Relocating to Charlotte by Nancy Braun

Showcase Realty Welcomes You to Charlotte Charlotte is officially America’s fastest growing city! With its great location, world-acclaimed international hub airport, professional sports, low energy costs, diverse and talented labor force and a nationally-ranked education system, it is easy to see why. The Carolina Piedmont, an area of lush, green foothills, stretches right down the middle of North Carolina. And here, at the southernmost tip, lies Charlotte, the seat of Mecklenburg County. Great cities, like great discoveries, sometime happen by accident. More than 250 years ago, Scottish and Irish settlers were following a couple of old Catawba Indian trading routes. Where the paths crossed, the settlers stopped. And Charlotte began. Charlotte was incorporated in 1768. The city was named for Queen Charlotte, wife of England’s King George III, and Mecklenburg County was named for her German home state. Today, Charlotte has grown from 276 persons in 1768 to 775,000. The City covers 299 miles of the 527-square-mile Mecklenburg County. Today, things no longer happen in Charlotte by accident. Rather, we’re a city of purposeful newcomers — many of them individuals who compared Charlotte to their current address and said, “Let’s pack up the moving van.” Through careful planning and gradual development, we’ve emerged as one of the South’s — and one of the United States’ — premier cities. Today Charlotte is the 17th most populous city in the country, a big climb from 35th place in 1990. There’s a reason so many people from around the world now consider Charlotte home. Come discover Charlotte for yourself.

*Text excerpted from Charlotte Chamber’s Essence 330 South Tryon Street | Charlotte, NC 28202 704-378-1300 | CharlotteChamber.com

1430 S Mint Street Charlotte, NC 28203 2020 Remount Road Gastonia, NC 28054 704.997.3790 ShowcaseRealty.net

The Best of Many Worlds Charlotte gives you the best of many worlds. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are two hours to the north. The Atlantic beaches are three hours to the south. The city’s high quality of life, below-average cost of living, abundant career opportunities, world-class arts and major sports attract talented individuals from around the globe. Our climate is a big part of our allure. You won’t find extreme weather here; rather, mild winters and short summers. Luxurious and long autumns and springs. Four distinct seasons with an over-abundance of sunny days and our famous Carolina blue skies throughout the year.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood One of the first things you’ll notice about Charlotte is the beauty — and diversity — of our neighborhoods. From high-rise and highstyle downtown living, to stately brick homes nestled beneath 80-foot green canopies of maple and oak leaves, and lakeside homes on the shores of Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, to condos a short walk from Charlotte’s new commuter light rail lines. Whatever your preferred lifestyle, Charlotte has a home and neighborhood sure to be the perfect fit. An excellent inventory of homes can be found in Charlotte at all times. During an average month, you can expect to find more than 5,000 homes for sale including new, resale, townhouses and condominiums. Prices range from $50,000 for starter homes to luxury homes valued in the millions. The average sales price for a home in Mecklenburg County is $212,000.

A Major League Sports Town Whether residents like to watch sports as fans — or get in the middle of the action themselves, Charlotte is a big league sports town. This is where the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers and the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Bobcats play. Each May, the Wells Fargo Championship brings in the world’s best golfers. Each winter, fans cheer on the Checkers, Charlotte’s professional hockey team. Each summer, attention shifts to soccer with the Charlotte Eagles, the city’s pro soccer team, and baseball games with the Charlotte Knights. The city is abuzz about prospects of building a downtown baseball stadium. Charlotte is also home to many of NASCAR’s hottest stock car racing teams, the new NASCAR Hall of Fame and one of the most-popular NASCAR race tracks.

Fun of All Kinds There is always something special going on in Charlotte. From small festivals in the county’s numerous parks to giant downtown street fairs that draw tens of thousands of people, one thing is clear: Charlotte knows how to throw a party — and everyone is always welcome. Charlotte’s favorable climate, numerous parks, public and private golf courses, three lakes and countless other outdoor amenities invite participation. Fish, boat, camp or leisurely laze away the day on the 847 miles of combined shorelines on Lakes Norman and Wylie and Mountain Island Lake. 210 city-county parks and recreational facilities; 16 theaters with 182 screens; 36 public and 21 private golf courses; several live theaters; Carowinds Entertainment Park; Verizon Wireless Amphitheater; North Carolina Music Factory; U.S. National Whitewater Center; nearby Lake Norman, Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake.

Arts & Entertainment From Picasso to Pavarotti, Charlotte is a city that enjoys and cultivates the arts. Visitors and residents throughout the Charlotte region have easy access to a wide range of visual arts, classical and contemporary music, opera, theater and dance. Charlotte sweetens that blend with several science and history museums to further increase the city’s cultural quality of life. Charlotte offers cultural activities for every taste, from black tie openings of straight-fromBroadway productions to an evening picnic with music under the stars during the Charlotte Symphony’s Annual Summer Pops series. Charlotte is home to several museums nationally recognized for their impressive permanent exhibits and the traveling exhibits they attract. Theater events range from Broadway blockbusters to the city’s venerable amateur troupe to its famed Children’s Theatre.

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Everything in Moderation Charlotte, 765 feet above sea level, enjoys a truly moderate climate. Cold weather is rare, due in part to the sheltering effect of the mountains to the west. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 39.3 degrees. Snow is light and infrequent, occurring from December through March. Summers in Charlotte are comfortably warm. July averages 79.3 degrees. The frost-free season averages 230 days from mid-March to mid-November. Average annual precipitation is 43 inches.

Public Education

Higher Education

As the largest school system in the Carolinas and the 18th largest in the nation, the consolidated Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system serves more than 135,000 students in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The system operates 178 schools including grades K-12. There are 100 elementary, 36 middle, 33 senior high schools and four special programs, all of which are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The system is administered by a nine-member Board of Education. Six members represent districts and three are elected at-large. Each member serves a four-year term.

Knowledge drives innovation, and higher education is key to any city’s future strength. Charlotte is home to 35 colleges and universities, including the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the fourth largest university (and the fastest growing campus) in the 16-campus University of North Carolina system; Davidson College, one of the nation’s most-prestigious private colleges; and Johnson & Wales University, a nationally-renowned culinary school. Charlotte boasts Johnson C. Smith University, a private liberal arts college that ranked in U.S. News and World Report’s list of best comprehensive colleges in the South; and Queens University of Charlotte, a private college offering undergraduate and graduate course work in arts and sciences, nursing and business. The city also is home to Central Piedmont Community College, one of the nation’s largest two-year institutions, which serves more than 61,000 students annually and offers high quality corporate and continuing education programs.

From pre-kindergarten to Ph.D. programs, Charlotte offers an abundance of educational opportunities. As a result, Charlotte is a city of educated individuals. It was recently ranked as America’s sixth most literate city based on the percentage of residents holding a high school diploma or greater and the percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree.

A Strong Local Economy

An International Marketplace

There is so much good news about doing business in Charlotte. Charlotte is the center of the nation’s fifth largest urban region, a position that offers countless opportunities to the companies doing business here. Recognized as a financial, distribution and transportation powerhouse for the entire urban region, Charlotte has developed into a major wholesale center with one of the highest per capita sales in the United States, ranking 6th nationally.

Our multicultural area embraces diverse ideas, opinions, business operations and residents. Foreign-owned firms enrich our business community, cultural amenities and daily lives. In turn, Charlotte offers an environment that helps foreign-owned firms grow and makes foreign-born professionals feel at home. More than 625 foreign-owned firms, representing 45 countries, provide jobs to nearly 31,000 workers in Charlotte- Mecklenburg County. Another 453 foreign owned firms operate in the 15-county metro region surrounding Mecklenburg County. The Queen City has such a pro-business environment that more than 273 of Fortune’s top 500 companies have placed one or more facilities within Mecklenburg County. For foreign-owned firms in particular, Charlotte offers exceptional air service, foreign trade zones, business-friendly government and the support of numerous nonprofit organizations that focus on international business, foreign policy and global culture.

