Semi-annual awesome Charlotte thread - sunset skyline, new 'scrapers, Disco Chicken

initiald · #1 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 5:40 AM**

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Charlotte

What a difference a year makes - last year Wachovia had been gobbled up by Wells Fargo and Charlotte was on shaky ground.

It is too early to say Charlotte has its swagger back, but the mood is as bright as the light at the end of the tunnel - Bank of America reaffirmed its commitment to remaining headquartered in Charlotte, Electrolux North America announced it is moving to Charlotte - the biggest HQ relocation to the city in a quarter century, and another financial firm is moving 700+ jobs to Charlotte because of the available workforce.

This year has seen a 50 floor, 47 floor, 30 floor, 15 floor and 12 floor towers top out. A 12 floor and a 16 floor building broke ground this year as well. It has seen downtown's first 5 star luxury hotel open. It has seen a new theater and African American Cultural Center open downtown, and will see a new Museum of Modern Art and Mint Museum open next year. And yes, Ikea opened. Oh, and the Disco Chicken has landed!

Let the tour begin...

Skyline

A sunset in early November, seen from Cordelia Park. The new tower on the right is the 50 floor Vue residential tower.

The under construction tower on the left is the 30 floor 1 Bank of America.

Views from up high

1 Bank of America

Looking towards 4th Ward. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg main public library can be seen, as well as the McGlohon Theater.

Odell Plaza with Hall House in the foreground.

Looking towards the underdeveloped 1st Ward. The crane is for the new 12 floor UNC Charlotte building. The parking lots in the foreground will be part of the new 1st Ward park.

Arts

NC Dance Theater under construction

Mint Museum construction

Bechtler Museum of Modern art, a Mario Botta design, opens Jan. 2nd.

Disco Chicken has landed! The Firebird sculpture by the late Niki de Saint Phalle is large enough to walk under. It has been dubbed the disco chicken.

The Knight Theater opened this fall. At 1,200 seats, it provided a mid-sized venue smaller than the 2,400 seat Belk Theater, and the several small theaters.

Harvey Gantt African American Cultural Center opened this Fall. It is named for Charlotte's first African American mayor (Charlotte's second African American mayor was elected this November)

Southend

Just south of downtown, Southend is one of the historic/arts areas of the city, Southend has seen rapid development over the past years.

DuggDugg gallery

Community mosaic unveiling earlier this fall

New stuff

More new stuff. I hope the bury the utilities.

They buried the utilities here

4th Ward

The historic downtown neighborhood known as 4th Ward. Construction of the 50 floor Vue can be seen in the background.

Recently completed Garrison Lofts

Downtown

Construction of the 16 floor Hotel Sierra adjacent to the arena. This is a very small parcel. On site parking will be via car elevator.

The famous Green's lunch, since 1926

The new 440 S. Church building. Ally bank has signed on as the major tenant, and they have just put up their signage.

This building was built around 1953 and has had its facade replaced twice, the latest around 2003.

Perhaps the most boring building downtown

Rail Claimore · #2 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 7:09 AM**

Hawt!

Bedhead · #3 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 8:50 AM**

Awesome indeed! I think the disco chicken should be called the cyclops disco chicken...

plinko · #4 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 7:16 PM**

Those sunset skyline shots are stellar.

Buckeye Native 001 · #5 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 8:35 PM**

All hail disco chicken!

BnaBreaker · #6 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 8:48 PM**

Nice! Looking sparkly Charlotte. I love the new office tower and the African American cultural center. I also love Brevard Court. It's spaces like that that truly make a city, in my opinion.

TXLove · #7 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 10:03 PM**

Man oh man is Charlotte looking good! That is one skyline that just keeps getting better!

JManc · #8 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 10:28 PM**

wow, you're a great photographer! love the sunset shots.

Kingofthehill · #9 Posted **Dec 27, 2009, 10:48 PM**

i can feel the momentum

TonyAnderson · #10 Posted **Dec 28, 2009, 1:57 AM**

It's just unbelievable what that area has done, and that's with a metro of less than 2million. One thing I notice is Charlotte's skyline seems to have a lot of buildings with the same color / tint. Thanks for an incredible end-of-year thread.

pablosan · #11 Posted **Dec 28, 2009, 2:04 AM**

Cool thread.

SouthmoreAve · #12 Posted **Dec 28, 2009, 5:11 PM**

Truly awesome Charlotte thread, would mind living there at all.

dktshb · #13 Posted **Dec 28, 2009, 5:41 PM**

Beautiful! Charlotte probably just had one of its best decades as far as development.

ColDayMan · #14 Posted **Dec 28, 2009, 8:02 PM**

Well done!

dugdogmaster · #15 Posted **Dec 29, 2009, 12:23 AM**

atl2phx · #16 Posted **Dec 29, 2009, 9:22 PM**

nice looking shots!

Matthew · #17 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 2:18 AM**

I love skyline photos with the new construction. These are beautiful photos! I was watching the Panthers-Vikings game and was noticing how tall and impressive Duke Energy Center is. I wish the lights were on for the game (on national TV). The trading floor in the Hearst Tower looks interesting in the photos.

bigcitydude · #18 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 2:40 AM**

man, i like Charlotte's downtown skyline! a lot of similarities to my city!

skyline · #19 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 12:32 PM**

Charlotte sure knows how to get-er-done!
Very well represented city. I'd be proud to live there!

MplsTodd · #20 Posted **Dec 30, 2009, 4:13 PM**

WOW--I'm very impressed with the growth of your downtown! It's nice to see a US city where the growth seems focused upon the downtown area. Do you know what the vacancy rate is for office space? Are the condo units selling well? If this growth keeps up, I could see comparing Charlotte to Calgary.