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While I'm personally not a fan of urban living I think putting senior housing downtown isn't a bad idea. For elderly individuals who can no longer drive, living in a city or town does make more sense, to have shopping, health care, etc accessible without having to drive and having these things within a closer distance.
I have no problem with urban renewal as long as its dictated by the free market and not by municipal or state government mandated or generated plans and as long as the area can handle the increased density and population. I'm be moving to Charleston from a metro area where the city and state government funds hotels and other downtown construction with tax dollars and which have laws directing new growth into already developed areas. I hope similar things do not happen in West Virginia. One of the things I like about Charleston is that its not overly dense or crowded.
This project would be much better suited to help Charleston and downtown if it wasn't a senior housing project. Yes our seniors need good, affordable housing but downtown Charleston needs more housing options for young professionals and the like. A missed opportunity in my opinion.
This project would be much better suited to help Charleston and downtown if it wasn't a senior housing project. Yes our seniors need good, affordable housing but downtown Charleston needs more housing options for young professionals and the like. A missed opportunity in my opinion.
I agree and disagree. My #1 option was what you just stated, but Charleston needs quality, affordable housing downtown, no matter who the tenants are. This isn't as if it's a nursing home going up; it will be a multi-level, mixed-use structure for (hopefully) active retirees.
Plus, if we wanted development and one had to be dedicated to retirees, this would be the ideal block. Close to the Market, Clay Center, and CAMC, but in one of the smallest blocks CURA owned. With news that there are two developers interested in the Holley property (with one actually submitting a proposal before the deadline), something will be built there. Molgaard also stated that his EDGE idea (subsidized housing for young professionals) is still very much alive, only now he'll (gladly) have to find a new location. Yeah, I wanted something to draw in younger people first, but with this subsequent news, I'm a bit more content with the senior housing.
Here's an incredibly interesting column on the evolving nature of retirees and why cities should embrace them (further bolstering the Shrewsbury Village investment):
I was in charleston today for a visit and no disrespect to seniors but Urban living is what the new "norm" is everywhere else. That's how you get people to live in the city and stay in the city. Like I said, no disrespect but urban is the way to go. Get the young people back like it use to be.
I like the idea but the rendering and the story don't seem to match? The story notes "the L-shaped building", while the rendering appears to just be a standard rectangle. Maybe the rendering image was an earlier version or something?
I work in Charleston and I'm really glad to see some development starting to pick up. Charleston definitely needs some new mixed use buildings. The Quarrier Street project sounds very promising. I think you could get people to live downtown if you make it worth their while. I work in downtown and my office employs many young out-of-state professionals (Missouri, Georgia, New York, etc.). I speak to them often to get their thoughts on Charleston. They generally love the city but always wind up saying two things:
1. There aren't enough attractive places to live downtown
2. The city is great but there needs to be more things to do downtown
Almost to a person these are the two things they note. One woman (who has since moved on to Philadelphia) told me she hated to leave and said that if Charleston had more places to live downtown and more things for young people to do, it would be a great place to live.
Anyway, looking forward to this development and the other (proposed) developments.
On a side note, anyone have any information on the new Courtyard Marriott on Virginia Street? I know they closed the Long John Silvers there in December but there doesn't seem to be anything going on in terms of actual construction (at least the last time I went by I couldn't see anything)?
On a side note, anyone have any information on the new Courtyard Marriott on Virginia Street? I know they closed the Long John Silvers there in December but there doesn't seem to be anything going on in terms of actual construction (at least the last time I went by I couldn't see anything)?
Thanks!
The Courtyard is under construction, mostly foundation work now. They actually tore down the Long John Silvers so the hotel could have more room.
The Courtyard is under construction, mostly foundation work now. They actually tore down the Long John Silvers so the hotel could have more room.
Thanks, Chriscross309. I live pretty far away and commute into Charleston for work. My carpool partner isn't much on looking around (he just wants to get home) so I haven't been by the site since early June.
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