Home to Bank of America, the city is the second-largest U.S. financial center (behind New York). Mecklenburg County also is North Carolina’s largest manufacturing county. Every major manufacturing sector is represented here, including aerospace and defense equipment, industrial machinery and metal working industries, computer and electronic products, consumer goods and bio-medical facilities. Through the years, Charlotte has become a magnet for research and development and technology companies. Charlotte’s rich business base is served by an excellent state and federal highway network, including major north-south and east-west interstate arteries, as well as a modern, expanding international airport terminal.

TRANSPORTATION Charlotte Douglas International Airport offers extensive commuter and airfreight services. Home to US Airway’s largest hub, the airport offers nonstop service to 170 cities, including Frankfurt, Munich, London, Paris, Toronto and Mexico City as well as to Central America and Caribbean cities. Roughly 700 flights leave Charlotte daily. Charlotte is at the heart of a highway and railroad system that stretches across the Eastern and Southern United States. More than 40 percent of the nation’s top 100 trucking companies are located in Charlotte. With two major rail systems, Norfolk Southern and CSX, the Charlotte region links to 23 states, making rail service convenient. In 2007, Charlotte began light rail commuter service with a nearly 10-mile rail line running from the city’s center to its southern edge with seven stations along the way. Plans are in the works to extend commuter service to Charlotte’s north and northeast in coming years.

THERE’S A FUTURE FOR YOU IN CHARLOTTE Green, growing and great. That’s the clear vision of the people who live here and who strive to keep the soul and character of our city intact. The quickly developing Queen City is following a carefully designed blueprint created to balance the need for growth with our desire for preservation. We believe growth is essential. But the real future of our city is ever-tied to our quality of life. We invite you to share in this future. In Charlotte.

Nancy Braun, Owner/Broker 1430 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 2020 Remount Road, Gastonia, SC 2854 704.997.3790 · ShowcaseRealty.net

What Newcomers Need to Know CHURCHES More than 570 churches including Protestant, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Jewish and other faiths.

TRANSPORTATION Registration: An owner must register his or her auto(s) by submitting proof of ownership to the Department of Motor Vehicles, 6016 Brookshire Boulevard or 5622 East Independence Boulevard. To transfer the title of a used vehicle already registered in North Carolina, the new owner must present the certificate of title properly assigned by the former owner along with an odometer statement for cars 10 years old or newer. License Tags: Anyone moving to North Carolina must get a North Carolina license tag for his/her car. To be sure you are within the law, check with the Department of Motor Vehicles. The state of North Carolina’s annual motor vehicle registration license fee is $30.00 per private passenger vehicle. In addition, motor vehicles “resident” within Mecklenburg County are subject to a property tax based on the assessed value of the vehicle. The owner is billed four months after the vehicle’s registration date and annually thereafter. Driver’s License: Newcomers from out-ofstate have 30 days after establishing residence in which to get a North Carolina license. Examination for the license consists of tests for vision, recognition of traffic signs, knowledge of traffic laws and safety, and driving ability with a possible road test. Online information available at: www.ncdot.org/dmv Inspection: All cars must have an annual mechanical inspection and must be inspected within 10 days of purchase of a North Carolina license plate. Insurance: Ownership of liability insurance (or equivalent cash or bond) is a prerequisite to register a motor vehicle in North Carolina. Only liability is required — not collision, fire or comprehensive. Minimum amount required is $25,000 for injuries to any one person in an accident, $50,000 for all personal injuries in an accident and $15,000 for all property damages in an accident. Air: Seven major airlines and four regional carriers provide 680 daily flights including nonstop service to London, Toronto, San Juan, Cancun, Frankfurt and Munich. The airport boards more than 19 million passengers annually.

NEWS MEDIA One daily paper; 28 radio stations; good reception from eight commercial and three PBS television stations; cable TV available; 20 weekly newspapers.

VOTING To vote in North Carolina you must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the state for 30 days prior to the date of the election. Registration can be made at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, 741 Kenilworth Avenue or at any branch of the Public Library. Call 704-336-2133 for other scheduled locations.

TAXES Personal and real property (in Mecklenburg County) must be listed with the Mecklenburg County Tax Department, 700 East Stonewall Street (28202) during the month of January for the entire year. Property located within the city limits of Charlotte is taxed at the rate of $1.2536 per $100 valuation (combined city-county rates). Outside city limits but within Mecklenburg County, property is taxed at $.8166 per $100 assessed valuation. Valuation is based on 100 percent of market value as of January 6, 2011. A 4.25 percent state tax plus a 3 percent local tax make up the 7.25 percent Mecklenburg County sales tax. There is an additional tax of 2 percent on prepared food purchases and the hotel room occupancy rate is 8 percent.

MEDICAL FACILITIES There are three general hospitals in Charlotte. Carolinas Medical Center is a teaching institution with a broad spectrum of intern and resident programs. CMC-Mercy and Presbyterian are also well known for their high level of professional care. Specialty hospitals include Behavioral Health Centers, Carolinas Rehabilitation, Hemby Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital, Levine Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital, OrthoCarolina and the Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital. There is also a wide variety of short and long-term nursing homes.

Showcase Realty Relocation Services Congratulations on your decision to relocate to the Charlotte NC and SC region! Charlotte is a beautiful city, and the Charlotte region is fast becoming one of the most desired destinations for families and business desiring a quality life style with a good economic base. If you allow us to help, we can make your move a fun, enjoyable and stress-free experience. The Charlotte area has grown by leaps and bounds, and with so many great options available, choosing the right place to buy your new home can be a daunting task. Let us help you and guide you through the process. We can help to match your needs and desires to the best choice of home and neighborhood. Sit back and relax while we take care of all the work, arranging inspections and appraisals, assisting you in moving through the full and diverse processes of relocating to a new area. Our goal is to offer you a full range of services to make your home buying and relocation experience a pleasure. We understand that it can be an overwhelming task ... just the thought of moving your family and all your possessions to a new location can create a lot of stress in your life. Relax, we are here to provide the help and guidance you will need to get through the process with minimal hassle to you and your family. The Charlotte region has become a magnet for relocating families from all over the U.S. and from different areas of the world. Yes the word is out, this is the place to be!

Employee & Individual Relocation Services Showcase Realty provides individuals, employees and corporate business who are moving into the Charlotte region, with professional Relocation Services, making your move as smooth and trouble-free as possible. We will assign you a Relocation Agent Counselor as your single point of contact for your move. Your Counselor will provide stability in a process that involves a multitude of decisions and interaction with many service providers.

Our Goals:   

To assist with your relocation To maximize your value received To minimize your stress and personal time involvement

Our Services:    

Your own Relocation Agent Counselor to help plan your move, recommend suppliers, coordinate and monitor your relocation Provide you with Home Marketing assistance New Home Search & Purchase assistance Rental Home Search assistance

Corporate Transferees For your companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transferees, Showcase will assign an Agent Counselor to all your employees, providing them with a source for personal attention to their individual needs, desires and concerns. The counselor will be their guide and local contact, navigating them through the relocation process from beginning to end. The counselor will assist the employee with the home buying process, getting them settled into their new neighborhood and the Charlotte region.

Area Information Packages Showcase will arrange for your employee to receive a Charlotte Region information package sent directly to them, which contains a wide range of great and useful local information. Charlotte Newcomer Resource Guide Magazine Charlotte City Street Map Cost of Living Information Tax Information and Property Tax Examples Private School Information Area Employment Services Largest Employers Information Residential and Commercial Real Estate Information Chamber Services, Programs, and Publications Chamber Membership Information

New Home Search & Purchase Assistance Perhaps one of the most stressful areas for an employee to face is moving into a new and unknown area. Showcase Agent Counselors provide your employees with peace of mind, and make this process as smooth and effortless as possible. We will provide your employee with resources for local information and tours of areas of interest. Showcase will take all the headaches out of the new home searching process. We realize the time constraints and pressures that your employees face, and we make it our job to take away the uncertainties, confusion and anxieties of entering an unfamiliar area.

