Charlotte center city
Encyclopedia
Charlotte center city is the central area of Charlotte, North Carolina
. The headquarters for the Fortune 500 companies Bank of America
and Duke Energy
are located here, as well as the headquarters for East Coast operations for Wells Fargo
.
Museums, sporting venues, shops, hotels, restaurants, and bars are heavily concentrated in Uptown Charlotte. More hotels are currently under construction including the 17-story Hotel Sierra, located on the same block as the Time Warner Cable Arena. New museums such as the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
and the Mint Museum of Modern Art opened in 2010. Uptown Charlotte (including South End)employs more than 70,000 people and more than 25-million visitors (including more than a half million conventioneers) come to Uptown to visit the 120 restaurants and 50 nightspots. The neighborhood has more than 13,000 residents.
Streets.
. It is that quadrant bounded by North Tryon on the northwest and East Trade on the southwest.
First Ward was recently one of the most dangerous areas in Charlotte, but because of recent revitalization under a HUD
HOPE VI
grant, it has become one of the more desirable. Many new developments are planned and under construction. The award winning Center City Building which houses the uptown campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is in the first ward. The recently completed Center City Building is part of an urban village project being developed by Levine Properties. The current plans for the urban village include a 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) park, 450000 sq ft (41,806.4 m²) of office space, 2,700 residential units, 250 hotel rooms, 250000 sq ft (23,225.8 m²) of retail space, and 450000 sq ft (41,806.4 m²) of civic space. Current attractions include: The Main Library
, the Spirit Square
portion of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, ImaginOn
Children's Learning Center, Levine Museum of the New South
, the Time Warner Cable Arena, and is the home of the Charlotte Bobcats
. On Tryon at Sixth Street, one of Charlotte's historic gems is being preserved and connected to a new condo project called Encore.
. It is the quadrant bounded by South Tryon on the northwest and East Trade on the northeast.
Second Ward is the location of Charlotte's "Government District" and is the site of the NASCAR Hall of Fame
. Second Ward used to be the location of the predominantly black
neighborhood Brooklyn before an urban renewal project took place. Today the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Art+Culture stands in Second Ward. Here we also find EpiCentre, a mixed-use entertainment and retail complex, the Charlotte Convention Center
, and The Green
, a downtown mini-park.
Donald Trump
proposed a 72-story project called Trump Charlotte
in the Second Ward which would have been the tallest building in Charlotte. The project was subsequently cancelled.
. It is the quadrant bounded by South Tryon on the southwest and West Trade on the northeast. Third Ward is the location of the Knight Theatre, the Mint Museum, and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
.
Center City's Third Ward is a diverse, quaint, turn of the century streetcar neighborhood home to Bank of America Stadium
and Gateway Village which is one of the state's largest mixed-use developments with 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²) of office, shops, restaurants, and over 500 housing units. The most exciting new project is Wachovia's First Street Project, comprising cultural, office, residential, and open space. Johnson & Wales University
is expanding its campus in the Center City while the Mecklenburg County's Parks and Recreation Department has unveiled plans for an urban park in the district. Multiple condominium high rise towers have begun or are ready to begin construction. Plans are also underway to construct a $200 million transportation hub along the Norfolk Southern Railway called the Gateway Station
. The Gateway Station
will house the Greyhound bus stop, the Amtrak station, the LYNX Purple Line
and LYNX Silver Line
, and a CATS bus hub.
. It is that quadrant bounded by North Tryon on the southeast and West Trade on the southwest.
Fourth Ward is mostly residential and has many beautiful Victorian
homes, and is the location of the three acre Fourth Ward Park
. New development is occurring with high rise condominium towers and the North Carolina Music Factory, an outdoor amphitheater and entertainment complex.
The history of the dual names is contested, yet prior to the mid-late 1980s, the term "Downtown" was used by residents, media and city leaders for the center city.
During the 1980s, after the release of "Uptown Girl" by musician Billy Joel, first released in 1983, a massive campaign was launched to revamp the image of the downtown area and the term "Uptown" was introduced to the general public.
On February 14, 1987, the Charlotte Observer began using the term "Uptown" as a way to promote a more positive upbeat image of the center city area. School teachers were provided with "historical" documents justifying use of the term to teach to students. (Proclamation designating central shopping and business district as Uptown Charlotte by City of Charlotte Mayor John M. Belk on September 23, 1974)
Though many feel that the term "Uptown Charlotte" is a new term in the last 10 years, local residents from three or more generations past will attest to having called the center city area Uptown their entire lives. This is due to the main intersection in the original center city, Trade St. and Tryon St., having been the point of highest elevation. When people came from outlying areas to the city, they would say they were going 'up to town', a phrase that was eventually shortened to 'Uptown'.
