Welcome to Charlotte Dickens Mitchener

CITY OF CHARLOTTE

City Offices
600 E. 4^th Street
Charlotte 704-336-2248
24-Hour Hotline
704-336-7600
https://charlottenc.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
330 S. Tryon Street
Charlotte 704-378-1300
https://charlotteregion.com/

Services
Recognized as one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, Charlotte is a study in quality of life. As the second largest banking center in the nation, Charlotte received Fortune magazine’s vote as having the best pro-business attitude. New residents can look forward to the finest of services, from transportation to education and healthcare. While Charlotte residents enjoy healthcare costs that are below the national average, they have access to nationally renowned teaching and research institutions. Leading healthcare systems like Carolinas Health Care ensure a comprehensive network of facilities that meet every need from routine to the most advanced. The 843-bed flagship hospital of Carolinas Medical Center is a Level I Trauma Center and major teaching institution. The university campus of the medical center opened near the University of North Carolina campus in 1985. Presbyterian Hospital, the flagship of the Presbyterian Healthcare System, is located just minutes from downtown Charlotte. One of the largest private community hospitals in the region, Presbyterian Hospital is a leader in the modern managed-care environment. Its cancer center is affiliated with Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Hemby Children’s Hospital features family rooms with microwaves and VCRs as well as a large playroom and comprehensive child-life program. Throughout the metropolitan area, skilled professionals and dedicated specialty centers meet every need from routine to the most advanced.

The importance that Charlotte residents place on education is evident in the quality of the region’s public and private schools. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system maintains a strong focus on high academic standards and student access to advanced courses. At the high school level, this results in the International Baccaulaurate, the nation’s most challenging curriculum. College-level courses in English, math, and foreign language enable many IB graduates to enter college as sophomores. Teachers also strive for excellence. Charlotte-Mecklenburg ranks second only to the Los Angeles school system—six times its size— for teachers who have earned national board certification. The opportunities for higher education close to home range from the two-year Central Piedmont Community College to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a number of respected private institutions.

Lifestyle
The “can do” City of Charlotte has set records for growth and development in recent decades, attracting an additional 25,000 new residents each year. Placing a high value on newcomers as well as those with roots firmly planted in this area, the city is known for its robust economy, forward-thinking attitude, and Southern hospitality. Charlotte actually serves as the heart one of the largest metropolitan areas in the nation. Climate is a major advantage, combining 214 days of sunshine with enough rain to ensure lush greenery and towering trees. Cozy neighborhoods, affordable housing, an enviable cost of living, professional sports, and first-rate local and regional recreational amenities place Charlotte in a class of its own. The U.S. Conference of mayors named Charlotte “America’s most livable city” in 1995—an opinion that was echoed later by the nonprofit group, Partners for Livable Communities.

This fast-growing city is increasingly culturally diverse, claiming one of America’s largest concentrations of people with Greek heritage. In addition to venues and attractions that celebrate the cities eclectic ethnic roots, new residents will discover first-rate venues for theatre, opera, music, dance, and the visual arts. The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, the Discovery Place science museum, the Afro-American Cultural Cente, and the Mint Museum of Art are just a few examples of the quality institutions and centers in Charlotte. Sports fans can indulge their appetite for excitement with the Carolina Panthers football team, the Charlotte Checkers hockey team, or the Charlotte Knights AAA baseball team. They can also catch the thrills of NASCAR racing at the nearby Lowe’s Motor Speedway, home to one of the most attended sporting events in the nation.

Charlotte is expanding in all directions. The northern communities near Lake Norman are welcoming families to beautiful new residential communities, while the university neighborhood is driven by business and residential development. Ballantyne to the south has helped to spark development beyond Interstate 485, and economic progress is spurring west-side revitalization. Renovation is infusing new energy into the city’s vintage neighborhoods, from Dilworth and the South End to NoDa. From its premier historic districts to a pulsating nightlife and abundant parks, Charlotte is the ideal place to call home.

Metropolitan Neighborhoods

Downtown
Formerly known as Uptown, the downtown area within the Interstate 277 loop is commonly called Center City. First Ward Place is one of the most notable developments, a community of gleaming apartments and single-family homes. With its unusual blend of income levels, the neighborhood is home to many of the city’s most important historic and civic institutions. The modern performance and artistic venue of Spirit Square had its genesis as First Baptist Church. Other neighborhood icons include the Little Rock AME Zion Church, and the Afro-American Cultural Center. The legacy of cultural and artistic venues continues with the North Tryon area, distinguished as a vibrant cultural, arts, and entertainment district. The restored Carolina Theater and new Children’s Learning Center only enhances the neighborhood’s status as a cultural center. The expansion of Charlotte’s vintage trolley line to encompass stops in First Ward only drives further development in this lively and colorful district. Third Ward enjoys close proximity to Ericsson Stadium and features hundreds of new townhomes, condominiums, and apartments. Fourth Ward showcases some of the city’s most historic homes. These elegant Victorians are among the nation’s finest residences nestled in an inner-city environment. Downtown living is catching fire with Charlotte residents, who are attracted to high-rise living spaces in the heart of the city’s entertainment and cultural attractions.

Old Charlotte
Charlotte’s first “suburbs” formed along streetcar lines that stretched beyond the city. Today, these historic neighborhoods include Dilworth, Elizabeth, Myers Park, Plaza-Midwood, and Eastover. Dilworth has attracted many newcomers who are interested in renovating turn-of-the-century bungalows south of the city. Wonderful restaurants, fine shops, and Freedom Park add to the quality of life. To the west of Dilworth is the popular South End retail and entertainment district, driving attention to the Wilmore area. Offering features similar to Dilbert is Elizabeth to the east, graced by Independence park. The Seventh Street retail district and Central Piedmont Community College are also in this area. Myers Park and Eastover showcase stately homes on larger lots, although Eastover residences tend to be newer. Many of the shops and services in this area are experiencing a renaissance, including the stunning library. Shops and restaurants are eclectic, tucking away bargains in antique stores. Chantilly is another neighborhood that is attracting young families with an eye toward renovation.

