Anyone here from the Charlotte, NC area?

[niclodn]

I moved from northern Indiana to the Charlotte area about 7 years ago and absolutely love it! I currently live in the Steele Creek area in south Charlotte and I would have to agree with the PP's regarding the Char-Meck schools being hit or miss. If you're looking at south Charlotte, the Fort Mill, SC area has great schools and a more small town feel. Huntersville is also nice, but as stated before the traffic on I-77 is horrendous!

To answer your question about the weather, it does get cold here occassionally. But very seldom do we see sub-freezing temps or snow (last year was the exception!). I have to admit that I have adapted very well to the climate and am chilly if it gets below 75 degrees

 

[SC Minnie]

OP-- you really need to look at where you DH's going to be working then decide from there where you want to look at homes. I agree with others that the Char Meck schools are hit and miss. Traffic can be a mess depending on where you are coming from.

If you are looking at South Charlotte you may want to look across the state line into Lancaster Co - Indian Land area (also called Fort Mill but is in Lanc Co not York Co). The schools in Indian Land are good as well. I wouldn't go further south into Lancaster Co outside of the Indian Land school district though.

Waxhaw/Weddington/Indian Trail area's are also good, they are in Union Co and east of the city.

 

[elizke]

I'm originally from Charlotte and have missed it the rest of my life since. It IS a city, with the expected troubled, not so nice areas, but for the most part I just love the city. My sisters and their grown kids and a brother still live there, so I have visited once or twice a year my whole life and still miss it.

Regarding the weather, it does get kinda cold, and it's mostly a bone chilling damp, rainy cold. Snow is much less frequent, but when it does come things shut down as they just don't have the equipment we northerners are used to. The worst thing is ice storms, so newer areas with buried power lines are nice! The upside is that the cold season is much shorter and it makes for great tomatoes! : )

I agree with others that outside of Charlotte would be best for schools. My sister works at one of the largest high school in the city and, like many areas of the country, things are not going so well. It's too bad because there are some truly gorgeous old neighborhoods to live in. (I grew up in Latta Park - beautiful!) Stay away from the far east rural areas.

And one last agreement, the traffic north of town IS horrendous at rush hour!! The other sister used to work in Huntersville and is now much happier with the traffic within the city for work!

Final note, I am SO jealous!!!

 

[luvthatdisney]

Born and raised in Charlotte. However, I now live outside of Gastonia (large city west of Charlotte). Love the laid back atmosphere in this area. Gaston county schools are good IMO - yes there are some better than others, but you will find that everywhere. Some of the notable high schools are Highland School of Technology (one of the best in the state), Forestview and Southpoint.

Alot of people like the area around the town of Belmont. It is right across the river from Charlotte, but not REAL close!

I grew up in Charlotte-Meck schools and just watching on the news there is alot of turmoil and issues with budget deficits, which I know effects most school systems these days. It is a very large school system and sometimes I feel they have just gotten too big.

Another reason I love this area is that we get all 4 seasons. We often get snow in the winter (we do not know how to drive in it ), but it only lasts a day or two. Summer can be hot and humid, but doable.

I know the Huntersville area is booming and hear the schools are a little over-crowded not sure if they are building new ones or not. My boss actually lives there and drives here to work.

 

[kawc1945]

Wow! I never knew there were so many folks from the area on the boards!

Thanks for all of the advice and great responses. It looks like things are moving forward with DH's transfer and we will be there before school starts.

Here's hoping for a smooth 2000 mile move!

 

[dis-happy]

Wow! I never knew there were so many folks from the area on the boards!

Thanks for all of the advice and great responses. It looks like things are moving forward with DH's transfer and we will be there before school starts.

Here's hoping for a smooth 2000 mile move!

Where will he be working? One of the big buildings uptown? (note: Charlotte doesn't have a downtown, they have an uptown) In the University Research area? Heading to the airport on a regular basis? Travelling around town to different sites? If you could be specific it would help with housing area suggestions. Traffic in Clt. just keeps getting worse (can't believe I'm saying that as a former Californian and Wash. DC-tonian) and it's worth your quality of life to live in a decent area with a reasonable commute! As nice as some of the areas south of town are, each year I'm increasingly glad to be living inside the beltway. Wishing you well on the move!

 

[jillyb]

We're in Cabarrus County (Concord) and love it! I work in downtown Charlotte (they can call it uptown all they want but it's still downtown to me! ) and it only takes me 40-45 minutes to get to work. My DH works in Monroe and has the same commute time to his job. My youngest DD will be going to a different elementary school next year and it is one of the higher rated schools in the area. Oldest DD goes to a fairly good middle school. I like living here because it's got a small town feel but has some of the big city amenities. Concord Mills is an awesome mall! You just have to stay away from that area during race weeks! LOL Plus, it's close enough to Charlotte you can go into the city for more cultured events.

Union County is also a nice area.

I'm not a big fan of the Char-Meck school system due to the reasons PPs have stated. It's just too big of a school system and nobody seems to know how to tame the beast!

