When the city of Charlotte was officially incorporated in 1768, it followed a common practice of naming cities after prominent figures. Charlotte was named after Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was Queen during the reign of King George III of Great Britain. Also known for the Charlotte Gold Rush that began with a young boy named Conrad Reed finding a 17 pound gold nugget Not thinking that it was gold, his family used it as a stepping stone before discovering its worth. Much of the gold was discovered in what is now South End and the Wilmore neighborhood. Downtown. In the early 1970’s city leaders started a campaign to revitalize the downtown area. As a part of that they revitalized the name “Uptown” - a long-ago used name for the downtown area that is known to have been used from the late 1800’s until 1929.
COST OF LIVING & HOME VALUE
The cost of living in Charlotte is approximately 2% below the national average. The median home price in the Greater Charlotte area is currently $383,000. While home prices declined in some US cities in 2023 and sales slowed by 20% or more, Charlotte’s home prices still increased that year 7.2%. The number of homes for sale remains low due to the influx of people moving to the area as well as the large number of Millennials who are currently in their prime home buying years.
Charlotte is the Perfect Place to Call Home
Charlotte is an attractive location for residents. The area has four true seasons with very mild winters. One can get to the NC mountains in 2 ½ hours or to many of the NC and SC beaches in 3 ½ hours It offers a lower-than-average cost of living, thriving financial, energy, technology, manufacturing, and distribution industries, a relatively moderate climate, and an emerging culinary landscape because of the presence of Johnson and Wales University. It is no surprise that Charlotte ranks among the top 20 fastest-growing cities in the United States.
DISCOVER THE VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR UPTOWN CHARLOTTE
DILWORTH
Known for its charming bungalow-style homes and tree-lined streets, Historic Dilworth was Charlotte's first subdivision and was developed by Edward Latta Dilworth beginning in 1891 on 400 acres that he owned. One can walk to South End and even ride the light rail to Uptown or all the way to UNC Charlotte. Residents can enjoy the 31 acre Latta Park that has walking trails, basketball courts and lots of space for activities and community events and within a short walk is also Freedom Park, a 98 acre area that includes lots of walking trails, playground equipment, and athletic fields along with a 7 acre lake. There are lots of great restaurants in the area such as 300 East, Kid Cashew, Dilworth Tasting Room, Dolce Osteria, The Penguin Drive-In, Bakersfield East Boulevard, and JJ’s Red Hot (a team favorite).
The neighborhood is connected to the 70 mile long Mecklenburg County Greenway System through the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, as well as the 300 mile long Carolina Thread Trail.
PLAZA MIDWOOD
Plaza Midwood is a trendy and eclectic neighborhood known for its vibrant arts scene and diverse community with a Bohemian feel. Located within minutes of Uptown, the neighborhood offers a wide variety of home styles with prices ranging from just under $300,000 to just over $1 million.
The area is home to numerous art galleries, live music venues and sneaker shops and lots of eclectic dining from places such as Whiskey Warehouse, Bohemian Wine Bar, Midwood Smokehouse, Moo & Brew, Pure Pizza, Workman’s Friend and Supperland. Several local breweries call Plaza Midwood home such as Resident Culture Brewing, Legion Brewery, Burial Beer Company, and Devil’s Logic Brewing, The Chamber by Wooden Robot, and Vaulted Barrel Brewing. There are some cool tap houses such as VBGB Beer Hall & Garden/Restaurant and Charlotte Beer Garden. To read our Fagan Foodie Reviews of Moo & Brew and Midwood Smokehouse, click the link.
NODA
In 2001, just 1 mile north of Uptown, the area around North Davidson street was pretty quiet compared to today when a couple of surfers from Virginia Beach opened a Baja-inspired taco place. A century earlier, it was pretty quiet there, too, until some wealthy textile owners began to execute on a vision that they had to create a self-contained mill village. It was 1903 when textile mills such as Highland Park, Mecklenburg Mill, Johnston Mill, and others were built along with housing for their mill workers. A dry goods store, pharmacy, several grocery stores, a doctor's office, bank, and two churches provided for the needs of the mill workers.
