Educate me on Charlotte

[steenh]

I'm exploring a possible job/company change that would happen next summer and would mean a move to Charlotte. Not sure if I'd move the family right away since my daughter is a sophmore this year... but maybe. Might be nice to get in-state tuition to UNC for her?

Any insights? Housing market, schools, best locations to live, traffic (remember I'd be coming from Atlanta), stuff to do, crime, whatever you think I'd need to know.

I've been to Charlotte a total of two times. Once for a couple of hours to pick up the Hundy 5 yrs ago, and once back in the 80's for a week, so I know almost nothing.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I prefer it to Atlanta, and you'd be super close to URE...... that is about all the insight I can provide

Hit up Andy or Josh Jones they both live there

 

[BMThiker]

I believe Stan (NCFJ) lived there too, before moving out to the country.

 

[GXO]

I have been a ton. I worked a big deal there with Bank of America and spent months living there (in a hotel). There are some amazing places, the cost of living is low, but the schools are quite good because a lot of the banking guys live there as the HQ (BoA, Wachovia, etc all have spots there).

Johnson and Wales cooking school is there so there are always really trendy places to eat and go out to, and it is pretty much the same weather as ATL.

I would live there if I had the right scenario arise (money, custody, job, etc) so if only the concern of not knowing the city, I can make you feel better.

Go spend a week up there. You will see. Really good time to buy right now too.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

I have to go to the concord mills area right above charlotte all the time for my daughters modeling/acting stuff.

The traffic sucks at pretty much all hours.

Plenty to do there for the little ones, you have the race track, drag strip, concord mills, the city is great, great wolf lodge, plenty of shopping, dave and busters for the big kids, professional sports, hockey!!!!!! did i mention hockey?

 

[Trollhole]

Basically it's half of your city. As far as traffic anything is better than where you live. Anything. It's not as hot as where you live.

So in a nutshell it's your city but less in every way.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

you get to see the steelers come to town every now and again to whoop up on the panthers!!

 

[cruiser4life]

I'm exploring a possible job/company change that would happen next summer and would mean a move to Charlotte. Not sure if I'd move the family right away since my daughter is a sophmore this year... but maybe. Might be nice to get in-state tuition to UNC for her?

Any insights? Housing market, schools, best locations to live, traffic (remember I'd be coming from Atlanta), stuff to do, crime, whatever you think I'd need to know.

I've been to Charlotte a total of two times. Once for a couple of hours to pick up the Hundy 5 yrs ago, and once back in the 80's for a week, so I know almost nothing.

It has been 5 years already?? Wow, time flies!

As you know I live in CLT now and actually lived here early in my childhood as well. For this stint, I've been here almost 15 years so that's probably as good as any indication that I really like it here. Lots of big city amenities without -some- of the downside (traffic, crime, ease of getting around, cost of living, etc.) compared to larger cities (ATL, NY, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Philly, etc). Though I'd disagree with Dan's statement - in general, the public schools are horrible. Too long to detail here but our 16 year old does not go to Char-Meck Schools and our 3 month old won't either.

You appear to have a sizable window for research and due diligence which is good. Contact me directly with any specific questions and of course, let me know if you're here to explore - I'd be happy to show you around and help you get your bearings.

 

[Gumby94]

We are new to Charlotte. Moved here about 2 months ago for my wife's job. ( I'm looking for one now ). We came from Tulsa Oklahoma and we love it here !!

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[steenh]

The schools are a concern overall only if we decide to move Kristen before HS graduation. I could easily "commute" if I needed to for a couple of years. Suppose I could swing for private for a couple of years if needed.

Andy, it's been 4-1/2 years now. Pretty amazing how fast time flys! I may take you up on the offer to show me around sometime. I know I'll have the opportunity. Just need to weigh the bucks and future vs. the disruption. I'll let you know. At some point I'd probably get up there just to meet the folks to make sure it's a good fit.

Thanks for all the info guys!

 

[NCFJ]

I did not live in Char. I moved here from Hendersonville, NC. I'd suggest starting a thread on the ONSC section.

Stan

 

[steenh]

I did not live in Char. I moved here from Hendersonville, NC. I'd suggest starting a thread on the ONSC section.

Stan

Will do that... good idea.

 

[99UZJay]

Rock Hill is apparently the place to be, but then you lose the in state tuition for UNC. Just commute from Lambsburg, VA straight down 77 and you can get in state for a good school like UVA!!

