Some of the most highly sought-after neighborhoods in Charlotte are the “streetcar suburbs” and the neighborhoods that grew around them that encircle uptown. Originally built to accommodate commuting by trolley, many of these neighborhoods have traditional sidewalks and charming front porches that encourage residents to take evening walks and get to know one another.
Myers Park
Classic Southern charm pours from every inch of the grand homes that fill the tree-lined streets of Myers Park. A drive down the curving Queens Road West is the perfect introduction to the southern gentility of this beautiful neighborhood. Ensconced under the canopy of willow oaks, Myers Park is traditionally one of the most exclusive areas of Charlotte with a wide range of home styles.
In 1911, renowned landscape architect John Nolen was hired to design a “garden suburb” from former farmland. Rather than following the grid pattern used inside the city, Nolen’s vision for Myers Park was to follow the natural curves, hills and creeks to create a secluded neighborhood separate from the city. Myers Park is filled with Colonial Revivals, Bungalows and Tudor Revivals that are worthy of magazine features. The neighborhood’s excellent location and close proximity to uptown Charlotte belies the small town feel within Myers Park.
Eastover
Considered one of the finest Historic neighborhoods in Charlotte, Eastover was the first suburb with driveways for motorcars. Beautiful tree-lined streets like Colville Road and Museum Drive are showcases for the grandeur of Eastover’s stately homes. Many of the houses were built in the early part of the 20th century and have been beautifully renovated and restored to their original glory. The neighborhood attracted the leaders who helped shape Charlotte’s growth, including banker Hugh McColl Jr., department store icon John Belk, and the E.C. Griffith family who developed most of the Eastover community.
Filled with parks, restaurants and local shops, Eastover is also home to The Mint Museum of Art. Just 15 minutes from Charlotte’s center city, Eastover is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy urban living within a neighborhood setting.
Dilworth
Originally created as Charlotte’s first street-car suburb, Dilworth has earned an historic designation, with many homes on the National Registry. Dilworth has become one of Charlotte’s hottest neighborhoods and is filled with homes built from the 1900s to the 1930s. The renovated bungalows are often filled with fascinating architectural details, great history and charming front porches. Like Myers Park and Eastover, the streets of Dilworth are beautifully lined with trees, and the neighborly feel adds to the charm. In the center of the neighborhood stands Latta Park with a playground, water park and theater.
Residents of Dilworth enjoy walking to nearby restaurants and shops on East Boulevard and South End. Don’t miss the Dilworth Home Tour held each September, granting peeks into some of the neighborhood’s most charming homes.
Elizabeth
Just two miles for center city Charlotte, Elizabeth grew rapidly after a trolley line was completed in 1902, and is also where you will find Independence Park, the first public park in the city of Charlotte. Elizabeth is also home to two major hospitals, Presbyterian Hospital and Mercy Hospital, as well as Central Piedmont Community College, North Carolina’s largest community college.
Like many of the neighborhoods close to center city, Elizabeth is full of mature trees lining the residential streets. Residents of Elizabeth enjoy living in one of Charlotte’s most walkable neighborhoods with a Walk Score of 72. Retail, restaurants and residences are in close proximity to one another, and most roads have sidewalks. Walk to live music shows at the Visulite Theatre or enjoy an evening of fine dining at The Fig Tree Restaurant.
A wide variety of housing is available in Elizabeth, including large brick mansions, quaint bungalows and new town homes.
Chantilly
Situated between the neighborhoods of Elizabeth and Plaza-Midwood, Chantilly is a charming cottage neighborhood originally developed in the 1940s. With quaint curb appeal, most of these homes were built post-war and are solidly constructed with hardwood floors and plaster walls.
Although originally small in size, many of these houses are being bumped up or out to add square footage through attic conversions and room additions by renovators and homeowners who realize the terrific positioning of Chantilly.
Because of its location, Chantilly residents enjoy walking to both Elizabeth and Plaza-Midwood shopping districts with eateries like Nova Bakery and Viva Chicken all within an easy stroll. Within the neighborhood is the seven-acre Chantilly Park, the perfect spot to walk the dog, go for a run, or play with the kids.
South End
Historic South End was established in the 1850s when Charlotte’s fist railroad line came to town. Revived in the 1990s when restaurants, shops and design-related industries discovered the versatility and industrial vibe of the old mills and warehouses, South End is a vibrant neighborhood immediately south of Uptown Charlotte. The replica vintage trolleys that run on the same tracks as the LYNX trains are a nod to the historical appeal of South End and emphasize the convenient location of this neighborhood to Uptown Charlotte.
Today, the neighborhood of South End is booming as a true example of the Live/Work/Play urban lifestyle. With fantastic loft and condo conversions created from the sturdy framework of former factories like the Lance Cracker Factory, and high-end home accessory boutiques housed in Atherton Mill (an old textile mill), it is easy to see why South End is such a popular neighborhood.
Fabulous in its quirky coolness, South End has much to offer to everyone. Shop in Atherton Mill to find the perfect finishing touches for your home, hit Atherton Market for fresh produce, join the crowds for the gathering of Food Truck Friday, or find your own vibe in any of the multitude of restaurants and bars that are within the neighborhood.
Wilmore
Located next to popular South End, Wilmore was developed as a streetcar suburb and shared the line from the center of town with neighboring Dilworth. Wilmore’s slightly higher elevation means that residents enjoy unparalleled views of the Charlotte skyline and the nearby Carolina Panther’s stadium.
The wide, curving streets of Wilmore are lined with large front porches framing Craftsman-style bungalows, many of which have been restored to their original glory. There are also a number of newer condo and townhome developments available in the area. The breathtaking views of Charlotte combined with the excellent location and train service, are driving more buyers to Wilmore.
