new move (Charlotte: middle-class, apartment complexes, for rent)

[pgh2clt]

Hello everyone, I will be moving to charlotte in august 2008 and attending cpcc. Can anyone recommend some good apartments in a safe yet culturally diverse neighborhood close to cpcc? I will probably be living on my own so a 1 br./1ba. would be nice. Also can you tell me what to expect as young ambitious african american male coming from pittsburgh?
Also my limit for rent would be $650
My main focus is just to be around young determined people like myself.

Replies will be greatly appreciated

[MommyV]

What to expect from what perspective? There are a lot of young ambitious people here and also a lot of families and older folks.

[pgh2clt]

As far prejudice goes. I understand that there is a "new south" but coming from a conservative city like pittsburgh charlotte is somewhat described as a racist city. Im my own individual so I can make own opinions. But i was jus wondering is there any truth to this

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by pgh2clt

As far prejudice goes. I understand that there is a "new south" but coming from a conservative city like pittsburgh charlotte is somewhat described as a racist city. Im my own individual so I can make own opinions. But i was jus wondering is there any truth to this

WHAT?? Pittsburgh is known as far more racist than Charlotte has ever been as far as I know!

[Barkingowl]

Charlotte is what you make of it. Its like any other city in that regard. People seem to change their opinion of you based on how you live your life. Everyone's money is green down here.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by pgh2clt

As far prejudice goes. I understand that there is a "new south" but coming from a conservative city like pittsburgh charlotte is somewhat described as a racist city. Im my own individual so I can make own opinions. But i was jus wondering is there any truth to this

Regardless, of your misunderstanding of the attitude of people in Charlotte - let me assure you you will find Charlotte a pretty pleasant place to live I believe. And unlike Pittsburgh's downtown which rolls up the sidewalks at 5 pm, we really have a very vibrant, fun uptown area near the CPCC campus. There are not a lot of apartment complexes for you to check out in the area, especially in your price range. But there are some duplexes scattered throughout the area of Plaza Midwood, Chantilly and Elizabeth. If you search Craigs List for places to rent in those neighborhoods you would be very near CPCC and a lot of things to do

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by pgh2clt

As far prejudice goes. I understand that there is a "new south" but coming from a conservative city like pittsburgh charlotte is somewhat described as a racist city. Im my own individual so I can make own opinions. But i was jus wondering is there any truth to this

pgh2clt - I have to agree with lovesmoutains on this one. Charlotte is light years ahead of many areas of the North as far as prejudice goes. Unlike many Northern cities that "talked the talk", Charlotte has "walked the walk" to a large extent, and has a much more "enlightened attitude" than many of its Northern counterparts, whose suburbs are probably more "segregated" than South Africa during "white rule". You'll probably be very comfortable here.

[VaTechKA]

Originally Posted by TheEmissary

pgh2clt - I have to agree with lovesmoutains on this one. Charlotte is light years ahead of many areas of the North as far as prejudice goes. Unlike many Northern cities that "talked the talk", Charlotte has "walked the walk" to a large extent, and has a much more "enlightened attitude" than many of its Northern counterparts, whose suburbs are probably more "segregated" than South Africa during "white rule". You'll probably be very comfortable here.

This may be true to some extent, but I feel like Charlotte is fairly segregated. West Charlotte is and always has been primarily black, as well as primarily lower income. Of course, there are other areas just like this. The low crime, high income neighborhoods still tend to be primarily white. While I don't think this makes people racist, it does show segregation.

Also, from my experience (correct me if I am wrong), our schools remain largely segregated with the lower income, non-white schools performing lower than schools like Myers Park that are primarily white and higher income families.

I certainly dont mean to offend anyone with my post, I am just offering up my opinion and observations. Any thoughts?

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by VaTechKA

This may be true to some extent, but I feel like Charlotte is fairly segregated. West Charlotte is and always has been primarily black, as well as primarily lower income. Of course, there are other areas just like this. The low crime, high income neighborhoods still tend to be primarily white. While I don't think this makes people racist, it does show segregation.

Also, from my experience (correct me if I am wrong), our schools remain largely segregated with the lower income, non-white schools performing lower than schools like Myers Park that are primarily white and higher income families.

I certainly dont mean to offend anyone with my post, I am just offering up my opinion and observations. Any thoughts?

This issue has been discussed many times before you joined the forum The only color that separates people in Charlotte is green - the greener you are the more choices you have in housing. Many of our middle class neighborhoods are fairly well integrated. Our schools are only recently segregated as we moved away from busing and back to the neighborhood schools concept about 4 years ago. But busing just for the sake of integration had long outlived its usefulness or its practicality. The issue for our new (2 years now) superintendent of schools is how to help those most struggling of schools in the most struggling of areas - fortunately this is a handful of schools and not a majority.

[TheEmissary]

Originally Posted by VaTechKA

This may be true to some extent, but I feel like Charlotte is fairly segregated. West Charlotte is and always has been primarily black, as well as primarily lower income. Of course, there are other areas just like this. The low crime, high income neighborhoods still tend to be primarily white. While I don't think this makes people racist, it does show segregation.

Also, from my experience (correct me if I am wrong), our schools remain largely segregated with the lower income, non-white schools performing lower than schools like Myers Park that are primarily white and higher income families.

I certainly dont mean to offend anyone with my post, I am just offering up my opinion and observations. Any thoughts?

You are right in that it does show a lot of economic segregation. One thing that Charlotte does have going for it, are middle-class mixed race and ethnicity neighborhoods that are stable. Having come from NJ, I watched its cities suffer from enormous "white flight" in the 60's and 70's to the point where they are almost entirely populated by minorities. I think the OP will be pleasantly surprised by Charlotte if she can get a decent apartment at the right price.