After a year of study by the Arts & Science Council, the 25-year Cultural Facilities Master Plan became a reality in November 2003. The plan was the next stage following a 1976 plan that led to such projects as
Spirit Square,
Discovery Place, and
North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The $236 million first phase, including an $84 million
endowment, included moving the
Mint Museum uptown, a new contemporary art museum named for
Andreas Bechtler, a new Afro-American Cultural Center, and a 1200-seat theater. These projects were included in a 2001 bond referendum that voters rejected. The Cultural Facilities Master Plan led to the Campaign for Cultural Facilities in 2006. On December 1, the car-rental tax increased from 11 to 16 percent, with $1.35 million per year expected. Groundbreaking took place September 27, 2007, on the $158 million First Street Cultural Campus, also referred to as the
Wachovia Cultural Campus. The tallest building of the complex was to be the
Duke Energy Center. Also part of the complex would be the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, the Bechtler Art Museum, and the Wachovia Condominium Tower. The
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art would hold 1200 works of art assembled by Andreas Bechtler and his family during the previous 75 years, in a building designed by
Mario Botta. The Wachovia Condominium Tower would have had 42 floors and of space, designed by Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio. Due to the
Great Recession and the
2008 financial crisis, the only part of the tower built was the Knight Theater, until the
Museum Tower opened in 2017. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture would have four floors, cost $18.6 million and have of gallery, classroom, and administrative space. It was dedicated October 24, 2009. After
Wells Fargo announced its
takeover of Wachovia, the city said its contract with Wachovia required "successors" to finish the project, after which the city and county would buy the attractions. The campus was later renamed for Wells Fargo. After large contributions from
Duke Energy and the Leon Levine Foundation resulted in the $83 million goal being reached, the Wells Fargo Cultural Campus became Levine Center for the Arts. On October 1, 2010, the $56 million 145,000-square-foot Mint Museum Uptown opened, completing the $127 million campus. Charlotte's city council changed the name of First Street to Levine Avenue of the Arts, with new signs revealed November 16. ==References==