Archive for May, 2011
May 24th, 2011
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CLT Blog’s Justin Ruckman, and Eric Davis, formerly of WTVI, hosts a discussion about partnerships and opportunities for sound, video, recording production at Packard Place Tuesday the 24th at 6pm. The emphasis of the meeting is on how Packard Place can facilitate local entrepreneurs’ production needs. If you are an entrepreneur interested in improving your sound, video, or recording business, please join us tomorrow at 6 for this incredible discussion with local entrepreneurs.
Sign up for this meeting here on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Packard-Place-Innovation-Entrepreneurship-Community-Group/events/17554439/.
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Lila Allen at Charlote Viewpoint recently wrote about her experiences living and working in Charlotte (specifically, Plaza Midwood and Uptown) without owning a car.
“In becoming a full-time pedestrian, I’ve come to understand the concepts of cultural and physical proximity more thoroughly, as well as issues of sustainability, public resources, and public art – all of which I bypassed on my daily commute. Most notably, within a couple of days of ditching the Jetta, I noticed that my concept of scale – both physical and personal – had changed. I’m one member of a large community, but when I’m surrounded by what feels like the same crowd of 200 people at every event I attend or work, it’s easy to forget how many other narratives are taking place all over the city. Whether I realize it or not, I’m a participant in those narratives.”
Read more at Charlotte Viewpoint.
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How much does $393 dollars mean to you? If you own land in Mecklenburg County, it’s about to mean more than you think, as I learned from attending the Meck BOCC meeting last night.
Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones presented his proposed budget to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Tuesday night in which he asked for an increase in tax revenue for the county equaling approximately $39.4 million dollars. In order to accomplish this, the county would have to set the property tax rate at 82.49 cents per 100 dollars, which means that if you own property in Mecklenburg County you could see your average tax bill increase.
Read all the documents about the budget proposal here
Over 57% of households will see an increase with the average tax increase coming out at $393 dollars. As little as you think about it, that amount just became really important. We as a community have to decide whether we can all live with $393 less dollars in our budget.
Much like the rest of us in the Chamber last night, the Board of County Commissioners listened and asked few questions as they digested the information that the county manager had given them. The Commissioners quietly, and without serious controversy, accepted that this was the budget they were being presented with. It seemed like a serene time in the chamber as the budget was presented; almost like the calm before the raucous raging storm that now presents itself.
The Commissioners, and our community, will now have to decide whether this tax increase is something we all feel the citizens of Mecklenburg County can live with. We must balance the interests of the citizens who will finance this increase with the need to replace funding to county services strapped for financial support.
The lobbying had already begun before the night had started. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees had already requested that 2.5 million dollars be restored to the Library budget. In addition, the Charlotte Mecklenburg School Board had approved a request for an additional 50 million dollars from the county the week before the manager’s proposal.
Now that the proposal has been made, and the lines drawn, the decision lies in the hands of the county commissioners who are already deeply divided on this issue. The four Republicans on the Board have already stated that they will not support a tax increase. The vote will more than likely come down on a 5-4 split, with At-large Commissioner Harold Cogdale likely being the only vote that could possibly be in question.
If this matters to you, you still have the opportunity to have your voice heard. No matter what happens, whether you support this or not, the commissioners need to know what you think. The county will be holding a budget public hearing to listen to priorities from the citizens on Thursday May 19th, 2011 at 6pm in the Government Center. Sign up to speak here and do so quickly because the deadline is today!
If you support this come out and say so. If you don’t support this come out and say so. But whatever you think: come out and say so. We need your voice to help determine what the county thinks. It’s in your hands now.
See you Thursday!
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The Pizza Peel & Tap Room in Cotswold on Colwick Rd is celebrating their three-year anniversary on Saturday, May 21 with free beer from NoDa Brewery, North Carolina Brewery of the Year, from 3pm-6pm.
“We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from the local community, especially our Cotswold neighborhood, over the past three years,” said Stephanie Skelton, Pizza Peel & Tap Room general manager. “The Pizza Peel & Tap Room invites the community to experience our large selection of beers on tap, unexpected menu offerings and always delicious pizza.”
