What better visual representation of the vitality of a city is there than its skyline? 2019 will be a year where the Charlotte skyline grows taller, broader and denser.

Projects like Ally Center and Legacy Union will bring our city’s shining crown of buildings closer to the edge of Uptown, and projects like Spectrum Southend and Portman South End will push it past those boundaries.

A few weeks back, Lincoln Harris hoisted the last piece of the pyramidal crown topping Legacy Union, placing it among the giants of Uptown as the fourth-tallest building in the city and state.

This year we will also gain a new tallest hotel, Intercontinental at Belk Place, wrestling away the title of “tallest in the state” from AC Hotel, which was completed in 2018.

First National Bank, will expand the skyline toward Graham Street, looming high above the grandstands of BB&T Stadium.


And Market 42 will pierce the sky, helping fill in the chasm between “The Odell Building” and Hearst Tower.

In short, the skyline will change a lot in 2019. Here’s an overview.

Header photo by Jim Parks/Land’s End Photos. Graphic by Clayton Sealey

UPTOWN

A. JW Marriott

Height: Around 280 feet

Around 280 feet Floors: 22

22 Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: Charlotte’s latest luxury hotel. 381 Rooms beautifully designed by HKS. Includes another signature rooftop entertainment opportunity.

B. Ally Charlotte Center

Height: Around 380 feet

Around 380 feet Floors: 26

26 Use: Office

Office Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: This project designed by Little and developed by Crescent is a half dozen years in the making. Steel is around 10 floors right now.

C. Legacy Union 1 & 2

Height: Legacy Union 1: 632 feet, Legacy Union 2: 290 feet

Legacy Union 1: 632 feet, Legacy Union 2: 290 feet Floors: Legacy Union 1: 33 floors, Legacy Union 2: 18 floors

Legacy Union 1: 33 floors, Legacy Union 2: 18 floors Use: Office

Office Completion Date: 2019, 2020

2019, 2020 Fun Fact: These two towers are just the beginning for Legacy Union, which is turning out better than I had expected. I’d expect easily 4-5 more towers, 2 residential, 1 office and 1-2 hotel, and a large retail podium in the future.

D. Duke Energy Center 2

Height: 500-750 feet

500-750 feet Floors: 36-48 floors

36-48 floors Use: Office

Office Completion Date: 2022-23

2022-23 Fun Fact: The announced height is 39 floors, but I suspect that could change depending on what decisions Duke makes with PNG and Santee Cooper. Otherwise, not a lot is known about this project at this time, but it’s likely it will be among the tallest five or six buildings in Charlotte. We are hoping that Duke/Childress Klein/tvsdesign think outside the box; we want to see some curves on this building.

E. Future Convention Center Hotel

Height: 400-525 feet

400-525 feet Floors: 30-45 floors

30-45 floors Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: ?

? Fun Fact: Word is that this project has stalled, but if the right opportunity came along, whether it be an investor or major event like the Super Bowl, I think it could pick back up.

F. Moxy Hotel

Height: 230 feet

230 feet Floors: 20 floors

20 floors Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: It will be Charlotte’s second pink building, joining The Arlington in South End. Neat.

G. FNB Tower



Height: 365 feet

365 feet Floors: 29 floors

29 floors Use: Office and Residential

Office and Residential Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: This will be Charlotte’s first commercial high-rise topped with apartments.

H. Federal Courthouse Expansion

Height: 150 feet

150 feet Floors: 8 floors

8 floors Use: Government

Government Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: You might eventually have jury duty here.

I. 500 W. Trade

Height: 180 feet

180 feet Floors: 14 floors

14 floors Use: Residential

Residential Completion Date: 2022?

2022? Fun Fact: This replaces the James K. Polk Building, a historical building that all Charlotteans should lament losing. Not sure if this one will make the cut this development cycle, but the multifamily market keeps surprising lots of industry insiders.

J. Grand Bohemian

Height :186 feet

:186 feet Floors: 16 floors

16 floors Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: 2020

2020 Fun Fact: This cool new boutique hotel will have ample rooftop entertainment space. 250 luxuriously appointed rooms.

K. Intercontinental Hotel

Height: 420 feet

420 feet Floors: 32 floors

32 floors Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: This will be the new tallest hotel in Charlotte (and all of North Carolina). It’s being built on top of the city’s oldest remaining theatre, Carolina Theatre.