Rental Assistance Our counselors can also provide rental assistance for your employees, who may want to be looking for an apartment, condo, or rental home.

Corporate Departures Showcase can provide your company with one of the area’s top marketing systems for marketing a home for sale. When an employee is transferred out of the area, the number-one concern for that employee is getting his or her home sold. That is where we excel and can provide your employees with professional sales and marketing for their local homes. By having Showcase market their homes, they will gain peace of mind knowing that their property is in the hands of local experts in the field. We run Showcase as a business, not simply a real estate office, and we have a team of specialists – marketing, business development, accounting, premarket, closing, training and client care – that brings services and attention to the needs of our customers at every single touchpoint in our relationship.

Nancy Braun · Owner/Broker 1430 S Mint Street · Charlotte, NC 28203 2020 Remount Road · Gastonia, NC 28054 704.997.3790 · ShowcaseRealty.net

©Patrickschneiderphoto.com

Charlotte was incorporated in 1768. Its first settlers were Scotch-Irish, no-nonsense people who were hardy, industrious and independent. The city was named for Queen Charlotte, wife of England’s King George III, and Mecklenburg County was named for her German home state. Today, Charlotte has grown from 276 persons in 1768 to 775,000. The City covers 299 miles of the 527-square-mile Mecklenburg County.

CULTURAL

Discovery Place, Spirit Square, The Mint Museum of Art, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Levine Museum of the New South, The Charlotte Symphony, Opera Carolina, N.C. Dance Theatre and the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, plus many more.

RECREATION

210 city-county parks and recreational facilities; 16 theaters with 182 screens; 36 public and 21 private golf courses; several live theaters; Carowinds Entertainment Park; Verizon Wireless Amphitheater; North Carolina Music Factory; U.S. National Whitewater Center; nearby Lake Norman, Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake; Carolina Panthers NFL Team; Charlotte Bobcats NBA Team; Wells Fargo Championship PGA Golf Tournament; Charlotte Knights (AAA baseball team); Charlotte Checkers (AHL hockey team); America’s premier NASCAR facility — Charlotte Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

CHURCHES

More than 570 churches including Protestant, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Jewish and other faiths.

TRANSPORTATION

Registration: An owner must register his or her auto(s) by submitting proof of ownership to the Department of Motor Vehicles, 6016 Brookshire Boulevard or 5622 East Independence Boulevard. To transfer the title of a used vehicle already registered in North Carolina, the new owner must present the certificate of title properly assigned by the former owner along with an odometer statement for cars 10 years old or newer.

Specialty hospitals include Behavioral Health Centers, Carolinas Rehabilitation, Hemby Children’s Hospital, Levine Children’s Hospital, OrthoCarolina and the Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital. There is also a wide variety of short and long-term nursing homes.

Air: Seven major airlines and four regional carriers provide 680 daily flights including nonstop service to London, Toronto, San Juan, Cancun, Frankfurt and Munich. The airport boards more than 19 million passengers annually.

CLIMATE

Charlotte, 765 feet above sea level, enjoys a truly moderate climate. Cold weather is rare, due in part to the sheltering effect of the mountains to the west. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 39.3 degrees. Snow is light and infrequent, occurring from December through March.

VOTING

To vote in North Carolina you must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the state for 30 days prior to the date of the election. Registration can be made at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, 741 Kenilworth Avenue or at any branch of the Public Library. Call 704-336-2133 for other scheduled locations.

Summers in Charlotte are comfortably warm. July averages 79.3 degrees. The frost-free season averages 230 days from mid-March to mid-November. Average annual precipitation is 43 inches.

TAXES

Personal and real property (in Mecklenburg County) must be listed with the Mecklenburg County Tax Department, 700 East Stonewall Street (28202) during the month of January for the entire year. Property located within the city limits of Charlotte is taxed at the rate of $1.2536 per $100 valuation (combined city-county rates). Outside city limits but within Mecklenburg County, property is taxed at $.8166 per $100 assessed valuation. Valuation is based on 100 percent of market value as of January 6, 2011. A 4.25 percent state tax plus a 3 percent local tax make up the 7.25 percent Mecklenburg County sales tax. There is an additional tax of 2 percent on prepared food purchases and the hotel room occupancy rate is 8 percent.

HOUSING

License Tags: Anyone moving to North Carolina must get a North Carolina license tag for his/her car. To be sure you are within the law, check with the Department of Motor Vehicles. ©Carolinas HealthCare System

©Patrickschneiderphoto.com

SCHOOLS

required — not collision, fire or comprehensive. Minimum amount required is $25,000 for injuries to any one person in an accident, $50,000 for all personal injuries in an accident and $15,000 for all property damages in an accident.

©Patrickschneiderphoto.com

HISTORY

The state of North Carolina’s annual motor vehicle registration license fee is $30.00 per private passenger vehicle. In addition, motor vehicles “resident” within Mecklenburg County are subject to a property tax based on the assessed value of the vehicle. The owner is billed four months after the vehicle’s registration date and annually thereafter. Driver’s License: Newcomers from out-of-state have 30 days after establishing residence in which to get a North Carolina license. Examination for the license consists of tests for vision, recognition of traffic signs, knowledge of traffic laws and safety, and driving ability with a possible road test. Online information available at: www.ncdot.org/dmv Inspection: All cars must have an annual mechanical inspection and must be inspected within 10 days of purchase of a North Carolina license plate. Insurance: Ownership of liability insurance (or equivalent cash or bond) is a prerequisite to register a motor vehicle in North Carolina. Only liability is

MEDICAL FACILITIES

There are three general hospitals in Charlotte. Carolinas Medical Center is a teaching institution with a broad spectrum of intern and resident programs. CMC-Mercy and Presbyterian are also well known for their high level of professional care.

Charlotte offers an almost endless variety of housing locations. There are apartments, condominiums and single-family homes located in neighborhoods, subdivisions, planned unit developments and recreational developments. Each of these is grouped in urban, suburban, rural and even river and lake-front settings. An excellent inventory of homes can be found in Charlotte at all times. During an average month, you can expect to find more than 5,000 homes for sale including new, resale, townhouses and condominiums. Prices range from $50,000 for starter homes to luxury homes valued in the millions. The average sales price for a home in Mecklenburg County is $212,000.

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING

More than 173,000 students are enrolled at the 35 colleges and universities within the Charlotte area. Contact information can be found at www.charlottechamber.com.

NEWS MEDIA

One daily paper; 28 radio stations; good reception from eight commercial and three PBS television stations; cable TV available; 20 weekly newspapers.

