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While the state legislature's thumb on more limited expansion of city limits will bruise egos by keeping Raleigh from ever again being on top of the fastest growing cities lists, it will actually be healthier for the city to focus on its density. Raleigh will probably end the decade near 475,000 but with about 500 more people per square mile over its 144 square miles. Higher density residential nodes in DT, Cameron Village, North Hills and Crabtree Valley will be contributing a much larger percentage of the city's growth this decade than similar development did in the preceding decade.
I don't know the other cities' situations but I suspect that they are similar, unless there were particularly large land grabs by municipalities prior to the new laws that restrict physical expansion.
You hit it on the head. The fact that many people ignore is that Charlotte went annex crazy in the 80's & 90's... Covering nearly 300 square miles....an area that could hold Raleigh, Durham, & Cary!!
If Raleigh was allowed to annex land to the size of Charlotte's, one could argue that the "city" limits of Raleigh and Charlotte would be closer in population size than they are now. Raleigh's city population would be between 700,000 to 800,000. Ya'll can go ahead and crunch numbers if you like...
You hit it on the head. The fact that many people ignore is that Charlotte went annex crazy in the 80's & 90's... Covering nearly 300 square miles....an area that could hold Raleigh, Durham, & Cary!!
If Raleigh was allowed to annex land to the size of Charlotte's, one could argue that the "city" limits of Raleigh and Charlotte would be closer in population size than they are now. Raleigh's city population would be between 700,000 to 800,000. Ya'll can go ahead and crunch numbers if you like...
If Mecklenburg was the size of Wake (wake is what, more than double Meck?), imagine how big Meck would be. In fact, Mecklenburg continues to grow faster, in both raw numbers and percentage than Wake and is more populated than Wake.
Wake County is 857 Sq. Miles. 2013 Population 974,289. Density 1,171 People per sq. mile.
Mecklenburg Is 546 Sq. Miles. 2013 population 990,997. Density 1,884 people per sq mile
Charlotte City is 297 Sq. Miles 2013 population 792,862. Density 2,663 people per sq. mile
And Raleigh city limits would not include Durham if it had the city limit sizes of Charlotte... You'd have to physically pick Durham up and put it closer to Raleigh... Within around 10 miles from the dead center of Raleigh. Charlotte city limits spread out around 10 miles from the center of Charlotte in most directions.
Imagine if we picked up Concord, Rock Hill & Gastonia and out it in Charlotte city limits.
Charlotte's simply a larger city. You cant just pretend to draw up imaginary city limits that looks like gerrymandered districts...
Your assumptions are flawed based on the fact that you assume the density would remain the same as you increase city limit size.
Last edited by Charlotte485; 10-16-2014 at 06:14 PM..
If Mecklenburg was the size of Wake (wake is what, more than double Meck?), imagine how big Meck would be. In fact, Mecklenburg continues to grow faster, in both raw numbers and percentage than Wake and is more populated than Wake.
Wake County is 857 Sq. Miles. 2013 Population 974,289. Density 1,171 People per sq. mile.
Mecklenburg Is 546 Sq. Miles. 2013 population 990,997. Density 1,884 people per sq mile
Charlotte City is 297 Sq. Miles 2013 population 792,862. Density 2,663 people per sq. mile
And Raleigh city limits would not include Durham if it had the city limit sizes of Charlotte... You'd have to physically pick Durham up and put it closer to Raleigh... Within around 7 miles from the dead center of Raleigh. Charlotte city limits spread out around 7 miles from the center of Charlotte in most directions.
Imagine if we picked up Concord, Rock Hill & Gastonia and out it in Charlotte city limits.
Charlotte's simply a larger city. You cant just pretend to draw up imaginary city limits that looks like gerrymandered districts...
Your assumptions are flawed based on the fact that you assume the density would remain the same as you increase city limit size.
If Mecklenburg was the size of Wake (wake is what, more than double Meck?), imagine how big Meck would be. In fact, Mecklenburg continues to grow faster, in both raw numbers and percentage than Wake and is more populated than Wake.
Wake County is 857 Sq. Miles. 2013 Population 974,289. Density 1,171 People per sq. mile.
Mecklenburg Is 546 Sq. Miles. 2013 population 990,997. Density 1,884 people per sq mile
Charlotte City is 297 Sq. Miles 2013 population 792,862. Density 2,663 people per sq. mile
And Raleigh city limits would not include Durham if it had the city limit sizes of Charlotte... You'd have to physically pick Durham up and put it closer to Raleigh... Within around 10 miles from the dead center of Raleigh. Charlotte city limits spread out around 10 miles from the center of Charlotte in most directions.
Imagine if we picked up Concord, Rock Hill & Gastonia and out it in Charlotte city limits.
Charlotte's simply a larger city. You cant just pretend to draw up imaginary city limits that looks like gerrymandered districts...
Your assumptions are flawed based on the fact that you assume the density would remain the same as you increase city limit size.
