Downtown association gives Award of Merit for design, concept
DOUG SMITH
Charlotte Center City Partners and Wachovia Corp. won an Award of Merit
from the International Downtown Association for The Green, the 1.5-acre
uptown park.
The award -- presented earlier this month in the public space category
-- recognized the public/private partnership and corporate generosity that
created The Green and the condos, shops and offices around it.
Center City Partners submitted Charlotte's contest entry, titled
"A Gift of Green," to the Washington-based organization, which
champions dynamic and livable urban centers.
"Good public open space is an economic generator -- not an
economic detriment," said The Green's designer, David Wagner of
Charlotte's Wagner Murray Architects. "That's what the IDA is
recognizing."
He said the park, constructed atop an 850-space parking garage, was
pushed by Ed Crutchfield, who retired as chairman of First Union before it
merged with Wachovia.
The Green opened in 2002 in the 400 block of South Tryon Street between
The Ratcliffe condominiums and St. Peter Catholic Church.
Uptown workers, tourists and children's groups are frequently seen
interacting with the fountain, whimsical sculptures and gurgling pathways
between Tryon and College streets.
"The message here to the rest of the community is we can't build
enough public space," Wagner said.
As managing architects, Wagner Murray worked with landscape designers
ColeJenest & Stone on the project.
Doug Smith
