Questions about Huntersville infrastructure (Charlotte, Fayetteville: 2010, houses, buy)

[chicago2010]

Hi all,

My relatives just moved to Charlotte. I just visited them couple days ago and they took me to Lake Norman/Huntersville. The lake is beautifull and so is the town. It looks like the town is growing and it is growing fast. Birkdale village is nice and I have heard that they just approve to have another village like that but even bigger and more high-end.

The only question I have is: Why is the infrastructure so bad?? I have been through many small towns (Louisville, Ky or Richmond, VA..), they are growing too. But these towns they build roads, expanding roads first before they build shopping malls or businesses. Lake Norman/Huntersville they build malls, businesses first and don't even care about infrastructure, like the hwy 73 (2 lanes???). That's horrible

Any ideas what's going on? any plans or when they will address those problems??

Thanks,
CT

[SunnyKayak]

Huntersville did not see it growth hit til the Mid 90's and most of it was farm land until then.
The problem with the roads is the state does things by TIP system so road projects are schedule for the area five to ten years down the roads.
Most of the roads surrounding Huntersville are state roads Highway 73, Highway 21, Highway 115, Interstate 77.
It is a state issue and not a city issue and the city has been fighting for this issue.

You mention malls there is no mall in Huntersville and the road around Birkdale has been expanded to four lanes with turning lanes and that was in process of being completed in 2002, and 2003 and I never been in that area and have dealt with traffic issues.
If your so claim about them building buisnesses without building the roads then please name a major structure that the road has not been expanded around it.

You cannot compare Huntersville to Richmond or Louisville they both are on different scales than Huntersville.
Both of those cities have been more define cities for at least a century.
Huntersville before the 90's was a place to farm or buy brick for the most part.

The census data is a little inaccurate but to get the realm of different size populations it gives you an idea.
Huntersville 24,960 (I believe it is around 38,000 now)
Louisville 256,231
Richomond 197,790

You are not going to like anywhere you move to if all you do is compare a city to what you are use to and what it doesnt have. Instead stay focus what can a city bring to my life.

[chicago2010]

Sunny,
I don't try to compare and I don't know much about Hunterville either. I only feel a bit suprise when I visited your area because most of the roads are 2 lanes, no side-walk and no pedestrian cocrossing.

I don't know if you have any big malls but I saw lots of strip malls on hwy 73. And there are many cooperations in Hunterville right (Rubbermaid, Loews..)??

CT

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by chicago2010

Sunny,
I don't try to compare and I don't know much about Hunterville either. I only feel a bit suprise when I visited your area because most of the roads are 2 lanes, no side-walk and no pedestrian cocrossing.

I don't know if you have any big malls but I saw lots of strip malls on hwy 73. And there are many cooperations in Hunterville right (Rubbermaid, Loews..)??

CT

The Rubbermaid is just corporate offices and the main road Hwy 73 is Four Lanes with turning lanes in front of this building.
Lowes, Target was both built around 1995 has been at that location since the population was a 1/3 of what it is now and it cannot do anything since 73 and Highway 21 are both state roads and again the city can only do so much since the state controls road projects on state roads.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by chicago2010

Sunny,
I don't try to compare and I don't know much about Hunterville either. I only feel a bit suprise when I visited your area because most of the roads are 2 lanes, no side-walk and no pedestrian cocrossing.

I don't know if you have any big malls but I saw lots of strip malls on hwy 73. And there are many cooperations in Hunterville right (Rubbermaid, Loews..)??

CT

Hi, CHI!

Are you actually from CHI or from a burb? I have a son in a burb . . . I understand why it all seemed perplexing. As Sunny said - the growth was unexpected and explosive. The CLT metro is getting in 80,000 people annually. So Huntersville has boomed and no one was ready for it.

I am an NC native, but lived in Kansas City b/f moving back here a few years ago. So I know why you are scratching your head. No sidewalks, guttering, five lane highways, etc as everyone is used to in midwest cities such as CHI, STL and KCMO. There really are few pedestrian crossing anywhere in CLT like the ones you are used to. I got used to them, too, and was surprised when I moved back here and most of NC really is not that pedestrian friendly. Hopefully, if people like me keep writing letters, someday that will change. Of course, some areas are more conducive to pedestrians, but overall . . . not so much.

