Another Big Question...What is Charlotte Like?

That is a big question, but a good one. I'm going to answer it a couple of different ways. Charlotte is a large modern city in the south, but it is not a Southern city, not in the way Atlanta, Savannah, Memphis or Charleston might be... Charlotte is primarily inhabited by people not born in the south, but have come here from all over America to raise their family's, get started in their careers, or both. While North Carolina is a favorite among retiree's, most of Charlotte's over 65 set are moving here to be closer to their grand children.

Charlotte is a pro-business city in a pro-business state, with the largest business district in North and South Carolina and yet Charlotte is a generous city. Our Arts and Sciences Council raises money annually for non-profits around town- theaters, museums, cultural centers- comparable to a city twice our size. There are thriving artist communities like NoDa, ethnic communities like the Plaza, and one of the finest collection of Arts and Crafts homes anywhere in Dilworth and the Plaza-Midwood section of town.

Another way I've described Charlotte is that it is the last Northern town. But that's not quite right either--it's really an idealized version of that town because while it is generally efficient and well run, (not exactly northern city attributes) it has the best of the South-- politeness, clean and safe streets, and very clean government.

It is built mostly for families with attractions like our award winning public library for children, Discovery Place, the best hands-on science center except possibly the Liberty Science center, the Raptor Center, Carowinds Amusement Park and Children's Theater of Charlotte.

But we are diversifying! Nightlife has never been so good, with Charlotte becoming a destination for live music, big parties and town wide festivals. A New Yorker said our streets were jammed tight at mid-night,as tight as NYC, and it was the only time he experienced traffic on our city streets. And now the first in the nation white water park has opened here-- visualize Class 4 rapids meets a Disney log flume--that's right, you run the rapids and then you take the flume back to the "mountain" top, and do it again! And again! Wow.

And work? Unemployment is very low here. If you have a skill or skills, you won't be unemployed long. If you are looking get started, there are many small to medium sized firms with tons of opportunities. Work is good, Pay is good and real estate, taxes and insurance rates are low! What's not to like?

Another comparison I've made is to the area I grew up in 30 years ago, the Washington DC suburbs. About 1963, the Washington Beltway, I-495, opened with excitement and great fanfare. This was the answer to the growing city's traffic problems. And I lived in a middle class home just 10 minutes outside the Beltway. Mostly we didn't lock our doors and played in the neighborhoods.

Well Charlotte's not quite done their "beltway" I-485, but families can still afford homes 5- 10 minutes inside or outside of 485. And with a couple of notable exceptions, the city has avoided the worst of sprawl type growth like Rockville Pike in Maryland, Tysons Corner in Virgina, or Bethesda for that matter!

Now the city is committed to a light rail system with the first leg opening in 2007, and spurring development all along that corridor.

That's all for tonight. Your thoughts are welcome.