I have friends who live in Charlotte, North Carolina and I was curious as to what information I could find about the area and lifestyle. I'll post here links to information I find and I would hope you will find it useful as well.
This website has comprehensive coverage about Charlotte:
http://www.bestplaces.net/city/north_carolina/charlotte
Update July 23, 2020
quote from above: If you are considering moving to a city in NC, check out Asheville, Wilmington and Winston-Salem, before you settle on Charlotte!
two responses:
Response A:
Charlotte - the best city for me.
Star Rating - 6/4/2019
I moved to Charlotte in 2003 and still live here now. I've lived in Charleston SC, Denver CO, Tucson AZ, Santa Cruz, CA, Greenville SC and Winston-Salem NC.
Every city I've ever lived in or visited has issues, it's in every city in every country, so there is NO point in complaining about traffic, crime, roads.... every city has it. West Charlotte is were the crime is. I live in South Charlotte near Ballantyne. I love this city and will probably retire here. Charlotte is large enough to have all the amenities of a big city, but Charlotte isn't so large that we have the major issues that larger cities have. Charlotte is clean, there is little to no crime where I live and travel. There are PLENTY of white collar jobs making 6 figures. Housing is exceptionally affordable and our city has plenty of room to grow and expand outwards. We are 3 hours to the beaches and 2 hours to the mountains. The city is diverse but fairly conservative from what I experience.
Charlotte is a good fit for me and my family. We might not have the restaurants like NY, San Fran or Chicago, or fancy Broadway shows/plays, but if you are looking for a safe, clean and exceptionally reasonable place to raise your family - Charlotte is it.
Cameron | Fort Mill, SC
Response B to above:
"Charlotte is clean, there is little to no crime where I live and travel." Ballantyne. Yes indeedy. One of THE VERY nicest and wealthiest areas in Charlotte which, because of said wealth, does not share air with the "affordable housing" projects crammed everywhere BUT Ballantyne and it's older moneyed sister, Myers Park. They want to 'have help' but they don't want them closer than a busline running from across town. Charlotte wants to grow for political reasons, expanding for more clout. Planning nearly unrestricted 'AH projects" is 24/7 here. The last one our neighborhood finally stopped, for example (we are now the affordable housing dumping ground, apparently) would have allowed any number of people (with equivalent cars) to occupy a 2 BR APT and the currently nightmarish traffic (from 4pm to 7pm) traveling one of the main roads through our area would have easily tripled. NO occupancy restrictions?? "They hadn't considered that a major factor to address, assuming common sense would. dictate...."? ECONOMY dictates, idiots, and low paying jobs for immigrants and unskilled labor they are attracting in record numbers would 'dictate' half a dozen--or so-- occupants instead of 2 or 3.. God forbid you own a home during real estate tax re-evaluation. My home taxes this year DOUBLED from the previous assessment 8 years ago. The county 'failed' to send a letter to notify me in a timely manner so the appeal day (other than dealing with the state board of appeals, a long involved undertaking) had passed by more than two months. I almost had a heart attack when I opened the bill (which DID find its way to me in a timely manner, go figure).. Greedy, demanding, run by the most wealthy and most politically powerful. And attracting people from areas with no manners and no sense of how to drive politely or intelligently. I moved here in '81. I''m planning to get the hell out of her as soon as I can sell my rental house and buy away from this maddening place. Good luck navigating the road system...which is nonsensical. Original Charlotte was built on a basic X pattern. [There is even an intersection that is 4 way Queens Road stop signs in Myah's Pahk.] The road layout overall was designed helped to keep the rich and poor separate. With the new roads, you really need luck to figure out how to get anywhere. Good thing for GPS now. I bought a house in the foothills of the wealthiest area and it paid off, but I need to sell and be done with it before the condos crammed everywhere start encroaching.
Another response
A:
Not what I thought it would be
Star Rating - 8/22/2018
I have been here for three years. I have found it to be very over crowded (and getting worse by the day), and not as inexpensive as it first seemed. The only plan that the city planners seem to have is to get more and more people in without thinking for a second about the infrastructure that can no longer accommodate the population. Apartment buildings and condos (as well as houses) are being built at an alarming rate, but the areas that they are built in have the same police, fire, schools, emergency services, and post offices that they always had. We sometimes get our mail delivered at 8pm and on Sundays! Think the post office is overwhelmed?
The health care system is extremely overtaxed as well, it can take a month to get an appt. with a doctor.
Looks like it used to be a beautiful city, but that has gone by.
Don't even get me started about the traffic. The roads can't handle the population, either, and talk about idiot drivers! It is not a question of if you will get into an accident, but when.
After three years, I am planning my exit.
