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CENTER City PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT CHARLOTTE Charlotte Welcome to Center City Charlotte the heart of one of the nation s fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The Charlotte region continues to gather momentum as a business powerhouse as well as a favored destination for thousands of new arrivals. They come here to work, to raise families and to enjoy a quality of life that strikes just the right balance.
BUSINESS The center of Productivity With a pro-business attitude and a can-do spirit, These businesses range from the design-focused Charlotte has emerged as a major player in the firms and retail shops in historic South End to global marketplace. Center City is the location financial, insurance, real estate, engineering of Fortune 500 corporate headquarters and more and legal services companies that populate the than 1, 200 businesses, the highest concentration growing skyline of Uptown Charlotte. Home in the metro area. to Bank of America and Wachovia, the nation s largest and fourth-largest banks, as well as Duke Energy, one of America s most powerful energy companies, the Center City is a leading financial district second only to New York. 000 W ork
65,000 Employed in Center City WORKERS 18.4 million Square feet of existing & proposed prime office space Business opportunities and an outstanding quality of life attract employees from all corners of the globe, but much of Charlotte s workforce is homegrown, drawing from 13 counties and two states. More than 8,500 students graduate from the region s 24 colleges and universities each year, and six of these campuses have an Uptown Charlotte presence. A skilled, well-educated workforce naturally ushers in the future. Center City Charlotte is at the heart of the region s telecommunications network, offering high-speed Internet access and top-line service providers. This accessibility spurs high-tech growth and welcomes emerging technologies to the Center City where we connect to the world. $26 $29 1,242 Over 200 29 16 Average price / sf of class a office SPACE businesses Design-related businesses in historic south end companies employing between 100-499 workers companies employing 500+ workers 45,090 total parking spaces 6 college & university campuses
TRANSPORTATION The center of Accessibility residents on the 2.1million MOVE By land or by air, Center City Charlotte is truly at the center of it all. Strategically located within Speaking of mass transit, a multi-billion-dollar regional light rail system is under construction in $3 billion By LAND regional transit system underway two hours flying time of 50% of the American population, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport just 15 minutes from Center City is the 10 th most active air transportation hub in the nation. Nine major airlines board 30 million passengers annually, offering direct and nonstop daily flights to 146 cities, with direct flights to such international destinations as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Toronto and the Caribbean. Charlotte and Center City serves as the hub for the region s entire transit system. Commuter trains, local trolley service, express bus lines and LYNX the new light rail system make it easy for riders in every direction to make the trip to Uptown and South End. For traditional car commuters, Center City offers access to a variety of parking options, with thousands of off-street spaces and low-rate all-day parking 45,090 8 52 15 center city parking spaces light rail stations bus routes minute drive FROM airport TO center city By AIR Center City Charlotte also serves as a crossroads, the point where two major interstate highways converge: I-77 and I-85. The region benefits from North Carolina s high-level transportation system, with billions of dollars allocated for four-lane divided highway connectors, urban loops, and new and improved forms of mass transit. averaging just $6 a day. 613 10 9 146 daily flights on the list of the nation s most active airports major airlines national & international destinations 127 non-stop flights 29.7 million passengers boarded annually
Johnson and Wales University Gateway Village Gateway Station transit MAP of CENTER CITY CHARLOTTE Bank of America Stadium Baseball Stadium (2009) Federal Courthouse Camden Square south end Design Center of the Carolinas East/West Trolley Museum south boulevard Bland Street Carson Bechtler Museum of Art; Mint Museum; Knight Theatre (2010) Stonewall Charlotte Convention Center Afro-American Cultural Center (2010) tryon street Transportation Center UPTOWN Blumenthal EpiCentre Performing Arts Center 3rd / Convention Center Transportation Center / Arena Discovery Place Mint Museum of Craft + Design Levine Museum of the New South 7th ImaginOn McColl Center for Visual Art 9th east/west boulevard NASCAR Hall of Fame (2010) Bobcats Arena Dowd YMCA Government Center LEGEND mecklenburg county stonewall Street Marshall Park trade Street Streets Landmark Interstates Proposed / Under Construction LYNX Blue Line Light Rail Stop LYNX Silver Line (planned) Streetcar Orange Line (planned) LYNX Purple Line (planned) NORTH MAP VICINITY Central Piedmont Community College
ARTS + CULTURE The center of Electricity Showcasing the arts in a glittering cultural district, Center City Charlotte welcomes audiences of all ages. This is the nerve center for many of the area s most prominent arts and cultural groups, including the symphony, the ballet, theatre companies, museums of classical and contemporary art, and science and learning centers. Choices range from attending Broadway shows and other national touring performances at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center to enjoying South End gallery crawls in eclectic, distinctively urban spaces. Center City s artistic sensibility continues to expand and evolve, and Charlotte has captured national attention for such innovative venues as ImaginOn, the creatively designed 142,000 sq. ft. children s library and theatre in the heart of the Center City. Under construction is the Wachovia First Street Cultural Campus, a mixed-use project featuring a new Afro-American Cultural Center, a new Uptown Mint Museum (incorporating fine arts as well as craft and design), the Bechtler Art Museum (specializing in contemporary art), and the Knight Theatre, future home of the North Carolina Dance Theatre. The major scope of this cultural campus has few parallels in cities of any size. 15l IVe
