Uptown Charlotte
Roughly defined by the I-277 freeway loop, this one square mile represents the original city. Almost nothing “old” remains - just the 1790’s grid system of streets and the 19th-century names for the four political wards. Uptown is largely shiny, new and bank-oriented. In the past few years - fueled by Bank of America’s money, vision or both - parts of North Tryon and North College streets have become weekend nighttime hot spots, with restaurants, bars and trendy/artsy clubs.
Uptown is also the center for art and culture, science and design. Existing buildings like Discovery Place, the McColl Center for Visual Art, North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, North Carolina Dance Theater, and venues like the Charlotte Symphony, Opera Carolina, and The Mint Museum, soon to be Uptown, along with the Bechtler Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, Knight Theater.
An even bigger change is the housing revitalization. Fourth Ward - the Victorian pocket neighborhood with some of the city’s oldest remaining homes - has been a showplace for 15 years. But now there are several upscale, midrise condominium projects on North Tryon and North Church streets, with plans for more.
Meanwhile, long forgotten First Ward is six blocks east of The Square. (”The Square” is the city’s historic center, the intersection of Trade and Tryon streets). It is also home of the Bobcats Arena as well as a number of condominium/townhouse complexes and the soon-to-be completed 15-story Ritz-Carlton.
Highlights: Bank of America Corporate Center and Wachovia Building complex; Panthers Stadium and the Convention Center, Epi-Center (under construction), Johnson & Wales University.
