Davidson about to get its first real taste of "Urbanism"

Davidson planning types have long fancied themselves as followers of New Urbanist doctrine.  It's the driver behind the Catalyst Project's initial design, and it permeates the planning ordinance signed last year.  Well, the town is on the cusp of seeing how that will really work at scale.

The new apartment building at Circles@30 is almost done and The Linden is starting the hunt for residents.  There was even a booth at the Farmers Market this past Saturday.

Here's how The Linden website describes the project.


The Linden is Davidson’s BRAND NEW urban apartment community opening August 2016. Located within walking/biking distance to Lake Norman, the historic downtown area and Davidson College. Harris Teeter, Dunkin Donuts, and a variety of restaurants and shops are located directly across the street! If convenient access to Interstate 77 is important, we are less than a mile away. Large employers such as Ingersoll Rand (1.3 miles) and Lowe’s Corporate Headquarters (7.6 miles) are very close by! 

The Linden offers 162 studio, one and two bedroom apartment homes, retail businesses on the ground level, controlled security access, full fitness center, relaxing pool, clubroom, books nooks, pet salon, courtyard with grills, fire pit, and plenty of bike and interior storage space. Apartment homes will feature stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, walk-in closets, oversized windows and large balconies. We are pet friendly and smoke-free! Come experience Davidson’s great sense of community in this pedestrian and bike-friendly town that believes in sustainable space and being distinct in its qualities." What is interesting is that as Davidson promotes an urban lifestyle, at the last Board meeting Commissioners refused to let construction start an hour earlier on Saturdays (at 8am instead of 9am) for the remainder of the project.  It was an exception to the town noise ordinance.  Plus neighbors had complained."

That seemed a bit ironic though for the board to turn down something that just amounts to "urban" noise.

When a couple hundred more people and all their cars get there, what will the Board do about that? We will soon find out.