By 1950, the area started to deteriorate as a result of the Depression followed by closings of many of the mills. Once 1980 came, it was a shadow of its former self. But in 1985, two young artists, Paul Sires and Ruth Ava Lyons came to the area and fell in love with the character of the old mill village. They bought a number of buildings and houses and started the first art gallery, Center of the Earth Gallery, which until its closing in 2010, was one of the leading galleries in the southeast. They offered studio spaces to other artists and lobbied to attract other art-related businesses. Then in1995, artist Steve Holt, who owned Studio 23 and WrightNow Galleries started calling the district NoDa (for North Davidson). Today, NoDa is a vibrant area of galleries, shops, and restaurants, while the area’s old houses continue to be restored or torn down to make way for new homes. NoDa has become a model nationwide for how a rundown area can be revitalized.
With the revitalization of the area, there has been lots of Redevelopment and construction of homes in the area. prices currently range from The mid $200s to as much as $2 million.
The neighborhood offers numerous venues showcasing live music - most notably The Neighborhood Theatre and The Evening Muse. And there are lots of local breweries: 10 breweries in a two-mile radius! To name a few: Heist, Divine Barrel, Bold Missy, Free Range, NoDa Brewing, and Protagonist Clubhouse.
Pro Tip: Grab a glass of wine at Bar-A-Vin and then grab dinner at Ever Andolo, Cabo Fish Taco, Haberdish, or The Goodyear House. For Fagan Foodie Review of Cabo Fish Taco and Haberdish, click the links.
NODA Neighborhood Guide (coming soon)
ELIZABETH
Dating to 1891, the Elizabeth neighborhood was the second “streetcar suburb” to be built in Charlotte. It was notable from the beginning, featuring Charlotte’s first public park, Independence Park, and many civic notables in residence. It has remained a vital and lively community and now includes locally famous restaurants, public art, an abundance of trees and its namesake – Elizabeth College – has become Novant Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in the state. Local historian Tom Hanchett’s wonderful self-guided walking tour can tell you even more about what makes this place special. Elizabeth is a charming and walkable neighborhood located just It's from Uptown Charlotte. It Features beautiful historic homes, cozy cafes, and local shops, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The area offers a diverse collection of housing options with prices ranging from the mid $200’s to just under $2 million.
Nearby restaurants include The Crunkleton, Puerta, Custom Shop, Antony's Caribbean Cafe, Fig Tree (a team favorite), and Caswell Station. For a review of Fig Tree, read our Fagan Foodie of it here.
CHANTILLY
Chantilly is a desirable neighborhood nestled right between the neighborhoods of Plaza Midwood and Elizabeth. Initial development began in 1913 with most of the homes being great examples of the classic Bungalow architectural style. Today, there has been a significant amount of re-development consisting of extensive renovations to some of the original homes as well as new construction mimicking the style and feel of the original neighborhood. This community is small but mighty; during Covid, a local musician in the neighborhood did a benefit concert in his front yard every night for first responders. Chantilly contains a seven-acre public park called Chantilly Park.
It is known for being a close-knit community that fosters a sense of belonging through regular neighborhood events and gatherings. Home prices range from the mid-$200’s to $2 million.
Nearby restaurants include Cheats Cheesesteaks and team favorites Fig Tree and Villani’s Bakery.
Chantilly Neighborhood Guide (coming soon)
HISTORIC WEST END
This area comprises a number of historic African American neighborhoods that begin around Freedom Drive going north to Johnson C. Smith University. Many of Charlotte’s historic black communities have been erased forcibly from the landscape by urban renewal policies in the 1970’s and the city’s economic expansion during the 1980’s and 1990’s, but the Historic West End has survived largely intact. There is a wide range of housing in the area and it is very convenient to many parts of the city including Uptown.
Restaurants in the area include the famed Pinky’s Westside Grill that was featured on Guy Fieri’s show, “Diners, Dives, and Drive-thrus”, Bossy Beulah’s Chicken Shack, Noble Smoke, West End Tavern, Azul Tacos & Beer, and Lulu’s Maryland-style Chicken. For our Fagan Foodie Reviews of Bossy Beaula’s and Noble Smoke, click the links: Bossy Beaula's &
MYERS PARK
In 1901, J.S. Myers envisioned a new suburb to be developed on land that he had inherited as well as more land that he later required. In 1905, 36 year old John Nolen, a Harvard graduate with a Masters in Landscape Architecture was interviewed to be the landscape architect for the new development. Nolen’s professor and mentor at Harvard was Fredric Law Olmstead Jr whose father had designed Central Park in New York, and the landscaping for The Biltmore Estate in Asheville. John Nolen went on to be one of the most outstanding landscape architects of the early 1900’s. The original plan was to develop a streetcar community where all residences could walk to the streetcar lines to be able to make a loop through the neighborhood and depart where the main street would join itself. By looking at a map of the area, one can see that loop now referred to by local cyclists and runners as the Booty Loop.
