Archive for January, 2010

Navigating NoDa – Charlotte’s Creative Center

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Whether you meet with the Historic North Charlotte Neighborhood Association on the 1st Tuesday of each month to discuss the preservation of NoDa’s dynamic community, or you simply like to swing by the Cabo Fish Taco for after-work margaritas with friends, Charlotte’s artistic NoDa district offers a place for everyone.

After the collapse of the textile industry in the mid 1970s, this area became practically invisible on the North Carolina’s map. The 1980s brought with it a wealth of young artists and visionaries who worked to restore the community by teaming with local businesses, old mill owners and neighbors. Today, the structural makeup of NoDa is as assorted as its society. It offers an array of galleries, theaters, restaurants and shops support its citizens that stroll from bungalows, hip condos and its burgeoning residential area.

Real estate is prime in this neat Charlotte neighborhood. Whether you’re an artist looking for a studio to rent, couple hoping to score an urban condo with rooftop terrace, or family seeking a quiet, pet-friendly, first-time home, NoDa’s offerings are sure to satisfy your needs.

Special events abound in the NoDa community, working to keep its members connected. On February 5th, the Center of the Earth Gallery will welcome guests to enjoy a selection of painting, collage and sculpture from a collective of artists. The dining scene is not overlooked in NoDa and is as diverse, if not more so, as the art sector.

Casual creole at Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen, endless crepes at the Crepe Cellar Kitchen & Pub, Mediterranean fare at Revolution and a dog-friendly space to enjoy NoDa’s best brews, The Dog Bar, are just a few selections lining the streets.

So no matter what sort of living space you’re looking for, as long as it’s couched in a community that cultivates creativity, diversity and positive energy, there is a piece of real estate waiting for you in Charlotte’s NoDa district.

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Homes vs. Condos for Retirement in Charlotte

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Charlotte has been voted one of the best cities to live in on several occasions throughout the past few years based on crime rates, affordable housing and the job market. With a vibrant urban center, bolstered by banks, improving employment rates, entertainment and development, the forecast for Charlotte is growth. It’s an excellent center for college-aged individuals – UNC Charlotte is there – but it also has a plethora of 55+ active adult communities which draw in large populations of retirees annually.

If you decide to relocate to Charlotte around the time of retirement, however, you don’t have to commit to an active adult housing development. There are many advantages, as well as disadvantages, to retiring into a smaller home or condo in the Charlotte area.

Of course, weighing the financial options between a house and a condo is imperative. Looking at the type of lifestyle you want to lead during retirement is also essential. Do you want a lawn to mow? Do you want to be required to take an elevator to your residence? Both condos and homes have their perks and pitfalls.

With a condo, you get the added security of neighbors all around; you do have to share walls with them, however. There may also be luxury amenities such as pools, gyms, scheduled activities and chauffeurs. If you don’t plan to use them, expect to pay for their upkeep anyway. Also, there may be common areas such as parking and laundry facilities that you’ll have to share.

With a house, you’re buying a detached piece of property. There won’t likely be maintenance or HOA fees, doubtful an included gym, but you may have to shovel your own snow and take out your own trash. The square footage, in most cases, will also be greater, meaning more space to maintain and keep clean.

After you’ve considered your budget, have weighed the pros and cons of buying a home against purchasing a condo, and are ready to take the retirement relocation plunge, the most important thing will ultimately be that you’re comfortable, surrounded by a lifestyle you love and enjoying the days of respite that you’ve deserved.

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Join the 2020 Team to Improve Charlotte

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

If you could hold a picture of Charlotte in the year 2000 alongside a snapshot of Charlotte today, it would be easy to see the development, improvement and progress the city has made in one, short decade. Much of Uptown Charlotte’s growth can be attributed to the Center City Partners, their supportive teams and the implementation of the 2010 Vision Plan.

Adopted in 2000, the 2010 Vision Plan was intended to serve as a foundation of recommendations and implementations from which the community could work as a whole to improve their quality of life and foster urban development. A quick recap of some highlights: the land swap — the ultimate goal being a park in the Third Ward — the retail market assessment, newsstand dispersal on sidewalks, the downtown transportation council development, convention center reformation and the support of over 6,000 housing developments. There were of course may other far-reaching details and initiatives outlined in the 2010 Vision Plan that can be reviewed form the Center City Partners’ Web site.

