bcousins001

Hi everyone, I am moving to Charlotte mid March and am in the process of researching the best areas to live etc but thought I would seek advice on here from anyone who lives or has lived there.

I am a 27yo male and would ideally like to live in a modern area with fellow young professionals, (my work is in the center city area). If anyone can give me any suggestions/input plus a rough idea on the cost of rent for a one bedroom apartment it would be most appreciated, thanks.

Pulaski

There are now a fair number of apartments in the downtown area (which Charlotte insists on calling "uptown" ). Within the I277 loop it's hard to go too far wrong and there are several failed condo developments that have become apartments - The Vue has units starting around $1,300, and there several others within 2-3 blocks of The Vue. The apartments at 5th & Poplar are about 8 yrs old, and have the only uptown full grocery-supermarket on the ground floor. The north corner of uptown has the only low rise residential developments, but are at the limit of what you'd probably want to walk to work from.

The nightlife scene, bars and restaurants is centered around "The Epicenter" at E Trade and S College, though many of the restaurants in the uptown area are "high end" and relatively expensive.

Outside of uptown, to the SE, towards around the Presbyterian hospital is the more established professionals' apartments area, within a mile of uptown, it's probably a little cheaper to rent down there, but look to pay around $1,000 and up. There are buses from there, but given the uptown apartment market I doubt you'll want to be down there unless you are very sensitive to rents.

To the SW just outside I277 there are a couple of apartment complexes called Grande View, and there are others further SW along the light rail line, but down there, much beyond I277, is a rough area, and I would not recommend it, again unless you are very sensitive to rents. Grande View overlooking I277 is the end of the FREE bus into uptown.

To the NE the area known as Davidson is trendy, arty, and cheaper, with low rise apartments, and some lofts too I think, but dangerous with periodic shootings, often drug related.

There is little to recommend and plenty to avoid in the area to the NW, beyond I77!

bcousins001

Thanks Pulaski for the detailed response. I have a car (I am driving out from LA where I am currently based) so no need for buses (I hope). From what you say it sounds like uptown is the place to be so I will look there I think cheers

civilservant

Coast to Coast move eh? Welcome to a much different climate than SoCal

bcousins001

I haven't been in LA long, I came over here after lucking out in the DV Lottery and based myself in LA because I thought thats where i'd be most likely to land a job (post production/video editing) but am looking forward to Charlotte. No idea what kind of climate to expect but I hope i miss most of the cold for this year

Pulaski

You will - gardeners' "last frost day" is considered to be March 18.

bcousins001

Fantastic! and thanks again

Michael

Yah, but you are going to be in for a hot very humid summer instead of the low humidity California summers.

Pulaski

Ah, yes! ...... In a good year the stickiest weather can last from June to August, in a bad one, from early May to mid October. Last summer was short but brutal.