Is Charlotte cosmopolitan? (Raleigh, Gastonia, King: hotels, closing, taxis)

[bandibadji]

Originally Posted by atlantaATL

No its not cosmopolitian!!!!!!!!!!! its slow and draining. and far behind. I like shopping and the retail in this city is a slump

Yet, Atlanta is the city that Charlotte strives "not" to be like. Lets face it, Atlanta is a city of suburbs and extreme urban sprawl with a downtown that has lots of tall buildings but not safe to walk or that much to do. I can assure you that although Atlanta may be three times more populated than Charlotte, it is like Charlotte gone awry. Before moving to the Charlotte area, I looked at many options including a cities with large populations. I chose Charlotte because it has a clean, fun downtown where you can walk for miles, ie. Southend, 4th Ward, Johnson Wales area etc. The neighborhoods are gorgeous and inexpensive. Atlanta was a big turn off. Downtown was not that great or busy and dirty. The underground is unsafe and boring and the best neighborhood of Buckhead is beginning to look sort of bad. The only thing in which Charlotte lags behind Atlanta is population. Cultural facilities are booming in downtown Charlotte and thanks to cities like Atlanta to show us how "not" to do things, we are doing it right.

Funny that you live here and not Atlanta!! I will admit that the towns of Duluth, Marietta, and other cities outside Atlanta proper are pretty descent, but not cosmopolitan. If Atlanta is a your model for being cosmopolitan, I would prefer being a backward country town. It looks as if you have not shopped in many of the excellent shopping areas, ie. Southpark, Northlake, Concord Mills, etc. Not much in Atlanta that you can't find in Charlotte as far as shopping.

Don't get me wrong. Charlotte has a long way from perfection. I especially like the fact that it is a laid back city with lots to offer. Traffic is wonderful compared to Atlanta. And generally speaking, everything is within three hours of easy driving.

[bandibadji]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

It is okay!!! Folks in Atlanta are more than welcome to give their opinions of Charlotte. To an Atlantan, Charlotte is not cosmopolitan. People from any city that is larger than Charlotte would not see Charlotte as being cosmopolitan. I will say this. The fact that an Atlantan felt the need to come onto Charlotte's forum and tell us that we are not cosmopolitan is kinda funny. People from New York, Chicago, and LA don't do this. I wonder why an Atlantan did? Could it be that he is tired of all the Charlotte vs. Atlanta comparison questions down in Georgia? Could it be that he is a little sour about the whole Nascar Hall thing? Could it be that the Panthers are better than the Falcons? Could it be that if Charlotte was a town in Metro Atlanta, Charlotte's name would be listed first because the "city" is actually larger? Could it be that Atlanta transit officials recently made a trip to Charlotte to take notes on how to build a light rail system then wrote a 2 part series about what they learned from Charlotte in the local paper?

Here is a link to that article. Being that Atlanta is so cosmopolitan, this article would suggest that some folks in Atlanta thinks Charlotte is becoming cosmopolitan too.

Charlotte transit plans leave Atlanta in slow lane | ajc.com
Charlotte shows state support for transit is vital | ajc.com

My only disagreement is in the beginning of your posting. When my relatives in Boston and New York City talk about Charlotte, which many people in that part of the country do, they always talk about it having turned into a huge cosmopolitan city. Just wanted to let you know that many people see it as cosmopolitan. I don't care either way. The word cosmopolitan is interpreted differently by different people. When I walk through the malls and see half of the people from other countries, ride through neighborhoods and signs are in Spanish and/or Asian, ethnic restaurants from any country in the world practically, international flights, international companies (one of the leading cities in the U.S.), world known banking, etc. I can't help but think that we just might be?

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by bandibadji

My only disagreement is in the beginning of your posting. When my relatives in Boston and New York City talk about Charlotte, which many people in that part of the country do, they always talk about it having turned into a huge cosmopolitan city. Just wanted to let you know that many people see it as cosmopolitan. I don't care either way. The word cosmopolitan is interpreted differently by different people. When I walk through the malls and see half of the people from other countries, ride through neighborhoods and signs are in Spanish and/or Asian, ethnic restaurants from any country in the world practically, international flights, international companies (one of the leading cities in the U.S.), world known banking, etc. I can't help but think that we just might be?

I agree 100%. I was just trying to be polite to our friend from the "A". I have been to Boston and New York (vacation and work related visits). People up there KNOW that Charlotte is cosmopolitan. As a trucker, I've traveled the entire country!!! People from Orlando to Seattle know about Charlotte as being the Carolina's "big city". Here in Charlotte, we tend to not be aware of our own size and importance nationally.

I have seen numerous articles about Charlotte in my travels that would shock most Charlotteans. The Atlanta article that I posted is just one of many. The NY times and cities like Pittsburgh have done a series or two on Charlotte being a cosmopolitan booming city also. If anyone is interested in seeing more articles about Charlotte from other larger cities, just let me know and I will post more links.

Charlotte made the "cosmopolitan turn" back in the 90s and many people (in other southern cities) don't wish to give Charlotte its due yet. If you guys have noticed, Charlotte's biggest critics are in two southern capital cities that I choose not to name because I don't wish to start a forum war. At any rate, cities outside of the south are more honest about Charlotte's cosmopolitan credentials. Civic envy is BIG in the South. I have learned to just laugh and let our "haters" hate. The fact that they are "hating" suggests that Charlotte has given them a reason to "hate".

[BlackOut]

As a former Charlotte resident, I think the city has a long way to go before one can consider it cosmopolitan. In my opinion, a cosmopolitan city is a leader in the areas listed below as well as others.

