Historic Charlotte building demolished in a day, clears path for data center
Another piece of Charlotte’s architectural history has been torn down. A larger data center will replace it.
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The more than 100-year-old Court Arcade building at 725 E. Trade St. in uptown Charlotte was demolished Monday. As of Tuesday, the site was razed and only excavators remain.
The demolition wasn’t a surprise.
Data center developer Digital Realty Trust owns the building. And for almost a year, the Texas-based developer has been working to expand its data center operations on the site.
But in October, those plans included saving the Court Arcade’s historic facade. Demolition permits from October filed with Mecklenburg County noted that Digital Realty would preserve the facade, which includes the arched entryway and covered setback. Those architectural features are what makes the building an “arcade.”
In June, those plans changed. Citing feasibility concerns, Digital Realty changed course and decided to demolish the entire building.
The Charlotte branch of the American Institute of Architects reached out to Digital Realty to work with the developer on preserving the facade. So did the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commissions.
But those conversations did not progress.
In August, Digital Realty’s demolition permit for the entire building was approved. And now, the building is gone.
“Disappointment is the term,” said historic commission Director Stewart Gray. “We worked with the owners of the Court Arcade to try to find a preservation solution for it. And we thought we had achieved that.
“The building was not a designated landmark. What they did was by right,” he said. “I think we offered them a very good opportunity to help preserve some of the historic character of Charlotte. It’s unfortunate.”
Digital Realty has owned and operated data centers in uptown Charlotte for about 20 years.
In 2005, the developer purchased three parcels around the Court Arcade for about $17.3 million, according to county property records. Those sites are at 731 E. Trade St., 113 North Myers St. and 125 North Myers St.
Last year, the developer purchase the Court Arcade building for almost $9.5 million.
For over a year, Digital Realty has worked to expand its operations in Charlotte. In October, Digital Realty filed a land development construction plan for the Court Arcade that called for a new four-story data center building.
And last May, the developer received a rezoning approval to build one of the largest data centers in North Carolina near the Charlotte airport. The center in west Charlotte will be about 3-million-square-foot on 156 acres. The site will also house a substation built, owned and operated by Duke Energy, but it will be paid for by Digital Realty.
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Digital Realty, by right, can expand its operations, despite residents’ opposition and Charlotte’s June moratorium on data center development and rezoning.
The moratorium does not affect Digital Realty’s plans.
The Court Arcade was an office building for attorneys who needed to visit the Mecklenburg County Courthouse along East Trade Street.
In the mid-1920s, architect William Peeps built two arcade-style buildings in Charlotte, Latta Arcade and the Court Arcade, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commissions. Arcade architecture involves rows of archways or a covered walkway businesses on either side of the walkway.
The facade and back portion of the building was where the arcade architecture shined.
The ceilings were arched and line with skylights, allowing natural light to illuminate the space. And each office door mimicked a storefront similar to shopping arcade structures.
Latta Arcade was designated a historic landmark in 1994. It was recently renovated, but the historic aspects were preserved. Unlike Latta Arcade, the Court Arcade was never designated a historic landmark.
The designation wouldn’t have stopped the demolition of the property, but it would have slowed down the process.
Digital Realty previously said it would look at ways to invest in historic preservation efforts as the developers continues expanding in Charlotte.
Digital Realty is far from the first developer to tear down a historic site. And the Court Arcade facade won’t be the last Charlotte relic torn down for the city’s growth.
A local radio broadcaster is working to preserve the almost 100-year-old WBT radio transmitter site at 9201 Nations Ford Road. An online petition has over 1,800 signatures with residents hoping the new owners will work save some of the site.
Other historic places have already been torn down. The 94-year-old Midwood Elementary School at 1817 Central Ave. in Plaza Midwood was demolished for apartment buildings.
And the iconic Excelsior Club in west Charlotte was torn down in July, though that is set to be resurrected.
Is there a historic Charlotte building you’re worried may be torn down because of Charlotte’s growth? Let me know at [email protected]
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