Charlotte is not perfect, but has alot to offer
-
10/1/2006
It is very interesting that so many negative reviews have been posted about every city on this web site [Charlotte, Atlanta, Austin, Portland, etc]. So, here are my two cents- positive and negative.
Having moved here from Jackson, MS about 5 months ago, I can honestly say that Charlotte offers more in terms of job opportunities and culture than Jackson ever could. In terms of southern cities, Charlotte is definitely in the top 10. I am sure that this depends on where in Charlotte you live, so I cannot speak for everyone- I live in Plaza Midwood and absolutely love it [great neighbors- the best actually, good bars/restaurants, a true "walking" neighborhood].
Pros include: a beautiful and clean downtown area which actually has a pulse [relative to Jackson at least]; great restaurants; very good shopping [SouthPark mall is one of the better malls I have been to]; beautiful intown neighborhoods [Fourth Ward, Dilworth, South End, Elizabeth, Plaza Midwood, Chantilly]; proximity to the mountains [2 hours away] or beach [3 hours away]; nice people [not small town nice, but pleasant and helpful nonetheless]; good climate [summers can be hot, but nothing like MS]; and growth opportunity galore. I really predict that Charlotte will be the next Atlanta in the next 20 years, which could be good or bad.
Negatives include: traffic [especially in the Lake Norman and South Charlotte areas]; somewhat conservative and homogenous population [yet not nearly as conservative as Jackson, MS]; radio stations and the music scene in general leave much to be desired [lots of top 40 crappola, but no indie music scene to speak of- this seems to be changing however]; suburban sprawl [as with any southern city that is actually growing]; can be difficult to make new friends, at first [the longer you are here, the easier it gets]; and, crime is on the rise [but it is still a relatively safe city- I have had no problems whatsoever].
Overall, I would recommend moving to Charlotte if you are in a smaller southern or northern city. I am not sure if those who live in a larger city would find alot to do here, but the options are increasing as the city grows. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate living in Charlotte as an "8." It could be better [and probably will be as it grows], but it could be much worse as well.
Alex | Charlotte, NC