Radio (no, not mainstream music radio)
Politics
Tourism
Healthcare
Education (descent public and private schools; major universities; school funding, etc.)
Local Music
Shopping
Arts
Entertainment

[BlackOut]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

Could it be that if Charlotte was a town in Metro Atlanta, Charlotte's name would be listed first because the "city" is actually larger? Could it be that Atlanta transit officials recently made a trip to Charlotte to take notes on how to build a light rail system then wrote a 2 part series about what they learned from Charlotte in the local paper?

Here is a link to that article. Being that Atlanta is so cosmopolitan, this article would suggest that some folks in Atlanta thinks Charlotte is becoming cosmopolitan too.

Charlotte transit plans leave Atlanta in slow lane | ajc.com
Charlotte shows state support for transit is vital | ajc.com

Urbancharlotte, Charlotte is bigger in terms of population than Atlanta and many other cities because of the fact that its land area covers over 240sq. miles. Atlanta is 132sq. miles and the city I now live in, Minneapolis, is 55sq. miles. Minneapolis and its neighbor St. Paul combined are 108sq. miles and have a population similar to Charlotte's. You also have to take into account the density of these cities. Atlanta has a density over 3,900 people; Minneapolis has a density of over 6,800 people; and Charlotte's density is over 2,700. With that said, I'd say these cities and several others are bigger than Charlotte.

Finally, in regards to transit, Atlanta's system ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. whereas Charlotte's transit system doesn't come close.

[BlackOut]

Originally Posted by bandibadji

When I walk through the malls and see half of the people from other countries, ride through neighborhoods and signs are in Spanish and/or Asian, ethnic restaurants from any country in the world practically, international flights...

So, by your standards just about every major city/metropolitan area in the U.S. can be considered cosmopolitan.

[CLTKing]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I agree 100%. I was just trying to be polite to our friend from the "A". I have been to Boston and New York (vacation and work related visits). People up there KNOW that Charlotte is cosmopolitan. As a trucker, I've traveled the entire country!!! People from Orlando to Seattle know about Charlotte as being the Carolina's "big city". Here in Charlotte, we tend to not be aware of our own size and importance nationally.

I have seen numerous articles about Charlotte in my travels that would shock most Charlotteans. The Atlanta article that I posted is just one of many. The NY times and cities like Pittsburgh have done a series or two on Charlotte being a cosmopolitan booming city also. If anyone is interested in seeing more articles about Charlotte from other larger cities, just let me know and I will post more links.

Charlotte made the "cosmopolitan turn" back in the 90s and many people (in other southern cities) don't wish to give Charlotte its due yet. If you guys have noticed, Charlotte's biggest critics are in two southern capital cities that I choose not to name because I don't wish to start a forum war. At any rate, cities outside of the south are more honest about Charlotte's cosmopolitan credentials. Civic envy is BIG in the South. I have learned to just laugh and let our "haters" hate. The fact that they are "hating" suggests that Charlotte has given them a reason to "hate".

I think we don't realize how big we are because Raleigh is always putting us down. I say let's secede from NC and becoming our own City State, like Baltimore and Alexandria, VA, still part of the state, but keeping our tax revenues.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by CLTKing

I think we don't realize how big we are because Raleigh is always putting us down. I say let's secede from NC and becoming our own City State, like Baltimore and Alexandria, VA, still part of the state, but keeping our tax revenues.

ROFL! We tried that in South Jersey (to secede from NJ & form a 51st state) & the state took it off our ballots in the southern counties. That was in the '80s & you can still drive through South Jersey & see the Confederate battle flag at a lot of houses.

Raleigh will just do the same thing that Trenton did, but it was a good thought.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by BlackOut

Urbancharlotte, Charlotte is bigger in terms of population than Atlanta and many other cities because of the fact that its land area covers over 240sq. miles. Atlanta is 132sq. miles and the city I now live in, Minneapolis, is 55sq. miles. Minneapolis and its neighbor St. Paul combined are 108sq. miles and have a population similar to Charlotte's. You also have to take into account the density of these cities. Atlanta has a density over 3,900 people; Minneapolis has a density of over 6,800 people; and Charlotte's density is over 2,700. With that said, I'd say these cities and several others are bigger than Charlotte.

Finally, in regards to transit, Atlanta's system ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. whereas Charlotte's transit system doesn't come close.

I love a stat geek. Well my friend, you have met your match. Fulton county (Atlanta) has about 1 million people and 532 sq/mi of land. Mecklenburg has about 900,000 people and 526 sq/mi of land. The biggest difference between Atlanta and Charlotte are the suburban counties, not the urban ones. Also, Atlanta has the busiest airport in the country. Charlotte has the country's 9th busiest airport. Minneapolis is not even a top ten. Here is a link. I guess transportation/air travel is not your idea of being cosmopolitan huh?
Top 50 Busiest U.S. Airports 2007

Charlotte also made the list of Forbes top 30 most visited cities. Charlotte was ranked not too far behind the Twin cities. Charlotte was ranked in front of Fort Lauderdale. I guess a city with more tourists than Fort Lauderdale is not cosmopolitan either huh?
The 30 most visited U.S. cities - USATODAY.com

One more thing. Charlotte and Mecklenburg county is FAR more ethnically diverse than ANY Twin Cities' towns or counties. I am tired of posting links, but you should really do some census research. You will find that only one race dominates ALL counties in the Twin Cities' metro. Meck and Charlotte are more diverse in population. Doesn't ethnic diversity play a role in a place being cosmopolitan?

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by LaLa010

I know it's nothing close to NYC and I'm not asking you to compare it to NYC.

But regardless of other cities, would you say that Charlotte has a some-what cosmopolitan atmosphere?

This isnt is a comparison thread.
The topic is the quote above