28214 vs 28273/28278? (Gastonia, Belmont, Bessemer City: 2009, apartment complex, houses)

[doomayula]

Thoughts on safety, schools, neighborhood? Thanks.

[nkjaws]

On 28278, good location, many great neighborhoods but some areas of crime. There are just some neighborhoods you wouldn't want to walk around in past dark. Schools, well we have two elementary schools. Lake Wylie seems to be the better of the two in my opinion, less crowded, but it is older. Winget is the newer elementary school, but is very overcrowded and located on park property. Overcrowding will change by the 2009 school year as we are getting two new elementary schools, one in the Palasades (28273) and the other in the Berewick Community.

28273 in my opinion is the better part of Steele Creek. Rivergate Shopping center is there, Southwest Middle School, the Library. Very close to Fort Mill, SC. The one "shady" part over there would be the ballfield on Choate and the apartment complex nearby. Hope this helps.

[NCgirl]

I live in 28273 - Here are my thoughts.

28214 is the NW side of the city. It is more established with a older houses. It includes the Paw Creek area. Some parts run along the Mecklenburg/Gaston county border so you would be close to Mt. Holly and Belmont. Overall I think it's a nice area. Since I don't live there I don't know specifics about the various neighborhoods. Compared to 28273/28378 it less commercial (not that there aren't tons of neighborhoods in 28273/28278). There are some small shopping centers, a Super Walmart nearby. I think the schools are Paw Creek Elem. Coulwood Middle and West Meck High.

28273/28278 - Is a new hotbed for development. Fifteen years or so ago was mostly rural/residential. In the past decade it has exploded with growth and development. There's a lot to do; There are new stores and restaurants. The McDowell Nature Perserve, Lake Wylie. Carowinds is also nearby. I really like the location it is a short drive to other popular areas (uptown, Ballantyne, South Park etc. ).

[flyingscotsman]

I live in 28278, I am at the bottom end right by the border, I like it here I am two miles from Rivergate & 1 Mile from the SC shops, well away from any problem areas.

[doomayula]

Thanks for the replies.

How far are those areas from Gastonia? Dh will be working in west Gastonia, near Bessemer City.

[NCgirl]

The fastest route in both cases would be 485 to 85 South. I'm guessing W. Gastonia/Bessemer City would be about 30 minutes from 28273/28278 and 25 from 28214. Of course a lot depends on where you live and the time of day.