FIRST LOOK: Here’s what’s coming to the Pepsi site on the light rail line — New Bern Station

It’s an old Pepsi bottling plant that’s been here since 1938.

Soon, however, the past will make way for the future as more apartments are making their way to South End. This project is different than most in South End, however — thoughtfully designed, well intentioned with its history and featuring tons of retail. That makes this project a vastly superior product to most of the underwhelming projects we are used to seeing in South End.

Note: The renderings below are not final and may change as the project progresses.

There’s going to be a ton of retail space

Being developed by LMC, A Lennar Company (who also did Midtown 205 near Target and the Metropolitan) the giant site will consist of 432 units, a near 800 space parking deck and over 26,000 square feet of retail. No, that is not a typo. LMC has graced us with 26 THOUSAND square feet of retail. This is a tremendous amount for an apartment project and I applaud them for recognizing the value in having that much.

There will be a focus on the Rail Trail

Designed by Axiom Architecture (the folks behind my favorite complex, Camden Gallery), the design is quite impressive. While it’s not perfect, nothing ever will be, it is certainly a cut above the rest in the city.

There is particular attention paid to the light rail and Rail Trail side. LMC is considering the Rail Trail the “front door” to the property and they couldn’t be more right. South Boulevard might as well be a highway and the focus should always be on the human scale which will clearly be much more concentrated on the Rail Trail.

The design is solid

The design is similar to Camden Gallery in the sense it has wood accents, architectural pop outs and fantastic massing (perception of shape and size) in that it’s taller on the “car” side (South) and steps down and becomes smaller on the pedestrian side (New Bern and Rail Trail).

Here’s what they’re thinking with retail

For the retail, there will be five slots total with two on South Boulevard, two on New Bern and one at the corner of New Bern and the Rail Trail. These retail spaces will have features like garage doors and patios that will really welcome the pedestrian.

They hope to get an “Earl’s Grocery type” tenant for the Rail Trail slot and I agree this would be perfect. I also think a bar would be a great fit, but I also don’t think all 26,000 square feet should be dedicated to restaurants and bars (the developer doesn’t either).

I really like their focus on the Rail Trail and it shows the developer is recognizing the demands and needs of the area and addressing them. There will be a large plaza space at the corner of New Bern as well as a “cut out” farther down on the property that is being left as a blank slate of sorts for organic projects along the Rail Trail.

They are also adding a public walkway connecting the Rail Trail to South Boulevard which will be accompanied by a pedestrian crossing across South Boulevard from this project to the Harris Teeter across the street.

It is important to note that all the ground floor units along the Rail Trail and this new walkway will have stoops and feel very urban. This will greatly help eliminate the “blank wall” and value engineered vibe so many complexes have around town (I won’t name names because I am feeling nice today). Last bit on the Rail Trail enhancements, they will have a public bike fix station with bike pump (love this).

I know there will be some criticism of the garage being left open and visible (albeit covered with specific aluminum screening, think CLT parking decks). I was a critic of it as well and am not completely sold on it, but I understand where the thinking is. The thinking is that if the South was completely lined with apartments and the deck was covered you’d get a blank wall effect that so many complexes in South End are guilty of. By exposing the deck, they break up the buildings and allow some potential for creativity on the garage. I’d really like to see them light it up red, white and blue for Pepsi or something. The garage is also set back and up pretty high that I don’t think it will be intrusive to pedestrians.

Obviously the complex will have all the standards: fitness center, pool area, bike repair station, etc etc. What I am most impressed with is their attention to the non-public areas.

Overall I think this is a project that hits all the right notes when it comes to what Charlotte needs more of if we are going to keep building apartments.

Tons of retail, great design, human scale focus and not disregarding the history it is replacing. There is a reason red whites and blues are the color focuses, this is a nod to Pepsi. They are also adding a historical plaque to the New Bern & Rail Trail corner as well as other homages throughout the property.

Look for this to be complete in mid-2018, so while it’s a ways off, it will hopefully set a new standard for apartment design in the city.