Exploring Metropolitan Charlotte: South End

 

We continue our blog series, Exploring Metropolitan Charlotte, with a look into the neighborhood known as “South End.”  Located just outside Charlotte’s city center known locally as Uptown, South End owes its beginnings to the railroads that connected industrial Charlotte’s textile mills to commercial centers such as Columbia and Charleston.  As the textile industry declined in the 1970’s and 1980’s, much of South End deteriorated and became known for abandoned factories and industrial buildings.  Rail lines played a huge role in the revitalization of South End in the mid-2000’s with the opening of Charlotte’s light rail commuter line called the Lynx Blue Line in 2007.

 

Since the Lynx Blue Line commenced operations, South End has experienced a $2+ Billion  revitalization, with more than an additional $1 Billion in planned redevelopment.  This has taken South End from a wasteland of abandoned factory buildings to a diverse mix of upscale residential, office, retail and commercial redevelopment.  Apartment construction has been particularly noteworthy, with more than 9,000 high-end rental units added to the area since 2012. With that revitalization, South End has become the second most expensive area in North Carolina for apartment renters.

 

Among the attractions in South End is the Design Center of the Carolinas, a 330,000 square foot mixed use complex of former historic textile factory buildings, featuring a wide variety of retail, office and residential tenants.  Another South End attraction is the Charlotte Trolley Museum, a fitting tribute to South End’s long ties to local and long distance rail transportation and the large role they have played and continue to play in the development of the community.

 

South End has become characteristic of the enormous and continuing growth of the Charlotte metropolitan area, driven by the city’s modern light rail system and its proximity to Uptown.  In an exploration of Charlotte, South End is an easy starting point via the Lynx Blue Line, and an interesting destination.

 

For more information and to search the entire Charlotte area MLS system FREE, go to: Eric Dorer Real Estate