South Park Commute to Uptown?? (Charlotte, Fairview: lease, neighborhoods, schools) - City-Data Forum

nutmeg13 · 10-01-2008, 07:14 AM

We're getting ready to move in 2 weeks and I'm really worried about the commute. I currently live downtown and have no commute so I'm worried about Charlotte's traffic. I have a little one and can't stomach being away from him any longer than necessary. We're looking at places to rent in Dilworth and Eastover but found a few much nicer and cheaper places further out near South Park (Strawberry Hill, etc.). Whenever I ask about the commute, I get told it's around 15-20 minutes during non rush hours. That's completely useless to me since I'll be commuting during rush hours. I want to know exactly what I'd be in for. Are we really talking 20 minutes? I've heard South Park can get dicey during rush hour. If it's really 30 minutes, I'll stick with the less nice place closer in.

Any insight greatly appreciated. We have to sign a lease this week so we won't be able to check anything out!

ctribucher · 10-01-2008, 07:25 AM

Where exactly will your job be?

DH and I currently live in Strawberry Hill. DH's office is just outside of Uptown on Morehead Street. He leaves for work at 7:30 am and arrives in his office at 8:00 am "on a bad day". He says it takes the longest whenever he gets stuck behind a CATS bus on Providence Road, but if he can get around it his commute time is usually less than 25 minutes.

Hope this helps!

MommyV · 10-01-2008, 07:25 AM

Some days will be better than others, but I don't see 30 minutes unless there were some sort of accident or something major like that.

It also depends on the actual street you'll be moving to and which major street you'll be closest to. There are too many variables. You really have to try it out during rush hour to be comfortable with it.

FrankTheTank2 · 10-01-2008, 09:00 AM

Here's the deal. Fairview Rd, Park Rd. and Sharon Rd. can kill you. If you can access Uptown without having to travel on those roads or accross those roads your commute should be 20-25 minutes. If you are South of Fairview or East of Park or Sharon you have to add another 5-10 minutes.

Consider renting at the Colony Appartments which is on the corner of Sharon and Colony. They are in the best location in Southpark, cheap, and you can take Colony Road into uptown and there is little traffic during rush hour. Commute is 15-20 minutes or so during rush hour. My wife and I lived there for a year before we bought our house. Very happy.

jmm051 · 10-01-2008, 09:23 AM

Like someone else said it depends on where you end up in South Park vs. where you are going Uptown. I live next to the Colony apt's in Sterling Morrison. On a busy day I will get Uptown during rush hour in 20. It's all Providence traffic. If you move to Strawberry it is going to be longer because you're farther out so you will have to add another 5-10 depending on lights.

nutmeg13 · 10-01-2008, 11:15 AM

Thanks. This is all helpful. I'll be at Wachovia One. We've looked at several places around the general Southpark area, as well as several closer to Myers Park and Eastover (Sterling Magnolia, Albrecht and Eastover Ridge). It looks as though there is perhaps a 10-15 minute commute difference? At least that's my uneducated take on it. I've just heard rumors about the Southpark area getting really congested.

ctribucher · 10-01-2008, 11:21 AM

^ Well, it can get congested. That's for certain!

As FranktheTank says, Fairview and Sharon get very congested... I drive this every single day. And though I am NOT trying to start another "traffic was worse where I came from, so Charlotte traffic is a joke" thread ( LOL ), I wouldn't say that driving that route is unbearable.

I also understand that you want to spend less time in the car and more time with your child, and who wouldn't? But if you do end up coming to check out Strawberry Hill, be on the lookout for a tall brunette being dragged around the property by a mutt-beagle and say hi!

Best of luck on your decision.

nutmeg13 · 10-01-2008, 11:37 AM

We think Strawberry Hill is really nice and it's rather significantly cheaper than everything we've seen that is closer in. I just do anything I can to shorten the time I'm already away from my little one. But I also wonder if children may be somewhat more prevalent in someplace like Strawberry Hill versus one of the close-in places. If we end up that way, we'll keep an eye out. Thanks again.

ctribucher · 10-02-2008, 06:10 AM

There are many children in Strawberry Hill, nutmeg13. In the summer, we saw lots of them at the swimming pools on the property (there are 3 pools, which is neat!) In the building next to ours, there are two little girls that are 3 and 5 years old, and across the street there is a family with a 9 month old. The only thing I can't tell you about it how the schools are, as I don't have any children.

Hope you'll post again to let us know what you decide.

Kari Strong · 10-02-2008, 06:26 AM

South Park and Dilworth/Myers Park are completely diffferent types of neighborhoods, so not only should you think about traffic, but also what type of neighborhood do you want to libe in? Some people like Southpark and some prefer Dilworth.
Keep in mind gas too. What will it cost you to drive the extra 10 miles a day? Sometimes it seems less expensive to rent further away from downtown, but when you throw in the cost of gas it may not be.
I apologize if I made your decision more complicated, but it's worth thinking about.