. Elementary schools include First Ward Elementary and Irwin Avenue Open Elementary School.
west charlotte
Charlotte Catholic
Uptown Charlotte is served by three branches of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
. The Main library is located on North Tryon Street.
35°13′43.32"N 80°50′25.98"W
The CheckIt Outlet microbranch is located on the Green off South Tryon Street.
This 1000 sq ft (92.9 m²). facility holds popular DVDs and bestsellers and serves as a drop-off and pick-up point for library materials for workers and residents on the South Tryon side of uptown.
35°13′26.40"N 80°50′47.400"W
ImaginOn
: The Joe and Joan Martin Center is located on East Seventh Street.
ImaginOn is a collaborative venture of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and the Children's Theater of Charlotte which strives to bring the art of narrative to life. The library provides services, books, CDs, DVDs and homework support for children and teens at this location. ImaginOn also contains the McColl Family Theatre and the Wachovia Playhouse, venues used by the Children's Theater for their performances.
35°13′38.00"N 80°50′15.845"W
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The headquarters for the Fortune 500 companies Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
and Duke Energy
Duke Energy
Duke Energy , headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an energy company with assets in the United States, Canada and Latin America.-Overview:...
are located here, as well as the headquarters for East Coast operations for Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
.
Museums, sporting venues, shops, hotels, restaurants, and bars are heavily concentrated in Uptown Charlotte. More hotels are currently under construction including the 17-story Hotel Sierra, located on the same block as the Time Warner Cable Arena. New museums such as the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina is a 36,500 sq. ft. museum space dedicated to the exhibition of mid-20th-century modern art...
and the Mint Museum of Modern Art opened in 2010. Uptown Charlotte (including South End)employs more than 70,000 people and more than 25-million visitors (including more than a half million conventioneers) come to Uptown to visit the 120 restaurants and 50 nightspots. The neighborhood has more than 13,000 residents.
The Wards
Uptown Charlotte, within the bounds of I-277, is divided into four wards by the intersection of Trade and TryonTrade and Tryon
The intersection of Trade and Tryon streets is the crossroads of Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina; it marks the city center and divides the city's first four wards. Locally referred to as simply The Square, this originated as the crossroads for a pair of native American trails. From this location,...
Streets.
First Ward
First Ward lies directly to the east of the intersection of Trade and TryonTrade and Tryon
The intersection of Trade and Tryon streets is the crossroads of Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina; it marks the city center and divides the city's first four wards. Locally referred to as simply The Square, this originated as the crossroads for a pair of native American trails. From this location,...
. It is that quadrant bounded by North Tryon on the northwest and East Trade on the southwest.
First Ward was recently one of the most dangerous areas in Charlotte, but because of recent revitalization under a HUD
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
HOPE VI
HOPE VI
HOPE VI is a plan by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is meant to revitalize the worst public housing projects in the United States into mixed-income developments. Its philosophy is largely based on New Urbanism and the concept of Defensible space.The program began...
grant, it has become one of the more desirable. Many new developments are planned and under construction. The award winning Center City Building which houses the uptown campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is in the first ward. The recently completed Center City Building is part of an urban village project being developed by Levine Properties. The current plans for the urban village include a 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) park, 450000 sq ft (41,806.4 m²) of office space, 2,700 residential units, 250 hotel rooms, 250000 sq ft (23,225.8 m²) of retail space, and 450000 sq ft (41,806.4 m²) of civic space. Current attractions include: The Main Library
Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County , is the public library system of the city of Charlotte and County of Mecklenburg in North Carolina- About :...
, the Spirit Square
North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It opened in 1992 and is named in honor of the people of the state of North Carolina and the Blumenthal Foundation established by I.D. Blumenthal who founded RSC Brands, the largest private donor to the...
portion of the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, ImaginOn
ImaginOn
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center is a collaborative venture of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and the Children's Theater of Charlotte located in Charlotte, North Carolina. This landmark learning center opened on October 8, 2005...
Children's Learning Center, Levine Museum of the New South
Levine Museum of the New South
The Levine Museum of the New South, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a history museum focusing on life in the North Carolina Piedmont after the American Civil War...
, the Time Warner Cable Arena, and is the home of the Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
. On Tryon at Sixth Street, one of Charlotte's historic gems is being preserved and connected to a new condo project called Encore.
Second Ward
Second Ward lies directly to the south of the intersection of Trade and TryonTrade and Tryon
The intersection of Trade and Tryon streets is the crossroads of Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina; it marks the city center and divides the city's first four wards. Locally referred to as simply The Square, this originated as the crossroads for a pair of native American trails. From this location,...
. It is the quadrant bounded by South Tryon on the northwest and East Trade on the northeast.