L. Future Spirit Square



Height: TBD

TBD Floors: TBD

TBD Use: Hotel, Residential, Office, Retail

Hotel, Residential, Office, Retail Completion Date: TBD

TBD Fun Fact: Nothing of note yet, but we expect a lot of out of the incredible roster of companies vying for this land. Expecting at least 3-4 high rises between 18-25 floors.

M. Homewood Suites

Height: 160

160 Floors: 13

13 Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: Will be built into a small nook on the property being developed for Market 42. Doubt it will be remarkable architecturally.

N. Market 42

Height: 384 feet

384 feet Floors: 33 floors

33 floors Use: Residential

Residential Completion Date: 2020/21

2020/21 Fun Fact: Charlotte’s first yellow accented tower will activate First Ward Park

O. 10 Tryon

Height: Building 1: around 190 feet, Building 2: around 130 feet (likely changing)

Building 1: around 190 feet, Building 2: around 130 feet (likely changing) Floors: 14 floors and 10 floors (likely changing)

14 floors and 10 floors (likely changing) Use: Office (likely changing back to Hotel & Office)

Office (likely changing back to Hotel & Office) Completion Date: 2021/22

2021/22 Fun Fact: This project seems stalled, but plenty is still happening behind the scenes. Hopefully we hear more about the promised Publix and the rest of the mixed use project soon.

P. 550 Uptown



Height: 252 feet

252 feet Floors: 20 floors

20 floors Use: Residential

Residential Completion Date: 2019

2019 Fun Fact: This building will be completed very soon, and it’s at least the most interesting looking building we’ve gotten this development cycle. Formerly an exit ramp.

Q. Home2Suites



Height: 120 feet

120 feet Floors: 10 floors

10 floors Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: 2019

2019 Fun Fact: Hard to believe that 10 years ago this was a highway interchange, will add more hotel rooms and retail to stonewall.

R. Even Hotel



Height: 120 feet

120 feet Floors: 10 floors

10 floors Use: Hotel

Hotel Completion Date: 2019

2019 Fun Fact: Each room will be hoisted into place pre-built, like Legos.

JUST OUTSIDE UPTOWN

S. Portman SouthEnd



Height: 240 feet

240 feet Floors: 17 floors

17 floors Use: Office

Office Completion Date: 2021/22

2021/22 Fun Fact: This one is in rezoning now. Renderings shown in a recent community meeting show a rust colored building with lots of glass and lots of retail. Would be a great addition just across the tracks from Atherton.

T. Spectrum SouthEnd

Height: Office Tower 1 & 2: 170 feet, Hotel Tower: zoned up to 250 feet

Office Tower 1 & 2: 170 feet, Hotel Tower: zoned up to 250 feet Floors: 9 floors and up to 20 floors

9 floors and up to 20 floors Use: Office, Hotel

Office, Hotel Completion Date: 2019/20

2019/20 Fun Fact: My favorite new project in Charlotte. It bridges a big gap between Uptown and South End and will provide more pedestrian space.

U. Common Square

Height: 150 feet

150 feet Floors: 8 floors

8 floors Use: Hotel/Residential and Office

Hotel/Residential and Office Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: Very cool new development on the corner of West Blvd and S. Tryon. This will replace the current Sauceman’s BBQ Restaurant and adjacent businesses. This building, fronting the future Wilmore Centennial Park, should be renamed Wilmore Square to pay homage to the neighborhood it will rise in.

V. NAI Tower

Height: 299 feet

299 feet Floors: 20 floors

20 floors Use: Office & eventually a hotel

Office & eventually a hotel Completion Date: 2021

2021 Fun Fact: Elizabeth/Midtown’s first true high rise. I’m not confident this one gets built, but it’s a great looking tower.

W. The Rail Yard

Height: 141 feet

141 feet Floors: 8 floors

8 floors Use: Office

Office Completion Date: 2019

2019 Fun Fact: My favorite project wrapping up in 2019. Architecture pays homage to South End more than any other development built in the past decade.

X. Dimensional Place

Height: 176 feet

176 feet Floors: 10 floors

10 floors Use: Office

Office Completion Date: 2019

2019 Fun Fact: Previously home to Common Market & the Food Truck Friday lot. This sandstone and metal building opens this year and will be the East Coast hub of Dimensional Fund Advisors.

Y. Hawkins Tower

Height: 176 feet

176 feet Floors: 13 floors

13 floors Use: Residential

Residential Completion Date: 2020

2020 Fun Fact: The Design Center’s first high rise building, and likely not the last.