 

[Trollhole]

Rock Hill is apparently the place to be, but then you lose the in state tuition for UNC. Just commute from Lambsburg, VA straight down 77 and you can get in state for a good school like UVA!!

I lived in Rock Hill for 2 years. It is not the place to be.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

i dated a girl who went to winthrop...spent ever weekend for a year there.

A very boring area. Pineville mall is about the only close thing that is entertaining, that and lake wylie.

However...if i were a young, college age, single fellow...a college town where the women out number the men better than 4 to 1...woudn't be so bad.

But I'm a realist and even if i were single now....no chance in hell i'm getting laid!!!

 

[informationjunky]

I lived in Wesley Chapel last (Davidson and Pineville prior). Just like Atlanta, there are good and bad area's for schools. I'm assuming your job would be downtown? You have plenty of options on locations. We loved it there but went where the job was. Its been a long time so I'm afraid I can't help too much.

 

[boombapslappy]

Charlotte is a nice city. A clean city...trees downtown, clean streets and the like. Lots of nice neighborhoods. Plenty to do and it's a great distance from everywhere--beach, mountains, north, south. Works out really great with 85 and 77 intersecting. Shopping, National Whitewater center, NASCAR...

If you're looking for schools though, my home town of Fort Mill is the place to be. Do anything you can to stay out of Char-Meck Shcools. Short commute to Charlotte (I do it everyday) and the schools are among the best in the country (forget the SC education thing--FM takes it way more seriously than the rest of the state). My dad's on the school board so I can give you his number if you want specifics. I'd suggest Nation Ford High School. It's the newest (of two) and is in a great spot right next to the Anne Springs Close Greenway and the Springfield neighborhood.

ALL the kool kids who get jobs in CLT live in FM.

 

[boombapslappy]

Oh, and the traffic gets annoying sometimes but is nothing like ATL or Orlando even.

One more thing...the music scene is really cool here. Don't know what you're into but the Double Door has great band coming through all the time (blues, jazz, bluegrass, etc.). I think that's where the Avit Bros. got their start. I know they played there a lot. Bob Crawford and I were Music majors at Winthrop at the same time. Played in a couple of combos but mostly went to see him play. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater has tons of big acts come through every year too and is easy to get to, right beside UNCC. The performing arts center downtown is always working on something. Saw Bela Fleck and the Flectones last month.

 

[informationjunky]

Oh, and the traffic gets annoying sometimes but is nothing like ATL or Orlando even.

One more thing...the music scene is really cool here. Don't know what you're into but the Double Door has great band coming through all the time (blues, jazz, bluegrass, etc.). I think that's where the Avit Bros. got their start. I know they played there a lot. Bob Crawford and I were Music majors at Winthrop at the same time. Played in a couple of combos but mostly went to see him play. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater has tons of big acts come through every year too and is easy to get to, right beside UNCC. The performing arts center downtown is always working on something. Saw Bela Fleck and the Flectones last month.

The Double Door is a must!!

 

[boombapslappy]

The Double Door is a must!!

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! And the Visulite too. Both awsome venues. A buddy of mine from high school does sound at the Double Door and has done some recording for Larry Kiel and Sam Bush.

Resturants are good too. There's a new one I tried with some folks from work called Table 274. mmmmmm. Oh, and Johnson and Whales runs the dining hall (that's right--it's not a cafeteria) at Providence Day School. It's a private school on the SE side of town. About 25k/year for HS. About 16k for elementary. They have students (that's right--plural) make perfect scores on SAT constantly. Another buddy from college is the band director there. He had blackened cajun salmon for lunch about a week ago in the "dining hall". Sometimes he has sushi.

FM schools aren't like that, but for public schools they're top notch. And are rated better (standardized testing/college acceptance) than most private schools in the area. They're sports are good too. Volleyball lost in the Upper State finals this year but won state last year I think. Softball is state champs, swimming, cross country, baseball are all up there every year. Football isn't great but they did make it to the playoffs this year and lost to Daniel. This is all Nation Ford. I graduated from Fort Mill but haven't paid much attention as my sister just graduated from NF. And, NF and FM marching bands are No. 1 and 2 in the state, respectively. I went to the Rose Parade when I was drum major at FM and NF just got back from Macy's. Big time band town.