Charlotte Observer,
November 7, 2007
Chelsea South End
Charlotte, N.C. – Appropriately named for its hip, urban location, Chelsea South End is the newest mixed-use development in Charlottes South End neighborhood. Just steps from Charlottes new light rail, Chelsea South End is located on the corner of West Boulevard and Hawkins Street. The building is comprised of 75 residences atop 8,000 square feet of planned retail and office space. Residences range from 556 to 1,364 square feet, with prices ranging from the mid $100,000s to the upper $300,000s. Construction is slated to begin in the summer of 2008, and the on-site sales center is now open. (Editor note: For a rendering of Chelsea South End, go to www.corderphilips.com/pr/chelseaatsouthend.jpg, or contact swilliamson@corderphilips.com.)
Planning for Chelsea South End began with a fact-finding trip to the historic Chelsea neighborhood of New York. Located southwest of Manhattan, this post-industrial district is known for its nightlife, as well as its vibrant arts and cultural scene. While in Chelsea, developers Dean Kiriluk of KIRCO, Terrence Llewellyn of Llewellyn Development, LLC, and architects from Perkins Eastman studied the areas adaptive use of the old warehouses and industrial buildings and came up with modern-day interpretations to connect to the concept for Chelsea South End in Charlotte.
“The neighborhood of Chelsea can be compared to Charlottes area of South End, because they both evoke a similar urban feel,” says Llewellyn. “Although the Chelsea neighborhood was an inspiration, the real story is in the modern interpretation of this theme, and utilizing historic inspiration but interpreting it with new energy, passion and technology.”
In addition to the architectural expertise of Perkins Eastman, Chelsea South Ends development team sought advice from Wendy Field, Managing Partner of Cottingham Chalks Developer Services. In her role as a sales and marketing consultant, Field helped the team shape the vision and design that would appeal to the Charlotte South End market.
“Wendy Field is one of Charlottes most knowledgeable real estate consultants and has been instrumental in our creative process,” said Kiriluk. “She is an integral part of the team providing expertise on all facets of the project, from design elements and amenities to sales and marketing.”
Chelsea South End is designed to resemble a renovated warehouse that reflects the urban personality of the surrounding area. The exterior is red brick, with oversized windows and balconies or garden terraces, as large as 1,005 square feet, on each unit. The building features numerous high-quality amenities, including a common area terrace, a fitness center and controlled-access parking.
The interiors suggest an industrial character infused with modern-day conveniences. Features normally considered upgrades are standard at Chelsea South End, such as hardwood floors throughout the kitchen, living and dining room areas, granite countertops in the kitchen and bath, stainless-steel appliances and brushed nickel lighting and hardware.
Chelsea South End also embraces the latest technology. All appliances are energy-star rated, and the paint used in each residence is comprised of low volatile organic compounds, thus improving the quality of air. Other environmental features include special insulating on windows, a recycling center in the garage, as well as a special white polymer on the roof to reflect the suns rays, reducing solar heat gain. There is also an iPod docking station standard in each residence, as well as in the fitness center.
Optional features include a 42″ plasma HDTV which can be pre-mounted and ready for move-in, as well as an optional exposed brick interior wall, common to many industrial warehouses. Also available are five-inch-wide plank hardwood flooring, storage spaces, ceramic tile upgrades as well as optional upgraded granite selections.
Most notable of the amenities is the location. Promoting the urban lifestyle of South End, this development is within a short walking distance of many of the areas most desirable destinations. Residents will be able to walk to over 27 favorite restaurants, bars, art galleries and shops. Not only will residents have the convenience of being in the heart of South End, but they will also be one-half block away from the East/West transit stop of Charlottes new light rail, giving them access to the entire city of Charlotte at their leisure.
“We took great care to select a site that was less than 250 feet from a light rail stop, to incorporate a mix of uses for the site, and also to improve and heighten the pedestrian scale by making improvements to the streetscapes. We also tried to incorporate the industrial architectural style that complements the historic roots of the neighborhood,” said Kiriluk.
About the Development Team
As a family business, KIRCO takes great pride in their four decades of real estate heritage. In that time, KIRCO has planned and developed more than 11 million square feet of residential communities, office buildings, high-tech buildings, retail centers and institutional facilities. With extensive architectural review, KIRCO creates award-winning design, enhancing market appeal and increasing real estate values. Partnering with Llewellyn Development, LLC for the Chelsea South End Development, the combined team brings extensive experience with multi-family projects, creating an enhanced level of refinement, innovation and sophistication for its homeowners and residents.
About the Sales and Leasing Team
The development team enlisted the services of Wendy Field, managing partner of Cottingham Chalk Developer Services. For the past 12 years, Cottingham Chalk has successfully guided builders and developers in design, product planning and implementation. Credited with the success of other South End projects such as Park Avenue, Field brings seasoned expertise to the project. She has worked closely with the development team, assisting with design concepts and project planning.
About the Architecture Firm
Since its inception in 1981, Perkins Eastman has been an internationally renowned architecture, urban design and interior design firm. With a diverse portfolio of clients, including cultural, healthcare, hospitality, urban design, corporate and mixed-use developments, Perkins Eastman continues to be recognized for their range and superior design capabilities.
About the General Contractors
Founded in 1993 as a single-family housing renovation company, CW Construction & Development, LLC moved their headquarters from Raleigh to Charlotte in 1997 to focus its services on the multi-family housing market. Since shifting its focus, CW Construction & Development has renovated over 14,000 units for some of the largest Real Estate Investment Trusts and national property management firms throughout the Southeast.
For more information about Chelsea South End, please visit www.ChelseaSouthEnd.com.