issue!

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BUILD
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NoDa Mills
Steel Gardens
Yards at NoDa
The Mercury
For the Birds!
page 2
A Hardhat Tour through Renovations of Mecklenburg Mill
by Shannon Lynch with photography by Lenny Annaloro
Each time I walk by the Mills during the day, I hear the buzz of power tools and see the
construction workers headed to and fro in their brightly colored safety vests and hard hats.
Curiosity gets the better of me and I can’t help but wonder what the inside is looking like at
this point in the renovation.
In August, I finally had the opportunity to see for myself. I originally met at Smelly Cat with
Jen Duncan, Director of Marketing for The Community Builders (TCB), when they were
taking rental applications in person at Neighborhood Theatre. A few weeks later, I sat down
with Andrew Connell, Construction Manager, and Ron Wong, Senior Project Director, to
get an update of how things are coming along. They offered to take me on a physical tour.
There are 48 units in Mecklenburg Mills (Phase 1) with currently 150 applications to process. As NoDa requested, TCB made an outreach to target artist applicants specifically. So far,
applications have come from teachers, artists, nannies, and airline employees, to name a few.
All the apartments are around the perimeter of the mill, so they all have those great 11’ high
x 8’ wide windows. The apartments themselves will have an industrial/modern feel with
exposed brick walls. Completion of Phase 1 is targeted for mid-late October with move-in
starting in late October.
Phase 2 will be the Johnston Mills’ renovation. 70-80 units with commercial/office/retail
space is planned, though nothing is definite at this time while TCB continues to research how
best to utilize the space.
TCB told me that they want to tap into the NoDa vibe by providing unique amenities for their
residents. In Mecklenburg Mill, there’s a club room with kitchen and lounge, an art gallery
(property management intends to put together artist shows), a fitness room, and a twostory activity room. Many of these areas feature skylights. The South Wing (facing North
Davidson) includes a sunroom/library/reading room with a large desk made of reclaimed
wood. There will also be tenant bike storage, a laundry room, and an elevator. Outdoor
features include a tot lot/playground, gazebo/pavilion area, pet stations, bike racks, and
grills.
And the parking, you ask? It will be permitted for the residents’ use with guest passes/tags.
Additional parking is planned along North Davidson Street.
As part of their M.O., TCB seeks to preserve the historic character of the buildings they
develop. The ceiling in the art gallery room showcases the Mills’ original metal camber rods
restored to a new 11x13x43’ beam (see photo opposite). The old boiler was saved and is
on display in the club room. The old smokestack remains, and the MECKLENBURG MILL
painted sign on the side of the building also stays.
page 3
Unfortunately, the old mill home that used to be the paymaster’s house when the Mills
were still operable, was demolished. The house had been vacant for years and was unsalvageable. Deidre Hill, a former resident of the mill house whose father was the paymaster, spoke with TCB about the history of the Mills and the house. She supplied them with
vintage pictures of the Mills dating from the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. TCB is considering
displaying the photos through the Mill. Two mantels were saved from the old house and
will be repurposed in the new community room and art gallery.
The Mill itself needed a lot of salvaging. TCB had to replace most of the roof which had been
damaged during the years of condemnation. Several sections of the building needed to be
rebuilt due to the deteriorating brick work and rotted wood. The North Tower is brand new
construction; the old one was taken down, then the original bricks cleaned and reused.
In the West Wing, the roof decking and beams are original. When on the main floor, look
up and you’ll see the original mill floor used in the common areas on the second story. Basically, it’s the ceiling now for the first floor. They took all the decking out, did the beam work,
and then put it all back. They have preserved the old metal fire doors as well.
On-site discoveries during the construction process include some old gears, and they have
put together a vintage glass bottle collection of finds from various spots: milk bottles,
Dr. Pepper soda bottles, etc., some that date back to the 1930’s. These may be put in an
enclosed display case in the building.
In the spirit of repurposing, TCB gifted beams and decking to Free Range Brewing who
approached them and asked about salvageable materials.
page 4
Big Lizard in My Backyard Meets Birdhouse in Your Soul...
Happiness Ensues
I recently astounded my friends by sharing the news
that the National Wildlife Federation has officially
recognized our backyard as a certified wildlife habitat. But the joke is on them. It turns out that pretty
much anyone can qualify for an official certified wildlife habitat, and that’s great for our neighborhood and
the natural world around us.