Second Ward is the location of Charlotte's "Government District" and is the site of the NASCAR Hall of Fame
NASCAR Hall of Fame
The NASCAR Hall of Fame honors drivers who have shown exceptional skill at NASCAR driving, all-time great crew chiefs and owners, and other major contributors to competition within the sanctioning body. NASCAR committed itself to building a Hall of Fame and on March 6, 2006, the city of Charlotte,...
. Second Ward used to be the location of the predominantly black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
neighborhood Brooklyn before an urban renewal project took place. Today the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Art+Culture stands in Second Ward. Here we also find EpiCentre, a mixed-use entertainment and retail complex, the Charlotte Convention Center
Charlotte Convention Center
The Charlotte Convention Center is a Convention Center located in Charlotte, North Carolina. It opened in 1995 and attracts more than half a million visitors each year. It was designed by Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates ....
, and The Green
The Green (Charlotte, North Carolina)
The Green is a one and a half acre park at 400 South Tryon Street in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. At one end of this so-called pocket park are the Mint Museum and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art; at the other end is the Charlotte Convention Center. Next to it stands Charlotte's historic...
, a downtown mini-park.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
proposed a 72-story project called Trump Charlotte
Trump Charlotte
Trump Towers Charlotte was a proposed set of towers to be located in Center City Charlotte. The Towers would include office space, condominiums, retail shopping and a hotel. According to an article in the Charlotte Observer the project was cancelled....
in the Second Ward which would have been the tallest building in Charlotte. The project was subsequently cancelled.
Third Ward
Third Ward lies directly to the west of the intersection of Trade and TryonTrade and Tryon
The intersection of Trade and Tryon streets is the crossroads of Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina; it marks the city center and divides the city's first four wards. Locally referred to as simply The Square, this originated as the crossroads for a pair of native American trails. From this location,...
. It is the quadrant bounded by South Tryon on the southwest and West Trade on the northeast. Third Ward is the location of the Knight Theatre, the Mint Museum, and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina is a 36,500 sq. ft. museum space dedicated to the exhibition of mid-20th-century modern art...
.
Center City's Third Ward is a diverse, quaint, turn of the century streetcar neighborhood home to Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East...
and Gateway Village which is one of the state's largest mixed-use developments with 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²) of office, shops, restaurants, and over 500 housing units. The most exciting new project is Wachovia's First Street Project, comprising cultural, office, residential, and open space. Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, co-educational, career-oriented university with four campuses located throughout the United States. Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is home to JWU's first and largest of four currently operating campuses. Founded as a business school in 1914, by...
is expanding its campus in the Center City while the Mecklenburg County's Parks and Recreation Department has unveiled plans for an urban park in the district. Multiple condominium high rise towers have begun or are ready to begin construction. Plans are also underway to construct a $200 million transportation hub along the Norfolk Southern Railway called the Gateway Station
Gateway Station (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Gateway Station is a proposed multimodal transit center in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.. It will serve the LYNX Red Line commuter rail, Silver Line BRT or light rail and both the West Corridor and Center City Corridor streetcar service, as well as Amtrak, Greyhound inter-city buses and...
. The Gateway Station
Gateway Station (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Gateway Station is a proposed multimodal transit center in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A.. It will serve the LYNX Red Line commuter rail, Silver Line BRT or light rail and both the West Corridor and Center City Corridor streetcar service, as well as Amtrak, Greyhound inter-city buses and...
will house the Greyhound bus stop, the Amtrak station, the LYNX Purple Line
LYNX Purple Line
The Red Line is a planned commuter rail extension for the LYNX network in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Red Line, or North Corridor, would serve as a commuter rail line between Mount Mourne in southern Iredell County and the proposed Gateway Station in Uptown Charlotte...
and LYNX Silver Line
LYNX Silver Line
The Silver Line is a planned BRT extension for the LYNX network in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Silver Line, or Southeast Corridor, would serve as a BRT line between the CPCC Levine Campus in Matthews and the proposed Gateway Station in Uptown Charlotte.It is proposed to follow a southeasterly...
, and a CATS bus hub.
Fourth Ward
Fourth Ward lies directly to the north of the intersection of Trade and TryonTrade and Tryon
The intersection of Trade and Tryon streets is the crossroads of Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina; it marks the city center and divides the city's first four wards. Locally referred to as simply The Square, this originated as the crossroads for a pair of native American trails. From this location,...
. It is that quadrant bounded by North Tryon on the southeast and West Trade on the southwest.
Fourth Ward is mostly residential and has many beautiful Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes, and is the location of the three acre Fourth Ward Park
Fourth Ward Park (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Fourth Ward Park is a three acre urban park and nature preserve at 301 North Poplar Street in the Fourth Ward of Charlotte, North Carolina. It features walking trails, decorative water fountains, and a children's playground.-External Links:*...
. New development is occurring with high rise condominium towers and the North Carolina Music Factory, an outdoor amphitheater and entertainment complex.
