Charlotte architect David Furman will develop a 16-story condominium tower in First Ward, taking uptown residential living to new heights and possibly starting a center city trend.

Boulevard Centro, Furman's development firm, plans to begin work by midsummer on 104-unit Courtside, about a block north of the uptown arena site.

Tim Newman, president of Charlotte Center City Partners, said uptown leaders aren't surprised by the announcement.

"We had been expecting high-rise residential to start materializing as the next wave in center city residential development, and this is the first step along that path," he said.

About 8,500 people live in the center city, where most condo and apartment buildings are fewer than 10 stories.

The Arlington, on South Boulevard just outside the Interstate 277 loop, is 25 stories.

Two announced high-rise projects uptown -- a 25-story condominium tower and a 22-story apartment building -- were put on hold when the economy lost steam about two years ago.

No large condo buildings have been started in the center city since the 10-story, 57-unit Ratcliffe on The Green sold out late last year on South Tryon Street.

With economic conditions improving and an entertainment district in the works for the area around the new arena, Newman believes the stage is set for more high-density residential development nearby.

Furman expects to complete Courtside -- yes, that is a basketball reference -- at Sixth and Caldwell streets about the same time the arena opens in fall 2005.

Newman is convinced center city amenities attract housing, and Furman confirms it at Courtside.

Important to his project, Furman said, are the planned redevelopment of the old convention center as an entertainment complex at Trade and College streets; the completion of ImaginOn, the combination children's library and Children's Theatre, at Sixth and Brevard streets; and the start of regular daily trolley service.

A Charlotte native and an N.C. State University School of Design graduate, Furman formed Boulevard Centro in 1999 after developing condos for seven years with Chris Branch at The Boulevard Co.

Furman's goal in launching the new venture was to focus on trendy projects that would provide affordable housing for young buyers priced out of the center city market.

Boulevard Centro has developed six projects totaling 136 units in First Ward's Garden District. Other uptown projects include Gateway Lofts at Gateway Village and Silo Urban Lofts in Fourth Ward.

Furman prefers to acquire relatively small tracts -- the Courtside site is just over a half acre -- and focus on edgy design and useable space.

Most of his units are loftlike with areas for sleeping, eating or lounging. Partitions and bookcases separate the areas.

Furman typically tries to hold down prices by keeping units compact. At Courtside, condos will range from 589 square feet to 1,951 square feet.

The smallest units are priced in the low $150,000s and the largest -- a penthouse -- at more than $600,000.

Boulevard Centro departed from its original plan to focus on primarily small lofts at Courtside, Furman said, after buyers contacted by his sales staff expressed a preference for larger units.

The staffers decided to compile the list of potential buyers after people interested in sold-out First Ward projects asked to be contacted on the next one.

So far, he said, buyers have reserved 70 condos in the project, valued at $32 million.

The building will have six levels of parking and include 6,000 square feet to 7,500 square feet of retail/restaurant space on the street level.

Condos will be "open, airy and filled with light," he said. "The glass will feel like it goes from the floor to the ceiling."

A wall of glass on the front of the building will extend more than 150 feet to the roof, which will have a terrace.

Furman said architectural "fins" will extend above the roof. The building will be lighted at night to give it a "signature" presence on the evening skyline, he said.

Most units will have 10-foot ceilings, bamboo floors, granite countertops and bathroom tile.

Furman favors contemporary architectural design over traditional for his urban projects, because he believes "People who aspire to live downtown have a more adventurous spirit."

Boulevard Centro has a contract to purchase the Courtside site and another about the same size beside it from the Charlotte Housing Authority.

Furman plans another project -- to be announced later -- on the adjoining site. Both parcels are on the same block as Autumn Place Living Center, a 68-unit public housing facility for the elderly.