Charlotte nice city for young professionals... sti
-
7/1/2006
A friend posted a comment on this website using my old sign-in and I've received several questions/comments via email that I haven't had time to reply to so I wanted to give more info here about what I dislike/like about Charlotte from my perspective as a 30-something, African American female:
1. Things to do? While Charlotte IS a little slower than some larger cities, there is plenty to do you... you just have to look harder. Grood resources are Goodpeoples.com (the Entertainment section) and PrideMagazine.net Both are Charlotte publications that will give you a good feel for what is going on in the Black community and what there is to do. One of the things I don't like is that the uptown area lacks diversity... mostly there are just bars and all of them seem the same. I think the Charlotte planning committe likes things this way and limits the type of venues that make a home in the uptown area.
2. Jobs: Several people have asked me about the Charlotte job market, and I'm not the best person to ask about this. I'm in a unique are of healthcare, so I don't keep on top of the overall market. Bank of America, Wachovia, and Duke Power seem to be the big employers here.
3. Where to live? If you want to be close to uptown without being right in the city South End, Dilworth, and Elizabeth/Chantilly are a few nicer neighborhoods just outside the city. If you want to be in a suburban location with lots right by the University Area (NE Charlotte) is nice and convienient, plus you can find a decent price home there. South Park (SE Charlotte) is also really nice. A really nice, new, fast growing area of Charlotte is Ballantyne (further south of the city than South Park) but you will definitely pay more to live there. The SouthWest/Steele Creek area is growing quickly but it is farther out and still feels a little "country"... with less shops & restaurants close by. A lot of people choose to live OUTSIDE of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County to avoid city taxes (like me!) in areas like Concord & Cornelius to the north of Charlotte and Fort Mill (SC) to the South. Both are still within 20-25 minutes of Uptown Charlotte. You can find better home prices, lower crime, and lower taxes in these areas.
T.K. | Fort Mill, SC