Food
Butterfly bushes, like the one in the photo, also attract
bees, which are essential for pollination. Hummingbirds
love them, too.
Plant native flowering plants. They are easier to maintain,
establish more quickly, require less water, and wildlife
species depend on them as they have co-evolved over
the years. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has
lists of recommended native plants by region and state
(www.wildflower.org/collections).
Cover
Article and Photography by Matt Lemere
Being a wildlife habitat means more
than protecting birds – you should
also consider the protection of other
animals such as frogs and lizards.
North Carolina lizards are not poisonous and hunt flies, spiders, and other
insects. They usually appear in spring
and summer and should be left undisturbed, according to the NC Cooperative Extension.
It is extremely important for as many people as possible to become certified for the protection of all our
wildlife. One backyard in the midst of urban sprawl
is an oasis. A couple of certified backyards spread far
and wide will offer little protection and cannot be
easily accessed by a diverse population of animals
that must travel for food. A string of certified homes,
however, creates a superhighway filled with a plethora of resorts for critters to hang out, gather food, and
simply live.
Black-, blue- and raspberries do very well in the southeast, and birds love them. If you’re lucky, they’ll save some
for you.
Place bird feeders in locations that do not provide hiding
places for cats and other predators. Place feeders ten to
twelve feet from low shrubs or brush piles.
Dead trees are home to lots of different animals, including some
that use tree cavities and branches for nesting and perching.
Here are a few tips I have learned from the experience.
I hope it encourages you to consider becoming a certified wildlife habitat, too:
A surprising number of shrubs provide twigs, seeds, and
berries for wildlife. Watch where birds tend to cluster and
chances are it is a food source. Abundant examples in
NoDa include crepe myrtle and mulberry trees.
You can construct a birdhouse specifically for the types of birds
you would like to attract to your habitat.
Clean your feeders regularly with hot water, and let them
air dry completely. Also keep areas under and around the
feeders clean.
Black oil sunflower seed is a favorite of just about every
seed-eating species.
Water
The easiest water source to install in your garden is a birdbath. Be sure to change the water 2-3 times per week during warm weather when mosquitoes are breeding, so that
any eggs laid in the water don’t have time to hatch.
Don’t stop providing water in the winter. Ponds provide
cover for aquatic wildlife, such as fish and amphibians. A
“toad abode” can be constructed to provide shelter for
amphibians on land.
Wildlife need places to hide to feel safe
from people, predators, and inclement
weather. Shrubs, thickets, and brush
piles provide great hiding places within their bushy leaves and thorns.
Raising the Youngins
Provide a place for butterflies to rest. Butterflies need sun for orientation and to warm their wings for flight. Place flat stones in your
garden to provide space for butterflies to rest and bask in the sun.
Wildlife need places to reproduce, bear and raise their young, and
see their young survive to adulthood, all safe from predators, bad
weather, and human intervention.
Many habitat features that serve as cover can double as locations
where wildlife can raise their young: from wildflower patches
where butterflies and moths lay their eggs and small mammals
burrow into the undergrowth, to constructed birdhouses or ponds
for amphibians and fish.
Certification
Several streams run through NoDa, and you may have one
in your backyard. Make sure it is cleared and easily accessible for wildlife.
For details on registering your own Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit www.nwf.org.
Application cost is $20. Signs start at $30. You will receive subscription to an e-newsletter,
a full year’s membership in the National Wildlife Federation including subscription to
National Wildlife® magazine and 10% off NWF catalog merchandise.
Visit the website to find out how to build a bat house, make a bee house, determine the
best trees to plant, attract dragonflies and butterflies, and incorporate Mother Nature’s
foibles into your natural shelters and gardens.
worldly art!
handcrafted items from over 40 countries
3202A N. DAVIDSON ST
puravidaart.com
/PuraVidaArt
page 5
Color Consultants Help Create
Vibrancy at the Yards at NoDa
by E. Plante
NoDa will continue to add housing and residents for a long time. The neighborhood will
grow up (and out), getting busier and adding more opportunities. An astute commentary
would be to ask ourselves how NoDa feels. For all the square footage measurements, upgrades, and ceiling heights on the interiors that most of us will never even see, we should
be pushing for quality of the exterior finishes, colors, sidewalks, and landscaping of
these new developments. Enter James Martin of the Denver, CO-based The Color People.
