A visit to Charlotte

I recently had the pleasure of visiting our newest member in the Signature Program.  The project is a 320-unit multi-family apartment community located in University Research Park (URP) on a 27-acre parcel in Charlotte, North Carolina.  The goal of this visit was to get acquainted with the project property and surroundings, meet the development team, develop a Site Classification for the property, and discuss the Signature Program requirements. 

Owned by Crescent Resources LLC, the site is currently raw land of the Piedmont landscape and is covered 100% in woodlands, predominately hardwoods.  University Research Park was originally designed as a corporate and light industrial park in northeast Charlotte, but was recently re-master planned to bring in a mixed live-work-play environment. This then provided the opportunity to introduce housing for a percentage of the 25,000 employees working within the park.  Crescent’s total 60 acre parcel which includes the multi-family site is located at one of the primary gateways into the park.

Construction was begining the week of my visit and the first rental units are planned for delivery July 1, 2013.  Project completion is planned for February 28, 2014.  Amenities for this new community will include a clubhouse, fitness center, carwash, scenic pond, and dog park.  Crescent Resources set as its primary goal for this project to “help with the effort to locate housing options within walking, biking, and short commute distances to the University Research Park”.  This project will do that by bringing the housing close to where the jobs are and cut down on commute time, fuel, costs, and vehicle upkeep for those URP employees renting in Alexander Village. 

Signature Program members host a minimum of three site visits for Audubon International staff during various periods of development.  The next visit to Circle at Alexander village will occur in early summer.