Another Relocating Question - WS vs Greensboro (Charlotte, Raleigh: appointed, new home)

[JFinkle]

I have been offered a position in Winston-Salem (W-S). We spent last weekend house shopping and investigating the surrounding areas (Clemmons, Pfaftown, Lewisville, Advance).

My wife is a former NYC girl and loves the city life. I do not share her love of NYC, however I too was disappointed with W-S. It seemed much of the downtown stores were vacant and little to offer in the way of shopping or restaurants. We did see the Hanes Mall which made her happy, but overall W-S was outdated if you will and the surrounding towns we looked at too rural for our taste.

We did spend some time in Greensboro which seemed to be slightly larger, newer city that appeared to have a better selection of shopping and restaurants (she loves PF Changs). Is it fair to say that our perception of the two areas is fairly accurate?

If we elect to move to the Greensboro area where would you suggest that we look? Budget is in the $300K+/- range. Also can someone tell me why new homes rarely have a basement?

I appreciate your insights and feedback

[enlightenme]

I live outside of Winston-Salem in North Davidson County which is a lot like living in the places you mentioned. I think you have the right perception so far....so sleepy and boring outside of W-S. It is safe, quiet, better schools and you get more house for the money in those areas and that is why people live there. In your price range, I recommend trying for a high end home in Ardmore, West End or low end range in Buena Vista (all W-S because that is all I know!) neighborhoods. They are cute, friendly and more in the heart of things. I think you are correct about this being a tired city without much going on. It is an okay place to live for a short while, but we are ready to move on after three years. I think it has seen better days and W-S has potential but it keeps falling short. Losing Dell and the problems with the baseball stadium are all symbolic to me about how this is a losing city. Once again, it is a fine place to make a pit stop, but I couldn't imagine making this my long term home. There are a few decent places to go downtown, but it is by no means a NYC!!! From what I have seen in Greensboro, I don't think it is much better. It has a few more amenities. A good "familyville" type town in between the two is Kernersville. It is kind of ticky tacky living, but if you have to commute to either city, it is probably the best spot to do it. We are trying to make our exit plan out of here in the next couple of years, but I definitely don't regret this pit stop. There are far worses places to live!

[JFinkle]

We looked in Forsyth county but a little too rural for our taste. We understand we won't find a NYC type city, but I had higher expectations for W-S. Commuting is not a big deal, I commute 1.5 hours each way now.....so anything less than 1 hr is a blessing.

I have heard Oak Ridge is a nice area just outside Greensboro. Any thoughts?

[Carolina Texan]

compared to NYC, there's very little difference between WS and Greensboro. Yes, G is slightly bigger, but not by enough to be relevant. Yes, G has slightly more higher-end retail, but not by enough to be relevant.

Countering that, imo, is that W-S is much more cultural. Part of this is the Moravian heritage, and part is having the School of the Arts and Wake Forest in town.

[cohaagen]

Didn't think I'd ever see "Winston-Salem" and "Cultural" used in the same sentence.

[arbyunc]

^ Cohaagen, not sure what you mean by that comment, and I'm surprised someone would say that. Winston-Salem is known as the City of the Arts for good reason, and it does offer much more "culture" than any other city in NC, IMO. It was the first city in the nation to establish an arts council to promote the arts. UNC School of the Arts is here, along with the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, the NC Black Repertory Co. (sponsor of the National Black Theatre Festival), the Little Theatre playmakers, the Children's Theatre, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the River Run International Film Festival, Sawtooth School for Visual Art...I could go on and on.

The Arts District downtown, established about 8 years ago, is progressing well towards the vision of its creators as a crucible for local artists to live and work. There are numerous concerts, plays, art exhibits, etc. all through the year. And with two major universities (WFU and WSSU) along with Salem College, there are plenty of cultural opportunities here.

No, it's not NYC, but then again, what is?

[the 7 oh 4]

Originally Posted by cohaagen

Didn't think I'd ever see "Winston-Salem" and "Cultural" used in the same sentence.

Perhaps cause you are not into culture yourself? Just asking?