North Charlotte
The northern section of Charlotte is home to vintage warehouses, an historic textile mill, and yesterday’s rail lines. In recent years, a wave of artists and dancers have renovated the older “mill homes” and realized impressive gains in home value. The main thoroughfare of the area is North Davidson Street, traversing north to the end of the Charlotte city limits. With North Charlotte transforming into a haven of creativity and cultural awareness, NoDa is the designation for the arts district that has sprung up along North Davidson Street between 30th and 36th streets. Fine galleries, unique shops, interesting boutiques, charming cafes, and popular restaurants are all part of the NoDa scene. The neighborhood is especially lively during the Friday “Gallery Crawl” nights, when the local galleries extend their hours and provide refreshments. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the Neighborhood Theatre, a restored venue that attracts some of the nation’s finest musical talent.

West Charlotte
The neighborhoods on the western side of Charlotte have experienced slower growth than those located to the south and east. The expansion of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport with the resulting increase in traffic and noise was not as conducive to residential development as other sections of the city. Today, new and current residents are taking a closer look at this area that offers quick and easy airport access from West Boulevard. A number of beautiful subdivisions, some of them featuring upscale homes, have sprung up in this area at a sufficient distance from the airport to be appealing to a cross-section of buyers. Affordable land values along with the Interstate 485 outer loop and new commercial conveniences are all-important considerations to the bright future of West Charlotte.

East Charlotte
Distinguished as one of Charlotte’s most diverse areas, East Charlotte is located along Central Avenue past Plaza-Midwood. With a few blocks is a colorful and eclectic neighborhood filled with ethnic markets and restaurants. Mexican, Korean, Indian, and Vietnamese cuisine are among the many choices. Affordable housing harmonizes with plentiful shopping opportunities in the many strip malls that line the avenue. Eastland Mall is another convenient destination for those who are looking for today’s most popular retailers. Independence Boulevard or Highway 74 has traditionally served as one of Charlotte’s major retail corridors, changing its face through the decades. Shamrock Drive preserves an important page in Charlotte history as the home site of Hezekiah Alexander, one of the signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The newly expanded and renovated Charlotte Museum of History provides a fittingly grand entrance and a reproduction of Alexander’s 1770s home.

South Charlotte
Less than three decades ago, the area south of Park Road Shopping Center was primarily patchwork fields dedicated to agricultural activity. The turning point for South Charlotte was the construction of the South Park shopping center, heralding an influx of retail revenue and residential development. Newcomers who wanted larger parcels of land than they could find in the longer established Charlotte neighborhoods were drawn to the area’s affordability. “More home for the dollar” was the hallmark of this area. After nearly 30 years of brisk new-home building, expansion continues as it moves even further south. Very large homes offering 5,000 square feet of living space or more can be found in this area. High-end commercial development has kept pace with the burgeoning neighborhoods and enclaves. The sprawling, mixed-use Ballantyne development lies in this area, surrounding a country club with apartments, shops, office buildings, and beautiful homes. The Interstate 485 outer loop only ensures further growth and development.

University City
The area that surrounds the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has welcomed exponential growth in the face of South Charlotte’s steady expansion. In less than a decade, acres of farmland have given way to restaurants, cafes, services, shopping centers, and family-friend residential developments. Part of the phenomenal growth in this area has been fueled by the “technology triangle” that emerged when high-tech companies began to build offices along West W.T. Harris Boulevard between Interstates 85 and 77. The Wachovia Corporation built its second corporate location on a campus that encompasses many computerized processes as well as conveniences from drycleaning to video rentals. U.S. Highway 29 and the state highway of N.C. 49 have driven growth of University City eastward toward the Mecklenburg county border. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and the expansive Reedy Creek Park nature preserve are major attractions in this area.

Lake Norman Area
One of the most profound population explosions in the Charlotte metropolitan area is the proliferation of subdivisions and custom homes around Lake Norman. Neighborhoods and communities in this area are only a 20-minute drive away from downtown Charlotte, yet they enjoy one of the most serene and picturesque environments in the region. Breathtaking settings, lovely homes, family-oriented communities, premier recreational amenities, and easy access to the city via Interstate 77 are some of the major contributors to the unbridled growth around Lake Normal. The wide variety of available housing attracts a cross-section of buyers, contrasting multi-million dollar lakeside manors with more reasonably priced subdivisions that attract growing families. Stretching beyond Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to border five counties, the area combines 535 miles of shoreline with wonderful waterfront and golf course communities.

Southwest Charlotte, Lake Wylie
The influence of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport has spurred more industrial parks and handsome office buildings in Southwest Charlotte than it has residential subdivisions. Like West Charlotte, the southwestern metropolitan region has been slower to develop residentially because of its close proximity to the bustling airport. The exception to this rule is the shoreline of Lake Wylie just across the state line in South Carolina. Many commuters who are looking for affordable lakefront living with easy access to Charlotte’s employment centers are finding the ideal home just southwest of Charlotte. Known as the Catawba Lake until 1960, sparkling Lake Wylie places the majority of its 325 miles of shoreline in South Carolina. Development along the North Carolina side is expected to boom in the near future with the Interstate 485 outer loop through the area. New homes are already springing up, accompanied by an influx of retail conveniences. Attractions in this area include a 1,000-acre park and nature preserve and the Paramount Carowinds theme park, straddling the North and South Carolina state lines.