by Rich Haag | Sep 19, 2019 | Business Growth, Commercial real estate, Dining, Retail Expansion, Uncategorized
New retail, dining, apartment homes and a police station are coming soon to University City. Here are the details. City approves $9.5 million to build new University City police station The future home of the University City Police Division took a big step forward in August, when Charlotte City Council approved spending more than $9.5 million for its construction. The new building will be at 8452 N. Tryon Street at Ken Hoffman Drive, within a quarter mile of the McCullough Drive LYNX station and next to Charlotte Fire Station 27. The building will have 16,081 square feet of space. The University City Division currently has its headquarters nearby at University Executive Park. More Grand opening on Oct. 3 of new Chick-fil-A University Place The seemingly always busy Chick-fil-A University Place is relocating to its new and much bigger home nearby, at 8700 University Executive Park Drive. at West W.T. Harris Blvd. The grand opening is set for Oct. 3. The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. The new restaurant building and grounds will be double the size of the current store on J.W. Clay Boulevard, including both a much bigger kitchen and a high-volume drive-through system with two lanes capable of holding up to 34 vehicles. The University Place location will close for good on Saturday, Sept. 28. Chick-fil-A worked with city and University City Partners planners on site design issues such as vehicle screening and sidewalks. Follow Chick-fil-A University Place’s Facebook page for details regarding the grand opening. Worship Night on Oct. 1 at the Chick-fil-A University Place The public is invited...
by Rich Haag | Sep 5, 2019 | Commercial real estate, Economic Development, Transit Oriented Development, Uncategorized
Scores of properties along North Tryon Street near University City’s LYNX light-rail stations could soon have new zoning that will provide for more urban development near the stations, along with higher standards regarding issues such as walkability, public space and architecture. The City of Charlotte seeks to rezone these properties and thousands more near LYNX stations to ensure that city’s vision for transit-oriented development becomes reality. A rezoning petition was recently filed by the city for 2,640 parcels totaling 1,915 acres within short walks of the Blue Line transit stations. The petition asks the city to replace a wide range of office, commercial, residential and industrial zoning categories with four variations of the recently approved Transit Oriented Development zoning. What are Transit Oriented Development Districts? The TOD zoning classifications seeks to create walkable urban neighborhoods within a half mile of each LYNX station. According to a city planning website, “The purpose of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Districts is to encourage and enable the development of moderate to high-intensity, compact, mixed-use urban neighborhoods near transit stations where people can live, work, shop, dine, and pursue cultural and recreational opportunities while enjoying a range of mobility choices. “TOD development standards, combined with limits on auto-centric uses, are designed to create vibrant neighborhoods with a robust network of streets, sidewalks, and bicycle paths, providing safe and convenient access to transit stations. “The TOD zoning districts allow taller buildings and more building density while requiring higher standards regarding issues including walkability, public space and architecture.” Light-rail expansion fueling a burst of redevelopment The opening of the LYNX Blue Line Extension in...
by Rich Haag | Jun 13, 2019 | Commercial real estate, Economic Development, Transit Oriented Development
News Release – Commercial real estate development firm EB Arrow has filed a rezoning petition for 20.5 acres on the east side of J.W. Clay Boulevard in University City where the company is planning a mixed-use, walkable lakefront community called Waters Edge at University Place. Charlotte City Council has scheduled a public hearing on the zoning change for its June 17 monthly zoning meeting. The council could vote as soon as July 15 on whether to approve the request. Office building, apartments and lakefront park in Phase I If approved, the rezoning would allow for the first-phase development of a five-story, 182,000-square-foot Class A office and civic building with ground-floor retail; NOVEL University Place, a 308-unit garden-style multifamily community developed by Crescent Communities; a 2.5-acre lakefront linear park featuring a children’s play area; and the refurbishment of a significant portion of the one-mile multiuse pedestrian trail encircling the lake at University Place. The plan is consistent with the University City Area Plan, which recommends mixed-use including residential for the site, and would meet many of the goals of University City Partners’ master plan for the J.W. Clay area, which emphasizes walkability from light rail, connectivity and civic space for people to gather near the lake. Acquired by EB Arrow late last year, Waters Edge is located less than half a mile from the J.W. Clay Boulevard Station on the Lynx Blue Line and less than one mile from the Barton Creek Greenway, providing connectivity and access to miles of existing greenway trail via the Mallard Creek and Clark’s Creek Greenways as well as access to UNC Charlotte, Atrium Health...
