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]
Site History
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
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]
