Recent Grad with Job in Huntersville: Apartment Search (Charlotte, Davidson: 2009, apartment complex)

[SamSJester]

Hello, I'm looking for some neighborhood, or even specific apartment complex advice. I interned at a company in Huntersville this summer, and will be returning this January, with both a degree and a full time job. I'm young, single, and a bit nerdy, and am not looking to settle down with a family any time in the near future. My impression from Huntersville this summer was that it had a high volume of families. I stayed in a condo off of Mallard Creek, in the University area. While the culture there was certainly more college oriented (although I could do without people vomiting off of the shared balcony at 3 AM) it was also a bit of a commute. Uptown is also a bit pricy/higher commute. I've done a bit of leg work, visiting a large handful of complexes in the area that fall within 15 minutesish of my office. I think I've narrowed it down to a couple of general neighborhoods, and am looking for people's opinions especially as they concern my situation.

~W WT Harris, especially around Northlake (seems to have a lot of apartment complexes, middle point between work and uptown for nightlife?)
~Huntersville (of course, any younger areas? I don't know Birkdale that well for instance)
~Davidson (College town, nearish too work, but possibly would seperate me significantly from Uptown)

Any thoughts, general or specific, would be appreciated. I'd be happy to give more details if any would help.

[superk]

Originally Posted by SamSJester

~W WT Harris, especially around Northlake (seems to have a lot of apartment complexes, middle point between work and uptown for nightlife?)

The Perimeter Place apartments look awesome. I'd check those out.

Originally Posted by SamSJester

Huntersville (of course, any younger areas? I don't know Birkdale that well for instance)

Birkdale is always nice. Go for it if you have the means.

[Whytewulf]

First, Gratz on the job and welcome to NC.

I have lived in those areas and live in Huntersville now. There are a lot of suburban areas, but outside of Uptown, the university and some other areas, the Charlotte area is a family suburbia. You could find some unique areas like NODA, but thats no where near your job. I would recommend any of the 3 places you mentioned.

1. The University Area, west of 85 on WT Harris is good, I lived there for a few years. Cheaper and little more crime but quite transient, with all the apts.

2. Huntersville, my recommendation, get somethign close to 77 such as off exit 23 or 25 and you'll be good. Close to Birkdale, Northlake and 15 minutes from uptown. Really your night life in the northwest part of the city is in 3 major areas, Northlake, Birkdale and the Lake areass. True NIGHTLIFE is going uptown, if you want the city nightlife. With everything so close it's not much of an issue.

3. Davidson is nice, but expensive and more small town feel. It's got more walkability to it, but you have the college people and the people that have lived there for 30 years.

If you want more info let me know. Also, a lot would depend on what you like to do. As being sort of nerdy, I not certain what type of night life, weekend life you like.

[HomeSweetHomeNY]

Huntersville: The Northcross at Marquis.. or vice versa haha, can't remember exactly, we checked out that apartment and it was veryyy nice, and seemed to be a young complex. If you can afford it, I LOOVED the Apartments at Birkdale Village above the stores. Great area, always lots going on.. will give you an "urban" feel to family-ish Huntersville.

University area: Apts at Radbourne Lake were in my opinion, the nicest in the area, or the Bexley Greenway or the other Bexley that is over there off of Harris.

Davidson: will bore you to death. If you don't have 2.5 children and a white picket fence, you will hate it, even if it is picturesque and all. Don't let the college in town fool you.. it's not college-y.

[GirlTravels]

Hands down, Birkdale. Great for young folks, all sorts of types live there. You can walk to bars/restaurants but there are families around so not much of that 3am balcony puking crowd.

[ssd3]

Try Redcliffe At Kenton Place, 704-439-0110. It is a really nice place with lots of younger people(very nice crowd). It is also right next to Birkdale Village. My friend is the property manager there. Beautiful pool, gym and indoor basketball court.
http://www.redcliffeapts.com/

[SamSJester]

Thank you all for your responses, if anyone has any other suggestions I would love to hear them.

@Superk - I checked out Parimeter Station across the street from the mall, the apartments are VERY attractive, however its hard to tell on the price. They had a great special going on, but since I'm moving in at the beginning of the year I'll have to wait for a couple months to get a special i can actually take advantage of.

@Whytewulf Thanks for your recommendation on the neighborhoods, being close to I77 Huntersville really isn't that much farther from the uptown than Northlake, I saw a couple of complexes off of Gilead, but hadn't made it up to Birkdale. As far as Nightlife goes, I'm a bit nerdy, and am in to nerdy things but I do like normal things to. Movies, Live Music, etc... the only caveat is I really REALLY hate clubs.

@HomeSweetHomeNY, Thanks for the complex recommendations, I was able to visit both Bexleys (actually I also saw the one in Huntersville) and Radbourne lake. They were on the top of the list of the apartments I saw, its nice to get confirmation from someone that's not trying to sell to me that they are good places. I haven't seen the Marquis, but it is added to my list and looks like a nice place. Thanks for the info on Davidson, honestly I've never been there, and was making assumptions based on the fact its a small college town.

@GirlTravels, ditto the recommendation on Birkdale, its looking better and better. Right now the office is off of the park near Gilead, but there's a decent chance they are moving to Birkdale to. If this is the case, my apartment search will be greatly narrowed.

@ssd3, thanks for the complex recommendation, that one wasn't on my radar at all, the layouts look nice. I'll look into it (especially with all of the Birkdale recommendations above).

[Whytewulf]

Sam,

I like the Birkdale ones, but note.. it is a bit loud on Fri/Sat night. So it depends on what apt is available. Over Fox and the Hound would be loud, closer to the outskirts might be nice. Make sur eyou visit on on Saturday.

I don't do clubs either, I like pubs, piano bars, etc. I would stay on 77 between exit 18 and 25.

[MysteryMT]

I'm tired and it's the end of a long day for me, but I just wanted to say I was quite impressed with your first post on the forum - I found it quite informative compared to some first post that typically leave out of information on preferences, work location, distance willing to travel, etc... and it is clear that you at least did some initial background research and have expectations of what you'd like.

I stayed at the Colonial Grand in Huntersville off of Exit 23 for a year and enjoyed it there.
Colonial Properties Trust - Colonial Grand at Huntersville
Check the availability, right now the farthest you can set the move in date is 10/31/2009, but the rates are significantly less than what's posted on the first page, my search for a 1 bed / 1 bath came up with an option for 585 per month with a 12 month lease.

[movin-on08]

Try Bexley Commons at Rosedale is located in Huntersville at exit 23 off of Interstate 77. This is a nice place too. Close to shopping, I-77 etc.