QUICK REFERENCE NUMBERS Emergency

All Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911

Non-Emergency Numbers

Ambulance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-943-6200 City-County Police Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-336-7600 City Fire Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-336-2441 Childcare Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-376-6697 County Fire Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-943-6200 Dental Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-376-6555 Employment Security Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-531-5000 Federal Bureau of Investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-377-9200 Mecklenburg County Bar Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-375-0120 Medical Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-376-0847 North Carolina Highway Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-572-8765 Poison Control Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-222-1222 YMCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-333-7771 YWCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-525-5770

Hospitals

Carolinas Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-355-2000 Carolinas Medical Center — Mercy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-379-5000 Presbyterian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-384-4000

Public Services/Information

City-County Government Information . . . . . . . . . . 311 or 704-336-7600 United Way Information & Referral Services . . . . . . . 211 or 704-372-7170 Library Information Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-336-2725

Schools

Board of Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980-343-3000 Public Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980-343-7450

Utilities

Electricity (Duke Energy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-777-9898 Natural Gas (Piedmont Natural Gas Co.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-752-7504

Telephone (AT&T) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-288-2020 Water (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities) On, Off & Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-336-2211 Emergency Water Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-336-2564 Emergency Sewer Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-336-7600

Voting

Board of Elections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 704-336-2133

The Visitor & Relocation Center

Visitor Info Center, the Visitor and Relocation Center, extends a warm welcome to visitors and newcomers from across the country. Visitor Info Center can be found on the corner of South Tryon Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, in the heart of Uptown. Because of its location in the Center City, Visitor Info Center attracts newcomers and tourists from across the country, as well as locals with its wealth of information. Visitor Info Center offers newcomers a glimpse of Charlotte’s prominent businesses that cater to newcomers and visitors alike. These businesses include:  Home service providers  Charlotte schools and higher education  Homebuilders, realtors and apartment guides  Banks and lending organizations  Churches, social and nonprofit organizations  Recreational and service organizations Visitor Info Center is also home to Ticketmaster, the only uptown ticket outlet, as well as Amélie’s, a French Bakery. For more information, please visit us online at www.charlottechamber.com or call 704-331-2753 (InfoCharlotte) or 704-378-1300 (Charltote Chamber). ©2012 Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Reprints only with permission.

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CHARLOTTE A great place to live

Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. With our great location, world-acclaimed international hub airport, professional sports, low energy costs, diverse and talented labor, and a nationally ranked education system, it’s easy to see why more businesses are flocking here every year. Visit CharlotteChamber.com

330 South Tryon St., Charlotte, N.C. 28232 | 704.378.1300 www.CharlotteCharlotte.com

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Welcome to

Leading WhyFinancial Charlotte? Center PEOPLE LIKE TO LIVE IN CHARLOTTE. Our experience with relocating companies demonstrates repeatedly that they are successful in recruiting highly talented individuals from all regions of the U.S. and abroad. Charlotte has one of the highest in-migration in the nation. Once they are here, most transferees do not want to leave, and here are just a few of the reasons why: hh Over 1.8 million, metropolitan Charlotte offers all of the advantages and amenities of a major urban area.

PEOPLE LIKE TO LIVE IN CHARLOTTE. LOW COST OF LIVING, DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY, GREAT CLIMATE AND STRATEGIC POSITION ARE A FEW AMENITIES. because Charlotte’s construction costs are 80 percent of the national average. hh North Carolina’s per capita state and local tax collection ranks 16th lowest in the U.S., and Charlotte’s prudent and equitable taxes reflect that ranking. Compared with the largest cities of each state, Charlotte has the 16th lowest residential property tax.

©PATRICKSCHNEIDERPHOTO.COM

hh Utility costs in Charlotte are reliable and reasonable, ranking 8th lowest of the top 40 metro markets in this country.

©PATRICKSCHNEIDERPHOTO.COM

hh Charlotte’s composite cost of living, at 92.6 percent of the national average, is lower than all but five other major metro U.S. cities. A key component of that figure is housing, which in Charlotte is 81 percent of the national average. Housing costs are low primarily

hh For relocating spouses and partners, job opportunities in Charlotte are greater than in most other U.S. cities. Charlotte boasts 3,464 Dun & Bradstreet companies with over $1 million in revenue, 273 Fortune 500 operations, 1,122 companies that employ 100 or more, eight Fortune 500 headquarters. During 2010, an especially challenging year, 912 different companies in Mecklenburg County alone announced the creation 10,781 new jobs. It is no surprise that over the past decade, Charlotte experienced the fifth highest in-migration of young educated workers in the nation.

hh Charlotte is strategically located in the U.S. and is only a two-hour plane ride from 60 percent of the U.S. population. The highest mountains in eastern North America are a short 2-hour drive away, while some of the best Atlantic coast beaches can be reached by car in only 3 to 3.5 hours.

hh Charlotte’s economy is also highly diversified. No single industry sector, including financial services, has a dominant share of the employment market. All major industry groupings are represented. While Charlotte is not immune from swings in the economy, this diverse mix provides greater stability than is found in many other urban markets.

hh Charlotte-Douglas International Airport provides superior air service with nonstop daily service to 170 different cities, including international service to Dublin, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, London, Montreal, Toronto, Mexico City, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and 22 different Caribbean destinations.

hh Charlotte also offers a highly developed and sophisticated international business environment. There are currently 948 foreign-owned companies in the metro area, and their presence spawns a large number of international business and cultural organizations. Expatriates will find many of their countrymen in

Charlotte and a valuable support network their presence creates. hh Charlotte is firmly established as one of the country’s most recognized and respected regional health care centers. Its cutting edge facilities offer top-notch care, and a very wide network of eldercare facilities supports relocating professionals with family members in need of such services.

©PATRICKSCHNEIDERPHOTO.COM

hh Charlotte offers a nationally acclaimed level of higher education. The 37 colleges and universities within the region serve over 218,000 students. In-state tuition starts at $3,828 per year in the highly regarded North Carolina state university system. Residency status requires that individuals live in the state at least one year. hh Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the consolidated public school system in Mecklenburg County, continually ranks as one of the best urban systems in the country. Thirty seven CMS schools were recently named schools of excellence. The top 10 percent of CMS students routinely outscore their counterparts (the top 10 percent of students nationally) on the SAT by a significant margin. hh Charlotte neighborhoods and residences have distinct personalities and offer diverse housing options. At any given time, more than 20,000 homes are available to choose from.

©PATRICKSCHNEIDERPHOTO.COM

hh Charlotte’s thriving arts community enhances an already rich and stimulating quality of life. Symphony, dance, theater, opera, art museums and a wide range of other venues are supported by the Arts & Science Council, which conducts one of the highest per capita annual campaigns of its type in the country. A large number of arts venues are located downtown within walking distance of each other and Charlotte’s light rail line.

hh If sports are your pleasure, Charlotte has it all: NFL, NBA, NASCAR, PGA, MLL, AIFL, AAA Baseball and NHL/ AHL affiliates, not to mention collegiate sports and recreational options as well. hh Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in Charlotte: canoeing and kayaking at the U.S. National Whitewater Center; boating and fishing on Lakes Norman, Mountain Island and Wylie; golfing on courses that are accessible from all residential and business areas; skiing in the Appalachian mountains, camping, horseback riding, hiking and more. hh Nothing could be finer than Charlotte’s North Carolina weather. Four distinct seasons with balanced summers and winters prevail. Extreme conditions are rare, allowing year-round use of the city’s 16,500 acres of parks, 35 miles of greenways and 36 public and private golf courses. More courses are available in outlying counties. Only half of winter days fall below the freezing point, and sub-zero temperatures have been recorded in Charlotte only five times since 1878. Spring and fall seasons are protracted and extremely pleasant, and weather rarely interrupts outdoor activities.

