melanated Exchange Market will have live performances, a kids’ zone, community activities, guest speakers, a selfie experience, visual artists The event features DJ Mood the Kid.

Juneteenth African Dance Experience at The Gantt Center
551 South Tryon St. | 1-2:30pm | Free | Details

Why you should go: Elsie Mufuka, owner and founder of MufukaWorks Dance Company, welcomes families for a Juneteenth African dance workshop. Mufuka will take participants through the history of African dance, and lead a simple but expressive dance choreography. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes for the experience, with enough water for the family to stay hydrated.

Belmont Juneteenth Celebration
Downtown Belmont | 2pm | $25 | Details

Why you should go: Celebrate Juneteenth in the community of Belmont by participating in one of the three scheduled events. There’s the Virtual 2K Family & Friends Freedom Walk which is taking place now through June 30, the Belmont Juneteenth Celebration Parade on June 19 at 2pm and the Virtual Belmont Juneteenth Celebration Concert on June 19 at 7pm.

2nd Annual Juneteenth Family Fun Festival in Monroe
217 IB Shive Drive, Belk Tonawanda Park | 11am to 3pm | Free | Details

Why you should go: This in-person, family-friendly Juneteenth celebration will have music, food and fellowship at Belk Tonawanda Park in Monroe.

Davidson Juneteenth Celebration
212 Gamble St. | 11am to 2pm | Price | Details

Why you should go: Head to The Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson for music, food trucks, speakers and children’s activities.

Juneteenth Celebrity Celebration Featuring 2 CHAINZ
900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd | 10pm to 2am (next day) | $25+ | Details

Why you should go: You read that correctly. 2 Chains is performing LIVE at The Music Factory.

Lyrical Healing Open Mic Juneteenth Celebration
229 South Brevard St. | 7-11:30pm | $20 | Details

Why you should go: Catch local artists and creatives take the stage at Studio 229 for a Juneteenth open mic night.

Wine Me Down Juneteenth Vineyard Tour
Various locations | 8:30am to 9:30pm | $99 per person | Details

Why you should go: Celebrate Juneteenth with a day trip to two, Black-owned NC vineyards.

Freedom: A Juneteenth Celebration
430 South Tryon St. | 9pm | $20-$55 | Details

Why you should go: Knight Theather invites you to come dressed in your finest evening attire or traditional African garb for a Juneteenth celebration through fashion.

 

[Tribal Outkast]

They closing Price’s man. Yo fukk this place

 

[Henry Orbit]

They closing Price’s man. Yo fukk this place

SouthEnd is fukking soulless

 

[Json]

They closing Price’s man. Yo fukk this place

It looked out of place with all these new brick construction along the light rail.

Hopefully they got a good price for the building if they owned it

 

[The M.I.C.]

SouthEnd is fukking soulless

It really is.

 

[Tribal Outkast]

SouthEnd is fukking soulless

Might as well call it Gentrify End

 

[Tribal Outkast]

It looked out of place with all these new brick construction along the light rail.

Hopefully they got a good price for the building if they owned it

I knew they would be gone eventually. I wasn’t ready for it Yo be now though smh. Man everything closing. Leroy Fox bland ass chicken gets to stay though

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

RIP to another Charlotte institution but I always thought Price's was overrated

 

[Tribal Outkast]

RIP to another Charlotte institution but I always thought Price's was overrated

What spots do you recommend man? I fukks with Prices but I didn’t go there enough cause their hours didn’t agree with me all the time and I don’t always carry cash. I like that gas station in South End but too much bullshyt be happening over there so I don’t go as much

 

[Ya' Cousin Cleon]

we was suppose to hit up Charlotte last summer too. I've heard good things about the triad as they call it idk

Bu bu bu bu but there’s nothing to do for black folks in Charlotte

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

What spots do you recommend man? I fukks with Prices but I didn’t go there enough cause their hours didn’t agree with me all the time and I don’t always carry cash. I like that gas station in South End but too much bullshyt be happening over there so I don’t go as much

I don't order fried chicken from restaurants much, but I remember the chicken at Haberdish being really good.

 

[Bryan Danielson]

They closing Price’s man. Yo fukk this place

I wish I would’ve known that like yesterday

Since it’s not too far from the Dowd YMCA where I work out at. I would’ve stopped there.

Hell I normally go past it going to the Publix after my workout.



Also to y’all niccas, man if y’all workout y’all need to come to the Dowd.

If y’all don’t workout, y’all need to get a Y membership and come to the Dowd.

This YMCA hands down has the best looking broads in the city

 

[Henry Orbit]

Deon Cole is gonna be sad when he comes back to town and finds out Price’s is gone. He loved that place