David | Charlotte, NC
response B to above:
Your review is on point. If there is one tiny lot in downtown Charlotte, the previous buildings are razed, only to have new condo and townhouses built. Look at Dilworth; what used to be a beautiful part of town (and parts of it still are, don't get me wrong, but it is being ruined by the extensive building of condos and townhouses that look completely out of place, and ruin the character of this area. Never mind that some of the buildings are already being sold, and apparently are not able even fill their vacancies. Yet they continue to build more and more. If you bought a condo in the last couple of years, you will most likely lose money, due to competition of the new ones being built, so good luck with that. Traffic is tied up all the time, random road closings, and there have been times where it has taken me hours to get home from downtown, when once not long ago (few years) my commute took approximately 20 minutes. Now it takes twice as long. While the blue line is a great thing, the ability to use it is greatly reduced due to the fact that most stations do not have parking facilities. So if you live a few miles from the blue line, how are you supposed to get there???? No parking, and the bus lines are neither convenient, nor do they run on schedule. Never mind the random changes in the bus line, where schedules are changed,and some stations dropped completely. It seems to me that the "city planners" come up with good ideas, but don't think the entire process through, and figure out exactly HOW people are supposed to get TO the blue line train. They are mowing down beautiful trees that used to make this city a gorgeous place. Just think of the song "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot......" Yes, I've lived her over two decades and it is way past the time to get out. I work for one of the hospital systems, and they ARE overtaxed! Where are all these sick people coming from?? In my opinion, this is not a healthy city in any way, shape or form. What used to be a wonderful town is turning into an absolute nightmare. It's time to go...
response C to above
If they ever get a full Light Rail System built in Charlotte that will help with the traffic, the problem is they are not planning ahead on the rail lines. Charlotte tends to wait until it's too late to start planning a new rail line.
Another response
A
Still a S____hole.
Star Rating - 5/19/2019
I wrote a review of Charlotte several years back, and decided to write how things how gotten here since that time. In one word.....definitely WORSE. People come here seeing how beautiful and clean it is, but stay here a while, and you will get the true feel. Crime is soaring out of control with a record number of murders this year. There are shootings nearly everyday; even in "safe uptown". The traffic is even more congested, people drive like they're the only ones on the road, Charlotte has been rated #12 in the nation for aggressive drivers. Roads are even more torn up, even more random road closings. No improvement in the transit system; buses and even the trains will randomly have "technical difficulties" and just cancel routes. School system is still horrid, and all this town cares about is getting in more and more people than the roads, schools, hospitals, police and fire departments can support. Oh, but your tax dollars are going to build another stadium. If there is ANY bad publicity about the town, it is swept under the rug; negative news stories and youtube videos (think about the riots) are removed from the internet. It is NOT what it is cracked up to be, and it is NOT a good choice as far as moving here. Property taxes are soaring, with new assessments made in 2018 with people seeing increases in their property taxes as much as 60%. It may make the lists of "best places to live" but trust me as a resident for close to three decades. I KNOW what I'm talking about. Trust me on this one.....find someplace else, because that's what I'm doing as soon as I can.
This website has comprehensive coverage about Charlotte:
http://www.bestplaces.net/city/north_carolina/charlotte
Update July 23, 2020
quote from above: If you are considering moving to a city in NC, check out Asheville, Wilmington and Winston-Salem, before you settle on Charlotte!
two responses:
Response A:
Charlotte - the best city for me.
Star Rating - 6/4/2019
I moved to Charlotte in 2003 and still live here now. I've lived in Charleston SC, Denver CO, Tucson AZ, Santa Cruz, CA, Greenville SC and Winston-Salem NC.
Every city I've ever lived in or visited has issues, it's in every city in every country, so there is NO point in complaining about traffic, crime, roads.... every city has it. West Charlotte is were the crime is. I live in South Charlotte near Ballantyne. I love this city and will probably retire here. Charlotte is large enough to have all the amenities of a big city, but Charlotte isn't so large that we have the major issues that larger cities have. Charlotte is clean, there is little to no crime where I live and travel. There are PLENTY of white collar jobs making 6 figures. Housing is exceptionally affordable and our city has plenty of room to grow and expand outwards. We are 3 hours to the beaches and 2 hours to the mountains. The city is diverse but fairly conservative from what I experience.
Charlotte is a good fit for me and my family. We might not have the restaurants like NY, San Fran or Chicago, or fancy Broadway shows/plays, but if you are looking for a safe, clean and exceptionally reasonable place to raise your family - Charlotte is it.
