Charlotte or Columbia? (York, Pawleys Island: homes, car tax, to live)

[Akhenaton06]

I've also heard more than one Charlottean give rave reviews for the Village at Sandhill. Although the Charlotte area has more shopping options, it doesn't have anything comparable to VAS.

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

I've also heard more than one Charlottean give rave reviews for the Village at Sandhill. Although the Charlotte area has more shopping options, it doesn't have anything comparable to VAS.

No, there's nothing quite identical to VAS, but there are some good mixed-use developments in the Charlotte area - Birkdale Village up in Huntersville comes to mind, although it's different in that it's a bit more upscale and doesn't really have VAS' sprawlier edges with big-box stores, banks, and chain restaurants orbiting the truer mixed-use core (i.e., Birkdale is just the core). VAS is different and perhaps somewhat more unique in that it's a hybrid of mixed-use commercial development and conventional suburban car-oriented stores/banks/restaurants.

[Akhenaton06]

^I agree about Birkdale Village, but to me, it comes off as a bit inauthentic, given its location. Something like that would be much better off within an existic urban context, IMO. I think VAS's "hybrid" nature gives it a bit more legitimacy, in that it knows exactly where it's located and doesn't try to ignore that or go overboard in "dressing it up." As one who is in favor of truly urban development, I'm almost surprised that I'm expressing that sentiment, LOL. Phillips Place, IMO, has much more redeemable qualities.

[Iraqvet]

Both cities are bland IMO <ducking head> but if I had to choose between the two, I would choose Charlotte. Columbia seemed a little too insular for me.

[CarolinaSouth803]

^^^^

Iraqvet i respect your opinion...considering i don't know where you are originally from [not that that matters] but i think saying Columbia is "too insular" may be the wrong choice of word to say. The way you are using the word insular is as if Columbia is an city on an island, thus being away from other areas...now if you would have said that the people of Columbia was insular then i wouldn't be on here conveying my grammar skills.

But like i said...i can respect what you said...and thus i'm quite about your comment from her on out! Plus you don't have to duck your head...you aren't in Iraq right now...my fiancee is on her 2 tour in 3yrs and is due to go to Afghanistan within 9mths of her return later this year. Very tiring...but i admire her for doing what she's doing.

[sandlapper]

That's kinda my take on it as well. It's like why move to Charlotte when I can pretty much do the same things in Columbia (outside of shopping of course, but I have already expressed how concerned with that I am). Charlottes a great city, but I just never caught its fever. Atlanta always seemed like a more logical leap.

[Chi2Midlands]

Originally Posted by Akhenaton06

^I agree about Birkdale Village, but to me, it comes off as a bit inauthentic, given its location. Something like that would be much better off within an existic urban context, IMO. I think VAS's "hybrid" nature gives it a bit more legitimacy, in that it knows exactly where it's located and doesn't try to ignore that or go overboard in "dressing it up." As one who is in favor of truly urban development, I'm almost surprised that I'm expressing that sentiment, LOL. Phillips Place, IMO, has much more redeemable qualities.

I suppose that Birkdale being located in largely suburban Huntersville/North Mecklenburg makes it more "upscale" than it "needs" to be. However, I think there is some justification due to the high-income folks living on/near Lake Norman which is just a stone's throw away. There are also some high-quality residential subdivisions nearby (the Birkdale neighborhood itself looks like it could be that area's version of Spring Valley down the line). I think the most inauthentic thing about it is the New England-style architecture in some parts of Birkdale, which does not fit the Southeast. Then again, what is "authentic" to Charlotte as it is such a new city with little history?

Phillips Place makes sense because it's in the high-rent, job-rich SouthPark area anchored by Charlotte's most upscale mall. I kind of think it would appropriate for a mini-version of Phillips to be done in the Forest Acres area (which I think is what Midtown At Forest Acres (Richland (Fashion) Mall) was supposed to be before the shady developer went belly up).

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Chi2Midlands

I suppose that Birkdale being located in largely suburban Huntersville/North Mecklenburg makes it more "upscale" than it "needs" to be. However, I think there is some justification due to the high-income folks living on/near Lake Norman which is just a stone's throw away. There are also some high-quality residential subdivisions nearby (the Birkdale neighborhood itself looks like it could be that area's version of Spring Valley down the line). I think the most inauthentic thing about it is the New England-style architecture in some parts of Birkdale, which does not fit the Southeast. Then again, what is "authentic" to Charlotte as it is such a new city with little history?

Phillips Place makes sense because it's in the high-rent, job-rich SouthPark area anchored by Charlotte's most upscale mall. I kind of think it would appropriate for a mini-version of Phillips to be done in the Forest Acres area (which I think is what Midtown At Forest Acres (Richland (Fashion) Mall) was supposed to be before the shady developer went belly up).

I think at one time Charlotte had some history, but it was all torn down during the "urban renewal" of the 70's.

[brri]

I moved to Charlotte a few years ago and since living here have visited Columbia six times. To me, Columbia does not look or feel like Charlotte except for a few similar style neighborhoods. Charlotte has a different vibe to it. Charlote feels much larger and faster and more aesthectically appealing, IMO. Columbia seemed to be much smaller and with less to do and see. That does not mean Columbis is an inferior city, nor does is mean that Charlotte is the world's greatest city either. As someone not a native of this part of the country, my observation is that Columbia is quite nice but very different from Charlotte.
I think either city would be an excellent choice but it would depend on what size and vibe of a place one would be looking for.

[Akhenaton06]

^I think that's a rather fair opinion.