Urban Neighborhoods

Nestled between Uptown’s high-rises and Charlotte’s south-side suburbs are what many call the neighborhood jewels of the Queen City. As you travel the tree-lined streets of these “streetcar suburbs” you’ll see the Charlotte of the turn of the century and World War II. Real estate listings for Charlotte’s center-city neighborhoods are in areas 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Start in Charlotte’s oldest suburb, Dilworth. The vision of Edward Dilworth Latta, Dilworth was developed in the 1890s with the advent of the streetcar and was the first place for Charlotteans to live outside the city.


The streets of Dilworth feature front porch after front porch. The homes are primarily bungalows, though some larger two-story homes line Dilworth Road East and West.

East Boulevard divides the residential areas. The road is lined with restaurants, offices and shops, many located in renovated homes. You also will find the city’s only Greek Orthodox Cathedral, which draws thousands to its annual Greek Festival. At the other end of the boulevard is the entrance to Freedom Park, well-known for its annual arts festival, athletic fields, walking paths, and amphitheater.

Charlotte’s largest hospital, Carolinas Medical Center, is in Dilworth. This 777-bed teaching hospital is the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and is the centerpiece of the ever-expanding Carolinas Healthcare System.

Behind the medical center, bordering East Boulevard, a new mixed-use development called Latta Pavilion is under way. Named for Dilworth’s original entertainment center, Latta Pavilion will include condominiums, office and retail space, landscaped courtyards and walkways. Across the street, a new retail project will be built on the site of the landmark Epicurean restaurant.

South End, one of Charlotte’s hottest new communities, is on Dilworth’s western edge. Only 10 years ago, the area was an eyesore of run-down mills. Today, the mills have been renovated into shops, restaurants, and lofts, making it a trendy locale.

While the rebirth initially generated commercial development, new residential options are cropping up, including Summit Grandview and The Arlington, a 25-story condominium high-rise. Factory South features loft condominiums in a renovated mill, with retail and dining on the first level.

Manchester, another mixed-use project, is planned for the block across from Factory South. The centerpiece will be Charlotte’s original trolley barn, which the developer plans to move from its current site and refurbish.

You can hear the clang of the Charlotte Trolley as it runs from Atherton Mill to Stonewall Street - a popular ride with Carolina Panther fans because the stop is a quick walk from Ericsson Stadium. In 2002, the trolley will extend through the Convention Center to 11th Street. Thus, developers are planning residential projects, like Manchester, along the trolley line to entice uptown workers.

If you’re more traditional than trendy, Myers Park may be right for you - if you can handle the price tag. Myers Park was developed in the early 1900s by a real estate tycoon who wanted to create a country neighborhood. Today his “country” neighborhood is a mere five minutes from uptown; but you can’t help feeling miles away as you travel the curving boulevards and lanes with their towering willow oaks that dwarf even the grandest Myers Park homes.

While most of the homes in Myers Park are older, traditional houses, a few infill projects offer new options. These projects, primarily townhomes and condominiums such as the Myers Park City Homes, come at a hefty price due to skyrocketing land values.


The Queens College campus is on Selwyn Avenue. This liberal arts school was founded in 1857 and moved to its Myers Park campus in 1914. In addition to undergraduate studies, the college offers several graduate degrees, courses for working professionals, and continuing education classes.
The shops and restaurants along and just off Providence Road on Myers Park’s eastern edge - for example, Laurel Market, Five Steps Down, Reid’s Foods, the shops in the Villa (rumored to be haunted!), and the old Manor Theater - are neighborhood favorites.

Eastover, tucked between Providence and Randolph roads, was developed after Myers Park and features majestic homes on broad, rolling lawns. Some of the original homes have been replaced by even more grandiose homes or infill projects for the truly discriminating buyer.

Eastover is also home to the Mint Museum of Art, which garnered its name from the building in which it is housed - Charlotte’s original mint, moved to the site in 1936. The Mint specializes in art of the Americas, from pre-Columbian to present day, and presents many national exhibits. The Mint hopes to relocate to an uptown facility close to the Uptown Mint Museum Craft & Design building, so Eastover may soon lose its cultural neighbor.

Across Randolph Road is the charming community of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, where residents can walk to a variety of locally owned restaurants. The homes, located off Randolph Road and 7th Street, are bungalows, but feature a greater architectural variety than those of Dilworth. Like Dilworth, though, the neighborhood’s popularity means even the smallest homes fetch a hefty per-square-foot price.

The main campus of Central Piedmont Community College is located on the edge of Elizabeth. CPCC is the largest community college in the state and has satellite campuses across the region. The main campus will benefit from a bond referendum passed in 1999 that will pay for much-needed renovations and construction of new facilities.

A short walk from the campus is Thompson Park, home to Mecklenburg’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The quaint St. Mary’s Chapel, also in the park, is owned by the city, but available to anyone to rent for weddings.

It’s hard to imagine three hospitals on one block, but that’s exactly what you find at the intersection of Randolph Road and Caswell Avenue. Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopedic Hospital, and Mercy Hospital are a stone’s throw from one another. Numerous medical offices are also nearby. Next to Elizabeth is Chantilly, a small neighborhood popular among young professionals who want to live in the shadows of uptown. Chantilly features beautiful streets and charming bungalows. It’s not yet as pricey as Elizabeth, though it’s well on its way.

From Chantilly, you come to Plaza-Midwood, a neighborhood comprised of several smaller subdivisions. Plaza-Midwood traces its development back to 1903, when the first roads were laid among the trees. The community is bordered by Central Avenue and The Plaza.

Central Avenue has enjoyed a great deal of redevelopment lately. New restaurants and entertainment venues have made it a hot destination. The Plaza, on the other hand, is a residential boulevard lined with stately old homes, including the historic Van Landingham Estate, which is available to rent for special events. The wide variety of homes in Plaza-Midwood may be the draw behind its diverse population. This is one of the few historic neighborhoods ringing uptown where you will still find charming affordable homes among larger, expensive homes. As with other historic neighborhoods, Plaza-Midwood is seeing its share of infill projects where the price per square foot is relatively high.

Charlotte Country Club, the city’s oldest country club, is surrounded by grand homes dating back to 1920. Country Club’s quiet, curving streets blend seamlessly with those of Plaza-Midwood, making the two communities seem singular. The latest urban neighborhood to see a rebirth is Historic North Davidson, or “NoDa.” The community, out N. Davidson Street at about 35th Street, is known for its funky art galleries and colorful homes. In addition to the old shotgun homes, you’ll find apartments in the renovated Johnston Mill.

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