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Alright, same story as most here...planning to relocate my family to Charlotte, searching for best areas, schools, homes, nursing jobs, etc...blah blah blah. BUT- 1 of the doctors I work for at the moment is NC born and bread. He drops it on me today that he "would never want to live in North Carolina again...it's dirty...move way up north of charlotte on a little farm..." The issue is the couple of places I mentioned to him he shot down. Lake Norman area, Gastonia, Indian Trail, and a few others. Any opinions out there to help me blow my bubble back up after he burst it? He hasn't changed my mind- but it sure is hard to tell what looks good via the net.
Alright, same story as most here...planning to relocate my family to Charlotte, searching for best areas, schools, homes, nursing jobs, etc...blah blah blah. BUT- 1 of the doctors I work for at the moment is NC born and bread. He drops it on me today that he "would never want to live in North Carolina again...it's dirty...move way up north of charlotte on a little farm..." The issue is the couple of places I mentioned to him he shot down. Lake Norman area, Gastonia, Indian Trail, and a few others. Any opinions out there to help me blow my bubble back up after he burst it? He hasn't changed my mind- but it sure is hard to tell what looks good via the net.
He sounds like a real snob if you ask me. He's also in a real minority in his opinion of the state. Many THOUSANDS of people are relocating here every year and enjoying it so much they convince family and friends from their home states to move here too. I have no idea what he means by "dirty" either - that is just nuts, especially if you move here from a big city like Philly, Baltimore, or LA - give me a break.
He obviously has a real bias against his home state so I would try to find out what THAT is all about before you give his opinions too much credibility
I'm gonna promote the Dilworth/Cherry/Elizabeth/Chantilly/Plaza-Midwood/No-Da neighborhoods. They form a ring of neighborhoods just outside center city on the south, east and north side... further southward on the 'ring' (Dilworth) represents the most expensive and more traditional almost city living, but as you swing around to No-Da things are a little grittier... in a good way.
It really depends on what you value. I've got a family and I chose a place a little further out the east corridor (just past Chantilly). I was able to save some coin on a house with a huge yard and do some nice upgrades. We are in the Myers Park High School district (excellent HS), so no problems there. Our 'home' elementary school is a little iffy, but if we can't get in a magnet school or Montessori we will pony up for private school. We can afford it with all the loot we saved on the house.
Good luck, I don't think Charlotte is all that dirty... but if you're relocating from a ranch on the headwaters of the Chattooga River you may find it less than pristine. It's all relative.
Last edited by SunnyKayak; 07-28-2008 at 09:49 PM..
Reason: flaming off topic
Thanks for thoes re-assurances. I appreciate the school info as I have an 8th grader (girl) and this will be a hard move for her. So, I hope that we find a school with students that are welcoming, disiplined and participate in music and sports programs, as my daughter does.To answer your question, Solnechko, I have been to charlotte for 1 day-that is all it took for my husband and I to fall in love- We are in the Pacific northwest, so naturally, beauty is important to us.
Additionally, we are ready for a BIG change. We finally have the option to spread our wings. Life is far too short not to take risks and chances, and since I am a nurse, thankfully my options are limitless.
Location: Some got six month some got one solid. But me and my buddies all got lifetime here
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jayraye
Alright, same story as most here...planning to relocate my family to Charlotte, searching for best areas, schools, homes, nursing jobs, etc...blah blah blah. BUT- 1 of the doctors I work for at the moment is NC born and bread. He drops it on me today that he "would never want to live in North Carolina again...it's dirty...move way up north of charlotte on a little farm..." The issue is the couple of places I mentioned to him he shot down. Lake Norman area, Gastonia, Indian Trail, and a few others. Any opinions out there to help me blow my bubble back up after he burst it? He hasn't changed my mind- but it sure is hard to tell what looks good via the net.
My buddy hated, hated, hated living in Gastonia. He didn't have a single nice thing to say about Gastonia other than "it's there". When I lived in NC I used to go around the Lake Norman area. I moved out of NC but to call the Lake Norman area dirty reeks more of someone who's just had someone else soil his Easter basket. That's the last place I'd ever call dirty.
My example is not of LN but of the downtown part of CLT and "dirty".(BTW I just told this story to a friend of mine yesterday)
Last week I saw from my hotel window about 7 in the morning a street cleaner using a leaf blower to clean the curbs and walks. When he was finished you could eat of the streets! Why am I impressed? Well from where I come from there's enough food ON the streets BUT I wouldn't want to say you"could eat off the streets"
CLT and its' surrounding areas are immaculate without a doubt or a shread of filth.
I often hear from people who have visited Charlotte that they are impressed with how clean it is. It's usually one of the first things people say! To help you determine the best areas to look at, you need to give a price range, type of home you are looking for, and what's important to you. I also wouldn't put Gastonia on the top of my list - sorry to everyone who lives there. There are more desirable areas!
What a hoot. Quite the opposite. Charlotte is one of the cleanest cities. Downtown is immaculate and the whole city is practically new looking. This guy has got the city mixed up w/ something else.
Yea, I wouldn't put Gastonia on my list either. Indian Trail is very nice and so is Matthews and Weddington and Waxhaw and Lake Norman/Huntersville.
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Eat off the street
