I’m considering moving to Charlotte NC, and I have some questions…?

My wife and I are 26, moving from OH. Where are some nice developments to live? Any housing near Lake Norman half way affordable? I would prefer a golf course community if possible, any suggestions would be great.

I’d have to agree on the “yankee” issue. One thing I have never liked about Charlotte is that as an outsider you will always be an outsider. On the other hand when you move to most states (in “the North”) you just become someone’s neighbor.

Then there is this thing called “southern hospitality”. Definition of hospitality (see your local dictionary):
1) Cordial and generous reception of or disposition toward GUESTS.
2) An instance of cordial and generous treatment of GUESTS.

The “hospitality” exists because southerners will ALWAYS treat you like an outsider — a guest. In fact, I know when a southern “friend” has finally accepted me when they stop being so hospitable. That takes a few years and is a rare event.

This is the problem. Charlotte is a city with hundreds of thousands of residents who want nothing to do with the lifestyle of the “big city”. Expect neighbors who complain about how “big” charlotte is. It’s a huge, spread out, suburb — nothing more. That’s how the culture of Charlotte likes it — big, spread out suburbs. What does that mean? bad city planning, slow emergency response, conflicts of interest across the city planners, low-wage public workers — there are no specific departments of public resources in Charlotte. They are all controled centrally (just ask any city worker what wage they earn and compare to their New York, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago counterparts — who by the way have unions backing them — Charlotte public workers are not unionized!) Charlotte is the way it is because of the traditional southern mentality that abhors urbanization (and maybe because it seems to attract so many misguided “yankees”).

About ten years ago Charlotte was known as “tree city usa”. Now it’s lost more than 40% of its tree population to over-development and almost non-existent city planning.

Public transportation is almost non-existent, poorly managed, designed and has low ridership. The city shuts down by about 8PM every night. The city lighting at night is likely the worst in the nation (per capita). There are no safeways for bicycling. Few sidewalks for walking, and is rated as having the highest bicyclist-death rate in the nation.

Go look for these kinds of facts and figures and you’ll think twice about the headaches you can easily avoid by just not moving here.

Otherwise you can just be one of those crazies that believe living in the Lake Norman area is somehow posh or above-average (compared to Charlotte? what kind of comparison is that?)

I didn’t know Charlotte existed before I moved here, and I’ll be glad to remove it from my memory when I leave (soon. very soon).

I thought the historical culture of the south died decades ago — but it is alive and well. You will see in the Charlotte political process. Charlotte is just the northernmnost reach of South Carolina

The primary source of income to Charlotte is banking and the airport (Charlotte Douglas). Now, if one of the major banks decides to move elsewhere or the airline industry sees no value in having an airport here with major airlines, then your taxes will skyrocket like a heart attack. Most U.S. cities have a diverse variety of industry — a long list from which can support the city’s financial needs in the event that one industry leaves town. Charlotte is not like that. If one of these industries leaves, there will be no Charlotte. I would not be surprised to learn that when Nations Bank (Charlotte) and Bank of America (California) merged several years ago, that one of the primary reasons for placing the merged Bank of America headquarters in Charlotte is simply because of the detrimental impact on the Charlotte area if this industry left town. The city in California could have easily absorbed such a loss (and it did!). Imagine the public relations headaches BoA would have had to deal with if part of its legacy is to have left behind a 700,000-1,000,000 Charlotte population fending for its financial future with crazy tax hikes! They’d have never lived that nightmare down.

If you found a job here, then your spouse will likely be bored out of their mind within one year. If you have kids your kids will be bored out of their minds — within one year. If I had a nickel for every person who talked me in line at a store, or a restaurant, about how they moved here because of a job offer — usually with a bank or some other office-type work — their spouse turns out to have NOTHING to do (no jobs, nothing interesting, bad neighbors who treat you like you’re an invader to their southern lifestyle, etc) and within one year they just want to move. Those who have lived here their entire life often will tell you how wonderful this place is. But just the mention that Charlotte is now the number ONE hub for drug trafficking on the east coast, they act like it doesn’t exist at all. Some are actually shocked to learn that such things happen in their precious back yard. But most simply ignore it (which is really why I believe the pornography and drug industry is thriving in this little nook of the Bible belt!)

There is nothing here worthy of attracting anyone with dignity.

Your kids will regret your decision to move here. That may be the one promise I can make to you.

I personally would rather live somewhere were I don’t have to drive a hundred miles to go watch the leaves change in the Fall, or snow in the winter, or have to drive 200+ miles to the beach to go for a nice swim and relax.

Ohio has far better golf courses than North Carolina, so if that’s a draw for you, you’re in for a major disappointment.

But maybe you’ll fit in and everything will be just fine. I just say you’re going to be bored out of your mind and within one year you’ll likely unload that million-dollar lake norman/cornelius house you’re living in.

I lived in Akron for some time and thought it was so bad because the skies tend to seem overcast most of the time — but now I regret leaving Akron and would love to move back. Right now. If I could, I would. (If you’re moving here, can I move there?!

Let’s trade.

On a more friendly note, I would STRONGLY advise that you take up an apartment for maybe six months or so and have a look around Charlotte for that “dream house” you want. That’ll give you enough time to find out if this is the kind of place you really want to live or not (assuming you’re looking for a place to live — and not just visit). Take that apartment and just sample that which is Charlotte. The Lake Norman area is not that much different. The residents just act like it is. I would personally never want to live in Lake Norman. I’d have to move to Davidson at least to get away from the Charlotte trap. That might be just far enough away from South Carolina for me. Maybe.

All the best though.

Reedy Creek Disc Golf Course in Charlotte; Front 9

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