Relocating to South Charlotte with Family (Matthews, Weddington: HOA, violent crime, house)

[Vortac]

After extensive (and on-going) research for relocation purposes, I visited your beautiful city in Charlotte and adjoining communities. My wife, children and I concentrated our efforts in South Charlotte down to northwestern Union. In the time we were there we visited with our Realtor 55 varying properties in Weddington, Matthews, Providence Country Club, Providence Plantation and Myers Park.

We were very pleased to experience not only such a lush and beautiful environment, but also the degree to which the residents partake in maintaining the integrity of the land while being environmentally conscience. Most importantly we found your southern hospitality to be in full effect. We very much appreciated your sense of civility and sheer friendliness.

We are continuing our focus in the Providence Plantation area - greater property/land maturity, quality of the schools, strong sense of familial community, etc..

My research, despite all the acquired statistics, has left me with a handful of unanswered questions that might best be addressed by the local residents.

1) I would like to confirm that Providence Plantation is not under HOA
guidelines. If so, how can I access these guidelines.

2) If I may please have a perspective of the crime element from that of a
local resident - specifically the areas mentioned above with emphasis
on Providence Plantation. while visiting, I drove through western and
northern Charlotte only because I was told, among other areas, to stay
away. I found these neighborhoods to be not, what was describe to
me.

3) In the more southern communities, such as in Union, there are a
variety of ponds. Some are common areas to more than one
property, while others are on private land. I'm attempting to locate a
a Geo-technical Company that can provide the answer to the following
questions:
a) Are these ponds natural or man-made.
b) If man-made, where does the water come from?
c) If natural, how deep are the underground springs and
are they subject to liquefaction during a flood.

4) I noted that basements primarily in Union have tarp laid throughout
the underlining foundation due to the high moisture content.
a) Is this code for both Union and Mecklenburg Counties?
b) What problems, if any, arise from this moisture content under the
homes?

Thank you very much for allowing me to post these inquiries. I appreciate and thank you in advance for any responses.

[jlat]

My research, despite all the acquired statistics, has left me with a handful of unanswered questions that might best be addressed by the local residents.

1) I would like to confirm that Providence Plantation is not under HOA
guidelines. If so, how can I access these guidelines.

Not true

Providence Plantation

2) If I may please have a perspective of the crime element from that of a
local resident - specifically the areas mentioned above with emphasis
on Providence Plantation. while visiting, I drove through western and
northern Charlotte only because I was told, among other areas, to stay
away. I found these neighborhoods to be not, what was describe to
me.

Depends on what you call a lot of crime. It has risen in the last decade mainly due to the influx of more people in less space and a police budget that does not grow exponentionally. In the UC, crime mostly is property related and very little violent crime. I do suspect that this will change though as bad economic conditions usually lead to an increase of more diverse crime. In western UC it isn't bad in either category, although you'll see someone post on this board that swears gangs are hanging out in the parking lots in the Hwy 16 corridor. Typically west and north Charlotte does have a great share of crime and this has been the case for quite some time. Not sure what areas you rode through and when you did it, but there are some areas in Charlotte that typically aren't safe, especially after dark.

3) In the more southern communities, such as in Union, there are a
variety of ponds. Some are common areas to more than one
property, while others are on private land. I'm attempting to locate a
a Geo-technical Company that can provide the answer to the following
questions:
a) Are these ponds natural or man-made.
b) If man-made, where does the water come from?
c) If natural, how deep are the underground springs and
are they subject to liquefaction during a flood.

Not an expert here, just a long time resident. There are both types of ponds, although most of the ponds have been made by man. Most of the water is rain run off. None of them are especially deep and with the drought we've had for the last year or two, I doubt many would flood.

4) I noted that basements primarily in Union have tarp laid throughout
the underlining foundation due to the high moisture content.
a) Is this code for both Union and Mecklenburg Counties?
b) What problems, if any, arise from this moisture content under the
homes?

Not code in either place (i've lived in both counties). Just a good idea and most builders do it on their own. The area is mostly red clay, it doesn't hold water it pushes it towards the surface. This is why you don't see a ton of basements in the area, and a good chunk of those you do, have either some type of mositure problems or have been sealed very tight, and must be resealed. The number one problem from this is mold of course. A good friend spent $$$ finishing his basement, but in the end, it still smelt just like a basement due to the mositure.

Thank you very much for allowing me to post these inquiries. I appreciate and thank you in advance for any responses.

Hope this helps some, I'm sure the UC Booster club will chime in here shortly.

[jstn]

Don't have the answers to all of your questions, but wanted to add that family life in the areas you mentioned, specifically Providence Plantation, is WONDERFUL. It's clean, it's safe, it's beautiful and it's family oriented. I'm sure you will love it. I've been here a decade and feel blessed everyday. Good luck and welcome to the great Queen City.

[moremoremore]

I know that Prov Plant is huge, but I just want to point out that Weddington Road by the Prov Plant entrace is becoming a 5 lane roadway (confirmed by the Town of Matthews to me) with the 485 interchange going opposite Plantation Drive...so if there happens to be a house you find close to Weddington, this might be good to know...again, I know it's huge...but I bought in Winterbrooke in Matthews and am heartbroken to learn a 485 ramp will be in our "backyard" and that I'm living off of a 5 lane roadway since Weddington was only 2 lanes when we purchased..

I, personally, am getting quite freaked out by the day time home invasion news...2 of which have been in matthews (fairly close to Prov Plant...close enough) in the last two weeks...I have lived in NC since December and Matthews since April...I was never fearful like this back in Queens, NY... I may certainly be a-typical, but these are my feelings as of late...

[ellemaew]

Originally Posted by Vortac

3) In the more southern communities, such as in Union, there are a
variety of ponds. Some are common areas to more than one
property, while others are on private land. I'm attempting to locate a
a Geo-technical Company that can provide the answer to the following
questions:
a) Are these ponds natural or man-made.
b) If man-made, where does the water come from?
c) If natural, how deep are the underground springs and
are they subject to liquefaction during a flood.

The answers to those questions is quite likely to be different for each pond. And in order to get the answers you're looking for you would probably need to fork out a substantial amount of money to that Geo Technical Engineering firm you're looking for. A Geo Tech engineer is not likely to want to just "throw out" an answer with the legal considerations for if they are wrong, and it takes extensive time, effort and materials/equipment to give the professional answers to those questions.

[anifani821]

To my knowledge, the sediment here is not subject to liquefaction except along the coastal areas - i.e., I believe Charleston has the type of sediment that could be prone to liquefaction during earthquakes . . .