Myers Park showcases stunning homes with impressive architecture and lush landscapes. It’s the original “it” suburb of Charlotte. One can see a number of prominent architectural styles such as Colonial Revival/Georgian Colonial, Bungalow, and Tudor Revival. The original plan for Myers Park was for large estate homes to be built on larger lots. However in later years, smaller homes on smaller lots were also built.
Like Dilworth, much of the neighborhood is walkable to Freedom Park. There are many great restaurants, shops, and watering holes near. Restaurants include The Jimmy, Fenwick’s, Volo Ristorante, Zio Casual Italian, Ace No. 3 and Napa on Providence.
Home prices in Myers Park range from the 300’s to just under $5 million.
Pro Tip: Start with a drink amongst neighbors at Providence Road Sundries then head to one of our team favorites, The Jimmy. For our recent reviews of The Jimmy and Ace No.3, click the links.
Myers Park Neighborhood Guide (coming soon)
EASTOVER
Stately Homes and Architecture: Beautifully designed and meticulously maintained homes that showcase timeless architectural styles.Prime Location: Benefit from the neighborhood's close proximity to Uptown Charlotte, providing convenient access to top-notch amenities, dining, and entertainment options. Eastover is an exclusive and highly sought-after neighborhood, known for its elegance, sophistication, and upscale living.
Restaurants: RuRu’s Tacos & Tequila, Stagioni, Pasta & Provisions, Laurel Market, Fancy Pants, John Dabbs, Tabor, Bond Street Wines. For our reviews on RuRu’s and Stagioni, read our Fagan Foodie Reviews click the links.
Pro Tip: Grab a breakfast sandwich from Laurel Market then walk next door to Starbucks for a coffee or down to Tabor for some shopping.
Eastover Neighborhood Guide (coming soon)
SEDGEFIELD
Sedgefield is located just east of South End and south of Dilworth on 493 acres. It contains approximately 780 homes and has been one of the hottest neighborhoods in recent years. In 2013, when the neighborhood still consisted of the original brick ranches and bungalows, the highest sale price was $570,000. Then a flurry of construction began when people discovered both the charm of Sedgefield but also its convenient location at a fraction of the prices in the neighborhood Dilworth and Myers Park. In 2023, the most expensive home sold for over $2.6 million. While Sedgefield has retained much of its charm, gone are a large portion of the original homes. But fortunately, they have been replaced with beautiful well-built homes.
The neighborhood’s public schools are conveniently located as well as St. Patrick Elementary, St. Ann Elementary, and Holy Trinity Middle School which are part of the Charlotte Catholic Diocese
Some of the area restaurants that are walkable include The Waterman, Roots Cafe, Vicente Bakery & Bistro, and Trolley Barn Fermentory & Food Hall. For our Fagan Foodie Review for The Waterman, click the link.
Multiple local breweries are also nearby such as team favorites, Triple C Brewery, Suffolk Punch Brewery, Sycamore Brewery, and Gilde Brewery (the first US location of Germany’s oldest brewery).
Sedgefield Neighborhood Guide (coming soon)
MADISON PARK
Conveniently located near Uptown, South End, and SouthPark Business District was one of many early post-WWII neighborhoods to be developed for the city’s middle class residents. Homes were built on fairly large lots and have been lovingly maintained by current residents. In recent years, the neighborhood has taken off once it got discovered by many of the new Millennials buying their first homes. The many shops and restaurants in Park Road Shopping Center are within close walking distance. Some of the notable restaurants are RockSALT, Flour Shop, Midwood Smokehouse, Osteria Luca, Good Food on Montford, and Burton’s Grill & Bar.
To read our Fagan Foodie Reviews of RockSALT, and Midwood Smokehouse, click the links.
Pro Tip: Have dinner at Flour Shop then walk to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream or Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe for dessert.
Madison Park Neighborhood Guide (coming soon)
COTSWOLD
The Cotswold neighborhood took its name from Cotswold Shopping Center located within walking distance. The original part of the neighborhood has much larger lots than Myers Park but similar home styles. While still located close to Uptown, it is a more cost effective alternative for those wanting a larger lot than those in Myers Park. It offers a diversity of home prices ranging from the mid $200’s to as much as $3,500,000.
Costwold Neighborhood Guide (coming soon)