The event also includes:
- a bounce house
- live music
- all-day beer specials
- giant Jenga
- a Big Boss Brewing Company hosted coaster-tossing contest from 7pm-9pm, with winner advancing to the Pan American Coaster Tossing Championships June 18 in Raleigh, NC, and receiving a gas card and hotel stay for the championships
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The Pizza Peel & Tap Room in Cotswold on Colwick Rd is celebrating their three-year anniversary on Saturday, May 21 with free beer from NoDa Brewery, North Carolina Brewery of the Year, from 3pm-6pm.
“We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from the local community, especially our Cotswold neighborhood, over the past three years,” said Stephanie Skelton, Pizza Peel & Tap Room general manager. “The Pizza Peel & Tap Room invites the community to experience our large selection of beers on tap, unexpected menu offerings and always delicious pizza.”
The event also includes:
- a bounce house
- live music
- all-day beer specials
- giant Jenga
- a Big Boss Brewing Company hosted coaster-tossing contest from 7pm-9pm, with winner advancing to the Pan American Coaster Tossing Championships June 18 in Raleigh, NC, and receiving a gas card and hotel stay for the championships
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Check out this video on CNN, a product of their visit to the city last week.
Seems CNN has the hots for Charlotte, at least judging from the rosy treatment they gave us in this under-2-minute ode to our city.
What do you think?
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Check out this video on CNN, a product of their visit to the city last week.
Seems CNN has the hots for Charlotte, at least judging from the rosy treatment they gave us in this under-2-minute ode to our city.
What do you think?
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NoDa is getting a new bar and concert venue as The Chop Shop holds its official opening celebration this weekend. The Chop Shop is being brought to life by an experience group in the local music and arts scene.
Jay Tilyard, Bob Davis, Tracie Nasta, and Matt and Doug Gerin have worked the past year converting 17,000 square feet of warehouse space into a music hall complete with bar, pool tables, and (eventually) two separate stage areas and an outdoor “playground.”
“NoDa is the arts; freaky and free-spirited,” says Tilyard. He sees The Chop Shop as a local hangout and creative space, and wants artists to display and sell their work without having to pay a commission. Not only does Tilyard want to host concerts, but also art nights, parties, video shoots, and other creative events. “We want to bring back the old NoDa,” says Tilyard.
The Chop Shop will open Friday and Saturday, May 13th and 14th, at 8PM, and will feature Tara Riley on aerial silks, a jazz trio, Kristine Navarro with Dan Wall, live art with Tim Schaeffer, and more.
Nearly everything in the venue has been repurposed and recycled. The mens bathroom counter is a former truck tool box, with lighting provided by the front end of an old Dodge Challenger. Elsewhere, Harley-Davidson exhaust pipes hold lights and an old warehouse breaker box shelves liquor bottles.
The Chop Shop is part of what is being labeled the “NoDa within Noda.” It is a phrase used by Tilyard and repeated by Max Wallace, one of the founders of Hackerspace Charlotte.
Hackerspace Charlotte, along with The Chop Shop and Ultimate Gym, share a home in the former Newco Fibre warehouse complex located across train tracks and behind North Davidson businesses. In addition to a used tire business and appliance shop, the warehouse also provides practice space for the Charlotte Rollergirls and, for a time, was home to the Dugg Dugg art gallery.
Hackerspace Charlotte, founded in September, offers space for members to work on projects in addition to hosting meetings almost every night of the week. Topics range from lock picking and hardware hacking to programming and dry ice Jenga.
Ultimate Gym is another major tenant in the Newco warehouse. They gym, which moved from its Tryon Street location five years ago, occupies 25,000 square feet and has several boxing and sparing rings. Training is available in twelve different martial arts as well as aerial silks, Pilates and more.
As the area changes with old shops closing and new bars opening, the old Newco warehouse continues to mature into its new role as the NoDa within NoDa — recapturing the creativity and free-spiritedness that made the neighborhood what it is today.
Read more about The Chop Shop in the NoDa Neighborhood Association.
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Photos from Barcamp Charlotte V held on April 16th at Area Fifteen in Charlotte.
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Photos from Barcamp Charlotte V held on April 16th at Area Fifteen in Charlotte.
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