3 Responses to “ Welcome to the NEW and Improved Charlotte Blog! ”

1. Steve Brooks on March 19th, 2008 10:51 pm

   Hello,

   I have been living in the Charlotte area for about 9 years. Like anything else there are good and bad things about living anywhere.

   Here are some facts and some personal thoughts that I think anyone down here would agree to;

   If you like mild weather, come on down. The good thing is you don’t get sick as much (I am originally from NY)especially with kids. Of course there is no snow, which could be good. On the other hand, the summers are miserable. It is just too damn hot with so many 90 degree days to slow you down. I know, everyone says, ‘well your in the AC anyway’. That’s true, but you still don’t feel like doing anything outside.

   Water. Be prepared to buy bottled water to drink and cook with. The water that comes out of the tap is disgusting. AND you pay through the nose for it to!

   Homeowners associations. Another thing that doesn’t exist up north. They try to do good but many are crooked and only seem to help themselves and friends/family. Don’t get on the wrong side of a member either, they will write you up for the most rediculous things.

   Crime. Don’t let anyone tell you different. There is plenty of crime in Charlotte. I lived in NY for 40 years, NEVER had a problem with anything. I come down here and my car gets broken into AND my home!!! The cops won’t even take fingerprints. We had to argure with them to get that done.

   Resturants. No matter what kind of food your into, it’s here. Way too many of them too.

   Southern food. I love southern food. Can’t get it in NY. Love sweet tea too! But not too many places sell just southern food. You would think differently.

   Things that are almost impossible to get or find. If you are used to the following stores, forget about it. Bakeries (NJ Girl sucks!) Delis (If your used to a NY deli, forget about it. There is NOTHING that even comes close.
   Hardware stores. The only one I know of is Blackhawk hardware and all that is is a glorified Ace. There are some Ace stores but when I say a hardware store, I’m talking about the kind of store that has EVERYTHING from defunct screws to keys that fit Model T’s and everything else in between. Get used to Home Depot and Lowes (not the same thing).

   7/11. You think you would miss this, but I do.

   Pizza. I have to say, the last couple of years has brought better pizzarias here. The best is Tony’s. That’s only because the better ones are from NY and most get there supplies from NY.

   Driving. 77 is always bad, not as bad as the Belt parkway on LI but it is getting there. Main reason is southern people are the dumbest drivers anywhere.

   Shopping/homes. When I moved here 9 years ago, I moved to the Ballantyne area. Real nice place. If I had to do it again, NO Way!! All they do down here is build, build, build. And they never do anything to improve or widen the roads. Get into real estate, you might make a buck.

   Nascar. If you into Nascar, your at the right place. If you are not, be prepared to hear how other people are, normally rednecks. What a waste of time.

   Sports. This is the land of Nascar (a sport?!?!, Golf, College sports and the Panthers. Now, Panther stadium gets sold out only because there are like 8 home games, If there were any more, it probably wouldn’t get sold out. Take the Bobcats for example. They used to play in a really great looking arena when they were the Hornets, inside and out. Very modern looking. But since they weren’t selling out or winning, the ownere wanted a new arean IN THE CITY! Big mistake! They are still not winn9ng or selling out. And we paid for a new arena. Which brings me to my next point. They build EVERYTHING IN THE CITY. Nascar hall of fame–Why couldn’t they build that near Lowes motor speedway? More traffic for the city. Now they want to build another minor league baseball stadium in the city. What’s wrong with the one they already have. Do you really think they will sell more tickets? This is not a baseball town and never will be. There are too many games to support and rednecks are running off to see who’s going to wreck at the next nascar event (what a waste of time).

   Charlotte Observer. I have never seen a sadder case of a newspaper. You’ll see. Don’t they have a spell checker over there?

   Breast implants. I have traveled all over the US, and I mean ALL over. I have never seen more women with implants than down here. Best place to go girl watching? Harris Tetter in Ballantyne (anytime of day).

   Chewing tobacco. Get used to it. Alot of people do it and it is disgusting!

   People you work with. Everyone is polite and cordial. But don’t let that fool you. Southerners don’t like northerners moving in on there turf. Make friends with northerners instead. Southerners will always backstab you.

   Language. Southerners have there own way of speaking. Between the slang, which could be real bad but can also be real sexy on a woman to some of the words or phrases that they use, like ‘hose pipe’. What the f… is a hose pipe??? You’ll be scratching your head at some of the stupid things that come out of their mouths. I have many, but I really like hose pipe.

   Basically, Charlotte wants to become just like Atlanta. Now I like Atlanta where Atlanta is. Charlotte needs to be it’s own city.

   I hope this was informative. I can write more but this is it for now.

   Thanks for reading.