Growth in the cities I mentioned is basically very planned. Here, farmers sold land and houses got built, LOL. We are having this HUGE influx of people moving into the area and you are right - the infrastructure is having to catch up. We all got caught by surprise, you might say.

But it is all going to even out and as far as a great place to live- Huntersville is a really nice town. Lowe's is in Mooresville. I am not sure what corporations are right in Huntersville, but CLT and surrounding areas have many corporations headquartered here.

Our taxes are substantially lower here in CLT (well, in NC in general) than in CHI and that is one reason you don't see the infrastructure you have been used to in CHI. That is also one of the reasons people are moving here, LOL.

[Mandi&Jon]

I can completely see where the original poster is coming from. We will be moving to Huntersville in July, and when we first visited, we too were surprised at the infrastructure. We are from Knoxville, TN and felt like the road situation in the entire Charlotte region is kind of lagging to be such a large city in comparison. We fell in love with Huntersville, but have often joked that we wish we could bring our road system with us. Not only are there so many 2 lane main roads, but most of them are in pretty poor condition in my opinion. Oh well, just thought I would share that you are not the only one with that observation!

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by Mandi&Jon

I can completely see where the original poster is coming from. We will be moving to Huntersville in July, and when we first visited, we too were surprised at the infrastructure. We are from Knoxville, TN and felt like the road situation in the entire Charlotte region is kind of lagging to be such a large city in comparison. We fell in love with Huntersville, but have often joked that we wish we could bring our road system with us. Not only are there so many 2 lane main roads, but most of them are in pretty poor condition in my opinion. Oh well, just thought I would share that you are not the only one with that observation!

I am not denying something needs to be done and believe me it has been this way for the last seven years and no short answer in the horizon any time soon and we did just elect a mayor and a few city council persons who stated that was there number 1 issue they will address.
What they would like to do is improve the infrastructure and the state pay them back later but then you run into alot of red tape. Such as what the city wants and what the state wants can be totally different.
Huntersville Herald Online

There is a new road to be built off of Beatties Ford that will intersect close to the Harris Teeter near Blythe Landing that still is in the works.

I dont find traffic here that bad if you know the back roads.
A good back road for 73 is Gilead to Huntersville Concord Road to go east or west.
A good back road to go North or South is McCoy Rd , Hambright to Northcross parkway. And a bunch of other alternatives.
When 485 is ever finish it will also be another great alternative to go east and west or south but again the state is limited on funding due to other parts of the state are getting the funds like the new belt loop around Fayetteville.
The pavement of the city roads is ok just not the state roads since it is a state issue and not the city.
I am kinda glad the roads are not that great because it helps in controlling to much growth.

[LoveBoating]

We currently live in Huntersville and there is one thing that has/is happening for sure.......this nice small town is GROWING fast! Only question is, "with all of the growth/people moving in, will Huntersville stay as "nice" as it has been?" Now, for some famous "last words", GOOD LUCK!!

[Union county hopeful]

HUntersville has more than 2 roads - once you live hear you quickly learn that their are many back roads. This area is great!

[QC Misfit]

Chicago your right. In the 20+ years I have lived in Huntersville the only road that had any kind of change the seemed to help is Sam Furr in front of Birkdale. I remember riding my bicycle up and down that road when it was two lanes. Heck I used to get chased off the farm land riding dirt bikes back through there. The roads are basically the same. Other than adding exit 25 nothing "major" has changed. On Gilead Road they did take out some real sharp curves and added a stop sign but the rest of this area has not changed at all! Exit 23 is changing they just need to help with the Downtown area which hopefully with DPK! that will be addressed some and then Catawba Ave at Exit 28 has been a work in progress for a few years.

Heck, Its only been 15 years since WT Harris is the road it is today that too was a little ole' country road!