In 2009, Wilmore and Historic South End were featured in Southern Living magazine as one of “The South’s Best Comeback Neighborhoods.”
Oakhurst
Oakhurst is a charming, diverse neighborhood adjacent to popular Cotswold. In Oakhurst you will find sidewalks for leisurely neighborhood strolls, front porches for sipping sweet tea and mature oak trees lining the streets with shade on hot summer days. The well-maintained bungalows and ranches sit on well-portioned lots and the homes are fill of charm, creating a family friendly atmosphere within the neighborhood.
Oakhurst is centrally located and its lucky residents can take advantage of its close proximity to many popular restaurants and local businesses like the famous Morris Costumes and Banner Nursery. Budding gardeners can enjoy spending time in the community garden with individual plots available.
Plans for new commercial development, mixed-use as well as new residential buildings are under way in and around Oakhurst. Located just minutes from Uptown Charlotte, SouthPark, Cotswold and other popular neighborhoods, Oakhurst is poised for discovery.
Sedgefield
A cheerful, cozy neighborhood, Sedgefield is located between Park Road and South Boulevard, just south of Dilworth. The homes in Sedgefield were constructed in the late 40s and early 50s along winding, two-lane roads. The friendly neighborhood is filled with children riding bikes and neighbors walking their dogs along the tree-lined streets.
Although just minutes from Uptown Charlotte, Sedgefield feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of city life. For those looking for a true neighborhood feel within easy commuting distance to the city, Sedgefield is the perfect spot. The fountains, trails, ballparks and playgrounds in Freedom Park are just a short walk away, as are restaurants and retail in neighboring Dilworth and South End.
Cherry
A once-hidden gem, Cherry is increasingly popular with developers. As Charlotte’s oldest African-American neighborhood, residents have fought for decades to try to preserve Cherry’s character as a self-contained neighborhood for the African-American working class. Recently, though, developers have begun building new homes in Cherry, with many trying to stay true to the neighborhood’s original style. Some older homes come on the market ready for renovations, and the ones that have already undergone renovation have been done to perfection. Many of the homes are bungalows with classic features like multiple fireplaces, shingle-style and large front porches.
Cherry sits between Uptown and Myers Park, and is across Kings Drive from the popular Metropolitan (The Met) mixed-use development including Target, Trader Joe’s, Dressler’s Restaurant and more. The Greenway and Linear Park are also at The Met, with excellent access to trails and green space to play.
Cotswold
Cotswold is one of the most desired neighborhoods in Charlotte with its close proximity to Uptown and its warm and friendly feel. Bordering the exclusive Foxcroft neighborhood, Cotswold benefits from great public schools and is also centrally located to many private schools.
Central to the Cotswold community is Cotswold Village Shops with its extensive offerings of restaurants, grocery store, services, banks, and wonderful shops including World Market, ULTA, Marshall’s, and a large Toys & Co location.
Cotswold shares its fabulous location with other well-known Charlotte neighborhoods like the bordering Foxcroft and Eastover. Most of the houses are brick ranches or split-level homes built on generous half acre to over an acre lot sizes. Originally developed in the 1950s-60s, some two-story homes built in the 1970s-80s can be found, as well as more recent infill developments with new homes.
Plaza-Midwood
One of the most popular neighborhoods in Charlotte, Plaza-Midwood has perfected the balancing act of charming Southern neighborhood with an urban lifestyle. This area is filled with a diverse selection of bungalows and cottage-style brick homes dotted along curving, quiet streets lined with sidewalks.
Plaza-Midwood’s central business district is home to boutique shops and delicious dining options like Bistro La Bon and Soul Gastrolounge. Animals receive special care at Commonwealth Animal Hospital, which offers animal chiropractic and acupuncture treatments.
Plaza-Midwood is one of Charlotte’s Historic Districts, and a drive through the western section along The Plaza highlights some of the unique architecture and gorgeous estates, including the beautiful VanLandingham Estate.
NoDa – North Davidson Arts District
A former mill neighborhood that has transformed into a funky arts district, The North Davidson Arts District, or NoDa, is a charismatic and eclectic neighborhood. Originally a village of small mill houses built in the early 1900s, the area experienced a rebirth as many of the buildings in the former business district on North Davidson Street were transformed into artists’ studios and galleries in the 1990s.
NoDa welcomes locally owned and operated restaurants like Cabo Fish Taco, Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen, Smelly Cat Coffee House and the delicious Amelie’s French Bakery. The Neighborhood Theatre hosts local and national acts with musical styles from rockabilly to gospel. The first and third Fridays of every month, the restaurants and art galleries are full of hungry art lovers out on the NoDa Crawl.
There are wonderful opportunities in NoDa to own a former mill house or to enjoy the converted loft space in an historic mill. With access to some of the most unique entertainment in Charlotte and the close proximity to center city, NoDa is a fantastic place to live!
Homes in The Arts District/NoDa
Wesley Heights
Wesley Heights sits on the northwest side of Charlotte, and is in fact, the only west side neighborhood that is designated “historic.” Developed in the 1920s, Wesley Heights is full of affordable, historic bungalow-style homes on oak-lined streets. Wesley Heights is the gateway from Charlotte into the west side and the area gazes into the city’s skyline. Within the confines of Wesley Heights stands the Wadsworth Estate, designed in 1910 by Charlotte’s prominent architect, Louis H. Asbury, the Wadsworth Estate now serves as the backdrop for weddings and other special events. With a similar feel to Dilworth, Wesley Heights has enjoyed slower growth, and houses that are near mirror images to those in Dilworth can be found for a fraction of the price.