Asheville, NC vs Charlotte, NC Downtown Battle (Concord, McDonald: condos, unemployment rate)

[Garfieldian]

I was looking around google maps and might check these cities out soon...

Which city has the best Downtown?

Architecture
Vibrancy
Restaurants
Residential
Walkability
Shops/Retail
Uniqueness
Where would you prefer to live?


I may be wrong but from observation on google maps it looks like Asheville can hold it's own against Charlotte, which would be pretty weird considering the size of the metro areas. Asheville actually looks like it is a bigger footprint with more shops and stuff from a birds eye view. This is NOT a skyline thread, I do not care about the skylines, I'm talking downtown and street level. Can some people weigh in on this?

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by Garfieldian

I may be wrong but from observation on google maps it looks like Asheville can hold it's own against Charlotte, which would be pretty weird considering the size of the metro areas. Asheville actually looks like it is a bigger footprint with more shops and stuff from a birds eye view.

There is a tool called "streetview" that allows you to tour both as if you were in a car driving. Here are the streetviews of both town centers...

Asheville
35.595562,-82.551881 - Google Maps

Charlotte
CHARLOTTE - Google Maps

^^^Using these links, you can just click onto the road and navigate through the downtown areas (or non downtown areas) of both cities. The only problem with Charlotte is the fact that most retail/restaurants downtown are tucked away within skyscrapers and mall-like complexes (ie Epicentre and the Overstreet Mall). For instance, downtown Charlotte has a movie theater, a bowling alley, two YMCAs, and a McDonald's. Yet none of these can be seen from the street (and there are quite a few more examples of such places not seen from the street). Even downtown Charlotte's Harris Teeter supermarket is in a location that could EASILY be missed if one doesn't know when to look for it.

Uptown Charlotte's Harris Teeter
35.231379,-80.843813 - Google Maps

^^^So my point here is that there is much more to Charlotte's downtown than what the average casual visitors see from their cars. You really have to walk the area and go into skyscraper lobby entrances and such to get a feel for what is all present. My biggest gripe with the Overstreet Mall area of uptown is the fact that most businesses are only open during business hours (M-F). Epicentre has MUCH better hours, but it is still lacking retail. To be quite honest, Charlotte's retail areas are South Park and the Concord Mills area (both non-downtown Mall locations).

As for Asheville, it is a very charming town. Much of its downtown reminds me of Charleston (on a smaller scale). Some like it, some hate it. IMHO, the only downtown in the Carolinas that beat out Charlotte's uptown (to the casual visitor) is Charleston. You may feel differently, so that is why I would suggest that you visit both in person and walk them. Hope this helps.

[Mutiny77]

On a pound for pound basis when it comes to the basics of urbanity, I wouldn't really argue with someone who says that Asheville outperforms Charlotte in that regard.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

On a pound for pound basis when it comes to the basics of urbanity, I wouldn't really argue with someone who says that Asheville outperforms Charlotte in that regard.

I stay away from those arguments anyways because they are all very subjective. That's why I told the OP to visit both and pick your favorite. It is really that simple. They are only 2 hours apart (both can easily be toured on the same day).

With that said, it all depends on one's definition of urban. If by "urban" we're talking about walking to sporting events, concerts, living in a highrise, taking mass transit out of downtown, grocery shopping, downtown workforce/residents etc then Charlotte gets the nod. However, if by "urban" we're talking about old buildings built on a low human scale, retail shopping, narrow streets with outdoor dining etc then Asheville gets the nod. So the question is, which one is the OP looking for?

Charlotte
All sizes | Charlotte skyline from The Vue condos | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/5448210502/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Charlotte skyline from The Vue condos | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/5448210340/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Charlotte - Epicenter | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/3402270111/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)

Asheville
All sizes | Grove Arcade restaurant in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, June 2007 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alcomike/3321745602/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Asheville downtown | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helen/1921256/sizes/m/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | asheville downtown look up patton | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/3978019730/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)

These pics only tell a fraction of the story. One can only get the big picture by visiting both. For Asheville's size, it fairs well against a city the size of Charlotte IMO. However, there are some who would disagree with me on that one (and they are not the types that post on City-data). Let's face it, the city-data types are......... Well, we're nerds (to put it bluntly). We simply don't represent the masses at the least. Asheville is a really cool town. No question about it. However, I wouldn't tell my friends in real life "Hey man, go to Asheville, it's downtown is pound for pound more urban than Charlotte's". If I did THAT, most of them will come back wondering just what exactly is my definition of "urban". Real talk...

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I stay away from those arguments anyways because they are all very subjective. That's why I told the OP to visit both and pick your favorite. It is really that simple. They are only 2 hours apart (both can easily be toured on the same day).

With that said, it all depends on one's definition of urban. If by "urban" we're talking about walking to sporting events, concerts, living in a highrise, taking mass transit out of downtown, grocery shopping, downtown workforce/residents etc then Charlotte gets the nod. However, if by "urban" we're talking about old buildings built on a low human scale, retail shopping, narrow streets with outdoor dining etc then Asheville gets the nod. So the question is, which one is the OP looking for?

