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Obviously exaggerating some. But no. Seriously. Living in a place like Charlotte would be close to a personal hell for me. I hate everything about the suburbs and especially exurbs even more so.
Unless you're including historic streetcar suburbs, then it's very possible to live in Charlotte and not be in the suburbs/exurbs. I'm not arguing that you'd have as many options as an older city like Cincinnati, but you'd actually have some decent options.
It sounds like you only know Charlotte from the sky lol.
Unless you're including historic streetcar suburbs, then it's very possible to live in Charlotte and not be in the suburbs/exurbs. I'm not arguing that you'd have as many options as an older city like Cincinnati, but you'd actually have some decent options.
It sounds like you only know Charlotte from the sky lol.
I know there are pockets of somewhat urban areas outside Charlotte like Noda and whatever is east of Uptown. But I feel like for its size, it reaalllyyyy lacks urbanity. It's the 22nd largest MSA. Basically every MSA larger than it has more urbanity, except maybe Tampa, maybe the IE, and maybe Phoenix. But where the IE and Phoenix differ is they're more suburban than exurban IMO. Even quite a few places smaller than Charlotte are still more urban and have more significant suburbs with their own retail corridors/zones.
I do know Charlotte is making strides, though. And I do hope it continue to build up more in the central neighborhoods. Because tbh, the weather there is basically ideal and the economy is great. And I'd just never go to the exurbs if I lived/visited there.
But still, of the largest MSAs, Charlotte is definitely the most exurban one.
Obviously exaggerating some. But no. Seriously. Living in a place like Charlotte would be close to a personal hell for me. I hate everything about the suburbs and especially exurbs even more so. On descent into the airport, I always involuntarily make a cringing face when looking at cul-de-sac after cul-de-sac separated by some shopping centers full of chain box stores.
Don't ever fly into Boston then. You better stick to the train to avoid your exurban nausea.
Basically anything in the south and Phoenix. The worst built environments in America.
It makes me chuckle that a guy from Chicago calls Phoenix one of "the worst built environments in America." Chicago and Phoenix have the same street grid! I get that they don't share many similarities aside from that, but I just thought it was funny.
I know there are pockets of somewhat urban areas outside Charlotte like Noda and whatever is east of Uptown. But I feel like for its size, it reaalllyyyy lacks urbanity. It's the 22nd largest MSA. Basically every MSA larger than it has more urbanity, except maybe Tampa, maybe the IE, and maybe Phoenix. But where the IE and Phoenix differ is they're more suburban than exurban IMO. Even quite a few places smaller than Charlotte are still more urban and have more significant suburbs with their own retail corridors/zones.
I do know Charlotte is making strides, though. And I do hope it continue to build up more in the central neighborhoods. Because tbh, the weather there is basically ideal and the economy is great. And I'd just never go to the exurbs if I lived/visited there.
But still, of the largest MSAs, Charlotte is definitely the most exurban one.
It should be mentioned that Charlotte's exurban areas including charming historic downtowns and historic neighborhoods of smaller cities like Davidson, Gastonia, York, Rock Hill, Concord, etc., as well as cool natural amenities and historic sites. It's not 100% subdivisions and cul-de-sacs.
It makes me chuckle that a guy from Chicago calls Phoenix one of "the worst built environments in America." Chicago and Phoenix have the same street grid! I get that they don't share many similarities aside from that, but I just thought it was funny.
From what I've seen metro Chicago and metro Phoenix are highly suburban, but NOT exurban. They're pretty similarly built in the suburbs once you ignore vegetation and architectural styles. (similar long arterials and similar distributions of shopping centers).
I know there are pockets of somewhat urban areas outside Charlotte like Noda and whatever is east of Uptown. But I feel like for its size, it reaalllyyyy lacks urbanity. It's the 22nd largest MSA. Basically every MSA larger than it has more urbanity, except maybe Tampa, maybe the IE, and maybe Phoenix. But where the IE and Phoenix differ is they're more suburban than exurban IMO. Even quite a few places smaller than Charlotte are still more urban and have more significant suburbs with their own retail corridors/zones.
I do know Charlotte is making strides, though. And I do hope it continue to build up more in the central neighborhoods. Because tbh, the weather there is basically ideal and the economy is great. And I'd just never go to the exurbs if I lived/visited there.
But still, of the largest MSAs, Charlotte is definitely the most exurban one.
Charlotte is mostly suburban and maybe exurban. But it has some of the most beautiful intown neighborhoods i've seen, and I have seen very many. Downtown (uptown) is very beautiful and vibrant to boot. But, I can understand how it would not be everyone's preference. Just as NYC is "nauseating" to some as well.
The I.E. It's maybe a little more dense than some of the SE Metros, but it's still fairly exurban and has huge exurban areas. I know most people consider the I. E. part of the L.A. Metro, but for whatever reason the federal government considers it its own msa.
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