2. irv on March 21st, 2008 7:26 am

   Steve,
   Thanks for your many thoughts on Charlotte. Here’s my opinion from someone who moved his family here 26 years ago from Long Island. The weather is a times awful when the heat gets to 90 degrees. Try showing houses that are under construction in that heat. It just drains me.

   I’ve been using Charlotte tap water for all this time and it’s just as good as Oceanside Long Island.

   The reason why Long Island looks so bad is because there aren’t any controls in communities. Anyone and I mean anyone can change the style of their home, create a “mother daughter” out of a one family, have people live in the basement and collect rent when that’s illegal. When you talk about crooked home owners associations lets not forget the county inspectors that usually have their hands out or overlook a code violation. I believe that for all the high taxes people paid in Nassau and Suffolk counties Nassau county was broke at one point.

   Let’s talk about crime. Be serious Steve, No crime in New York? Look there is crime every where. The fact that you never had anything happen to you is just pure luck. I’ve lived here for 26 years and vever had anything happen to me.

   I can’t believe you’re complaining that there are too many place to have dinner! I’m glad that there are loads of places to eat because my wife doesn’t like to cook.

   You’re right on when you talk about Bakeries. No one here knows what a bakery is. There is nothing that comes close to a New York Deli.

   I do take exception to your comment about baseball. Charlotte has not and will not wrap their arms around baseball until the stadium moves uptown. There is nothing better than Triple AAA baseball. It has to move from Fort Mill to uptown because I can’t have a beer at a Sunday game. Baseball without a hotdog and a beer is just not american. I’ll bet you’re a Met Fan. I grew up with the Yankees in the 50’s and 60’s.

   Here’s the bottom line because I deal with bottom lines as a Realtor, there will never be anything like New York, I don’t want Charlotte to be like New York but It doesn’t get any better living here. So why are you here? Better yet why do you stay if you ahve so many negatives about Charlotte. Perhaps it’s better than New York? I suspect so.

   Just some of my thoughts as a Damn Yankee that would never move back for any amount of money. This is a great city that just isn’t perfect. But neither was NYC!

3. Steve Brooks on March 31st, 2008 7:38 pm

   Thanks for responding Irv.

   I too, lived on LI. Actually lived in Oceanside for a spell in the 80’s, off Lawson Blvd (or should I say Queens Blvd) Close your eyes and it could be the same as most of Nassau is.

   I definetly agree with your ideas of Nassau county, since I grew up there. But then I moved into the Islip area in Suffolk, BIG difference.

   I do agree with your point about inspectors. I really think alot of people in that position are crooked anyway. But lets talk about homeowners associations. While I agree about the mother/daughter thing, not all areas are like that on LI. If you wanted to paint your house, you don’t have to get ‘permission’ first. I would feel like an idiot if I had to ask to paint my own house! Or change the color of my shutters etc. And God forbid you have a few people over and have to park in the street!

   While there are some ideals that I agree with, there are many that I don’t. If you drive a commercial van (not a box truck or anything big, just a van or pickup), we cannot park it in our own driveway. So what are you supposed to do? Well, my association says you have a get a petition signed by a certain percentage of homeowners. Is that not rediculous??? Never had that problem on LI.

   Let’s talk about Baseball. I like the stadium where it is because A. it is close to my home and B–THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT!!! I do like AAA baseball, we didn’t have it on LI, (now they have the Ducks, farm team of the Mets). I have pulled for the Mets in the past, but I am a Yankee fan at heart and have been for almost 40 years. I envy you growing up with them when you did. Yes, there’s nothing like a hot dog and a beer. By the way the best hot dogs by far are Boars Head (you can get them at Lowes).

   Crime. I never said there was no crime on LI, there is crime EVERYWHERE. But for the size of Charlotte compared to LI, whose population is greater than most states, the crime is certainly more here than it should be. That is a fact!

   I don’t know what to say about the tap water. I wouldn’t touch it. Ironically, you have to admit, there is nothing better than NYC water!

   Since your from LI, you can maybe relate to some of the things I miss.
   I miss driving 10-15 minutes to get to the beach.

   I miss taking my kids to a local dock to go crabbing.

   I miss going on a party boat on a weekend night and going Bluefishing.

   I miss privately owned resturants.

   I miss 7-11’s (never thought I’d say that).

   I miss walking outside in the summer and hanging out with the neighbors. While you can do that here sometimes, mostly with northerners, southerners are too stuffy and formal.

   I miss going over someone’s house without having to call first.

   I miss going swimming at midnight in my pool. Homeowners associations say no to that.

   Why did I move here? Cause you can’t get a better deal on a house. And pay less taxes to boot!

   I can come up with more pros and cons, but I am too tired right now.

   Thanks for reading, Steve

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