Charlotte
All sizes | Charlotte skyline from The Vue condos | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/5448210502/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Charlotte skyline from The Vue condos | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/5448210340/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Charlotte - Epicenter | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/3402270111/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)

Asheville
All sizes | Grove Arcade restaurant in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, June 2007 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alcomike/3321745602/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Asheville downtown | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helen/1921256/sizes/m/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | asheville downtown look up patton | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/3978019730/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)

These pics only tell a fraction of the story. One can only get the big picture by visiting both. For Asheville's size, it fairs well against a city the size of Charlotte IMO. However, there are some who would disagree with me on that one (and they are not the types that post on City-data). Let's face it, the city-data types are......... Well, we're nerds (to put it bluntly). We simply don't represent the masses at the least. Asheville is a really cool town. No question about it. However, I wouldn't tell my friends in real life "Hey man, go to Asheville, it's downtown is pound for pound more urban than Charlotte's". If I did THAT, most of them will come back wondering just what exactly is my definition of "urban". Real talk...

I agree. Discussions here are quite different than real life experiences.

However, from a purely tourist standpoint, I actually would probably tell my friends, "Hey man, go to Asheville, it's downtown is pound for pound more urban than Charlotte's". But admittedly, Asheville's tourist appeal goes far beyond its downtown.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

But admittedly, Asheville's tourist appeal goes far beyond its downtown.

That I CAN agree with. Always have enjoyed my visits!

[Garfieldian]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I stay away from those arguments anyways because they are all very subjective. That's why I told the OP to visit both and pick your favorite. It is really that simple. They are only 2 hours apart (both can easily be toured on the same day).

With that said, it all depends on one's definition of urban. If by "urban" we're talking about walking to sporting events, concerts, living in a highrise, taking mass transit out of downtown, grocery shopping, downtown workforce/residents etc then Charlotte gets the nod. However, if by "urban" we're talking about old buildings built on a low human scale, retail shopping, narrow streets with outdoor dining etc then Asheville gets the nod. So the question is, which one is the OP looking for?

Charlotte
All sizes | Charlotte skyline from The Vue condos | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/5448210502/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Charlotte skyline from The Vue condos | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/5448210340/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Charlotte - Epicenter | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bz3rk/3402270111/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)

Asheville
All sizes | Grove Arcade restaurant in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, June 2007 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/alcomike/3321745602/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | Asheville downtown | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/helen/1921256/sizes/m/in/photostream/ - broken link)
All sizes | asheville downtown look up patton | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/3978019730/sizes/o/in/photostream/ - broken link)

These pics only tell a fraction of the story. One can only get the big picture by visiting both. For Asheville's size, it fairs well against a city the size of Charlotte IMO. However, there are some who would disagree with me on that one (and they are not the types that post on City-data). Let's face it, the city-data types are......... Well, we're nerds (to put it bluntly). We simply don't represent the masses at the least. Asheville is a really cool town. No question about it. However, I wouldn't tell my friends in real life "Hey man, go to Asheville, it's downtown is pound for pound more urban than Charlotte's". If I did THAT, most of them will come back wondering just what exactly is my definition of "urban". Real talk...

I'm looking for the latter, for me it is more about the day to day lifestyle and quality of life than it would be getting major concerts, what companies are there or sporting events. I am a baseball guy primarily, so neither city has an MLB team so, it wouldn't matter much for me. I definitely like outdoor dining, narrow streets, denser residential areas. I don't really like high rise condos as far as living, I would much prefer a loft/walkup anyhow, more character. I'd easily pick a brownstone over a high rise if I was in NYC for instance, I've done both. I try to buy my bread from a bakery, meat from a butcher shop, produce from a produce market, etc. And I like them to all be fairly close together, I'd rather do my commuting on foot or bike and use public transit when necessary, rarely if ever do I want to drive. Somewhere like Atlanta to me for instance since it is the closet huge metro, would be a living nightmare, even though they have amenities. Hope that makes more sense.

I've never been to either city (as far as exploring goes) that is why I am asking.

[urbancharlotte]

Originally Posted by Garfieldian

I've never been to either city (as far as exploring goes) that is why I am asking.

I really think you should visit both. If you want more info than that, feel free to PM. Good luck!!!

[NOLA_Saints]

Currently in Houston. Considering a move to Atlanta, Asheville or Charlotte. Going on the 3 city visit next week. I'd like to narrow down to 2. Here are key things I want

1. Not the heat and humidity of Houston. As long as it's less I'm fine. I'm fine with some snow.
2. Outdoors place - hiking, cycling. locally used (not just tourists) downtown.
3. Beautiful views
4. Comedy scene - want to find a good improv group
5. Which has better economy?
6. Universities

Is it a decent drive from Charlotte to Asheville if I lived in Charlotte? Austin is pretty close to Houston so makes for a quick weekend trip. Something like that?

Any help would be appreciated!

[Mutiny77]

1. Not the heat and humidity of Houston. As long as it's less I'm fine. I'm fine with some snow: all three

2. Outdoors place - hiking, cycling. locally used (not just tourists) downtown: Asheville

3. Beautiful views: Asheville

4. Comedy scene - want to find a good improv group: Not sure.

5. Which has better economy? If we're going by unemployment rates, then I'd say Asheville. However, it has nothing near the industry of Charlotte or Atlanta, but both of those cities are dealing with the aftershocks of the recession a little more acutely than their peer cities.

6. Universities: Atlanta

Asheville is definitely within weekend-getaway driving distance from Charlotte.