The Color People were hired as consultants for the Yards at NoDa condo development
currently under construction behind the YMCA. The property was once a barren former rail
yard, cut off from our downtown by two separate train crossings. When GVEST Partners of
Atlanta began to develop the property into new residential housing, they had a choice: to
offer minimum urban appeal and simply provide dwelling units (think of the many faceless
condos you might find in University areas) or to build a complement to the vibrant style of
NoDa. Lucky for us, James Martin and The Color People made it their priority to give us all
something to be proud of.
“We were going for unexpected colors,” Martin told us in an interview. Aiming for colors you
might find in an industrial warehouse such as blue-gray, terra cotta, and green accents,
Martin admits, “There is no way you can fool yourself into thinking the buildings have been
there for a long time, but we wanted it to fit into that genre.” He adds, “I was taken with the
mills in NoDa. There’s no question those buildings have been there for a long time...” So the
challenge was to make the new condo project fit in with the feeling of historical buildings
without seeming over-the-top or kitschy.
The Color People consult on large- and small-scale projects, ranging from iconic single
family houses, to high-rise buildings, to commercial and retail projects that need to fit
national brands into sensitive historic communities. Consider Norman Rockwell’s paintings of a perfect town, and how much work it would take to maintain a proud aesthetic
across the board in modern times. With so many hands building and creating new developments, adding their own style and flare, it would be reasonable to think that there could be
an eyesore in every Norman Rockwell painting today.
The Yards at NoDa offers a long list of amenities, floor plans, and styles that range from
private yards and balconies, a fitness and salt water pool, and a dog park for residents. The
light rail facing walls will be a face of NoDa to commuters, and the GVEST partners have
consulted on a graffiti/art wall. Original plans call for further accent flare in the project
such as artistic neon signage.
We look forward to getting a new feeling for Yards at NoDa as it becomes a part of our
community.
page 6
Election 2014:
Jump On Board!
Steel Gardens: Phase Two
by Lauren Schalburg
Steel Gardens faces North Charlotte Park, bounded by Spencer St., Herrin Ave., and the
railroad tracks. The community within our community features condos, townhomes, and
single-family homes.
Maybe you live here. Maybe you’ve been a guest in one of these gorgeous urban homes.
Maybe you’ve envied their easy present-day conveniences like tall ceilings, high-end kitchen finishes, and efficient storage spaces that are not found in unrenovated mill homes like
my own.
Somehow, the lofty modern architecture and the surrounding historic mill village seem
to complement each other. Bonterra Builders, the developer, partnered with Babak Emadi of Urbana Architecture, a well-known architect familiar to NoDa, who specializes in
creating urban homes with distinctive architectural detail. “It was important to us not to
have a ‘cookie cutter’ townhome community that you see everywhere,” remarks Whitney
Hicks, Bonterra Builders’ sales agent for the community.
The Steel Gardens we know is actually the first phase of a larger project. Development
began in 2007 and units have been constructed and held from construction since then,
following the rhythm of the dynamic Charlotte real estate market. Today, Phase One has
just one condo pad left to develop. Now, Phase Two is about to begin on the neighboring
tract of land between Spencer Street and the railroad, bordered by Academy and Anderson Streets. There will be two entrances to the new phase, one off Academy and one off
Spencer.
Phase Two will visually fit with the existing Steel Gardens but will have its own flavor. “The
biggest difference in the new phase will be the topography. The land will have lots of
changes in elevations and will give the new neighborhood unique and interesting curb
appeal,” Hicks says. She adds that outdoor living has been a focus point for the new phase.
Another difference: while Phase One currently has about 150 units, ranging from 1-bedroom lofts to 2500 square-foot stand-alone houses, Phase Two will be a smaller neighborhood with 54 townhomes.
The townhomes will feature three different floor plans: the Town D which is a three bedroom, two-and-a-half bath with a rooftop terrace; the Davidson which is a two bedrooms,
two-and-a-half bath with a deck off the kitchen and a spacious two-car garage; and the
recently designed Gallery which has a three (optional four) bedroom plan, including a
guest room and attached bath on the ground level, a two-car garage, and a deck off the
living room. Prices will range from the mid $200s to the low $400s, and all units are Energy
Star Certified.
