Yeah, I mean DC is beautiful, what with all the murders and all.
and Charlotte doesnāt? From an entertainment standpoint, Charlotte doesnāt come close to what DC has to offer from an entertainment value.
but you can keep spouting off what you donāt knowā¦
but you can keep spouting off what you don't know....
Oh, I will.
canāt blame himā¦
Iād hate Charlotte too if all I did was land at the airport, drive up hideous I85 past Statesville Ave and Sugar Creek rd, and stayed in the University area. Sorry but U city is a shiithole nowadays.
Itās not that bad unless you include N. Tryon. The area around Harris Blvd/N. Tryon intersection is nice and everything from that point north is pretty nice. The new Belgate center (the one with Ikea and a lot of other places) as well as the future light rail line should add greatly to the area. The light rail will spur a lot of new development that may rid the area of some of its undesirable characteristics.
[QUOTE=metro;328559]Sorry but U city is a shiithole nowadays.[/QUOTE]
to a degree, I tend to agree.
When the Univ Hospital, the Hilton, et al opened in the late 80ās I think, it was a huge step forward and I imagined a great future for it.
However, for whatever reasons, it became stagnant (sp?) and fallen behind. Maybe University area needs stronger political leaders? (sure, 485 is a problem on the south side of town because it doesnāt support their needs, but its just as big a problem in University area because without 485, the roads donāt support the current needs and growth.
Sure it is a delicate balance, but the University has been neglected by city leaders for a while.
The good thing is I think people are finally fixing it. Hopefully, IKEA will spur some additional focus/growth/progress in the area and light rail ?
Because it doesnāt totally suck, because it could stand to be a hellova lot better.
[QUOTE=metro;328559]canāt blame himā¦
Iād hate Charlotte too if all I did was land at the airport, drive up hideous I85 past Statesville Ave and Sugar Creek rd, and stayed in the University area. Sorry but U city is a shiithole nowadays.[/QUOTE]
He must have missed Leather & Laceā¦
In my opinion U-City is falling behind due to the gentrification process being taken on due to the growth of the city itself. Its been said that when lightrail comes to the U that the areas along the lightrail will really clean up and bring in higher end shops and neighborhoods - the problem is that the people currently living in those areas are getting pushed out. I believe that this has already begun, and its a relatively good explanation for the rise in crime in the area. I think that eventually U city will be absorbed more within the city itself, but thats way down the road. Weāre having to deal with a transition period right now and thats a difficult thing to handle. I think that the increase in police and security within the area is definately helping out, I cant go 2 miles between here and concord mills without seeing at least one if not two cops, but we still have a lot of work to do.
Ive also been told that the walmart (yes, the sketch one) is getting shut down so they can build a new superwalmart down the road. I think that will definately help otu a bit.
Ive also been told that the walmart (yes, the sketch one) is getting shut down so they can build a new superwalmart down the road. I think that will definately help otu a bit.
True fact that I learned about a year ago: That WalMart is 3rd worst out of all WalMarts in THE ENTIRE NATION for shoplifting. As amazing as that is, it doesnāt surprise me.
i think we should email him and ask him why he doesnt like charlotte. its probably jealousy, since he lives in cincinatti.
True fact that I learned about a year ago: That WalMart is 3rd worst out of all WalMarts in THE ENTIRE NATION for shoplifting. As amazing as that is, it doesn't surprise me.
And their building an Ikea right there too!!
In my opinion U-City is falling behind due to the gentrification process being taken on due to the growth of the city itself. Its been said that when lightrail comes to the U that the areas along the lightrail will really clean up and bring in higher end shops and neighborhoods - the problem is that the people currently living in those areas are getting pushed out. I believe that this has already begun, and its a relatively good explanation for the rise in crime in the area. I think that eventually U city will be absorbed more within the city itself, but thats way down the road. We're having to deal with a transition period right now and thats a difficult thing to handle. I think that the increase in police and security within the area is definately helping out, I cant go 2 miles between here and concord mills without seeing at least one if not two cops, but we still have a lot of work to do.Ive also been told that the walmart (yes, the sketch one) is getting shut down so they can build a new superwalmart down the road. I think that will definately help otu a bit.
True fact that I learned about a year ago: That WalMart is 3rd worst out of all WalMarts in THE ENTIRE NATION for shoplifting. As amazing as that is, it doesn't surprise me.
Sketch? Hardly, the Wal-Mart off Ablemarle is freakin sketchy.
Ive also been told that the walmart (yes, the sketch one) is getting shut down so they can build a new superwalmart down the road. I think that will definately help otu a bit.
Only problem is what happens to the old one. If it stays abandoned it actually could make the perception worse. The University City shopping area right there, is a great location. Iāve always been surprised it hasnāt done better. If a developer could come in and remodel it, it could be a huge draw for the University area. Itās never been utilized correctly. The university city needs a Steve and Barrys up there.
[QUOTE=Normmm;328658] The university city needs a Steve and Barrys up there.[/QUOTE]
not sure if Steve and Barrys is really in expansion mode
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008043317_stevebarry10.html
[QUOTE=zerogeneticsdc;328602]In my opinion U-City is falling behind due to the gentrification process being taken on due to the growth of the city itself. Its been said that when lightrail comes to the U that the areas along the lightrail will really clean up and bring in higher end shops and neighborhoods - the problem is that the people currently living in those areas are getting pushed out. I believe that this has already begun, and its a relatively good explanation for the rise in crime in the area. I think that eventually U city will be absorbed more within the city itself, but thats way down the road. Weāre having to deal with a transition period right now and thats a difficult thing to handle. I think that the increase in police and security within the area is definately helping out, I cant go 2 miles between here and concord mills without seeing at least one if not two cops, but we still have a lot of work to do.