In 2008, the Center City Partners joined forces with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, as well as with the County Parks and Recreation Department to put into motion the 2020 Vision Plan.

Residents of Uptown Charlotte, South End and other close-in neighborhoods are encouraged to attend community workshops to provide input on proposals and components of the plan. There will be a steering committee comprised of involved community members. The plan will focus on endeavors to enhance neighborhoods and districts, Center City’s long-term growth opportunities and catalyst projects to make implementing the plan plausible.

So if you live in or around Uptown Charlotte and missed the opportunity to help mold your city into what it is today, join Center City Partners and neighbors on the 2020 Vision Plan and continue the improvements to one of the Southeast’s most vibrant urban hubs.

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Crime is Down, Spirits are Up and Homes are Affordable

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Located just outside Charlotte’s Center City and the I-277 loop, Belmont is one of the city’s most affordable, diverse and up-and-coming neighborhoods. In the past, Belmont’s cost-controlled housing was a strong drawing factor for those looking to relocate. The majority of people who move to the area become long-term residents. While there was, and still is, a sense of neighborliness and strong community ties, at one point crime was an issue.

Today, the crime rate has drastically dropped, and Belmont is experiencing a rebirth much like the neighborhoods of Plaza Midwood and NoDa did in the past. The city has been on a roll building mixed-income housing, restoring quaint bungalows and attracting new residents with historic home features and great views of Center City.

Adopted by City Council in 2003, the Belmont Revitalization Plan has been instrumental in restoring this charming Charlotte community. Another greatly influential improvement was the revitalization of Piedmont Courts. Now called Seigle Point, this 20 million dollar project brought several million dollars of infrastructure grants to the community that went toward housing, streetscapes and planned community getaways.

The Belmont Revitalization Plan’s proponents spent years collecting data form Belmont residents and conducting surveys to guarantee that the community’s growth and development went in the direction the neighborhood desired. There are four parks, public transportation is accessible, youth programs abound and community events are taking place all the time.

Today, the Belmont community is a burgeoning, diverse and energetic district. The home price range is between approximately $55,000 and $250,000, and with the government aid available to home buyers today, much of Belmont’s residential real estate is affordable.

Considered Charlotte’s “first sizeable working class neighborhood,” as cited in the Revitalization Plan, Belmont’s location between the Fourth Ward and Plaza Midwood makes its accessible to services and an easy commute for Uptown Charlotte workers.

So if you’re looking to invest in metro Charlotte real estate within a community that is only going to get better, consider the quaint, historic Belmont District.

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The ‘Vue’ is Good in Center City Charlotte

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

People living in Uptown Charlotte have heard the rumblings of a new neighbor moving in since early 2008. The Vue, a 51 – story, premier, luxury condominium tower is redefining the skyline in Center City Charlotte. The mayor reported to WSOCTV that the recession had indeed taken its toll on the Uptown real estate market, but that the job sector is slowly, steadily inclining. Despite some economic hardship, many developers — the Vue’s developer Dan McLean included — have been able to keep their feet on the ground, workers employed and are making great strides toward completing some revolutionary housing projects in Uptown Charlotte. The Vue residential condo tower in Charlotte NC

Randy Greub, the VP of construction for the Vue, says that the difference between this Charlotte condo tower and others is the details. Overlooking the Fourth Ward, the Vue is encased in stunning glass windows and units will offer residents beautiful wood cabinetry, Italian marble and porcelain tiles, ceilings up to 19 feet tall, special acoustical treatments between floors, stainless steel appliances and truly posh bathrooms.

The Vue’s sales center opened in September 2005, and since then, many Charlotte residents have decided to make the big move to the city. They will be packing their bags this September when the Vue’s units are open and ready for buyers to move in.

Building amenities include luxuries such as a pool and deck, ready – to – use business center, sports courts, health clubs, concierge services, parking and much more. The Vue is striving to truly redefine luxury urban living in Uptown Charlotte.

According to Charlotte city officials and developers, the housing market is definitely on the rise — no doubt prompted by the return of jobs to the city. The Charlotte Center City Partners expect the real estate market to see a 50% growth rate over the next decade, which is great news for the latest residents of the Vue, developers of other downtown living destinations, buyers and sellers alike.

Contact Katie Gray for a personal “hardhat tour” of the Vue!

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