So when can we expect the construction to begin? Bonterra Builders estimates that the
land work will be completed this winter, and construction of the homes will begin immediately after that. As long as sales are promising, the plan is to completely
build out Phase Two all at once.
Whitney Hicks explains, “Weather is always a factor that plays into construction but we plan to have homes ready to move in within the next
6-10 months.” No need to wait, though. If you’re interested in one of
these units, give her a call at 980-207-4530. The benefit of contacting the
builder early is that you will get introductory pricing and can choose your
own details: granite, backsplash, tile, cabinets, hardwoods, carpet, lighting, and so on.
Bonterra Builders is a locally owned and operated company based out
of Matthews, NC, with about 75 employees. They offer a diverse range
of housing options ranging from urban living townhomes, to craftsmanstyle single-family homes, to high-end estate homes. Some of their other
developments are Barber Rock in Indian Land, SC, which won community of the year in 2011, and their new three-level estate series in Mia
Manor in South Park.
Bonterra Builders has always actively supported the surrounding NoDa
neighborhood, including sponsoring quite a few Neighborhood and
Business Association fundraising events over the years. “We pride ourselves on the quality of construction in all of our homes and the fact that
we always try to do the right thing,” Hicks concludes.
Find out more by visiting their website: www.steelgardens.com
Nominations for the NoDa Neighborhood & Business Association Board of
Directors are now being considered for
the election which will be held during the
October Association meeting (October 7,
6:30 pm, at Evening Muse).
Nominate yourself or someone else. Anyone may submit a nomination, but remember that candidates must be voting members of the Association. Voting members are
paid-up on their dues and have attended 3 meetings within the past 12 months. (Yes,
September and October meetings count as two of those!)
What is required of a Board member? In addition to attending the monthly Association meetings on the first Tuesday of every month, the Board also meets on the last
Tuesday of every month. Each Board member takes responsibility for one committee
to enhance communication between the committee and the Board. Board members
have final votes on policy changes, rezonings, and other neighborhood activities. Each
year, the Board appoints its executive officers (president, vice president, secretary, and
treasurer), and every Board member is eligible for any of these positions.
The Board has 11 members serving out staggered 3-year terms. Four positions are
open this year. Liza Hart will not be running for another term, but Jason Idilbi, Chad
Maupin, and Lauren Schalburg are up for re-election.
The 2014 Election Committee consists of three Board members: Liza Hart, Joe Kuhlmann, and Kevin Sutton. Please ask them about the position, the process, or to nominate yourself or another candidate. You may also address inquiries to news@noda.org
or during the September Association Meeting (September 2, 6:30 pm, at Evening
Muse).
personal ads
Friendly neighborhood committee seeking passionate individuals who like Piña Coladas, long walks on the beach, and clever conversations about keeping art in NoDa.
NoDaRioty has been out of the dating game for a while but is looking to jump back
into the pool with both feet.
Not an artist? No worries! You’ve got what we are looking for. We are desperate and
our clock is ticking, so we are willing to hook up with pretty much anyone. Our committee is not just for artists: it’s for anyone who cares about keeping our neighborhood edgy and cool. You won’t even have to draw!
So meet us for a drink and a few laughs as we brainstorm about how to get ourselves
back out on the big dating scene. We’ll be at Solstice Tavern on Wednesday, September 10, starting at 6:30 pm. Please help us help you (and the neighborhood).
We’ve Lowered Our Rates!
Advertising helps us pay for the NoDa News month
after month. So support the neighborhood while
promoting your business or special event.
We have very affordable advertising rates, starting at
only $25 a month. With a circulation of 3,000 and a
strong web presence, that’s a great deal!
Send an e-mail to news@noda.org for more info.
Managing Editor:
Lauren Schalburg
Content Editor:
Carol Oliveira
Art Director:
Evan Plante, Docklands Design
Direct all advertising inquiries,
submissions & comments to:
News@noda.org
816 East 37th Street
Charlotte, NC 28205
Any submission will be considered for publication
if received by the 15th of the month for the following month’s issue. Content approval is based
on newsworthiness, available space, and the
discretion of the editors.
