West Tremont will soon be one of the hottest streets in South End

Today, West Tremont Avenue is a quiet, mostly industrial street.

If you go there around, say, 5 p.m., you won’t find much activity. A few cars passing between Tryon Street and South Boulevard. A few people walking from an office building to their cars.

But in a few short years, this will be one of the more bustling West Tremont is set to transform into a hub of retail, restaurants, townhomes and office space. And the crown jewel: a new Common Market.

It’s easy to see why developers are clamoring over this street: It’s close to the Charlotte Rail Trail, the East/West Boulevard light rail stop, Sycamore Brewing and the Publix supermarket. 

It’s also a major artery that feeds into Camden Road, a burgeoning retail district that’s eminently walkable. West Tremont is also steps away from all the work already in store at the nearby Atherton Mill.

“In five years, we think this will be the central hub of not just South End but perhaps the Charlotte community,” said Graham Worth, a partner in the new Common Market.

“The potential of a walkable neighborhood in Charlotte that captures restaurants, bars, retail, office and apartments is what we think will set this area apart from others down the road.”

Eight significant development projects will transform West Tremont over the next few years.

Here’s a run-down of the projects.

1) The new Common Market location.

If Common Market’s departure signaled the end of the Camden-Tryon-Park intersection’s reign as the heart of South End, Common Market’s arrival on West Tremont will signal its ascendancy.

[Agenda story: Common Market is returning to South End, a half mile from its former location]

This is going on the land that currently has the Carolina Prepress building.

The new Common Market will have 3,000 square feet inside, and 4,000 more outside.

2) Bang Bang Bites

This will have the same address as the Common Market and be a sister concept to Bang Bang Burgers. Look for this to open in February 2018.

3) Zeppelin

This cocktail bar and restaurant will also be part of the Common Market development. Zeppelin will have a patio on Tremont and feature seasonal Southern small plates and craft cocktails.

[Agenda story: A craft cocktail and small plates restaurant named Zeppelin is coming to South End]

4) Southend Court townhomes

This 18-unit community will be on land that is currently the old Carolina Foundry building.

Prices will be between $500,000 and $700,000.

[Agenda story: Luxury townhomes are coming to South End, by the new Common Market]

5) New office building

This 83,000-square-foot office building will be on currently vacant land across from the defunct Tremont Music Hall. Executives of JLL, which is marketing the space, call the area a “high-energy corridor” that is “exploding with activity.”

Design by BB+M Architecture

6) Design Center redevelopment

This retail area recently changed hands and the new owners are going to restore the buildings and bring in new retailers. There’s already a few solid tenants there — like Pike’s Soda Shop — that make this area cool.

Asana Partners, which owns the property, has already announced two new restaurant concepts coming here: Superica and Barcelona Wine Bar.

[Agenda story: South End’s Design Center sold for $42 million. Look for developer to build on urban retail and walkability]

7) Three30Five second phase

This project is on vacant land next to the existing Three30Five apartments. The second phase will have 104 units over four stories, plus 10,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space and 2,000 square feet of office space, according to plans filed with the city.

8) Pollack Shores apartments

This will be a 350-unit community at the current “Tremont Center.” There are also plans for 2,500 square feet of street-level retail.