The point of my post regarding annexation and city size wasn't intended to spark a pissing match. That said, let me offer some comments:
Charlotte is a larger city than Raleigh
The difference in "size" between the two isn't as great as Charlotteans want to believe it is.
The difference in "size" between the two isn't as small as Raleighites want to believe it is.
If one just added Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Knightdale & Morrisville together (all reasonably adjacent or connected to the center of population) you'd end up with a city of about 644,000 over about 228 square miles. That's a conservative comparison that I don't think anyone could effectively argue otherwise. To me, that feels like the proper comparison considering that each area still has adjacent suburbs that aren't consumed in the comparison.
IMO, there isn't any significant difference between Raleigh the city and Charlotte the city. Sure Charlotte has a bigger skyline, but that is because 95% of it was built by TBTF banks building vanity towers with little practical need. You aren't going to see them doing anymore of that anytime soon. In return for those monuments, there are vast areas of center city Charlotte that with little street activity as concrete and glass walls don't make for decent stroll districts.
Beyond that, for most people, there isn't any difference between the two cities. The vast number of people live in suburbs and frankly a subdivision and strip mall looks the same in both places.
IMO, there isn't any significant difference between Raleigh the city and Charlotte the city. Sure Charlotte has a bigger skyline, but that is because 95% of it was built by TBTF banks building vanity towers with little practical need. You aren't going to see them doing anymore of that anytime soon. In return for those monuments, there are vast areas of center city Charlotte that with little street activity as concrete and glass walls don't make for decent stroll districts.
Beyond that, for most people, there isn't any difference between the two cities. The vast number of people live in suburbs and frankly a subdivision and strip mall looks the same in both places.
Odd. No more Office towers? Someone better let Spectrum and his 30 floor office tower that is already closing down the parking lot and starting construction before years end with Babson Capital as the anchor tenant.
Someone also better let Crescent know for their 27 floor office tower due for construction next year also we don't need anymore toys.
You did say Bank of America & Wellschovia so you're technically right that the two of those guys probably won't, as Hugh McColl (spelling?) did say the rest of the community was going to have to pick up the slack and not always turn to its two rich uncles. And it has, a well written article was written about it a couple days ago.
I'm not going to address blank glass walls etc. because its off topic....
And true. In nearly all of the 25 largest cities in NC and the entire south, nearly the vast majority live in suburbs. Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville, Dallas, Memphis, Austin, Birmingham, etc And all placed are nearly identical suburbs on different scales
Anyone that thinks there isn't a difference is just fooling themselves.
Charlotte is the unquestioned hub with a true center...it functions from the inside out....and is mainly private industry.
Raleigh is the main city in a region of large cities...it's primary focus is state government and NC State...but much of its employment is centered at RTP outside of the City.
There is really no comparison, they are two entirely different scenarios....which is evident in their skyline...and physical composition.
The region sizes may be similar, but the composition of each region is entirely different.
IMO, there isn't any significant difference between Raleigh the city and Charlotte the city. Sure Charlotte has a bigger skyline, but that is because 95% of it was built by TBTF banks building vanity towers with little practical need. You aren't going to see them doing anymore of that anytime soon. In return for those monuments, there are vast areas of center city Charlotte that with little street activity as concrete and glass walls don't make for decent stroll districts.
Beyond that, for most people, there isn't any difference between the two cities. The vast number of people live in suburbs and frankly a subdivision and strip mall looks the same in both places.
Thats not true, Charlotte's skyline isn't all banks. Charlotte metro is about the same as Raleigh though. Here's a fun fact-
Charlotte spends 4 times as much on tourism then Raleigh.
Source: The news
If Mecklenburg was the size of Wake (wake is what, more than double Meck?), imagine how big Meck would be. In fact, Mecklenburg continues to grow faster, in both raw numbers and percentage than Wake and is more populated than Wake.
Wake County is 857 Sq. Miles. 2013 Population 974,289. Density 1,171 People per sq. mile.
Mecklenburg Is 546 Sq. Miles. 2013 population 990,997. Density 1,884 people per sq mile
Charlotte City is 297 Sq. Miles 2013 population 792,862. Density 2,663 people per sq. mile
And Raleigh city limits would not include Durham if it had the city limit sizes of Charlotte... You'd have to physically pick Durham up and put it closer to Raleigh... Within around 10 miles from the dead center of Raleigh. Charlotte city limits spread out around 10 miles from the center of Charlotte in most directions.
Imagine if we picked up Concord, Rock Hill & Gastonia and out it in Charlotte city limits.
Charlotte's simply a larger city. You cant just pretend to draw up imaginary city limits that looks like gerrymandered districts...
Your assumptions are flawed based on the fact that you assume the density would remain the same as you increase city limit size.
I agree, Charlotte is simply bigger. Just to add-
Raleigh City is 144.8 sq Miles 2013 population 431,746 people. Density 2,409 people per sq. mile
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