NoDa News is a publication of the Historic North
Charlotte Neighborhood Association, Inc. a
501(c)3 charity d/b/a NoDa Neighborhood and
Business Association in Mecklenburg County, NC.
page 7
The First Ever Carolina
Arts & Theatre Awards
Citizens of the Universe (COTU), a collection of artists who have brought several innovative theatre productions to Charlotte, have partnered with UpStage and Shakespeare
Carolina to present the inaugural Carolina Arts & Theatre Awards on September 7, 8
pm, at UpStage (3306 N. Davidson, 2nd floor).
The CA&T Awards are a celebration of the diverse cross-section of Charlotte’s arts and
entertainment community—an event that aims to introduce and mingle local artists from
across genres during one fun-filled night.
Nominations for awards closed September 1, and we expect a wide variety of artists will
be recognized. Organizers opened nominations on the facebook event page saying, “Have
you worked at the Carolina Renaissance Festival? Performed on stage? Created art locally? Play in a band? Are a band? A promoter? Venue? Poetry? Comedy? Work in or on film?
Dancer? Comic book maker? If you create, let’s nominate!”
The show will be hosted by Big Mamma D with music by Jill O’Neill and David Hensely
on media. In addition to the presentation of awards, scheduled stage performances include
comedian William Jacobs, musician The Funky Geezer, the poet Navee, Jenny Wright
(performing a selection from her one-woman show), Hannibal the Magician, and aerial
and contemporary dance by Caroline Calouche & Co.
Attendance for the award show is free, but guaranteed seat reservations are available with purchase of a $5 advanced tickets (see www.upstagenoda.com). Specialty drinks and dinner options (with reservation) will also be available.
Association Member of the Month:
Amy Farris Ray
The August NoDa NBA Member of the Month is a familiar face, Amy Farris Ray. Amy has
been recognized in the past for her tireless work with Greenification, and bless her heart
if she doesn’t keep right on doing great things for that committee and for the neighborhood. The thing you will most likely notice about Amy’s work is that she spends a lot of
energy concentrating on other people’s trash. As leader of the Greenification Team, Amy
coordinates bi-monthly neighborhood and semi-annual Little Sugar Creek cleanups
to help rid the area of unsightly, destructive litter. She also helps protect our large historic
trees from pesky, destructive canker worms by organizing a yearly tree banding. Speaking of trees, she just finished work securing NoDa a spot as an official tree store for the
City’s new NeighborWoods Program. Look for more details about the NoDa tree store on
http://NoDa.Nextdoor.com and in upcoming editions of the NoDa News.
If you would like to see someone recognized for their contributions to the neighborhood, please
email your nominations to news@noda.org. Remember, the AMOM must be a dues-paying
member of NoDa NBA.
SEPTMEBER
Pinback & Tera Melos
Concert Spotlight
by E. Plante
featured events
Wednesday September 10
@ The Chop Shop, NoDa
Doors at 7:00 | Show at 8:00
$15 ADV & $18 DOS
Indie Rock is such a broad term these days. With it, bands claim credibility, all the while
peddling the same boring Top-40 radio formulas. In the past, Indie Rock was a term that
spoke to a genre as well as an ethic. Simply, a band who chose (or sometimes was forced)
to remain independent was doing so in order to remain free of the trappings of the music
industry. Indie Rock was free to explore alternative song structures, instruments, and styles
without fear of record label executives saying they “don’t get it, where’s the single?” Now,
it seems every Indie Rock band has a single, and they’re all vying to be in the next BMW
commercial.
So when I think of the original criteria of an Indie Rock band, my favorite and first to mind
is San Diego’s Pinback. The duo consists of guitarist/singer Rob Crow and bassist/singer
Zach Smith, accompanied by various band mates on stage. Pinback, on tour to celebrate
the 10th anniversary of their seminal record, Summer in Abaddon, will play the Chop
Shop on Wednesday, September 10.
Pinback’s indie credibility starts with Zach Smith’s previous band, Three Mile Pilot. Often overlooked in favor of his work with Pinback, Three Mile Pilot’s early releases allowed
Smith to develop a signature style of percussive bass playing that would come to define
him as one of the most unique and exciting musicians around. The last original release of
Three Mile Pilot, the epic and beautiful Another Desert, Another Sea, found the band selfdestruct while transitioning from Indie Rock to a major label deal with Geffen Records.