Charlotte Chamber Economic Development 330 South Tryon Street; P.O. Box 32785 Charlotte, North Carolina 28232 U.S.A. | 704.378.1300 | www.BOOMcharlotte.com | twitter.com/cltecondev

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Why Should You Move To Charlotte? Are you looking for a place to transfer? Don’t have any idea where or which place is best for you or your family? Then you should be considering Charlotte, North Carolina because it’s certainly one of the most livable cities in the United States today. Why? In most surveys conducted by different companies and organizations, Charlotte ranks among the best or the top 10. Below are some of the reasons why you should consider moving to Charlotte. If you’re into business, whether small scale or big ones, Charlotte is an excellent option. In fact, the city ranked 7th on the 10 best cities for small business (Nerdwallet.com) and 8 th in the 10 big, booming cities (Cnn.com). For those individuals who just graduated and are seeking for excellent jobs, Charlotte again is one of the best places to choose since it was ranked 2nd on the 10 happiest cities for job-seeking college graduates (Forbes.com). If you’re an IT graduate, the city is also an great place to look for jobs because it was ranked 6th on the hottest cities for IT jobs in 2013. If you plan to get married or you just got married, then you can choose to move to Charlotte as the city was ranked 9th on the best cities for newly wedded couples. According to Rent.com, the ranking was based on the availability of rental inventory, cost of living, annual mean wages, percentage of married couples and percentage of children under the age of six. Charlotte is also an excellent option for families looking for a great place to live or move in. To prove this, it was ranked 2nd by Nerdwallet.com on the top 10 big cities for homeownership and 9th on the Penske Truck Rental top 10 moving destinations for 2012. A frequent traveler? Charlotte is not behind such feature because the city was actually ranked 2nd on the top U.S. airports from Travel Leaders (Travelagentcentral.com), 2nd on the 10 U.S. airports you’re likely to breeze through (Usatoday.com), and 9th on the best cities for foodies (Creditdonkey.com) The surveys and rankings mentioned above are just some of the things that can prove why Charlotte is an excellent choice to move to if you want a better future regardless if you’re single and married with or without children. From homeownership, to ease of travel, career and business opportunities, the city certainly offers a lot of reasons why it is well loved by different individuals. This is aside from the fact of its beautiful landscapes, entertainment, cultural events, and more.

Benefits of Moving To Charlotte Whether you’re seeking for a city with lots of exciting things to offer or a quiet country living, then you should consider moving to Charlotte. For the past few years, the population of Charlotte has increased gradually brought by individuals migrating to the city and it’s certainly not slowing down. To understand this, below are a few benefits of living in Charlotte. Rich Culture. If you want to reside in a city rich in culture, then Charlotte should be one your list. The city offers lots of cultural amenities from museums, galleries, to grand theaters. Plus, it’ll never be difficult for you to find the right venue for any occasion or event because they host various events like car racing to different festivals. This is because a huge feature in Charlotte is the arts, which is actually why neighboring cities visit Charlotte to get a dose of the city’s culture. Nice Climate. One thing Charlotte can boast of is their weather with around 210 sunny days yearly, which surely is a huge difference compared to other cities in the country. The not too cold or too hot weather allows people to visit different scenic views around the city and to take part in various festivals throughout the year. Low Cost of Living with Good Salaries. Charlotte is actually considered the best city in America to live in when it comes to good salaries and low cost of living. The city’s actually a banking powerhouse as it has the headquarters of major banking institutions like Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Furthermore, it is regarded as the second largest financial center in the country just next to New York, a city where you certainly cannot enjoy a low cost of living. Low Cost of Homeownership. Because the city offers low cost of living with good salaries, average wage earners can afford to purchase an average home, making it a stable housing market. Plus, the city offers very low property tax rates meaning you get great bank for your housing buck. Excellent Educational Opportunities. Charlotte is home to some of the best colleges and universities in the country. Therefore, if you seek excellent education for your children, Charlotte surely does not fall short in this feature. Plus, their high schools and colleges even rank high among all other schools in the country. Want to enjoy all of these benefits? Don’t think twice into moving to Charlotte because the city surely has almost everything you need to achieve a better life. If you want to purchase a home, don’t hesitate to contact Showcase Realty as we can surely help you in looking for the best home that fits your needs and wants.

Attractions in Charlotte If you have thought about moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, regardless of the reasons behind your transfer, it helps to know the different fun things you can do within the area especially if you’re travelling with your family. Charlotte is actually full of family-friendly attractions you should try once you’ve moved to the place. These attractions will certainly entertain all age groups even infants. PROFESSIONAL & SEMIPROFESSIONAL SPORTS           

Carolina Panthers (NFL) Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) Charlotte Checkers (Professional Hockey) Charlotte Eagles & Lady Eagles (Professional Soccer) Charlotte Hounds (Major League Lacrosse - MLL) Charlotte Knights (Minor League Baseball) Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR racing) Charlotte Roller Girls (Roller Derby) Queens Cup Steeplechase U.S. National Whitewater Center Wells Fargo (Golf) Championship (Professional Golf)

ART GALLERIES and MUSEUMS         

       

Afro-American Culture Center Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Billy Graham Library Central Piedmont Community College Gallery Charlotte Trolley Museum Charlotte Museum of History Gaston County Museum The Great Aunt Stella Center Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture Historic Brattonsville Historic Charlotte Historic Latta Plantation Historic Rosedale Plantation ImagineOn James K. Polk Memorial State Historical Site Lazy 5 Ranch Levine Museum of the New South

         

The Light Factory Photography Center McColl Center for Visual Art Carl J. McEwen Historic Village (Mint Hill) Mint Museum of Craft and Design (2 locations) The Museum of York County NoDa's Gallery Crawl North Carolina Transportation Museum NASCAR Hall of Fame Reed Gold Mine Reynolda House Museum of American Art

SCIENCE, GARDENS           



NATURE

Carolina Raptor Center Charlotte Nature Museum Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens Discovery Place Lansford Canal State Park (Lancaster, SC) McDowell Nature Center & Preserve McGill Rose Garden North Carolina Zoo Omnimax Theater and Planetarium Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium University of NC at Charlotte Botanical & Sculpture Gardens Winghaven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary

PERFORMING ARTS CONCERT VENUES     

and

Betchler Museum of Modern Art Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Charlotte Symphony Children's Theater of Charlotte/ImaginOn Comedy Zone

      

Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square Duke North Carolina Music Factory Opera Carolina Ovens Auditorium Theatre Charlotte Time Warner Cable Arena Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

ADVENTURE, FITNESS                       

 

SPORTS

and

Beech Spring Mountain Bike Park Charlotte City Tours Charlotte EpiCenter Charlotte Sports Center Crowder's Mountain State Park Fishing (Mecklenburg County) Grayson Skate Park Great Wolf Lodge Hendrix Motorsports Complex Indoor Rock Climbing Lake Norman boating Lake Wylie boating Mecklenburg County Greenways & Preserves Nascar Speed Park Paramount Carowinds Water & Theme Park Queens's Landing Ray's Splash Planet Reedy Creek Nature Center & Preserve Ribbonwalk Forest Nature Preserve Richard Petty Driving Experience Segway Adventures (Latta Plantation) Things to do with kids (Charlotte region) U.S. National Whitewater Center (Extreme Water & Land Sports) Victory Lane Indoor Karting Ziplines (Monroe, NC)

Annual Events to Look Forward to in Charlotte One of the good things about living in Charlotte, North Carolina is the fact that its citizens and tourists enjoy a lot of fun things to do within the city. Aside from its various family attractions, rich history and culture, sports and recreation, and nightlife, Charlotte also offers a lot of entertainment through events that are celebrated within the city annually. Below are some of these events. St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Charlotte celebrates St. Patrick’s Day Parade every year, which is a non-profit event open to the public. The event is open to musical groups, school and alumni groups, cheerleading and drill teams, and any individuals who seek to enjoy being an Irish for one day. This year, the 18th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on March 15th each year. The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase. The event produced by Charlotte Steeplechase Association, Inc., (CSA) is a federally recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization that aims to provide annual steeplechase horse racing event. The event will be benefitting local and regional charities. All age groups are welcome to join the event held at the Piedmont countryside, 45 minutes from Uptown Charlotte. This year, the event will take place in April. Festival in the Park. This festival has been bringing a lot of entertainment – good music, good times, and good art to Charlotteans and visitors of the city from all over the world. The event is basically designed to promote and stimulate interest in the arts wherein attendees will learn from more than 180 artists and crafts people. The 50th anniversary Festival in the Park takes place in mid-September. Speed Street. Currently celebrating its 19th year, Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola has been held to commemorate the May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event features different family-oriented events that personify the huge growth of motor sports. Furthermore, it transforms the streets of Charlotte into a showcase of motorsports through non-stop entertainment, appearance by top Sprint Cup Drivers, etc. More than 400,000 attendees celebrate the event annually plus it’s cost-free. The event takes place in May. Taste of Charlotte. Taste of Charlotte began in 1999 with 23 local restaurant and as the years passed by, the even has grown tremendously especially in its number of attendees. As of today, the event boasts over 30 restaurants with more than 100 menu items plus 100 unique sponsors. Taste of Charlotte offers a variety of fun-filled items perfect for the entire family. It includes live music, dancing, street performances, magic and more. The event is takes place in the beginning of June. The location of the event is from Tryon Street and MLK Jr. Blvd. to 6th Street. Admission to the event is free. Above are just a few events to look forward to whether you’re currently living in Charlotte or just visiting the city often. Charlotte has certainly proven that it has a lot to offer to its citizen and visitors. So if you decide to move in the city, don’t hesitate to contact Showcase Realty, as we are ready to help you find the right home for you and your family within Charlotte.

