Southside in downtown Greensboro (Charlotte: low income, apartments, rent)

[gsoboi]

what is everyone's opinion on this redeveloped downtown neighborhood which now has two resautrants and a wine cafe? would anyone consider moving to one of the townhomes or maybe the new City View Apartments now under construction?

I hear there are plans to build a large park for Southside residents as well as for the rest of the downtown community. The old railyard bound by MLK Dr, the Depet, Hamburger Square and City View Apartments could see new life. The city wants to convert that railyard into a green lush park with possible water features such as a small pond.

























The view from City View Apartments



The railyard being considered for a park with a pond.

[yourhometriad]

I'm glad Southside has been done, and I love the fact that people are actually working AND living in downtown. But the prices are so high downtown that few can actually afford it. I wish someone would build some cheaper condos downtown. Too bad the folks who were building at area that was North State Chevrolet fell apart.

[gsoboi]

As far as Southside go, the best deal you can get are the City View Apartments with rent as low as $650 per month. The highest rent in these apartments are a little over a thousand dollars per month. I have already reserved an apartment on the City View side and will move in when construction on the first building is complete the first of November. I do hear you on how expensive downtown is though. Thats why If people want to live downtown, they'd better hurry and snatch the few less expansive units that are available because its only going to get more expensive.

But Southside truely is a miracle. 16 years ago it was plagues with drugs, prositution and other crimes and today there is an upscale wine cafe and half a million dollar townhomes.

[Niki]

If I were single or my husband and I didn't have kids or we were retired and if we had a lot of money, I think it'd be cool to live there.

For now though, it's the suburbs for us. 4 bedrooms, 2½ baths, fenced in backyard, a home theater in the den, 2-car garage, etc. with a park nearby. That's what we need at this time in our lives.

[gsoboi]

The downtown dwellers do tend to be empty nesters and retirees and there seems to be an effort to attract single young professionals. But downtown doesnt have alot to offer (residential) for low/medium income families with children. Most families cant afford those downtown prices and they like their suburban lots so they can have a backyard for their kids to play in. Southside does have those single family homes with the back yards but then again many families cant afford a $300,000 single family home. Attracting families to move downtown is going to be a challenge. More family oriented attractions will help but so will affordable housing. I do think one reason for the high price residential in downtown neighborhoods such as Southside has to do with keeping certain elements of low-income neighborhoods out. Statistically, the higher crimes areas tend to be low income neighborhoods. Remember before the transformation, Southside was a low income neighborhood but it was also a high crime zone. I say all this because I believe the face value of some of these homes are not worth what they are selling for.

These tower homes which are very unique are selling for more than $260,000. While they are 4 story townhomes, there isnt alot of square footage and some people's bathrooms are bigger than the first floor. These tower homes have been on the market for a while and none of them have sold yet. These kind of residential units are really designed for young single people just starting out or college kids but the problem is they can afford these and the people than can afford them want something that has more space. Its the wrong product for the wrong target audience. Certainly these are not worth $260,000 plus dollars but like I said, the developers seem like the want to avoid putting affordable housing in this neighborhood.

[ReticentEnigma]

Nice to look at, but I wouldn't be able to stand actually LIVING in a place like that!

I need room to move.

[gsoboi]

I know what you mean. All the space is divided vertically. Some people's bathrooms are bigger than each floor. Not one has sold. The only kind of person I could see moving in them is some young college kid, probablly in the arts. But again, a college student wont be able to afford a $260,000 to $300,000 townhome like this. It probabally wouldnt be so bad if each building were one residential unit. At least there would be space to turn around on each floor LOL

[g-man430]

Originally Posted by gsoboi

I know what you mean. All the space is divided vertically. Some people's bathrooms are bigger than each floor. Not one has sold. The only kind of person I could see moving in them is some young college kid, probablly in the arts. But again, a college student wont be able to afford a $260,000 to $300,000 townhome like this. It probabally wouldnt be so bad if each building were one residential unit. At least there would be space to turn around on each floor LOL

What's up cityboi?

[NCanswers]

One of my best friends lives there and I love it. I still come from Charlotte
to Greensboro a lot and Greensboro is utopia compared to Charlotte. I rode
the train a few weeks ago and enjoyed the beautiful train depot in the
southside area.
I still own a home built in 1910 on the other side of downtown and really
enjoy staying there when I come up.
Listen folks, I know these prices seem high to some of you. We have been
a little spoiled. If you want something, don't wait too long. Forget the BS
you hear about buyer's markets. It is all location specific. Check out the
prices in Charlotte and many other parts of the country. Greensboro is
still a bargain.

[yourhometriad]

Originally Posted by IggysListing

Listen folks, I know these prices seem high to some of you. We have been
a little spoiled. If you want something, don't wait too long. Forget the BS
you hear about buyer's markets. It is all location specific. Check out the
prices in Charlotte and many other parts of the country. Greensboro is
still a bargain.

agreed- There's demand for homes in certain areas of Greensboro that will drive up the prices in that area, but for the most part, the median home price is still below $160,000 all over the county. Plus you'll love the Piedmont Triad- it's really nice. Mild winters, 2 hours to mountains, 3.5 hours to beach... you can't beat it.