Ive also been told that the walmart (yes, the sketch one) is getting shut down so they can build a new superwalmart down the road. I think that will definately help otu a bit.[/QUOTE]
The worst thing for the area is more strip mall developments. Hopefully some high powered REIT comes in and redoes the entire northside of University Place (Wal-Mart / Best Buy).
Introducing light rail while continuing suburban highway oriented development is counterproductive and only going to increase the lack of vision in the Unviersity Area.
I know the plan is to eventually make N. Tryon by the university into a stroll district with a lot of stop lights and pedestrian oriented development along the road on land adjacent to the hospital and school. Hopefully light rail will expedite that. The parking lot by bloom and kohls could also stand to be developed with shops closer to the road. They donāt need that much parking space. Highway 49 needs sidewalks badly all the way from U-Club to campus and on down to the WT Harris/49 intersection. A bus system would be nice as well. Iāve heard it would be hard to implement, but I donāt understand how that is so because most people live on 49, tryon, pavilion, mallard creek, or a road that is a short walk to one of those roads. Just run the buses down 49, wt harris, tryon, and pavilion with bus stops every few hundred yards. They need to ensure the buses are for students and faculty only or youāll have a lot of trash getting on them and riding into campus free of charge. Iād ride a bus for free if it were intended for the school. I donāt now because in most cases it is cheaper for me to just drive my car a mile or two than take the bus
[QUOTE=RWORKMAN09;328682]I know the plan is to eventually make N. Tryon by the university into a stroll district with a lot of stop lights and pedestrian oriented development along the road on land adjacent to the hospital and school. Hopefully light rail will expedite that. The parking lot by bloom and kohls could also stand to be developed with shops closer to the road. They donāt need that much parking space. Highway 49 needs sidewalks badly all the way from U-Club to campus and on down to the WT Harris/49 intersection. A bus system would be nice as well. Iāve heard it would be hard to implement, but I donāt understand how that is so because most people live on 49, tryon, pavilion, mallard creek, or a road that is a short walk to one of those roads. Just run the buses down 49, wt harris, tryon, and pavilion with bus stops every few hundred yards. They need to ensure the buses are for students and faculty only or youāll have a lot of trash getting on them and riding into campus free of charge. Iād ride a bus for free if it were intended for the school. I donāt now because in most cases it is cheaper for me to just drive my car a mile or two than take the bus[/QUOTE]
I donāt think they could limit who can ride the bus since it is public transportation. Iām familiar with the Rutgers bus system it is free and anyone can ride it, but it tends to be only students because the destinations are campus based.
I don't think they could limit who can ride the bus since it is public transportation. I'm familiar with the Rutgers bus system it is free and anyone can ride it, but it tends to be only students because the destinations are campus based.
I think the problem in our case is the instances of localized crime. Students are easy targets - we have are independent, generally have money and or something of value on us, and we think weāre invincible. We dont pay attention like we should, meanwhile we have no one watching our backs. Weāre easy targets for criminals. I think the fear is the same as some of the negative thoughts on lightrail - transporting people who will commit crimes and leave.
[QUOTE=zerogeneticsdc;328735]I think the problem in our case is the instances of localized crime. Students are easy targets - we have are independent, generally have money and or something of value on us, and we think weāre invincible. We dont pay attention like we should, meanwhile we have no one watching our backs. Weāre easy targets for criminals. I think the fear is the same as some of the negative thoughts on lightrail - transporting people who will commit crimes and leave.[/QUOTE]
I also think it is part of the environment. The university area being so suburban, most kids have a care-free attitude with regards to locking doors, cars, etc.
[QUOTE=zerogeneticsdc;328602]Ive also been told that the walmart (yes, the sketch one) is getting shut down so they can build a new superwalmart down the road. I think that will definately help otu a bit.[/QUOTE]
Yes, being opened in the new shopping center with Ikea. Problem is that it leaves us an empty big box store. That will only get worse in that areaā¦
[QUOTE=Chisox17;328605]True fact that I learned about a year ago: That WalMart is 3rd worst out of all WalMarts in THE ENTIRE NATION for shoplifting. As amazing as that is, it doesnāt surprise me.[/QUOTE]
Wow. Doesnāt surprise me. Last year they changed their hours due to crime. I think a stat I had seen averaged 3-4 police reports per day from Walmart and the adjoined parking lot. Averaged!
[QUOTE=CharSFNiners;328615]Sketch? Hardly, the Wal-Mart off Ablemarle is freakin sketchy.[/QUOTE]
Not at all. One at University is worse. I grew up going to the one in Mint Hill. Itās not great, but it aināt that bad.
Well, I just e-mailed Dustin and got a pretty quick responseā¦
Thanks for the email. I've never had good fortune with traffic in Charlotte. Downtown is fine -- quite nice actually -- but it's always been a bit of a pain getting out the to university. I think I found a back way in my last time there, though. So maybe my disposition will change.