We
continue our monthly blog series, Exploring Metropolitan Charlotte, with
an introduction to nearby Gastonia.
Located about a 20-30 minute drive to the northwest of Charlotte’s city
center via I-85, the City
of Gastonia provides a generally lower-cost
alternative to housing prices within the city limits of Charlotte. Like most of the communities within an easy
drive of Charlotte, Gastonia has seen exponential growth in recent years. It is now the second-largest satellite of
Charlotte, behind the City of Concord.
Once
a major textile producing region, manufacturing maintains a strong presence in
Gastonia, with companies such as Freightliner, Curtis-Wright Controls and Wix
Filtration Corp. among the larger employers in the area. The City of Gastonia and Gaston County are
also major employers. But shutdowns and
layoffs have also characterized the employment environment over the last decade
or so. Most textile production has moved
overseas.
Recreation
and entertainment include the nearby Daniel
Stowe Botanical Garden, Crowders
Mountain State Park, and Kings Mountain, where hiking trails,
campgrounds, picnic areas and fishing opportunities abound. The Downtown Gastonia Historic District
continues to see revitalization and includes buildings on the National Register
of Historic Places. Shopping includes
the Eastridge Mall,
with anchor stores such as Belk and Dillard’s.
Housing
in Gastonia —and Gaston County in general—tends to be a bit more affordable
than in neighboring Mecklenburg County. Smaller,
older homes are available from the low $100,000’s, although most such houses
are in need of significant updating and renovation. There are communities of new and newer homes
and townhouses with prices that run typically from the upper $200,000’s to the
mid $300,000’s. Like most of
metropolitan Charlotte, Gastonia is also currently experiencing a “Sellers’
Market,” characterized by low inventory and a large pool of interested
buyers. This tends to push up contract
prices, as multiple bids are frequently received on homes that present better
value.
Gastonia
is second-largest satellite city of Charlotte behind Concord. Like Concord, it is within an easy commute of
Charlotte’s city center, and it provides a generally lower cost housing
alternative to Charlotte, Concord and other cities comprising the metropolitan
area. It has seen its “ups” and “downs”
over the years, but like most of greater Charlotte, Gastonia is currently
experiencing much growth and expansion.