Welcome to North Carolina!

 

[kawc1945]

We're in Cabarrus County (Concord) and love it! I work in downtown Charlotte (they can call it uptown all they want but it's still downtown to me! ) and it only takes me 40-45 minutes to get to work. My DH works in Monroe and has the same commute time to his job. My youngest DD will be going to a different elementary school next year and it is one of the higher rated schools in the area. Oldest DD goes to a fairly good middle school. I like living here because it's got a small town feel but has some of the big city amenities. Concord Mills is an awesome mall! You just have to stay away from that area during race weeks! LOL Plus, it's close enough to Charlotte you can go into the city for more cultured events.

Union County is also a nice area.

I'm not a big fan of the Char-Meck school system due to the reasons PPs have stated. It's just too big of a school system and nobody seems to know how to tame the beast!

Welcome to North Carolina!

Thanks! Interesting you should mention the race area....we picked a home to look at in the area and when we got to Charlotte and met with a realtor, she mentioned that it was very close to the raceway and it would be very loud and congested. We quickly crossed that home off our list!

 

[kawc1945]

Ohhhh....sorry, but one more question. Is there really a Disney Outlet Store at the Concord Mills Mall?

 

[phorsenuf]

We're in Cabarrus County (Concord) and love it! I work in downtown Charlotte (they can call it uptown all they want but it's still downtown to me! ) and it only takes me 40-45 minutes to get to work. My DH works in Monroe and has the same commute time to his job. My youngest DD will be going to a different elementary school next year and it is one of the higher rated schools in the area. Oldest DD goes to a fairly good middle school. I like living here because it's got a small town feel but has some of the big city amenities. Concord Mills is an awesome mall! You just have to stay away from that area during race weeks! LOL Plus, it's close enough to Charlotte you can go into the city for more cultured events.

Union County is also a nice area.

I'm not a big fan of the Char-Meck school system due to the reasons PPs have stated. It's just too big of a school system and nobody seems to know how to tame the beast!

Welcome to North Carolina!

I lived in Concord. We were right up at the Kannapolis line. Such a pretty area. We are hoping to move back that way some day.

 

[MomofKatie]

Ohhhh....sorry, but one more question. Is there really a Disney Outlet Store at the Concord Mills Mall?

Yes!! There is also a "regular" Disney Store at Carolina Place mall (on the other end of the city in Pineville). It is nice to be able to go to either mall and get my Disney Store fix.

 

[jillyb]

Thanks! Interesting you should mention the race area....we picked a home to look at in the area and when we got to Charlotte and met with a realtor, she mentioned that it was very close to the raceway and it would be very loud and congested. We quickly crossed that home off our list!

Glad the realtor told you the truth about that area! A new drag strip was just built across the strip from the speedway, which would make the noise and congestion even worse. There was a big bruhaha over that deal let me tell ya!

 

[stichy]

We live in S Charlotte in the Arboretum area. DH works uptown and it takes him 45 minutes to go the 12 miles to work because the only way to go is on streets not highways. Note: Charlotteans do not like to move their fender benders to the side of the road. They will leave accidents and stalled cars smack dab in the middle of the street. It happens to DH on the way home from work at least once a week. The schools in the S Char area seem better than those in the rest of the CMS district. It's a pricier area so they have better funded PTO's and more parent involvement in the schools than other less affluent areas. DS is going into 3rd grade. So far we haven't had any problems with pulling him out of school. We taking him out 2 weeks a year. I've never had a problem with the teacher being willing to send home most of the week's work so that he can do it on vacation. I've also had some luck getting some vacations excused. I never try for Disney because it really isn't something I consider educational. But I've had pretty good luck with overseas trips based on the cultural aspect.

 

[momw/2princesses]

I was born and raised in Charlotte and we moved to Harrisburg about 10 years ago. It's in Cabarrus County just over the Mecklenburg County line. Our house is on the other side of Hwy 49 from the race track, probably 5 miles or so, but we do not have any noise issues from the track. If we are outside on our deck during race time, you can hear a slight hum, but that's it. We are NOT race fans, so were concerned about that and the traffic. Keep in mind that the major races at the speedway are only twice during the year. You just know not to go in that direction, plan your errands accordingly and it's not a problem!!! The homes on the side of 49 that's closest to the race track would have more issues.

The schools here in Harrisburg are rated some of the best in the county and state. We have incredible parent involvement. It has a small town feel, with the close proximity to Charlotte. I work mostly from home, but when I have to go to the office in uptown Charlotte it takes about 30 minutes to commute. Concord Mills mall is about 10-15 minutes away.

My DH and I both grew up in Charlotte and went to schools there. We turned out fine!! But now there are so many issues in the system. We moved to Harrisburg when we got married because we didn't want our children to go to school in CMS. I'm so pleased with the town, schools, etc. I thought we would out "in the sticks" but everything is so close that you don't feel like you're too far out from the city. PM me if you would like more info!!! And good luck with your move!