Living in Southwest Charlotte
In the past decade, the number of households in southwest Charlotte has doubled. And thanks to the new leg of I-485 which recently opened and the rising housing costs in south Charlotte, southwest Charlotte is one of the primary residential and business growth spots of the future. To many natives, southwest Charlotte was always just Steele Creek, because for a long time that was the only neighborhood in this part of town. While Steele Creek offers the charm of an established neighborhood, this area has much more to offer if you’re in the market for a new home. Recently developed communities line N.C. 49, the main thoroughfare of southwest Charlotte, and higher-end communities are under way on the Mecklenburg side of Lake Wylie. You’ll find southwest Charlotte homes listed in real estate area 7.
One such luxury community is The Palisades, covering 1,500 acres of a Lake Wylie peninsula just south of N.C. 49. Homes at The Palisades range from the $300s to more than $2 million and the community offers a Nicklaus Design championship golf course, country club, equestrian center, soccer complex and nature trails. The Sanctuary, a 1,300-acre community off Shopton Road West on the shores of Lake Wylie, is one of the most unique developments in the region. Referring to each of its homesites as “preserves,” The Sanctuary’s sites range from two to more than 13 acres, averaging about five acres. Twenty million-dollar homes are part of the development; homesites range from $300,000 to $2 million. The community features 20 miles of nature trails, 200 acres of natural areas and The Camp, a lakefront community center with swimming pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, kids’ room, playground, picnic areas and a boating center. Covering 1,050 acres, Berewick is a mixed-use development near I-485. Berewick also offers several neighborhoods with single-family homes ranging from $140,000 to $450,000.
The development includes office and retail space, as well as multi-family housing in the town center. Following on the heels of this residential buildup, the Ayrsley project at I-485 and N.C. 49 encompasses 180 acres and 5 million square feet of urban development. Calling itself the “Town Center of Southeast Charlotte,” Ayrsley’s pedestrian friendly design features shops, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, a branch of the YMCA, satellite universities, and luxury apartments and townhomes reminiscent of an old European village.
In the past, southwest Charlotte was attractive only to industrial companies. Today, it draws high-tech companies and national headquarters. The 400,000-plus-square-foot campus for Microsoft Corp. is at ArrowPoint, off Arrowood Road. In addition to Microsoft, ArrowPoint’s major tenants include BellSouth and the U.S. headquarters of Royal & SunAlliance Insurance. Moving its headquarters from Minneapolis, Minn., the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association now calls Charlotte home. Aptly located on the Billy Graham Parkway, the 63-acre site features the Billy Graham Center for World Evangelism as well as the Billy Graham Library, which chronicles the history of evangelism and the life of the famous evangelist. Located off Carowinds Boulevard is the 18-acre Southeast Campus for nondenominational Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, which opened in 2003. The campus is also home to the Frank and Morrow Graham Academic Center, named for the evangelist’s parents. Whitehall, one of Charlotte’s largest office parks, includes a technology park and corporate center. Source Technologies has created its state-of-the-art U.S. headquarters here.
Whitehall Commons, a 585,000-square-foot shopping center – the largest in southwest Charlotte – includes a Wal-Mart and Lowe’s, and plans for residential projects could add 6,500 homes to the mixed-use development. Within Whitehall’s 700 acres is the 45-acre Whitehall Nature Preserve. You’ll find the preserve, owned by the Catawba Lands Conservancy, is home to several varieties of salamander and frog indigenous to the rare, seasonal wetlands. Another recreational spot is Renaissance Park, near the Charlotte Coliseum on Tyvola Road. This popular county park includes an 18-hole golf course, athletic fields, biking trails and tennis courts. Only minutes from the city is McDowell Park on Lake Wylie. The park features 1,108 picturesque acres of forest where you can hike, picnic, camp or visit the nature center.
Southwest Charlotte features something for everyone. Central Piedmont Community College’s high-tech Harper Campus teaches graphic arts, electronics, printing, and is home to the National Flexographic Center, a key learning center for those entering the printing field. The Steele Creek Library on Steele Creek Road near N.C. 49 provides a wealth of books, technology and programs for families. While you can visit the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market nearly any day of the week, on spring weekends you’ll find the greatest selection of vendors from all over the Carolinas. Wander through each shed and chat with farmers while selecting your produce, flowers, baked goods and even crafts. Paramount’s Carowinds, a 100-acre theme and water park that straddles the N.C.-S.C. border, is a major family attraction. The young and young-at-heart enjoy more than 100 rides, shows and attractions. Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, US Airways’ largest hub, serves 124 cities with 635 daily departures. The airy, sun-lit terminal welcomes passengers with rocking chairs and piano music, along with shops and restaurants, but you’ll have to move quickly to get a rocking chair – it’s a hot commodity for those folks in between flights. Adjacent to the airport is the Carolinas Aviation Museum, a hands-on museum great for families to explore.
