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.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The Big Question About Charlotte...
The BIG Question???
Well there are several really...
Moving from another state, the BIG question is always something like, "Where do people like me, or families like us, want to live?" For a discussion of the different areas, the local towns and the suburbs, I designed my relocation page to help answer that Big Question. Check it out at: http://charlottecommunities.net/Relocation.htm
What about schools? Every family wants the best for their children, and I raqised four childrne inboth public and private schools. See pictures, test scores and more at our public and private schools: http://www.charlottecommunities.net/about_our_schools.htm
What is there to do around Charlotte for fun? You’ll like my Fun Stuff, Cool Stuff page at: http://wwwcharlottecommunities.net/fun_stuff.htm
There are lots of great family and business links, at my Great Link page: http://charlottecommunities.net/GreatLinks.htm Mom's especially will like the links to Mom's groups of all stripes. Business men and women will like the direct conection to the Chamber, Help Wanteds and other leading civic websites.
How about our low tax rates? If you are from Long Island, New Jersey or Conneticut-- sit down before you read them! You will find them All (I think) here at: http://www.charlottecommunities.net/local_tax_rates.htm
At any time if you’d like to look at homes simply click the search page and you will be returned to my Search Site (www.TerryMcDonaldRE.com) and away you’ll go- or Call me and we'll find some time to go see them.
Well there are several really...
Moving from another state, the BIG question is always something like, "Where do people like me, or families like us, want to live?" For a discussion of the different areas, the local towns and the suburbs, I designed my relocation page to help answer that Big Question. Check it out at: http://charlottecommunities.net/Relocation.htm
What about schools? Every family wants the best for their children, and I raqised four childrne inboth public and private schools. See pictures, test scores and more at our public and private schools: http://www.charlottecommunities.net/about_our_schools.htm
What is there to do around Charlotte for fun? You’ll like my Fun Stuff, Cool Stuff page at: http://wwwcharlottecommunities.net/fun_stuff.htm
There are lots of great family and business links, at my Great Link page: http://charlottecommunities.net/GreatLinks.htm Mom's especially will like the links to Mom's groups of all stripes. Business men and women will like the direct conection to the Chamber, Help Wanteds and other leading civic websites.
How about our low tax rates? If you are from Long Island, New Jersey or Conneticut-- sit down before you read them! You will find them All (I think) here at: http://www.charlottecommunities.net/local_tax_rates.htm
At any time if you’d like to look at homes simply click the search page and you will be returned to my Search Site (www.TerryMcDonaldRE.com) and away you’ll go- or Call me and we'll find some time to go see them.
photogalleries
I've created these photo galleries to help relocating families see a little of Charlotte. They are in an easy to use format and show some of the area and some of the neighborhoods at the following links:
Our downtown, we call Uptown, more than 50 pics at http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1849965/1/92765203
Close-in beautiful Myers Park: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1852715
Dilworth, arts and crafts style homes: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1850916
My hometown, suburban small town Matthews: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1851860
Other South Charlotte suburbs: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1859905/4/93391361
A few Parks and Gardens in the area: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1852917
You can see them individually or just move between them using the onscreen navigation Street Scenes. Check back frequently as we add more and more neighborhoods to our galleries. Have a question? Don't hesitate to call 704-847-3826, I answer most of the time, and all questions are welcome! Hope you like them- and hope to see you in Charlotte!
Our downtown, we call Uptown, more than 50 pics at http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1849965/1/92765203
Close-in beautiful Myers Park: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1852715
Dilworth, arts and crafts style homes: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1850916
My hometown, suburban small town Matthews: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1851860
Other South Charlotte suburbs: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1859905/4/93391361
A few Parks and Gardens in the area: http://charlottecommunities.smugmug.com/gallery/1852917
You can see them individually or just move between them using the onscreen navigation Street Scenes. Check back frequently as we add more and more neighborhoods to our galleries. Have a question? Don't hesitate to call 704-847-3826, I answer most of the time, and all questions are welcome! Hope you like them- and hope to see you in Charlotte!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
