Good Charlotte Neighborhoods?

[ckad79]

Both me and my finance currently live in downtown Richmond, VA but we are looking at buying a home after we get married this spring. I've always loved North Carolina from my many visits and although we're both highly considering Chapel Hill, I'm trying to convince her of Charlotte because I wouldn't mind see more Panthers and the soon-to-be Hornets games! :)

 

The problem is, we both want the area we live in to not necessarily be trendy, but have some character all its own. Neither one of us like the typical corporate lifestyle of TGI Friday's and Applebee's as our "local" restaurant spots (no disrespect to anybody who loves that stuff).

 

Currently, in downtown Richmond though, we are close to a strip of great local restaurants and shops. We both really like it, because it's unique to Richmond. Not everybody has those places to go; but everybody has Starbucks, you know? Sure, the public schools aren't so great and yards are smaller downtown, but you can't have it all. 

 

I'm looking at realtor.com for some ideas in Charlotte. I have to admit, a lot of what I see that is very nice and well kept is way outside of uptown (like a 30 to 40 minute drive).

 

What is everybody's idea of Fourth Ward? It seems to be within walking distance of the basketball arena and near the excitement of uptown. Although, uptown isn't flooded with a lot of "local" businesses. I think I walked around Fourth Ward once, behind Rock Bottom? Maybe? It seemed like a nice neighborhood. 

 

We'd like to find either a charleston style home, a craftsman, bungalow or a victorian home. Basically nothing colonial or cookie cutter. I been told to check out NODA and/or the area close to Zada Jane's Corner Cafe? When I look at Google Maps though, the area seems to look spotty in places. Are there any neighborhoods or streets that people suggest I look at? 

 

I'm also not against finding a home that needs some work if the area is improving or plans to improve.

 

Thanks. 

 

 

[Niner National]

NoDa and Plaza-Midwood are both nice and have some unique character to them. I live in Plaza-Midwood.

 

Fourth Ward is great, but there aren't many homes in Fourth Ward. The actual houses that do exist in Fourth Ward are super expensive.

 

Dilworth is a great area and so is the Madison Park area (Montford Avenue is big hotspot)..

 

There are some really nice fixer-upper Bungalows in the Wilmore area too (walking distance to SouthEnd).

 

South Park is great with a lot of unique restaurants, but it is really pricey and not a neighborhood with much nightlife since most of the residents there are older.

 

Those are the only areas of Charlotte I would live in personally.

 

You can find nice homes in other areas of town like Ballantyne, but those areas are sterile and boring. It is basically living in a corporate park, plus traffic is terrible.

[Niner National]

NoDa and Plaza-Midwood are both nice and have some unique character to them. I live in Plaza-Midwood.

 

Fourth Ward is great, but there aren't many homes in Fourth Ward. The actual houses that do exist in Fourth Ward are super expensive.

 

Dilworth is a great area and so is the Madison Park area (Montford Avenue is big hotspot)..

 

There are some really nice fixer-upper Bungalows in the Wilmore area too (walking distance to SouthEnd).

 

South Park is great with a lot of unique restaurants, but it is really pricey and not a neighborhood with much nightlife since most of the residents there are older.

 

Those are the only areas of Charlotte I would live in personally.

 

You can find nice homes in other areas of town like Ballantyne, but those areas are sterile and boring. It is basically living in a corporate park, plus traffic is terrible.

[Panthro]

Chantilly, Commonwealth Park, and Morningside may be more affordable and bigger potential return for the type of house you want.

[toldozer]

Vermillion (sp) is pretty cool. Nice neighborhood and cool bar in the middle of it. I would check out some huntersville/cornelious areas.

[Happy Panther]

Lake Norman has some great spots but is not the best commute if you are working downtown. I'm partial to Davidson. If you are looking for local restaurants and a tight knit community you can't beat it. But if you need a local bar scene then you need to be closer to downtown.

 

NODA is super trendy but backs up to some questionable areas.

 

I lived in South Charlotte and I would say that is more like the Applebee's stuff you are trying to avoid but that depends where.

 

If you can afford it Dilworth or Myres Park is great. Southpark area is nice depending on where you are.

[Niner National]

Lake Norman has some great spots but is not the best commute if you are working downtown. I'm partial to Davidson. If you are looking for local restaurants and a tight knit community you can't beat it. But if you need a local bar scene then you need to be closer to downtown.

 

NODA is super trendy but backs up to some questionable areas.

 

I lived in South Charlotte and I would say that is more like the Applebee's stuff you are trying to avoid but that depends where.

 

If you can afford it Dilworth or Myres Park is great. Southpark area is nice depending on where you are.

I left out the Lake area since that isn't really Charlotte, but I will second some of these suggestions. The lake area is really cool, especially Davidson.

 

If you don't mind a commute ckad (assuming you're working in Uptown), definitely check out Davidson or Mooresvile.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Grier Heights

[KillerKat]

Thought this thread was going to be about some pussy poser band as their neighbor.

[Doyle]

Eastway Drive is a lovely area.  You can check out the illegal gambling coffee houses on Sunday afternoons.

[ladypanther]

ckad79....you did not mention work and sounds like you can choose where you want to live.   ?? Are you independently wealthy?

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Lady panther flirting now!!

So really you want to hang if you are wealthy?

[TNPanther]

Not a Charlotte resident, but just from visiting NoDa I would definitely live there. Very interesting and unique neighborhood. From the sound of it you are probably in your mid 20's or early 30's, you'd fit right in there. Like others have said though, it is right across the railroad tracks from the hood.

Edit: you live in Richmond, so I'm sure you've seen it all in terms of bad neighborhoods lol

[pstall]

Montford Drive i still think has the best bang for the buck in terms of home and neighborhood and locale.

 

with the exception of Grier Heights(lol) and Eastway other areas mentioned are pretty solid.