ABOUT CHARLOTTE

INFORMATION ABOUT CHARLOTTE:

        Charlotte has used many nicknames over the years. Brittish troops called us a "Hornet's nest" during the revolutionary war.  The Hornets have since been transplanted to New Orleans to be replaced by the Bobcats. There was a time when we were called "The spearhead of the new south".  Fortunately we are now widely enough known that people know Charlotte as a place.
        The long neglected and once almost deserted Center City is once again becoming a focus for community life we have passed San Francisco on the Fortune 500 headquarters list.  The skyline changes on a daily basis.    The Blumenthal Theatre and Discovery place are being joined by a host of new cultural destinations.  The vision for the Center City is layed out in the 2010 plan.
            Charlotte is second only to New York in finance headquarters with over a trillion dollars in banking resources headquartered here.   There are strong manufacturing and distribution sectors as well.  There are only 4 cities that have more fortune 500 companies headquarters.
        We are becoming more and more international. You can hear a miriad of different languages in the grocery stores. The Hispanic population is growing so fast I hate to give a number; but the last I heard it was 150,000.  There are a multitude of Asians and Europeans as well.   The extensive global linkages combined with the excellent living standard enjoyed by the Charlotte region have made us a regional capital for international business.  Over 380 foreign owned firms are located in Mecklenburg County.
        The status symbols of a world class city are here.  We have the most of the same stores as the really big cities.  Nordstroms and Saks are in Southpark. We  have rush hour traffic jams.  There are restaurants and  night life down town.  The downtown resident population should reach 15,000 in a couple of years.  The biggest deficit in the Center City is street level retail.  Any one looking for opportunity?
        Charlotte has over 100 million sq. ft of Industrial, 23 million sq. ft of multi-tenant warehouse and 7million sq. ft. of multi-tenant flex.
         In January of 1999 Real Estate Forum ranked Charlotte # 12 in it's survey of the hottest residential markets.
        PLANTS, SITES & PARKS Magazine rated Charlotte as the third most desirable city in which to live for 2003.  In 2000 we were ranked 4th.  Our MSA has 1.55+ million people and we are growing at 11.2% per year.  We are the second largest ($'s headquartered) financial center in the country. In the 2000 survey we are credited with a job growth rate of 1.7%.  In October of 1999 we had over 800,000 jobs.
        Seaports and Airports are what make global linkages and produce international trade.  Charlotte has a first rate International Airport....and it is getting better.  The airport's third runway is online.  We have many international direct flights. Our international airport combines with our main railway line and two interstate highways to make us a major transportation hub.
        The extensive global linkages combined with the excellent living standard enjoyed by the Charlotte region have made us a regional capital for international business.  Over 380 international firms are located in Charlotte.
        Ben Franklin said "No man's life or property are safe while the legislature is in session."  That hasn't changed much over the years.  It is just as true in Charlotte as in the rest of the world.  Our city government does have a home page where we can check up on what they are doing to and for us.  Perhaps seeing the train coming helps a little.
        While we have allowed our school system to deteriorate some in past years; we are pulling out all of the stops now to create a school system that is worthy of a world class city.  For SCHOOL INFORMATION   visit the school systems home page.
        We have a new police chief, Rodney Monroe.  He has reduced crime by attacking the problem of repeat offenders.  Unfortunately we have a few people who are "one man crime waves".  He has increased bail for these people when they are brought in and is doing what he can to identify them and get them off the streets.
 
 
 There's a lot more coming on this page. Last updated 8/28/08

GO HOME

 mailto:david@segrestrealty.com