Cameron | Fort Mill, SC
Response B to above:
"Charlotte is clean, there is little to no crime where I live and travel." Ballantyne. Yes indeedy. One of THE VERY nicest and wealthiest areas in Charlotte which, because of said wealth, does not share air with the "affordable housing" projects crammed everywhere BUT Ballantyne and it's older moneyed sister, Myers Park. They want to 'have help' but they don't want them closer than a busline running from across town. Charlotte wants to grow for political reasons, expanding for more clout. Planning nearly unrestricted 'AH projects" is 24/7 here. The last one our neighborhood finally stopped, for example (we are now the affordable housing dumping ground, apparently) would have allowed any number of people (with equivalent cars) to occupy a 2 BR APT and the currently nightmarish traffic (from 4pm to 7pm) traveling one of the main roads through our area would have easily tripled. NO occupancy restrictions?? "They hadn't considered that a major factor to address, assuming common sense would. dictate...."? ECONOMY dictates, idiots, and low paying jobs for immigrants and unskilled labor they are attracting in record numbers would 'dictate' half a dozen--or so-- occupants instead of 2 or 3.. God forbid you own a home during real estate tax re-evaluation. My home taxes this year DOUBLED from the previous assessment 8 years ago. The county 'failed' to send a letter to notify me in a timely manner so the appeal day (other than dealing with the state board of appeals, a long involved undertaking) had passed by more than two months. I almost had a heart attack when I opened the bill (which DID find its way to me in a timely manner, go figure).. Greedy, demanding, run by the most wealthy and most politically powerful. And attracting people from areas with no manners and no sense of how to drive politely or intelligently. I moved here in '81. I''m planning to get the hell out of her as soon as I can sell my rental house and buy away from this maddening place. Good luck navigating the road system...which is nonsensical. Original Charlotte was built on a basic X pattern. [There is even an intersection that is 4 way Queens Road stop signs in Myah's Pahk.] The road layout overall was designed helped to keep the rich and poor separate. With the new roads, you really need luck to figure out how to get anywhere. Good thing for GPS now. I bought a house in the foothills of the wealthiest area and it paid off, but I need to sell and be done with it before the condos crammed everywhere start encroaching.
Another response
A:
Not what I thought it would be
Star Rating - 8/22/2018
I have been here for three years. I have found it to be very over crowded (and getting worse by the day), and not as inexpensive as it first seemed. The only plan that the city planners seem to have is to get more and more people in without thinking for a second about the infrastructure that can no longer accommodate the population. Apartment buildings and condos (as well as houses) are being built at an alarming rate, but the areas that they are built in have the same police, fire, schools, emergency services, and post offices that they always had. We sometimes get our mail delivered at 8pm and on Sundays! Think the post office is overwhelmed?
The health care system is extremely overtaxed as well, it can take a month to get an appt. with a doctor.
Looks like it used to be a beautiful city, but that has gone by.
Don't even get me started about the traffic. The roads can't handle the population, either, and talk about idiot drivers! It is not a question of if you will get into an accident, but when.
After three years, I am planning my exit.
David | Charlotte, NC
response B to above:
Your review is on point. If there is one tiny lot in downtown Charlotte, the previous buildings are razed, only to have new condo and townhouses built. Look at Dilworth; what used to be a beautiful part of town (and parts of it still are, don't get me wrong, but it is being ruined by the extensive building of condos and townhouses that look completely out of place, and ruin the character of this area. Never mind that some of the buildings are already being sold, and apparently are not able even fill their vacancies. Yet they continue to build more and more. If you bought a condo in the last couple of years, you will most likely lose money, due to competition of the new ones being built, so good luck with that. Traffic is tied up all the time, random road closings, and there have been times where it has taken me hours to get home from downtown, when once not long ago (few years) my commute took approximately 20 minutes. Now it takes twice as long. While the blue line is a great thing, the ability to use it is greatly reduced due to the fact that most stations do not have parking facilities. So if you live a few miles from the blue line, how are you supposed to get there???? No parking, and the bus lines are neither convenient, nor do they run on schedule. Never mind the random changes in the bus line, where schedules are changed,and some stations dropped completely. It seems to me that the "city planners" come up with good ideas, but don't think the entire process through, and figure out exactly HOW people are supposed to get TO the blue line train. They are mowing down beautiful trees that used to make this city a gorgeous place. Just think of the song "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot......" Yes, I've lived her over two decades and it is way past the time to get out. I work for one of the hospital systems, and they ARE overtaxed! Where are all these sick people coming from?? In my opinion, this is not a healthy city in any way, shape or form. What used to be a wonderful town is turning into an absolute nightmare. It's time to go...
response C to above
If they ever get a full Light Rail System built in Charlotte that will help with the traffic, the problem is they are not planning ahead on the rail lines. Charlotte tends to wait until it's too late to start planning a new rail line.
Another response
A
Still a S____hole.
Star Rating - 5/19/2019
I wrote a review of Charlotte several years back, and decided to write how things how gotten here since that time. In one word.....definitely WORSE. People come here seeing how beautiful and clean it is, but stay here a while, and you will get the true feel. Crime is soaring out of control with a record number of murders this year. There are shootings nearly everyday; even in "safe uptown". The traffic is even more congested, people drive like they're the only ones on the road, Charlotte has been rated #12 in the nation for aggressive drivers. Roads are even more torn up, even more random road closings. No improvement in the transit system; buses and even the trains will randomly have "technical difficulties" and just cancel routes. School system is still horrid, and all this town cares about is getting in more and more people than the roads, schools, hospitals, police and fire departments can support. Oh, but your tax dollars are going to build another stadium. If there is ANY bad publicity about the town, it is swept under the rug; negative news stories and youtube videos (think about the riots) are removed from the internet. It is NOT what it is cracked up to be, and it is NOT a good choice as far as moving here. Property taxes are soaring, with new assessments made in 2018 with people seeing increases in their property taxes as much as 60%. It may make the lists of "best places to live" but trust me as a resident for close to three decades. I KNOW what I'm talking about. Trust me on this one.....find someplace else, because that's what I'm doing as soon as I can.
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