Three Mile Pilot’s unique sound split perfectly in half into two new bands, each carrying
over their unique aesthetic: the seasick sound of Black Heart Procession, and the plucky,
and humble sound of Pinback.
I celebrate Pinback’s entire catalog, and although this tour is to commemorate Summer
in Abaddon, I’d recommend the freshmen to check out Blue Screen Life (2001). The understatement of Blue Screen Life is where Pinback gets their charm. The guitars and drums
are thin spindles, the bass works its slide and strum spiderweb, all the while Rob Crow
and Zach Smith’s separate lyrics and vocals circle the song but rarely come together. They
flirt with songs that could land BMW commercials, and yet stay firmly in the wonderful
off-kilter Indie Rock world. Start with the song “Penelope,” an ode to the loss of a gold fish.
The last time Pinback played in Charlotte in 2008, I’ll admit they seemed uncomfortable.
They were touring with the awesome (and odd choice of ) sludge metal band Kylesa, and
headliner Pinback’s most delicate songs seemed rushed. The band was touring with the
darker material from Summer in Abaddon and Autumn of the Seraphs, and I got the feeling that Rob and Zach probably felt a little constrained by the aesthetic of Pinback. Since
2008, Rob and Zach have taken time from Pinback and reformed Three Mile Pilot and other
side projects. Pinback released a new record in 2012 called Information Retrieved, and
hopefully will put on a show for us in Charlotte that reminds us why they are so very important to Indie Rock.
September 20 - UN International
Day of Peace
@ Neighborhood Theatre
The Charlotte Cooperation Circle
and other peace building organizations invite the Charlotte community
to unite in dialogue and celebration of
the UN International Day of Peace at
Neighborhood Theatre, 11am – 3pm.
Keynote speaker is Ali Karti, the Foreign Minister of Sudan, and guest
speaker is former congressman and
UN Ambassador, Mark Siljander. Activities include international food vendors, participatory drum circle, children’s art projects, bicycle scavenger
hunt, and jazz performance by Tenya
Coleman. Attendance is free, but seating is limited, so we suggest you RSVP
at cltunpeaceday.eventbrite.com.
Mondays – Open Mic @ Evening Muse
Tuesdays – NoDable Series: Small-Batch New Release @ NoDa Brewing Co.
Wednesdays – Music Trivia @ Solstice Tavern
Thursdays – NoDa Alley Rally @ Area 15
Fridays – Karaoke w/ Rachael @ UpStage
September 5 – The Heritage & Sacramento @ Evening Muse
September 5 – Protomartyr, Mineral Girls, & It Looks Sad @ Neighborhood Theatre
September 5 – Improv Charlotte Comedy Show @ UpStage
September 6- Time Sawyer @ Evening Muse
September 6 – Burleoke! with Big Mama’s House of Burlesque @ UpStage
September 7 – NoDa NBA Meeting – 6:30pm @ Evening Muse
September 7 – Carolina Arts & Theatre Awards @ Upstage
September 9 – Angie Aparo and Levi Lowrey @ Evening Muse
September 10 – Pinback with Tera Melos @ ChopShop
September 11 – The David Mayfield Parade @ Evening Muse
September 12 – Frequency: feat Herobust & Mindelixir @ ChopShop
September 12 – Tontons @ Evening Muse
September 13 – Crowbar @ ChopShop
September 13 – Amanda Shires with Valley Young @ Evening Muse
September 16 – Water Liars w/ Amigo @ Evening Muse
September 17 – Goodnight, Texas with The Bones of JR Jones @ Evening Muse
September 19 – Lefty Williams @ Evening Muse
September 19 – Gaelic Storm @ Neighborhood Theatre
September 20 – UN International Day of Peace @ Neighborhood Theatre
September 24 – The Revivalists @ ChopShop
September 24 – Snarky Puppy with Banda Magda @ Neighborhood Theatre
September 24/26/28 - The End of the World
Sampler Platter @ UpStage
September 26 – Malcolm Holcombe CD release show @ Evening Muse
September 27 – Rockin for a Cure (Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) @ ChopShop
September 30 – Lil Dicky and DJ Omega @ Neighborhood Theatre