Charlotte’s In the Running!

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Everything is awesome in Charlotte!  It’s like living a dream!  A dream we’ve been trying to realize for decades, and today, it finally came true.  Where we were once the student, now we are the master.  And now, Atlanta is looking to us for inspiration.

And our preachy protege has finally admitted we’re a regional heavyweight contender.  They’re going through a development study called Atlanta Forward 2015, and as part of it, they’re looking at how Charlotte is growing.  The Atlanta Journal Constitution made mention that “Charlotte’s downtown–which for some reason, they call Uptown–is emblematic of the city’s recipe for success: plan growth and stick to the plan, while focusing resources on the center city to create an inviting, cohesive core.”

The article goes on to compliment how well we’ve developed entertainment, activities and living space all into the Uptown area.  Jealous, Atlanta?  The article points out that the ATL was on a similar track, but got derailed some time before the 90s.  Speaking of which, the article mentions some hot-button issues in our area: the light rail and the trolley.  It points out those elements as being key to Charlotte’s livability.  And the fact that they get you close to the other stuff, like sports and entertainment.

But if you had to put a finger on what makes Charlotte a regional heavyweight, what would it be for you?