Queensbridge Collective

Queensbridge Collective, formerly known as 1111 South Tryon, is a two-building development under construction in South End neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broke ground in May 2023.[1][3][4]

Queensbridge Collective
The site under construction in November 2024.
LocationSouth End, Charlotte, NC
StatusUnder Construction
GroundbreakingMay 2023[1]
Estimated completion2025
Websitequeensbridgecollective.com
Companies
DeveloperRiverside Investment & Development Co., Woodfield Development[2]
Technical details
Cost$750 million
BuildingsQueensbridge Collective Office Tower, Queensbridge Collective Residential Tower
Size2.75 acres (1.11 ha)

Site History

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The Uptown Cabaret's building, which formerly occupied the site, was built in 1929 according to a fire insurance map from that time. Then in 1934 it became an antique store until 1954 when the store moved another location.[5][6] In 1956 business owner E.B. Stone renovated the building and moved his company into the second floor. At its peak occupancy 100 people employed by E.B. Stone Finance Co. worked out of the building. In 1984 E.B. Stone Finance Co. dissolved. From 1956 to 1984 a variety of businesses also occupied the building.[6] Then in 1995 Daniel Seeman and his business partner, Brian Dominick, opened a strip club in the building.[5]

Brian Dominick was the previous owner of the site prior to Riverside.[7] His ownership began in 1995 when he purchased the building of the Uptown Cabaret located at 112 East Morehead to convert it to a strip club. Previously the building was a two-story office building. The club was originally called The Dollhouse.[8][9][10]

The 1.1-acre lot of the Ascot Inn, which was built in 1963, was purchased by Dominick for $3.14 million in August 2004, it was previously owned by Boone-based Oscar Investors Management.[11][12] In December 2004 Brian Dominick and Tom Wicker paid $613,000 for an 11,000 square feet (1,000 m2) parcel that was a former car lot, which gave them control of the entire block.[13] In July 2007 it was announced that the Uptown Cabaret was under consideration as a possible location for a condo development built by Raleigh based developer Lichtin.[14] Dominick confirmed this inquiry. However, he did not express that the development was a serious possibility.[15] In August 2011 Brian Dominick and his investment group demolished the Ascot Inn, located on South Tryon near the Midnight Diner. At that time Dominick vaguely alluded to plans for a future development.[12]

The Midnight Diner was originally located in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. In April 2010 Brian Dominick purchased it. He brought in an independent contractor to run the diner and lease the land. Upon opening it featured 24 hours a day service and a chicken dinner only second to Price's Chicken Coop,[16] which operated on Camden Rd in South End for 60 years. However, it closed in June 2021 to make way for a 30-story residential tower.[17][18]

Development History

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Chicago developer Riverside Investment & Development Co. in December 2021 paid $35 million for the 2.75 acres (1.11 hectares) site consisting of seven parcels that was occupied by Midnight Diner and Uptown Cabaret at West Morehead and South Tryon streets,[19] around the same time it was announced the diner would relocate. During the planning stages there was no word of the Uptown Cabaret opening in another location.[7] The original plans called for three towers for a project cost of $750 million. It is designed to link the growing South End neighborhood with Uptown Charlotte, which is why the name Queensbridge Collective was chosen.[20][21] The name change was revealed in March 2022. Three buildings included a 42-story office tower with 750,000 square feet (70,000 m2) of space, a 38-story apartment tower with 350 units, and a 30-story apartment tower with 300 units.[20]

In August 2022, the Midnight Diner announced it would close on September 5, 2022, to have the building moved to 420 E Trade Street. The Trade St site was a surface parking lot prior to the relocation of the Midnight Diner. It was announced that it would take 10 to 14 days to prepare the diner for transport and 45 to 60 days for construction at the new site.[22] At 1:30 AM on November 2, 2022 the Midnight Diner was towed by a large truck from 115 E. Carson St. to 420 E. Trade. The mile journey took 90 minutes. The entrance to the diner will be moved by a crane within a week, after the building is secure on its new foundation.[23][24]

In September 2022, Riverside announced that the development has been changed to consist of 2 buildings instead of 3. The 42-story office building remained unchanged however the 2-apartment towers were merged into 1 larger building.[25] The residential tower will be 45 stories and contain 400 units. After announcing the 3 buildings in March 2022 a geological survey revealed the site water table was higher than originally thought. Therefore, eliminating 1 of the 2 residential towers allowed an above ground parking structure to be created. The parking structure will be on stories 2 through 9 and consist of 2,000 spots.[4]

Part of the new development will be road improvements. Riverside worked with Charlotte's transportation and planning departments to determine the best improvements. Morehead Square Drive, South Tryon, East Morehead St, and East Carson will be widened. Also, new bike lanes and pedestrian crossings, along with a connection to the Carson Boulevard light rail stop, will be added.[26] Also, the College Street Connector will be destroyed, it's possible a new connector will be created.[27]