"Uptown/Downtown"
There is much confusion brought about by the use of the terms "Uptown" and "Downtown" for Charlotte's center city area. These terms do not reference different areas of town and are thus interchangeable.The history of the dual names is contested, yet prior to the mid-late 1980s, the term "Downtown" was used by residents, media and city leaders for the center city.
During the 1980s, after the release of "Uptown Girl" by musician Billy Joel, first released in 1983, a massive campaign was launched to revamp the image of the downtown area and the term "Uptown" was introduced to the general public.
On February 14, 1987, the Charlotte Observer began using the term "Uptown" as a way to promote a more positive upbeat image of the center city area. School teachers were provided with "historical" documents justifying use of the term to teach to students. (Proclamation designating central shopping and business district as Uptown Charlotte by City of Charlotte Mayor John M. Belk on September 23, 1974)
Though many feel that the term "Uptown Charlotte" is a new term in the last 10 years, local residents from three or more generations past will attest to having called the center city area Uptown their entire lives. This is due to the main intersection in the original center city, Trade St. and Tryon St., having been the point of highest elevation. When people came from outlying areas to the city, they would say they were going 'up to town', a phrase that was eventually shortened to 'Uptown'.
Schools and libraries
School system
Residents of Charlotte center city attend the Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is a local education agency headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and is the public school system for Mecklenburg County. With over 133,600 students enrolled, it is the second-largest school district in North Carolina and the twentieth-largest in the nation...
. Elementary schools include First Ward Elementary and Irwin Avenue Open Elementary School.
Private schools
- Trinity Episcopal School
west charlotte
- Davidson Day School
Charlotte Catholic
Colleges and universities
- Johnson and Wales University
- University of North Carolina at CharlotteUniversity of North Carolina at CharlotteThe University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
North Charlotte - Johnson C. Smith University
- Central Piedmont Community College
Libraries
Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County , is the public library system of the city of Charlotte and County of Mecklenburg in North Carolina- About :...
. The Main library is located on North Tryon Street.
35°13′43.32"N 80°50′25.98"W
The CheckIt Outlet microbranch is located on the Green off South Tryon Street.
This 1000 sq ft (92.9 m²). facility holds popular DVDs and bestsellers and serves as a drop-off and pick-up point for library materials for workers and residents on the South Tryon side of uptown.
ImaginOn
ImaginOn
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center is a collaborative venture of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and the Children's Theater of Charlotte located in Charlotte, North Carolina. This landmark learning center opened on October 8, 2005...
: The Joe and Joan Martin Center is located on East Seventh Street.
ImaginOn is a collaborative venture of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and the Children's Theater of Charlotte which strives to bring the art of narrative to life. The library provides services, books, CDs, DVDs and homework support for children and teens at this location. ImaginOn also contains the McColl Family Theatre and the Wachovia Playhouse, venues used by the Children's Theater for their performances.
35°13′38.00"N 80°50′15.845"W
Sites of interest
- Bank of America StadiumBank of America StadiumBank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East...
- Time Warner Cable Arena
- NASCAR Hall of FameNASCAR Hall of FameThe NASCAR Hall of Fame honors drivers who have shown exceptional skill at NASCAR driving, all-time great crew chiefs and owners, and other major contributors to competition within the sanctioning body. NASCAR committed itself to building a Hall of Fame and on March 6, 2006, the city of Charlotte,...
- Discovery PlaceDiscovery PlaceDiscovery Place is a science and technology museum for visitors of all ages located in the Uptown area of Charlotte, North Carolina. Discovery Place brings science to life through hands-on interactive exhibits, thrilling activities and experiments, a larger-than-life IMAX Dome Theatre, and...
- AvenueAvenue (Charlotte)Avenue is a tall skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was completed in 2007 and has 36 floors. Its construction began on May 17, 2005. It has of retail space at street level. The average unit size of its 386 apartments is . The site was originally proposed 201 North Tryon Residential...
- ImaginOnImaginOnImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center is a collaborative venture of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and the Children's Theater of Charlotte located in Charlotte, North Carolina. This landmark learning center opened on October 8, 2005...
- TradeMarkTradeMarkTradeMark is a tall, primarily residential, skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was completed in 2007 and has 28 floors and 200 residential units...
- The VueThe VueThe Vue or The Vue Charlotte is a tall skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was completed in 2010 and has 50 stories. The sales center for The Vue is located on the bottom floor of 101 Independence Center at the corner of Trade and Tryon streets....
- Main LibraryPublic Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg CountyThe Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County , is the public library system of the city of Charlotte and County of Mecklenburg in North Carolina- About :...
- Levine Museum of the New SouthLevine Museum of the New SouthThe Levine Museum of the New South, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a history museum focusing on life in the North Carolina Piedmont after the American Civil War...