Better Skyline? (Charlotte, Raleigh: apartments, condo, night club)

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

^^ I guess nobody wants to play with you.

Here is the skyline in Asheville. I was out there recently and while it is definitely not "the best" in NC the backdrop was beautiful.

[Palmetto Heel]

I'm simply stating facts. There's no need to get snippy.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by metro.m

First of all Raleigh's current skyline looks eons better than Charlotte's circa 1975. That looks absolutely awful. Wow Charlotte has really come a looooong way! There isn't anything but a couple buildings surrounded by parking lots. Raleigh may not be the tallest, but DTR has a good number of medium density buildings to balance things out. Hence the reason Raleigh has more going on at street level than Charlotte currently. It looks like Charlotte destroyed those medium density buildings between the 1966 and 1975 photos. I would take ten 15 story buildings any day, over two 30 story buildings.

MetroM, your observations are quite correct. Charlotte was awful in the 70s and it is because the original downtown was torn down in the name of progress. As a result, Charlotte enjoys having an uptown that can add things like stadiums, arenas, skyscrapers, and Nascar Museums without those darn NIMBYs getting in the way.

Raleigh, on the other hand, will have to develop with NIMBYs trying to stop everything big. Raleigh also has Durham next door that will snatch some of Raleigh's attention. This is what "Palmetto Heel" is talking about.

I used to deliver freight in Raleigh quite often and I partied there while in college at NC A&T (we traveled to Raleigh on the weekends sometimes). I see Raleigh the same way "Palmetto Heel" sees Raleigh. Most Charlotteans with a Raleigh connection sees Raleigh this way. Raleigh's skyline is a reflection of the Triangle's suburban character. This is not to suggest that Charlotte does not have suburbs because Charlotte has plenty. It is just that Charlotte is by far the most important and largest city in its metro. Everything is in Charlotte and the skyline reflects that. Raleigh shares its importance with Durham and Chapel Hill. Raleigh also only has about 2 (if that) fortune 500 companies. Metro Charlotte has 8. This is why Charlotte's skyline is so much larger. Charlotte is a typical hub and spoke mid sized city. Raleigh is a "large small city" that has a midsized metro when combined with the "large small city" of Durham. This suburban character is why Raleigh has a skyline that leaves much to be desired for Raleigh's population.

In time (as Raleigh attracts more downtown businesses), Raleigh's skyline will get better. I just don't see it being comparable to Charlotte's skyline anytime soon. Don't get so defensive when a Charlotte poster calls Raleigh "more suburban than Charlotte" or "a place with nothing remotely urban". They are simply talking about the Triangle's multi town layout. Nothing more!!!

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

I will try and keep us going "on topic". Speaking of skylines here is a shot of the skyline in Winston Salem.

[metro.m]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

MetroM, your observations are quite correct. Charlotte was awful in the 70s and it is because the original downtown was torn down in the name of progress. As a result, Charlotte enjoys having an uptown that can add things like stadiums, arenas, skyscrapers, and Nascar Museums without those darn NIMBYs getting in the way.

Raleigh, on the other hand, will have to develop with NIMBYs trying to stop everything big. Raleigh also has Durham next door that will snatch some of Raleigh's attention. This is what "Palmetto Heel" is talking about.

I used to deliver freight in Raleigh quite often and I partied there while in college at NC A&T (we traveled to Raleigh on the weekends sometimes). I see Raleigh the same way "Palmetto Heel" sees Raleigh. Most Charlotteans with a Raleigh connection sees Raleigh this way. Raleigh's skyline is a reflection of the Triangle's suburban character. This is not to suggest that Charlotte does not have suburbs because Charlotte has plenty. It is just that Charlotte is by far the most important and largest city in its metro. Everything is in Charlotte and the skyline reflects that. Raleigh shares its importance with Durham and Chapel Hill. Raleigh also only has about 2 (if that) fortune 500 companies. Metro Charlotte has 8. This is why Charlotte's skyline is so much larger. Charlotte is a typical hub and spoke mid sized city. Raleigh is a "large small city" that has a midsized metro when combined with the "large small city" of Durham. This suburban character is why Raleigh has a skyline that leaves much to be desired for Raleigh's population.

In time (as Raleigh attracts more downtown businesses), Raleigh's skyline will get better. I just don't see it being comparable to Charlotte's skyline anytime soon. Don't get so defensive when a Charlotte poster calls Raleigh "more suburban than Charlotte" or "a place with nothing remotely urban". They are simply talking about the Triangle's multi town layout. Nothing more!!!

It doesn't take a genius to figure out, Palmetto was being condescending. I also don't know why this thread is stating the obvious. Charlotte has a better skyline. Guess what it also has a better skyline than my hometown DC. A place that CLT, ATL, Houston, Dallas, and Miami, will never compete with. This thread is silly. Charlotte's skyline isn't the city's only claim to fame. The same can be said for Raleigh being the state capital.

I've stayed in Charlotte for a short while living with my sister, Charlotte isn't all that you make it out to be my friend. Not even close. I've also lived in Richmond. Urbanity wise, Richmond makes Charlotte look like the definition of suburban sprawl, and it has a much shorter skyline than Charlotte's.

[Palmetto Heel]

Originally Posted by metro.m

It doesn't take a genius to figure out, Palmetto was being condescending.

So you're a mind reader too?

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by metro.m

Charlotte isn't all that you make it out to be my friend. Not even close. I've also lived in Richmond. Urbanity wise, Richmond makes Charlotte look like the definition of suburban sprawl, and it has a much shorter skyline than Charlotte's.

Live shot of Charlotte's "suburban sprawl" LOL!!!
OxBlue Construction Camera: Royal Court

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by Palmetto Heel

So you're a mind reader too?

Swami says, Charlotte has a better skyline...

[metro.m]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

Live shot of Charlotte's "suburban sprawl" LOL!!!
OxBlue Construction Camera: Royal Court

A shot of the skyline isn't the sole definition of urban... Richmond is more urban than Raleigh and Charlotte combined. That's the truth. It's sad that the only thing you see that defines urban is a tall building.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by metro.m

A shot of the skyline isn't the sole definition of urban... Richmond is more urban than Raleigh and Charlotte combined. That's the truth. It's sad that the only thing you see that defines urban is a tall building.

Correction, 22 tall BUILDINGS, a stadium, an arena, Nascar tourist attraction, and a nice train that connects them all. This is what makes Charlotte's skyline special and full of character!!!