Uptown Charlotte, the Core of Queen’s City

When you’re in Charlotte, you don’t go downtown, you go Uptown! Uptown’s setting might have changed since the late 1800s when it was first documented, but now its iconic skyline is the center of the Queen’s City — and it’s positively bustling with young professionals, bankers, creatives, and so much more. From banking headquarters to rooftop bars, Uptown is where it’s at!

Where is Uptown Charlotte?

Surrounded by I-277 and spreading from the intersection of Trade and Tryon, Uptown is a little over 2 square miles of business, retail and residential buildings separated into four wards. The skyline includes iconic silhouettes like the Bank of America building and the Panthers stadium. There are also several green spaces dotting the area including Romare Bearden Park. Uptown is surrounded by other popular Charlotte neighborhoods like NODA, Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, and South End.

History

The area around Trade and Tryon was first documented as Uptown back in 1895 because it is actually up elevation wise. However, there were a few decades were calling it Downtown came back into use. However, in the 1970s, a businessman named Jack Wood wanted to revamp the city’s image, and it was once again branded as Uptown. That push to embrace the city’s charm apparently worked! Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country with no sign of stopping anytime soon.

Lifestyle

Uptown is seen as the hub of the city, and for good reason too — it truly has it all. If you’re looking for apartments for rent in Uptown Charlotte, know that here you’ll find places to work, see, eat, drink, and have fun all contained within “the loop.”

What to do

If you’re craving a shopping spree, Uptown boasts its fair share of boutique shops as well as the Overstreet Mall. Overstreet is a shop and eatery-lined network of skywalks connecting the major buildings in Uptown. In fact, you can travel multiple blocks without ever venturing outside.

Shopping isn’t the only reason people want to hang around in the city center. There is also plenty to do, whether you want to spend a few hours perusing the Mint Museum or catch up on your NASCAR trivia at the Hall of Fame, there is a little something for everyone. Rooftop bars are aplenty for those seeking a little nighttime fun, and the kiddos will be entertained for hours at the Discovery Museum. Then there is the Epicentre which has a little something for everyone!

Visiting Uptown from another part of the city? You can take the light rail all the way to 7th Street Station, landing you directly in front of the 7th Street Market which houses shops, eateries, a bar and a coffee shop. Once you’re topped off, head across the street to First Ward Park and absorb Charlotte at its best.

Where to eat and drink

While 7th Street Market does offer a good sampling of food and drinks in Uptown, it’s definitely not the only place to grab a bite. You will find some of the best restaurants in the city within the I-277 loop. You can go upscale with spots like 5Church or Morton’s or you can stick to homier options like Mert’s Heart & Soul Cafe.

Those looking for a Bloody Mary brunch will be happy stopping in at the Dandelion Market, while a drink with a view can be had at Fahrenheit. Charlotte’s famous Amelie’s also has an Uptown location when you find yourself with a bit of a sweet tooth.

Moving to Uptown Charlotte

Real Estate Snapshot

Uptown is full of high rise luxury apartments with all of the modern conveniences. And while these rental prices may be higher than the city average of $1,259, one might say they come with perks. The pleasure of living in Uptown, right the midst of all the Charlotte action, comes with an average rent of around $1,778. For further comparison, rent in the bordering Elizabeth neighborhood averages about $1,577 per month.

Transportation

Uptown is a very walkable neighborhood and it’s easy to navigate on foot or by bike. You also have the convenience of several light rail stops within the I-277 loop which allows you to get to other parts of the city such as South End or NODA. If you avoid rush hour traffic, you can get from Uptown to the airport in around 25 minutes — and I-85 is also easily accessible. While there is plenty of parking in the city center, you will notice you won’t find very many spaces that allow you to park for free.

Schools & employment

Many people enjoy living in Uptown because it puts them within walking distance of their workplace. The neighborhood is the business hub of Charlotte and houses the headquarters of several large companies. Bank of America, Duke Energy, Honeywell, and AT&T all have offices in Uptown.

Johnson & Wales has a campus in the Uptown area as does the local community college CPCC. There are also several K-12 campuses dotting this part of the city.

This neighborhood puts you right in the hub of all Queen City has to offer. In fact, Uptown IS Charlotte.

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