PHOTO COURTESY OF sean busher / the mint museums 15LIVE Center City Performance Venues, Museums & Cultural Institutions Year after year, Charlotte puts its money where And in turn, the beneficiary organizations of ASC its heart is. The Arts & Science Council (ASC), present outstanding programs to enhance the serving Charlotte and Mecklenburg County and quality of life in Center City and beyond. Through headquartered in the Center City, conducts an annual fundraising effort that leads the nation among capital campaigns devoted to arts and culture. With a solid financial base provided by public-private partnerships and generous community support, the ASC raises approximately 30% of its affiliates operating budgets each year. education, performance, outreach and exhibition, these dedicated, dynamic artists and trailblazers energize the community with enriching and unforgettable experiences. 2.7 million 748 $11 million 24 visitors to arts & cultural institutions annually live performances annually raised in the annual ASC capital campaign ASC affiliates 706 arts education programs offered annually
ENTERTAINMENT, HOSPITALITY+ RETAIL The center of Vitality Whether the tie comes on or off whether the hair goes down or up Uptown Charlotte and South End are ready to play. There are more choices than ever in these lively entertainment and commercial districts that progressively lead the trend of revitalizing the urban core. Restaurants run the gamut from top-rated fine dining establishments to quaint bistros to corner pizza parlors, offering a variety of haute cuisine, local delicacies and international flavor. Nightlife sizzles with dance clubs, taverns, and wine and coffee bars appealing to all styles and tastes. Shoppers can find bargains and unexpected treasures while exploring street after street of boutiques, galleries and shops in historic South End, anchored by the 25,696 sq. ft. Design Center stylishly refurbished in the city s former textile and warehouse district. 92eat & Ent
192EATERIES & Entertainment Venues 4,500+ hotel rooms existing or under development 170 restaurants The excitement of game days and nights brings passionate sports fans together in the Center City. Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL s Carolina Panthers, and Bobcats Arena, home of the NBA s Charlotte Bobcats and venue for major concerts and special events, are among the region s most popular destinations. Soon to join the lineup is the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which will celebrate the energy and excitement of one of America s favorite sports in the region With visiting fans along with thousands of business travelers arriving in Charlotte, the hospitality industry in Center City continues to grow to meet the demand. More than 4,500 rooms are available at some of the world s most famous and acclaimed hotel chains, including the Westin and the Ritz Carlton. Numerous accommodation options are essential as more than 500,000 people attend trade shows annually at the expanded, state-of-the-art Charlotte 24 2.2 million 385 72,000 20,000 500,000 nightclubs & bars square feet of existing & proposed retail space retail establishments seats at Bank of America Stadium seats at Bobcats Arena attendees at trade shows & conventions annually where it all started, and a new Triple-A baseball Convention Center, providing 90,000 sq. ft. park, where the Charlotte Knights will thrill of meeting rooms and 280,000 sq. ft. of fans throughout the spring and summer as exhibition space. professional baseball returns to Uptown.
RESIDENTIAL The center of Livability One of the nation s most vital housing markets, The current boom in condominium construction Charlotte has seen some of its most significant in Uptown Charlotte and Historic South End growth in the Center City. More and more follows the increasingly attractive model consumers are realizing the benefits and taking of live where you work where you play. advantage of the excitement and conveniences Residents enjoy living within walking distance of the urban lifestyle. of offices, neighborhood parks, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, mass transit, and entertainment and sporting events, free from the burdens of commuting and its related consumption of time and resources. 2,00 reside
12,000 RESIDENTS 15,000 future residents via announced projects 7,000 existing housing UNITS A professional, well-educated workforce translates into considerable consumer buying power. For Uptown construction projects, the per-square-foot housing price averaged $331 in July 2006, well above the national average and reflective of Charlotte s median household income level that ranks higher than Boston and Las Vegas, among other U.S. cities. Residential opportunities in Uptown and South End include urban-style lofts, elegantly appointed condominiums in high-rise towers and traditional single-family homes in friendly neighborhoods. Variety is indeed the spice of life in Center City, where the number of housing units has doubled since the early 1990s a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. The Uptown and South End population was estimated at 11,300 in 2005, and is projected to grow to 27,000 with current projects. 1,128 5,658 242 8,900 5 32.8 $46,082 high-rise housing units low- to mid-rise housing units single-family housing units new housing units announced or under construction specialty grocery stores average age median household income in charlotte
i n c e n t e r c i t y c h a r l o t t e, y o u l l f i n d T h e c e n t e r o f Productivity Accessibility Electricity Vitality Livability Isn t it time to Find Your Center? we help you Charlotte Center City Partners is dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of business, cultural, retail and residential initiatives in Charlotte s central business district. We help support businesses that already exist in Uptown Charlotte and Historic South End, and recruit new businesses to the Center City. We assist in connecting these new arrivals with the right people and services to ensure a smooth transition into the central business district. Identify office locations. Connect with commercial brokers. Learn about incentives for financing business relocations. Access business demographics and current and historical lease rates. Establish professional relationships throughout the community. Find out more at charlottecentercity.org In-kind printing provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
200 South Tryon Street Suite 1600 Charlotte, NC 28202 T 704-332-2227 F 704-342-1233 E info@charlottecentercity.org W charlottecentercity.org