Winston-Salem, NC had the very 1st Arts Council in the USA and for a city of its size....it is quite cultural. No other city in NC can even remotely come close...and I live in Charlotte.

[Elm&McGee]

Having lived in both cities, Greensboro for 5 years and Winston-Salem for the last year, i don't really see any difference between the two cities. There are tons of Restaurants in downtown Winston, you just don't know where they are. Downtown Winston has tons more appeal than suburban Greensboro. Greensboro is more of a suburban city. Is that what you are looking for. All of the unique places are in Winston. There is really not much happeing in either city, infact the entire Triad is pretty much DEAD. I don't think I would move to Greensboro if my job was in Winston-Salem because I thought Greensboro had better shopping and restaurants because that is not the case. All of my friends who live in Greensboro come to Winston every weekend because they say the restaurants here are better. Winston Salem has Old Salem, Reynolda Villiage, NC School of Arts, Wake Forest University, 2 major Medical Centers, and no other mall in NC compares to the Hanes Mall. All of my friends dirve here to shop at the Whole Foods because there is not one in Greensboro. Winston has just as many things or more that Greensboro does not have. I think your preception is wrong about the two cities, but like I said you are pretty much comparing apples to apples with both places.

[NCBarrister]

Originally Posted by JFinkle

I have been offered a position in Winston-Salem (W-S). We spent last weekend house shopping and investigating the surrounding areas (Clemmons, Pfaftown, Lewisville, Advance).

My wife is a former NYC girl and loves the city life. I do not share her love of NYC, however I too was disappointed with W-S. It seemed much of the downtown stores were vacant and little to offer in the way of shopping or restaurants. We did see the Hanes Mall which made her happy, but overall W-S was outdated if you will and the surrounding towns we looked at too rural for our taste.

We did spend some time in Greensboro which seemed to be slightly larger, newer city that appeared to have a better selection of shopping and restaurants (she loves PF Changs). Is it fair to say that our perception of the two areas is fairly accurate?

If we elect to move to the Greensboro area where would you suggest that we look? Budget is in the $300K+/- range. Also can someone tell me why new homes rarely have a basement?

I appreciate your insights and feedback

Greensboro and Winston-Salem are comparable in both geographical size and population. Greensboro is slightly more populated with about 30,000 more residents than Winston-Salem. Both are going to offer modest, less expensive suburban planned communities on the outskirts of each, with more mature and more expensive homes the closer you get to their respective downtowns. Both have downtowns in transition.

In all, Greensboro and Winston-Salem are very similar in their offerings but still maintain distinctive municipal personalities. Apparently some on this topic think that it has to be either or. But I think Greensboro and Winston-Salem compliment one another nicely. You can catch Wake Forest in action in Winston or catch a show at Triad Stage in downtown Greensboro, a nationally recognized professional theatre company. You can shop Hanes Mall for national brands that aren't carried in Greensboro, like bebe and Guess, and eat at restaurants that aren't in Greensboro like Firebirds. Likewise, you'll find national stores and restaurants in Greensboro that aren't in Winston-Salem, like Anthropologie, Apple, Brooks Brothers, Fleming's, etc. Both have amazing homegrown restaurants.

If you're having a tough time choosing between the two, I'd split the difference. Areas like Jamestown, Colfax, and Kernersville are all outside the major city limits but within close proximity to both cities. And all have great connectivity to I-40 to get you to and from work in Winston, and connections to the regional transit system, PART, if you would rather ride instead of drive.

And I have no clue about the basements.

[roncorey1]

Originally Posted by Elm&McGee

the entire Triad is pretty much DEAD.

Whoaaa there......

Have you ever been in DT Greensboro on a Friday or Saturday night??? Kinda reminds me of Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. I had a blast down there recently after a rock concert at the G'boro Coliseum. Plenty of clubs and bars and late night eateries.

Not sure about Winston-Salem, but right now Greensboro seems to have a pretty vibrant nightlife.

I think Winston-Salem is kinda like Durham (where I live) was a few years back. It is a very historic city with a proud past that lost out recently with all the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs. But, I see (Dell notwithstanding) a pretty bright future for W/S and a revival on the horizon, just like with Durham.