Why Companies Are Moving to Charlotte Charlotte belongs to the top 10 fastest growing cities in the United States today with new individuals and families visiting or transferring to the town every day. Such positive change is brought about by different factors including their amazing climate, a variety of great outdoor activities, lovely and nice Charlotte residents, excellent dining options, scenic mountains and more. It’s also known because it is the home of some of the largest companies particularly those Fortune 500 companies. But actually, if you look closer into the reasons why these individuals are moving to the city, it’s because of the job growth and other businesses starting and developing in the city. Below are some proofs of such positive development.     

Areva, a French energy company will be opening its headquarters in Charlotte, which is expected to bring 130 new jobs within the next 4 years. Electrolux, the leader in home and professional appliances, is also expanding their headquarters in Charlotte, which is expected to bring 810 jobs. Hawthorn Retirement Group, a Vancouver, Wash-based company plans to build threestory, 134-suite “home for the aged.” MetLife’s smooth transition in Charlotte with a continuous hiring of 640 employees. DataChambers groundbreaking ceremony wherein they shared the reason behind their decision in choosing the Research Campus in the area because of its access to Interstate 85 and proximity to the Charlotte and Concord airports.

Aside from these good news happening in Charlotte, surrounding areas of the town are also experiencing a growth in their jobs and businesses too. Below are some examples.     

Crescent Communities invests more than $100 million in expansion of Inn at Palmetto Bluff. Imagine! Print solutions buying another Charlotte-based printing company. Belk Inc. investing $32 million for its expansion in its e-commerce distribution and fulfillment center operations in Union County, S.C. bringing 170 new jobs. Fiber Composites located in Stanly County town of New London, plans to bring 350 new jobs. AIC Ventures buying a Monroe facility.

Its better economy, talented workers, and affordability of their accommodation or homes made of all of these things possible in Charlotte and its surrounding areas. With all of these reasons, you shouldn’t wonder why Charlotte has become a desirable place to live, work and establish or do business. And if you’re already residing in the area, this is actually good news because with the booming economy and the rise of businesses, we can all expect better values of our properties.

Area/Neighborhood Landing Page Bios Model Landing Page: Myers Park In 1911, a landscape architect was hired to create a garden suburb, and voilà! Myers Park emerged from a south Charlotte cotton farm, and today it’s one of the city’s most prestigious addresses. Nestled among its winding, shady streets is the not-to-be-missed Mint Museum of Art. EAT: With eclectic American food, fresh-baked goods and an extensive wine list, Providence Café is a neighborhood favorite. At Good Food on Montford, organic ingredients make for healthful and delicious options. PLAY: Catch a foreign or independent film at the Manor Theatre or jam to live music on Nolen Kitchen’s patio during the summer. SHOP: Interiors Marketplace is a decorator’s dream come true, filled with one-of-a-kind antiques, eclectic furniture, lush window treatments and fun decorating ideas. STAY: The former home of Duke University founder James Buchanan Duke, the circa-1915 Duke Mansion is now a luxurious 20-room B&B listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By Quadrant**: South Charlotte:  The Arboretum is located along Pineville-Matthews Road  Ayrsley is a master-planned community located in Southwest Charlotte  Ballantyne is a newer upscale area, along the NC/SC border, centered on the Ballantyne Resort  Barclay Downs is a mid-twentieth century neighborhood west of Colony Road near the SouthPark Mall  Beverly Woods is an area of Southpark enclosed by Sharon Road, Park Road, and Sulkirk Road  Carmel Village is an area near the intersection of Pineville-Matthews Road and Carmel Road  Blakeney is centered on the intersection of Ardrey Kell and Rea roads, located in between the Arboretum and Ballantyne neighborhoods  Chantilly is a neighborhood along 7th street between Plaza-Midwood (Charlotte neighborhood) and Elizabeth  Cotswold is centered on the intersection of Randolph and Sharon Amity roads  Dilworth is a historic streetcar suburb of largely craftsman-style bungalows located directly South of uptown  Eastover is a small neighborhood started by prominent local landowner E.C.Griffith.

 Elizabeth, located along East 7th Street and Elizabeth Avenue, is a historic streetcar suburb. Also located here are two large hospitals and the city's municipal football stadium.  Historic South End is a former industrial district directly south of Uptown that has been converted into an entertainment and office district  Landsdowne is located along Providence Rd between the Intersection of Fairview Road and Sardis Road and the intersection of Rea Road and Alexander Road  Madison Park is a desirable residential area located between E Woodlawn Road to the north, Park Road to the east, Chedworth to the south, and South Blvd to the west. It made up of 1950's style homes, many of which have been renovated  Myers Park is a wealthy master-planned neighborhood from the early 20th century characterized by its curving streets and mature oaks  Nations Ford is the area of southwestern Charlotte, near Steele Creek  Parkdale is northeast of Park Road/Tyvola Road intersection, south of Briar Creek  Piper Glen is a country club community located off Rea Road, and home of TPC Piper Glen Golf Course, designed by Arnold Palmer.  Quail Hollow, located in between Southpark and Pineville, is home to the Quail Hollow Championship  Raeburn is located along Rea Road  Sedgefield is located immediately south of Dilworth  SouthPark is a small edge city centered on the intersection of Sharon Road and Fairview Road. It includes the nearby neighborhoods of Morrocroft and Foxcroft  Starmount is a large neighborhood in the South Boulevard area  Steele Creek is located in Southwestern Mecklenburg County  Yorkshire is located in the Steele Creek area of Southwest Charlotte, near Carowinds and SC border, between Choate Circle and South Tryon Street  Weddington, is a town in Union County. A small portion extends into Mecklenburg County West Charlotte:  Ashley Park is the area between Ashley Rd and Freedom Dr  Berry Hill is a neighborhood located in the extreme west bordering Gaston County near the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.  Biddleville, in west Charlotte along Beatties Ford Rd, is a historically African-American neighborhood surrounding Johnson C. Smith University  Clanton Park is located near the intersection of Clanton Rd and West Blvd and takes its name from the park named Clanton Park  Coulwood is an area bounded by Brookshire Blvd. and Mount Holly Rd.  Enderly Park is located in west Charlotte along Tuckaseegee Road between I-85 and Berryhill Rd  Lincoln Heights is the area surrounding La Salle St between Statesville Ave and Beaties Ford Rd  Oakview Terrace is the neighborhood surrounding the Brookshire freeway between Tennessee Ave and Rozelles Ferry Rd

