What's "Urban" in Charlotte Area (shop, manufactured)

[Carolina Blue]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

birkdale does have it own version of concerts and festivals

Thank you

It sure does. And the OP said they've only been here a couple of months. The live music normally doesnt' start until the spring and summer. When its warmer, my guess is Birkdale will look "more urban" to this person, LOL.

[JLK706]

Originally Posted by anifani821

Good point - and didn't mean to come off as snippy - just re-read my post and it looked prickly, LOL. I was trying to say what you said - it is mixed and in transition. Very well put.

It's all good I wasn't pointing it out as a bad thing just a mix of things.

This is kind of a pointless thread though.

OP- Birkdale Village is "urban like" not urban and that is that

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by mrdkb

Sorry, but I'm originally from the NorthEast - LI - and urban suggest something different.

I used to deliver freight to the BJ's just off the L.I.E. in Hempstead. I have also been to every major city in the lower 48 more than twice. Urbanity exists in MANY forms my friend. Oh yeah, I grew up Charlotte, but I was born in the Northern BLVd area of Flushing. Again, I have seen it all in this country. You are preaching to the choir when you talk to me.

[jstn]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I almost choked on my fried chicken when I read this statement LOL!!! Without naming OTHER cities, I can think of SEVERAL west coast cities that are 70% white or better and are still very urban!!!

Slow down now...take a big gulp of some red Kool-Aid and breath LOL!!!...

You are right, and many of those cities' 30% are mostly Asian and/ or Hispanic...not black - go figure.

[mrdkb]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I used to deliver freight to the BJ's just off the L.I.E. in Hempstead. I have also been to every major city in the lower 48 more than twice. Urbanity exists in MANY forms my friend. Oh yeah, I grew up Charlotte, but I was born in the Northern BLVd area of Flushing. Again, I have seen it all in this country. You are preaching to the choir when you talk to me.

Visiting and living are two different things. But I get it. Birkdale has Birkdale Urbanism.

[Akhenaton06]

I also forgot to add that the reason why Birkdale (you can throw Baxter in there as well) isn't truly urban is because it is a self-contained development that lacks connectivity to its surroundings. It is only accessible by car and once you're out of Birkdale, you're in pastures or on the interstate. It exists apart from a pre-existing urban fabric.

[anifani821]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

I also forgot to add that the reason why Birkdale (you can throw Baxter in there as well) isn't truly urban is because it is a self-contained development that lacks connectivity to its surroundings. It is only accessible by car and once you're out of Birkdale, you're in pastures or on the interstate. It exists apart from a pre-existing urban fabric.

Yep, cause they are manufactured, fake towns, LOL. But that doesn't make their appeal any less for many people who are very content w/ that arrangement.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by mrdkb

Visiting and living are two different things. But I get it. Birkdale has Birkdale Urbanism.

Just from visiting, I can tell you that most real New Yorkers consider most of Long Island to be suburban. It looked pretty suburban to me compared to NYC itself.

[mrdkb]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

Just from visiting, I can tell you that most real New Yorkers consider most of Long Island to be suburban. It looked pretty suburban to me compared to NYC itself.

Lived there all my life and it is suburban. Intersting point since you mentioned Hempstead. It's largely African-American and has been considered urban for years - i.e. since the 80's. The term was way to distinguish itself from white suburbs/towns.

You know like urban radio. Urban radio still means black. Urban living something else.

Funny how we re-define things.

[jstn]

In the end does any of this really matter? It seems like so much time is spent on C-D trying to define what exactly is urban, somewhat urban, suburban, rural, etc.. Is Charlotte a real city? Is it urban enough? Is it gritty enough? What defines a real city? How does it compare to this city or that city?

Bottom line - who freaking cares? Really. There are hundreds of thousands of people that have willingly chosen this city to call home. Most people like where they live. They could care less if you or I define it as urban, suburban-urban, suburban or strip mall heaven. Why does it really matter?

We, Charlotteans spend way too much time trying to justify ourselves to outsiders or the rare few that are not fans of our great city. Screw'em. We're happy. This is a city of happy, vibrant people - that's what defines us, not what our neighborhoods look like.

Just my 2 cents...