by Rich Haag | Jun 6, 2019 | Business Growth, Commercial real estate, Economic Development
The crane looming over the ATAPCO apartment building on North Tryon Street is the biggest sign by far of a building boom across University City – but hardly the only one. Here’s a rundown of office building renovations and major office upfits in University City. More “Under Way” reports: Hospitality, dining, shopping and greenway Campus hotel-conference center, science building and more Apartments and townhomes Proximity Park – 401 McCullough Drive. The longtime former home of Allstate Insurance is undergoing major redesigns inside and out to go with its new status as the single biggest available suburban office building on the 19-mile LYNX light-rail line. Collier International is handling the building transformation and marketing. More about Proximity Park. The Grove – Mallard Creek Road at West W.T. Harris Boulevard. A building permit was issued recently for office renovations in building 8615 for Armstrong Transport Group, a leading national logistics company founded by UNC Charlotte grad Christopher Cobb. Additional building permits have been issued to upgrade parking lots. The Grove is owned and leased by Stream Realty Partners. More about The Grove. More about Armstrong Transport. Four Resource Square – 10735 David Taylor Drive in University Research Park. A building permit was issued recently for office renovations for Acuity Healthcare. Acuity Healthcare operates long-term acute-care hospitals. The company headquarters currently are at 10200 Mallard Creek Road. More about Four Resource Square. More about Acuity...
by Rich Haag | Jun 6, 2019 | Commercial real estate, Economic Development
The crane looming over the ATAPCO apartment building on North Tryon Street is the biggest sign by far of a building boom across University City – but hardly the only one. Here’s a rundown of hotels, restaurants, retail and a greenway under way in University City. More “Under Way” reports: University hotel-conference center, science building and more Office building renovations and major upfits Apartments and townhomes Fairfield Inn and Suites – 535 Collins Aikman Drive. 105-room hotel located behind the Homes2Suites by Hilton on McCullough Drive. Construction bids were recently requested for a seven-story Hyatt Place hotel near the Fairfield Inn. More Armored Cow Brewing Co. – 8821 J W Clay Blvd. in University Place. New brew pub just opened. Specialty is gluten-free beer, along with other standards. Serving brunch, plus food-truck offerings. More. Facebook page Rack Room Shoes – IKEA Blvd at University City Blvd. New store joining Burlington, T.J. Maxx and Outback Steakhouse in cluster at Belgate Shopping Center. This store will replace existing store at University Place that will close soon for major property redevelopment. More about Belgate Chick-fil-A – University Executive Park Drive at W.T. Harris Blvd. Chick-fil-A at University Place will relocate to new building with twice the capacity and 34-vehicle drive-through lanes. Site has been cleared. Construction starting soon. Barton Creek Greenway – The new greenway will connect J W Clay Boulevard in University Place to the Mallard and Clarks Creek greenways via a 0.7-mile paved path down a steep, rocky stream that winds between several residential communities. The trail may open late this year but more likely in spring 2020....
by Rich Haag | Mar 12, 2019 | Commercial real estate, Job Growth in University City
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles recently opened a driver-license office in University Research Park. DMV now has four offices in Charlotte and one in Huntersville. A part-time mobile unit visits Pineville each Wednesday. The new office is located in an office building at 9711 David Taylor Drive, near Senator Royall Place. “We are excited to open a fourth full-time driver-license office in Charlotte,” said DMV Commissioner Torre J. Jessup. “This new office will increase the capacity for service delivery in the growing Charlotte metro area.” The new North Charlotte office has 15 examiner work stations. Hours are 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday.Directions Customers may contact the DMV Call Center at 919-715-7000 to confirm appointments and operating hours. Get help online, too DMV offers several online services, including driver license and REAL ID renewals. Learn more at...