 Paw Creek is a "Tank town", located in western Mecklenburg County bordering Gaston County  Revolution Park is the area surrounding the intersection of West Blvd and Remount Rd west of Center City  Shopton is the corridor of Shopton Rd near I-485 and Gaston County south of the airport  Shuffletown area surrounds Bellhaven Rd and Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd  Thomasboro/Hoskins is a former mill town in west Charlotte, between Freedom Drive and N Hoskins Rd north of I-85  Todd Park is located along Toddville Rd  Washington Heights is a historic streetcar suburb north of Biddleville  Wesley Heights is a historically registered neighborhood adjacent to uptown Charlotte  Westerly Hills is the neighborhood surrounding Alleghany St  Mountain Island Village is located in the extreme northwest along Brookshire Rd, I-485, and Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd near Mountain Island Lake  Yorkmount Park is the area surrounding the intersection of Tyvola Rd and Nations Ford Rd North Charlotte;  Derita, centered on the Derita mineral spring, is located north of I-85 along West Sugar Creek Road.  Highland Creek is a planned community West of Concord Mills and I-85, east of Eastfield Road and north of Mallard Creek.  NoDa, a former mill village previously called North Charlotte, is located along North Davidson Street.  University City is the portion of Charlotte in the extreme northeast around UNC Charlotte.  Northlake is located near the mall of the same name.  Oakdale is located along Oakdale Rd.  Eastfield/Prosperity is the area bordered by Eastfield Road, Brown Road and Prosperity Church Rd  Hidden Valley is located along Sugar Creek Rd south of I-85, bordered by North Tryon St. along the south and west.  Tryon Hills is area surrounding North Tryon St just northeast of Uptown.  Pleasant Grove is located along Pleasant Grove Rd  Croft, area located along Old Statesville Rd and Sugar Creek Rd between Hucks R and West W.T Harris  Coulwood is located near Coulwood park and Bellhaven Rd  Sunset Hills is located near Sunset Hills golf course and along Sunset Rd and I-77  Newell is located along Old Concord Rd  Lockwood, consisting of low-income residential housing, is to the northeast of the I-277 loop, between North Tryon St. and North Graham St.  Wilson heights is the area surrounding the intersection of Statesville Rd and Nevin Rd East Charlotte:

           

Eastland is a large portion of eastern Charlotte. Grier Heights is an area bounded by N. Wendover Rd, Monroe Rd. and Randolph Rd. Plaza-Midwood is an area east of Uptown and along The Plaza and along Central Ave. Sherwood Forest is a neighborhood bounded by North Sharon Amity Road, Randolph Rd. and Sardis Road. Hickory Grove is an area of East Charlotte along East W.T. Harris Blvd and Hickory Grove Road. Hickory Ridge is an area approximately bordered by East W.T. Harris Blvd, Albemarle Road, and Pence/Parkton/Hickory Grove Road. Idlewild is a neighborhood bordering Eastland along East W.T. Harris Blvd and Idlewild road. Oakhurst is the area surrounding Monroe Rd between Wendover and Sharon Amity Rd. Reedy Creek is an area of the far north of Mecklenburg County on The Plaza near Cabarrus County Shamrock is a neighborhood along Shamrock Road near Plaza-Midwood. Sardis Woods is an area of East Charlotte bounded by Sardis Rd, Sardis Rd North and the Crown Point Business Park. Stonehaven is an area of East Charlotte bounded by Rama Rd., Sardis Rd. and the McAlpine Greenway.

Center City  Uptown/Downtown: central business district surrounded by Interstate 277, comprising four wards delineated by South Tryon and Trade Streets.  First Ward is today home to a sizable mixed-income housing area.  Second Ward, formerly known as Brooklyn, was a traditionally African-American neighborhood that was converted in the mid-twentieth century into a city and county government office center in efforts to revitalize the area.  Third ward is known chiefly as the home of the Carolina Panthers who play at Bank of America Stadium.  Parts of Fourth Ward fall within a registered historic district as one of the few neighborhoods of single-family homes left within the I-277 loop. **Source: Wikipedia

The Essence of

Charlotte

Charlotte: A Great Discovery

Great cities, like great discoveries, sometime happen by accident. More than 250 years ago, Scottish and Irish settlers were following a couple of old Catawba Indian trading routes. Where the paths crossed, the settlers stopped. And Charlotte began. Today, things no longer happen in Charlotte by accident. Rather, we’re a city of purposeful newcomers — many of them individuals who compared Charlotte to their current address and said, “Let’s pack up the moving van.” Through careful planning and gradual development, we’ve emerged as one of the South’s — and one of the United States’ — premier cities. Today Charlotte is the 17th most populous city in the country, a big climb from 35th place in 1990. There’s a reason so many people from around the world now consider Charlotte home. Come discover Charlotte for yourself.

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Charlotte: A Great Discovery

In The Middle Of It All

The Carolina Piedmont, an area of lush, green foothills, stretches right down the middle of North Carolina. And here, at the southernmost tip, lies Charlotte, the seat of Mecklenburg County. Charlotte gives you the best of many worlds. The beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are two hours to the north. The Atlantic beaches are three hours to the south. The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high quality of life, below-average cost of living, abundant career opportunities, world-class arts and major sports attract talented individuals from around the globe. Our climate is a big part of our allure. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find extreme weather here; rather, mild winters and short summers. Luxurious and long autumns and springs. Four distinct seasons with an over-abundance of sunny days and our famous Carolina blue skies throughout the year.

Charlotte

An International Marketplace Our multicultural area embraces diverse ideas, opinions, business operations and residents. Foreign-owned firms enrich our business community, cultural amenities and daily lives. In turn, Charlotte offers an environment that helps foreign-owned firms grow and makes foreign-born professionals feel at home. More than 625 foreign-owned firms, representing 45 countries, provide jobs to nearly 31,000 workers in CharlotteMecklenburg County. Another 453 foreignowned firms operate in the 15-county metro region surrounding Mecklenburg County. The Queen City has such a pro-business environment that more than 273 of Fortuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top 500 companies have placed one or more facilities within Mecklenburg County. For foreign-owned firms in particular, Charlotte offers exceptional air service, foreign trade zones, business-friendly government and the support of numerous non-profit organizations that focus on international business, foreign policy and global culture.

A Local Economy of Sizable Strengths There is so much good news about doing business in Charlotte. Charlotte is the center of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fifth largest urban region, a position that offers countless opportunities to the companies doing business here. Recognized as a financial, distribution and transportation powerhouse for the entire urban region, Charlotte has developed into a major wholesale center with one of the highest per capita sales in the United States, ranking 6th nationally. Home to Bank of America, the city is the second-largest U.S. financial center (behind New York). Mecklenburg County also is North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest manufacturing county. Every major manufacturing sector is represented here, including aerospace and defense equipment, industrial machinery and metal working industries, computer and electronic products, consumer goods and bio-medical facilities. Through the years, Charlotte has become a magnet for research and development and technology companies. Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich business base is served by an excellent state and federal highway network, including major north-south and east-west interstate arteries, as well as a modern, expanding international airport terminal.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

One of the first things you’ll notice about Charlotte is the beauty — and diversity — of our neighborhoods. From high-rise and high-style downtown living, to stately brick homes nestled beneath 80-foot green canopies of maple and oak leaves, and lakeside homes on the shores of Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, to condos a short walk from Charlotte’s new commuter light rail lines. Whatever your preferred lifestyle, Charlotte has a home and neighborhood sure to be the perfect fit.

A City Mindful of Education

Easy Market Access

Charlotte Douglas International Airport offers extensive commuter and airfreight services. Home to US Airway’s largest hub, the airport offers nonstop service to 170 cities, including Frankfurt, Munich, London, Paris, Toronto and Mexico City as well as to Central America and Caribbean cities. Roughly 700 flights leave Charlotte daily. Charlotte is at the heart of a highway and railroad system that stretches across the Eastern and Southern United States. More than 40 percent of the nation’s top 100 trucking companies are located in Charlotte. With two major rail systems, Norfolk Southern and CSX, the Charlotte region links to 23 states, making rail service convenient. In 2007, Charlotte began light rail commuter service with a nearly 10-mile rail line running from the city’s center to its southern edge with seven stations along the way. Plans are in the works to extend commuter service to Charlotte’s north and northeast in coming years.

