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Optimist Park apartment building ditching parking garage for sustainable living

SpaceCraft is touting the apartment building as "Charlotte's first trail and transit-focused building."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An apartment complex in Charlotte that will not have any parking decks for its residents is set to open Friday.

The Joinery, Space Craft’s first mixed-use development, announced its accepting lease applications for its first generation of sustainable, community-driven living. Studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments are available now.

The complex is located at 1824 N. Brevard Street, at the corner of 22nd Street. The Joinery is a six-story apartment building offering 83 units and about 2,000 square feet of retail. SpaceCraft is touting the apartment building as "Charlotte's first trail and transit-focused building."

"What we are doing is bringing in 83 homes to this parcel which allows us to cut the cost down because densification contributes to the affordability of the area," Anna Coltrane, director of development for Space Craft, said.

According to a news release, the developer was able to save money on building an expensive parking deck, and thus able to pass along those cost savings to tenants (rents start at $1,275 with the first month free) who will be able to rely on an on-site EV car-share (including Teslas), electric bikes and scooters. The building is also partnering with a nearby parking lot for spaces. 

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“By pulling the parking garage out we are able to offer less expensive rent and deliver a finer quality product for those rents,” Coltrane said.

These options, along with the building’s proximity to the Lynx Blue Line and the Sugar Creek Greenway will give renters ample options for getting around town.

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“People are investing in a lifestyle around transit and I think that is super important,” Clayton Sealey, chief creative officer with CLT Development, said.

It’s a concept worth getting behind, according to Sealey. He ditched his car and uses public transportation to get to work and do his daily activities.

It’s a big saver of money, big saver of time,” he added. “Over the three weeks that I have been going in, I have been saving about $100 a week just on gas alone."

 As the community continues to grow, so does the other development in the area, which will increase walkability.

Just a few blocks away there is a project called urban district market that is under development," Sealy said. "It will have a small fresh food grocery store that you can access."

They’re betting on a future where tenants will trade their wheels for better deals on rent.

“Yes, there are many apartments being built in Charlotte. We hope to provide a new and unique take on city living with The Joinery and know that more developments like ours will follow," Harrison Tucker, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Craft, said. "Our intentions are to create a sense of place, to make day-to-day life more interesting and convenient, and to build vibrant communities."  

Despite the more approachable rent prices, the complex said residents can still expect some of the perks of urban living, including an outdoor terrace with green space, cooking area and more.

"To say we are honored to be a part of this project is an understatement," Charlie Hyland of Crown Town Compost said. "This is the first apartment complex in Charlotte to incorporate Crown Town Compost building-wide. We hope this is the first of many to come as Charlotte works towards being more eco-conscious."

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