On May 16, 2023 it was announced that Riverside Investment & Development Co. had scheduled May 24, 2023 as the development ground breaking ceremony. The residential tower began site work after the ground breaking ceremony. The Uptown Cabaret, which occupied the site of the office tower, closed on July 1, 2023 and the building was torn down shortly thereafter.[28][29] Ultimately, commercial real estate markets conditions will govern when the office tower begins construction.[1][28] Woodfield Development is partnering with Riverside Development, Chad Hagler, development partner at Woodfield said vertical construction on the tower will start before the end of 2023.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Franco, Elise (25 May 2023). "Riverside's Queensbridge Collective to be 'another jewel' in Charlotte's crown (PHOTOS)". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Franco, Elise (17 November 2023). "Woodfield Development delivers apartments at Farmington project near Harrisburg". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  3. ^ Peralta Soloff, Katie (21 December 2022). "The most anticipated Charlotte developments set to break ground in 2023". Axios Charlotte. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b Franco, Elise (13 September 2022). "Riverside reveals changes to Queensbridge Collective project near uptown Charlotte, South End (RENDERINGS)". Charlotte Business Journal. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b Markovich, Jeremy (4 August 2023). "Charlotte's tearing down a 91-year-old building with, uh, quite a history". North Carolina Rabbit Hole. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b Banks, Lindsey (7 August 2023). "Is the Uptown Cabaret building historic after all? Article says it's more than 90 years old". Charlotte Ledger. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b O'Connell, Liz (23 December 2021). "Chicago developer acquires Midnight Diner, Uptown Cabaret site for massive project". Charlotte Business Journal. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  8. ^ Jeffery Ball, "Adult-business rules may change", The Charlotte Observer, August 17, 1995.
  9. ^ David Perlmutt, "Permit issued for Dollhouse", The Charlotte Observer, April 12, 1995.
  10. ^ Jeffery Ball, "'Upscale' adult club proposed uptown", The Charlotte Observer, April 6, 1995.
  11. ^ Gibson, Ashley M. (23 August 2004). "Songbird soars to Piper Glen; Cabaret buys Ascot Inn". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  12. ^ a b Spanberg, Erik (10 August 2011). "Ascot Inn to meet wrecking ball". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  13. ^ Gibson, Ashley M. (6 December 2004). "Bissell to be honored as CBJ business person of 2004". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  14. ^ London, Ashley M. (16 July 2007). "Condos could be bare minimum for cabaret site". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  15. ^ London, Ashley M. (23 July 2007). "They could always refer to the project". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  16. ^ "VIP audience for Music with Friends show in Charlotte". Charlotte Business Journal. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  17. ^ Thomas, Jennifer (17 June 2021). "Iconic Price's Chicken Coop set to close in South End after nearly 60 years". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  18. ^ Huguley, Collin (16 November 2021). "Catalyst Capital Partners, Stiles to develop mixed-use tower at former Price's Chicken Coop site in South End". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  19. ^ Hayes, Shannon (5 November 2021). "Popular 'Midnight Diner' set to relocate as new development makes its way to uptown, South End". WBTV. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  20. ^ a b Huguley, Collin (10 March 2022). "RENDERINGS: Developer reveals new details about massive project on edge of uptown and South End". Charlotte Business Journal. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  21. ^ Murray, Barbra (10 February 2022). "Riverside Investment's $750M Live-Work-Play Plan for Charlotte". Commercial Property Executive. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  22. ^ Muccigrosso, Catherine (30 August 2022). "RENDERINGS: Charlotte's Midnight Diner sets closing date with plans to reopen, add 2nd location". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Popular 'Midnight Diner' set to relocate as new development makes its way to uptown, South End". WSOC-TV. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  24. ^ Muccigrosso, Catherine (3 November 2022). "Popular Midnight Diner railroad car restaurant moved to uptown in middle of the night". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Riverside shifts plans for massive Queensbridge Collection development near uptown". Yahoo News. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  26. ^ Rago, Gordon (10 March 2022). "We now know the name of the $750M South End project and how tall the 3 towers will be". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  27. ^ Rago, Gordon (8 February 2022). "What's next for plan displacing Midnight Diner? See renderings of $750M South End project". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  28. ^ a b Franco, Elise (16 May 2023). "Construction set to start on first phase of Riverside's $700 million mixed-use development (RENDERINGS)". Charlotte Business Journal. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  29. ^ Soloff, Katie Peralta (25 June 2023). "Axios Charlotte Newsletter June 25, 2023". Axios Charlotte. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
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