Charlotte’s Artistic Eye From Picasso to Pavarotti, Charlotte is a city that enjoys and cultivates the arts. Visitors and residents throughout the Charlotte region have easy access to a wide range of visual arts, classical and contemporary music, opera, theater and dance. Charlotte sweetens that blend with several science and history museums to further increase the city’s cultural quality of life. Charlotte offers cultural activities for every taste, from black tie openings of straight-from-Broadway productions to an evening picnic with music under the stars during the Charlotte Symphony’s Annual Summer Pops series. Charlotte is home to several museums nationally recognized for their impressive permanent exhibits and the traveling exhibits they attract. Theater events range from Broadway blockbusters to the city’s venerable amateur troupe to its famed Children’s Theatre.

Festivals, Food and Fun There is always something special going on in Charlotte. From small festivals in the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numerous parks to giant downtown street fairs that draw tens of thousands of people, one thing is clear: Charlotte knows how to throw a party â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and everyone is always welcome.

Bobcats

Charlotte: A Major League Sports Town Whether residents like to watch sports as fans — or get in the middle of the action themselves, Charlotte is a big league sports town. This is where the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers and the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Bobcats play. Each May, the Wells Fargo Championship brings in the world’s best golfers. Each winter, fans cheer on the Checkers, Charlotte’s professional hockey team. Each summer, attention shifts to soccer with the Charlotte Eagles, the city’s pro soccer team, and baseball games with the Charlotte Knights. The city is abuzz about prospects of building a downtown baseball stadium. Charlotte is also home to many of NASCAR’s hottest stock car racing teams, the future NASCAR Hall of Fame and one of the most-popular NASCAR race tracks.

Outdoor Opportunities Spur Hands-on Participation

Charlotte’s favorable climate, numerous parks, public and private golf courses, three lakes and countless other outdoor amenities invite participation. Fish, boat, camp or leisurely laze away the day on the 847 miles of combined shorelines on Lakes Norman and Wylie and Mountain Island Lake. The new U.S. National Whitewater Center attracts serious kayakers and rafters from around the globe while also giving families a fun way to spend a sunny day. Don’t want to get wet? The center offers a 46-foot tall climbing tower and 30-foot climbing wall, bike rentals to explore the area’s 11 miles of trails and high-adventure ropes courses. From biking to hiking to boating to just spending an enjoyable day outdoors, Charlotte is the perfect place to be.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Future for You in Charlotte Green, growing and great. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the clear vision of the people who live here and who strive to keep the soul and character of our city intact. The quickly developing Queen City is following a carefully designed blueprint created to balance the need for growth with our desire for preservation. We believe growth is essential. But the real future of our city is ever-tied to our quality of life. We invite you to share in this future. In Charlotte.

Charlotte Chamber 330 South Tryon Street | Charlotte, NC 28202 704-378-1300 | www.charlottechamber.com 27

SeaSonS of Charlotte THE DEFINITIVE PHOTO TOUR OF CHARLOT TE

“Seasons of Charlotte,” is a hard-cover photography book scheduled for release this year as a joint effort by the Charlotte Chamber and Patrick Schneider Photography. For more than three years, Patrick Schneider has been focusing his photojournalistic eye on Charlotte. He’s captured life throughout Charlotte, from events to environs, sports to spectacles, industry to individuals and

so much in between. Today, Schneider’s body of work (to which he adds new images daily) is the largest and mostcomprehensive collection of contemporary Charlotte images. To learn more about “Seasons of Charlotte” and to order an advanced copy, please email Andrea Ware at aware@charlottechamber.com.

Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, 330 South Tryon Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, N.C. 28202 www.charlottechamber.com 704-378-1300

Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Mecklenburg County and the second largest city in the Southeastern United States, just behind Jacksonville, Florida. Charlotte is the third fastest growing major city in the United States. In 2014, the estimated population of Charlotte according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 809,958, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area ranks 22nd largest in the US and had a 2014 population of 2,380,314. The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of a sixteen-county market region or combined statistical area with a 2014 U.S. Census population estimate of 2,537,990. Residents of Charlotte are referred to as "Charlotteans". It is listed as a "gamma-plus" global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Being that Charlotte is so large, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an area with a large city, but also suburbs. Charlotte is home to the corporate headquarters of Bank of America and the east coast operations of Wells Fargo, which along with other financial institutions makes it the second largest banking center in the United States. Among Charlotte's many notable attractions, some of the most popular include the Carolina Panthers (NFL), the Charlotte Hornets (NBA), two NASCAR Sprint Cup races and the NASCAR AllStar Race, the Wells Fargo Championship, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a major international hub, and was ranked the 23rd busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic in 2013. Nicknamed the Queen City. Like its county a few years earlier, Charlotte was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who had become the Queen of Great Britain just seven years before the town's incorporation. A second nickname derives from the American Revolutionary War, when British commander General Cornwallis occupied the city but was driven out by hostile residents, prompting him to write that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion", leading to the nickname The Hornet's Nest. Charlotte has a humid subtropical climate. Charlotte is located several miles east of the Catawba River and southeast of Lake Norman, the largest man-made lake in North Carolina. Lake Wylie and Mountain Island Lake are two smaller man-made lakes located near the city. Here are a few websites you can look at what's happening in Charlotte during the dates you will be here. www.citysearch.com www.charlotteonthecheap.com www.charlotteobserver.com - local newspaper is Charlotte Observer-Entertainment section with restaurant reviews and music scene is on Fridays

Charlotte Ranked #1 Most Up-AndComing City in America Charlotte is a city where the cosmopolitan vibe of an international hub meets the best of southern charm. A unique culture has evolved through its metro area, where residents enjoy sophisticated art, to worldclass culinary delights, entertainment, sports and more. It is also the home of NASCAR and the Charlotte Motor Speedway, to the delight of many motorsports enthusiasts. Living is affordable, the weather tis wonderful, and there is always something to do — including attending free events. Charlotte is not just a “banking town” because Bank of America and Wells Fargo have their headquarters in the Queen City. Other major employers include Lowe’s (headquartered in Mooresville), and American Airlines. The metro area’s unemployment rate is on par with the national average, at 4.9%; and its average annual salary is slightly higher than national averages, at $48,370. Charlotte was listed as one of the best cities for job hunters on WalletHub.com's 2017’s Best and Worst Cities for Jobs.

A recent study conducted by Time Magazine and Yelp on the best cities in America for economic growth considered data ranging from search frequency, page visits, to how long each business has been in operation. The results, according to Time Magazine, showed that Charlotte proved the largest growth driven by the food industry. Additional rankings for Charlotte in various industries included Shopping (#3), Restaurants (#6), Nightlife (#19), Automotive (#3), Event Planning and Services (#14), Health and Medical (#4), Active Life (#6), Home Services (#2), and Beauty and Spas (#5). According to Yelp’s Data Editor, Carl Bialik, “This program is an ongoing effort to surface insights from Yelp’s deep data stores to help businesses succeed and to arm policymakers with the information they need to make effective change that will boost local economies.”

The data used was collected by Yelp using intricate analytics and statistics models. As the data is in real time and “current”, measuring indicators are more precise, providing far more accurate results.

With Charlotte growing at an impressive rate, and housing development increasing, my team and I at Showcase Realty are ideally positioned to assist home buyers, renters, home sellers and investors realize every real estate goal. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning on moving to or within the Charlotte Metro area, please do not hesitate to contact us for prompt and professional service.

Contact me, Nancy Braun, at Nancy@ShowcaseRealty.net or call 704-997-3794. My team and I would love to support your real estate needs.

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