When the 46-story Hearst Tower celebrated its grand opening three weeks
ago, a local TV station excited Charlotteans by reporting that visitors
would get guided tours to the top.
That was erroneous, of course. Tight security is in place, and there is
no public access to the upper floors of the city's second-tallest
skyscraper.
After the terrorist attacks on the 110-story World Trade Center, that's
understandable, but no less disappointing for Charlotteans.
In this city, you must be a guest of one of the office tenants
occupying the top floors in the tallest towers or a member of a private
club to share in the million-dollar view of the city.
Bank of America and Wachovia fill most of the space in the uptown
skyscrapers, and it's prudent, I suppose, for banks to worry about the
security risk of sightseers riding elevators and roaming halls.
The City Club occupies the top two floors of the 32-story Interstate
Tower at The Square, and the Tower Club is atop the 27-story Charlotte
Plaza building on College Street.
They are private dining establishments available only to members and
their guests.
Still, I think it's a shame the public can't enjoy the spectacular
views reserved for only a few.
It hasn't always been that way.
Until about four years ago, you could get a table with a skyline view
at the 30th Edition in the 32-story Two Wachovia (formerly First Union)
Building on South Tryon Street.
For more than 24 years, the fine-dining restaurant was regarded as the
place for a special-occasion dinner among the dazzling lights of
Charlotte.
The public lost out when the vacated restaurant space was converted to
offices.
Ah, economics. That's another reason why top-floor access is scarce.
Typically, suites with the view command the highest rents. Observation
decks and restaurants probably wouldn't be as reliable or as lucrative as
a long-term office lease.
In addition, real estate experts say, public access is almost certain
to lead to higher insurance costs in the wake of terrorist threats.
Charlottean Burt Gellman thought he had the answer for our city in
1992. He proposed a 1,000-foot-tall space needle -- about twice the height
of Seattle's space needle -- two blocks north of Discovery Place on North
Tryon Street.
The idea -- which had the potential to become the big tourist
attraction uptown supporters always wanted -- fizzled after Gellman failed
to raise enough money to launch the project.
Suburbanites who pride themselves on never venturing into the center
city often can be seen on weekends showing off our skyscrapers to visiting
friends and relatives.
Wouldn't it be something if uptown leaders could capitalize on that
enthusiasm by offering views from the top?
Weekend skyscraper tours -- after banks shut down and office workers go
home -- could help center city restaurants, hotels and cultural
attractions.
I researched this issue about 18 months ago for another column.
What I discovered then is that you can do some moderately
high-elevation scoping from -- would you believe -- uptown parking decks.
The 30-story IJL Financial Center's 10-level deck at 201 N. Tryon St.
has a nice view of Old Settlers Cemetery on the west side and First Ward
on the east side.
Gateway Village's 10-story deck on West Trade Street near Cedar Street
has great views of the uptown towers and Elmwood Cemetery near Interstate
77.
My favorite is Bank of America's 10-story Seventh Street Station, off
College Street, between Sixth and Seventh streets. From the top, you can
see the central business district and close-in neighborhoods as well.
If that doesn't satisfy your curiosity, you can still get a real skyline
view in New York City from the 86th-floor observation deck of the
102-story Empire State Building. Adult tickets cost $10.
Don't want to travel? You also can enjoy a panoramic view of the Big
Apple from the building's Web cam by logging on to
