乐播传媒 Helps Turn Military Manufacturing Site into Charlotte’s Next Commercial Hotspot
By Garrett Simmons
For years it stood vacant and unused behind a chain-link fence. But prior to 1973 the warehouse at 1701 N. Graham Street was full of activity. Built in the 1920s, it originally produced Ford Model Ts before being used by the U.S. Army as a quartermaster depot, then later as a missile assembly plant. Most notably in its history, however, is the late 1960s and early 70s, when it was the production site of its unusual namesake: a six-wheeled semi-amphibious military transport vehicle called the Gama Goat.
Now after years of neglect the historic warehouse is being repurposed once again. It鈥檚 part of a 75+ acre commercial complex known as Camp North End. Once finished, the Gama Goat Building will house office and retail spaces that cater to creative businesses like those already established in other Camp North End facilities, including: Hex Coffee, Black Market, Silver Eye Studios, Goodyear Arts and others.
The creative focus of the Camp North End complex, combined with the history of the Gama Goat building, has generated a fair amount of public interest in the project. Factor in the site鈥檚 proximity to Uptown Charlotte鈥攍ess than one mile from the city center鈥攁nd it鈥檚 easy to understand the excitement surrounding the work that鈥檚 being done.
For 乐播传媒, Gama Goat is an opportunity to be involved in a project that鈥檚 unique to Charlotte鈥檚 history, as well as expand its presence in the private market.
鈥淒uring the last few years, we鈥檝e gradually taken on more projects in the private sector,鈥� says Mick Hartz, Construction Engineer at Blythe. 鈥淕ama Goat stands out because of its history, and the long-term plan for Camp North End.鈥�
For its part, Blythe is responsible for completing all curb and concrete work, drainage, grading, and dirt work, as well as paving all parking areas. The project marks the first in which Blythe has worked for general contractor Graycor of Charlotte, a partnership that has been a positive experience from day one, according to Blythe Superintendent Mark Spradling.
鈥淭he work that we鈥檝e done so far is fairly straightforward,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he only real challenge we鈥檝e encountered has been coordinating our work with crews working inside the building so that we all stay on schedule. It鈥檚 a little bit tight, but so far everything has gone smoothly.鈥�
Spradling, who remembers seeing actual Gama Goats during his time in the Army, says learning the history of the jobsite has made the experience of working on it more enjoyable. 鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting, not just because of what was made here, but because of what it鈥檚 being turned into. There鈥檚 some pretty cool stuff going on here,鈥� he says, pointing out some of the businesses established elsewhere on the Camp North End property. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 be happier to be part of it.鈥�
Blythe crews are scheduled to complete the contract in early summer of this year, at which time the Gama Goat building will welcome its first tenants.