Apr. 15, 2008

Parking green across from the arena

Deck to include condos, eatery and year-round green market

DOUG SMITH

Uptown Charlotte's latest Next Big Thing started with a need for parking spaces, but it will be much more -- possibly even a year-round green market.

Spectrum Properties plans to develop Center City Green, a 12-story, 1,400-space deck to include condos, a restaurant and a farmers' market across Fifth Street from Time Warner Cable Arena, formerly Bobcats Arena.

Spectrum is buying the 2 acres on the light-rail line between the arena and ImaginOn from Bank of America, which will lease 1,300 spaces for its employees.

The $60 million complex will be developed with a goal of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, said Spectrum CEO Darryl Dewberry.

The bank bought the land last fall from the city and requested proposals from developers on how they would create the needed parking within an animated, green development.

Spectrum's proposal was accepted. Bank officials said they were pleased with the response, but declined to disclose how many proposals were submitted.

"It was our intent that this site be developed in an environmentally responsible manner, as yet another component of our enterprise-wide commitment to green building practices," said Bank of America corporate workplace executive Mark Nicholls. "We are pleased to help bring such a useful amenity to uptown Charlotte."

Bank of America took the lead a decade ago in creating uptown parking decks that are more than just a depository for cars.

Its 10-story Seventh Street Station, for example, includes a specialty grocer and restaurants in an interactive structure that makes musical sounds and lights up when its multi-colored exterior fins are touched.

Center City Green would have 88 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom condos priced from the $180,000s to the $280,000s and oriented toward Fifth Street for views of the arena and the skyline.

Steve McClure, vice president of Spectrum Properties Residential, said the residences would meet the Urban Land Institute's "workforce" affordability guideline, meaning that police officers, teachers, nurses, etc., could qualify to buy there.

Spectrum wants to attract a restaurant that would feature a health-conscious menu and become an on-site pantry for organic meats and produce sold at an adjoining green market.

A year-round green market has been on the uptown wish list for more than two decades. Bank of America once considered providing sites at Seventh Street Station and the IJL Financial Center at 201 N. Tryon St.

Dewberry said residential development uptown is helping create the population density to support a green market.

Charlotte Center City Partners, which estimates 12,000 people live in the center city today, expects the population to exceed 27,000 by 2012.

The proposed market location would be ideal -- about 1 1/2 blocks from the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets, accessible to drivers, and convenient to public transit, said Center City Partners President Michael Smith.

Over the years, city leaders have visited public markets in Seattle and Philadelphia, and Dewberry said Spectrum's goal is to pattern its market after those well-known facilities.

The market would operate from about 10,000 square feet of indoor space, but would include outdoor space for fresh-food pavilions during the spring and summer months.

Center City Partners, which operates a seasonal green market uptown, is talking with Spectrum about becoming part of Center City Green.

The seasonal market, across Seventh Street from Seventh Street Station, was never intended to be permanent, Smith said.

"We still need to tee up Center City Green with the City of Charlotte and put together a game plan," he said. "I think we have an interesting opportunity."

Smith said a permanent market would fit with Center City Partners' strategy for attracting more retail to serve workers, local visitors and out-of-region visitors.

"In a lot of cities, these markets become suppliers to the restaurants," Smith said. "You see chefs at the market buying fresh food for their restaurants."

Dewberry said the developers will work with Center City Partners and government leaders to create a market featuring local vegetables, cheeses, fish, meats and poultry with an emphasis on organic foods.

Spectrum, which developed the 230 South Tryon condos and is working to create mixed-use projects in Third Ward and Second Ward, expects to break ground by late June on Center City Green.

The project would be finished in the fourth quarter of 2009.

McClure said the "green" in the complex's name stands for both the green market and the green certification the developers hope to achieve.

The structure was designed by LS3P Associates Ltd. with 12 floors of condos next to the deck, glass elevator towers and a helix-shaped parking ramp adding an artistic element to the center.

The farmers' market and restaurant would be on each side of the complex at street level.

"We applaud the vision," Smith said. "We have a developer who has shown great support for Charlotte, offering to do this if the city is interested. We are glad to be a part of it."

THE DETAILS OF CENTER CITY GREEN

• Size: 12-story parking deck to include condos, a restaurant and a green market.

• Location: 2-acre site bounded by Fifth, Sixth and North Brevard streets and the light-rail line.

• The condos: 88 units, 560 to 960 square feet, priced from the $180,000s to the $280,000s. Green features to include eco-friendly finishes such as cork, recycled glass, bamboo, compact fluorescent lighting, and energy-saver appliances.

• The restaurant: Developers are aiming for a health-conscious eatery featuring wholesome dining.

• The green market: Developers are working with Charlotte Center City Partners on a year-round market featuring fresh vegetables, fish, meats and dairy products -- all sold by local vendors.

• Parking: Condos with balconies would be constructed beside a 1,400-space deck. Glass elevator towers and a helix -shaped parking ramp add artistic elements.

• Design: Developers will seek LEED silver certification and include such green features as bicycle storage, showers and changing rooms.

• Development team: Spectrum Properties, developer; LS3P Associates Ltd., architect; BE&K Construction, general contractor; Bank of America, lender.

• Timetable: Groundbreaking by late June; completion by fourth quarter of 2009.

• Information:www.centercitygreen.com.

DOUBLE-DUTY DECKS

Developers are trying to improve the uptown streetscape by hiding or disguising parking decks. Here are some examples:

• Seventh Street Station, on the light-rail line between Sixth and Seventh streets, houses a specialty grocer and restaurants. It features fins and reflective panels that play musical tones.

This garage and several of its contemporaries helped changed the public's perception of uptown as a giant office park and made it more attractive for the residential resurgence under way in the center city today.

• Wachovia created The Green, a lively, 1.5-acre park atop an 860-space parking garage on South Tryon Street between The Ratcliffe condominiums and St. Peter Catholic Church.

• Bank of America's Gateway Village on West Trade Street conceals a 2,800-space parking garage behind condos, apartments, shops and restaurants.

• At other uptown projects constructed since the city adopted screening rules in the 1990s, parking garages such as the one at the 46-story Hearst Tower on North Tryon Street are shielded by building facades on the lower levels.

• Wachovia's First Street Campus under construction at Tryon and Stonewall streets conceals about 2,200 parking spaces beneath a 48-story office tower.