Developers
Seek To Bridge 2 Successes
Between Noda And Plaza-Midwood Lies Some Prime Territory
Doug Smith, The Charlotte Observer
The heart of the North Davidson Arts District is at Davidson and 36th streets, within a mile of the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood in east Charlotte.
But much its social interaction and development momentum seems to emanate from the center city business district, about three miles to the south.
Now two urban designers, Babak Emadi and Jonathan Bahr, wonder whether that can be altered for the benefit of two of the city's oldest neighborhoods.
Looking east instead of south, they say developers have the potential to create a new path for residential development between NoDa and Plaza-Midwood.
Both neighborhoods are revitalization success stories.
Emadi and Bahr have been involved in several redevelopments and restorations in NoDa, where they also dine, work and spend leisure time.
The loft office of their firm -- Urbana Urban Design & Architecture -- faces Davidson Street across from Fat City Deli in the heart of the district.
They shared their thoughts on their newest undertaking -- townhomes on the edge of Plaza-Midwood -- over salads and "hog leg" sandwiches at Fat City's outdoor dining patio.
Emadi said the project might show that growth can be directed to an alternate corridor, away from the Davidson Street spine that has generated so much development and traffic in the neighborhood of funky shops, trendy restaurants and preserved mill houses.
"The way it is now, NoDa's umbilical cord really is uptown," he said.
By turning the focus away from the core, he said, developers could help generate more housing and a closer relationship between Plaza-Midwood and NoDa.
The project he and Bahr designed will be on Mason Circle off The Plaza, about a mile from the firm's NoDa office.
It will include six, three-bedroom townhomes, each about 1,400 square feet and selling from $154,900 to $157,900.
The developers tried to price units in line with the immediate neighborhood, where Emadi said the average home sale price is about $145,000.
The crescent-shaped street that runs past the three-fourths acre site inspired the design and the name: Plaza Crescent Townhomes.
The units, which will have the appearance of single-family houses, will be built along a gentle curve in the street with front porches, back patios and single-car garages.
Behind the townhomes, residents will share a common green.
Plaza Crescent LLC is developing the project, valued at nearly $1 million. Kelly McArdle Construction will build it, and Charlotte Realty Group is handling sales. First Charter Bank is providing financing.
Emadi said construction will start when at least three units are sold. If that occurs this summer as expected, the first townhomes could be finished by year end.
In about three weeks, the developers plan to demolish a small vacant house on the site, which is behind a day-care center.
The nonprofit Plaza Central Development Group and the city have spearheaded efforts to rejuvenate the main corridors in Plaza-Midwood, giving new life to the business hub around Central and The Plaza.
Leaders of the Plaza-Midwood Neighborhood Association have supported new residential projects that fill gaps in the neighborhood and eliminate eyesores.
In North Charlotte, NoDa's renaissance began about 15 years ago when artists and musicians began restoring houses in what once was a mill village.
The momentum carried over to the arts district, which has seen an influx of galleries, shops and restaurants.
Both neighborhoods trace their roots to the early 1900s.
Emadi believes NoDa and Plaza-Midwood have a common interest in preserving their heritage and embracing residential infill development.
How much effect will Plaza Crescent have on development?
"I don't know if I can predict," Emadi said. "I do know there are other opportunities -- other sites that could be developed -- between NoDa and Plaza-Midwood."
If Plaza Crescent does generate momentum along that alternate corridor, you can bet other developers will pounce.
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