Expert tips and hidden secrets about four of Charlotte’s streetcar suburbs from the ones who know them best.
First, what’s a streetcar suburb?
Starting in the late nineteenth century and continuing through the early twentieth century Charlotte was forever changed by the introduction of the streetcar. As the service expanded new suburbs gained popularity and became known as streetcar suburbs.
We’ll guide you through what it’s like to live their today with the help from our friends at Helen Adams Realty:
• Dilworth – Maria Lages
• Southend – Eliza Adams
• Elizabeth – McKinna Hahn
• Plaza Midwood – Van Dang
Whether you’re buying, selling or just desiring… below is their expert take on what to expect price-wise, where to eat and drink, shop, and enjoy all that the streetcar suburbs have to offer. And while they can’t give away all their secrets, their tips will keep you in one step ahead of the rest.
Dilworth
The first streetcar suburb in Charlotte and is still setting trends today. Zip code: 28203.
Our expert guide – HAR Agent – Maria Lages
The very first streetcar suburb of Charlotte, Dilworth remains as a popular place to call home today. It was built around the streetcar system in the 1890s and would have never been developed in the same way without the streetcar.
Who lives here?
Dilworth is a historic and diverse neighborhood that was developed in 1891. The community is filled with families, retirees, and young professionals. Home types include condos, small bungalows, and luxury homes.
How much does it cost to live in Dilworth?
$400-$500 per sf. At the time of publishing there are 7 homes available, and they range from $600,000 to 2,750,000.
The houses are beautiful, most of them are older homes that have been updated or remodeled. The condos are great if you like to live somewhere that you can quickly get to the shops and restaurants, most of them do not have pools though.
Hidden gems?
There are so many great restaurants in the Dilworth area, it really depends on what you’re in the mood for. I lived in Dilworth for 3 years, and my most frequent meals were at Pio Pio, Thai Taste, Kid Cashew, Bakersfield, and 300 East. But there are many more great places to choose from depending on the occasion.
Maria’s Neighborhood must-do dinning?
Bakersfield – quick bite. Inizio Pizza and Ru San’s – Family meal. Famous Toastery of Dilworth – Brunch. Copper – Fancy dinner/ date night.
Best way to get a sense of the neighborhood?
I really recommend driving through the neighborhood because each area is a bit different. And have lunch at one of the restaurants closer to the area you want to live in. It’s hard not to fall in love with Dilworth!
Everyday essentials?
Harris Teeter, Food Lion, The Fresh Market, and Berry Brook Farm (a natural health food store).
You can easily get to Trader Joe’s and Target at the Metropolitan in less 5 minutes by car.
Dilworth also offers locally owned boutique stores like Paper Skyscraper, Vestique, and Charlotte Running company.
What’s the nightlife situation?
Maria says “Dilworth is quiet in general, but there are a few options if you want to go out at night.
• Bakersfield, which has a good bar atmosphere and is known for the best margarita in town.
• Ed’s Tavern is a sports bar, Trivia night there is really fun.
• Dilworth Tasting Room has a beautiful outdoor patio, if you want a romantic setting, and they have a nice selection of wine, and charcuterie.
• Foxcroft Wine Co. for wine lovers, and delicious food. (Bonus tip: Maria’s favorite thing to order at Foxcroft Wine Co. is the Burrata with fig and arugula.)
Convenience Factor?
Dilworth is super convenient to other areas of Charlotte and has sidewalks. You can easily get to grocery stores, restaurants, parks, and bars. Even at night!
If you’re driving, Maria says “There’s lots of street parking in front of houses and most establishments and shopping centers offer enough parking for everyone.”
Area-specific things to do?
Freedom Park has tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts and a large playground. There’s a greenway that allows you to travel all the way to the Metropolitan from Dilworth. Latta Park has a splash pad, basketball court and playground.
Give it to us straight:
Dilworth has an urban feel to it, some streets may have more traffic, and noise than others. The historic homes that have been preserved are super charming, but they may need a lot of work.
South End
South End is immediately southwest of the city. Zip codes: 28203, 28209.
Our expert guide: HAR Agent – Eliza Adams
Who lives here?
Young professionals
How much does it cost to live in SouthEnd?
• Average price per square ft is $376
• Average sales price is around $536,000
• Mostly townhomes/condos
Hidden gems and favorite places?
• Yunta (NEW and it is so amazing)
• Indaco
• Common Market
• Hawkers
• Emmy Squared
• Vana
• Oku
• Yamazura
• Flower Child
Best way to get a sense of the neighborhood?
Eliza usually meets clients at Roots Café saying “It’s a great coffee shop and brunch/lunch spot. It is a central location to meet with convenient access around Atherton mill and surrounding areas.
Everyday essentials?
Harris Teeter and Publix.
What’s the nightlife situation?
Eliza says most most bars are open until 2:00 a.m., and mostly everyone is walking or on a scooter of some sort.
Expert note: If you are close to the bars there is a chance you will hear the music but most complexes understand this and have made adjustments in the building so it is not too bad.
Eliza’s Area-specific things to do?
• Workout studios on every corner
• Great coffee shops
• Easy place to make friends/meet new people if you’re moving to charlotte alone
• Lots of fun breweries and food trucks
• Live music is usually easy to stumble on
Give it to us straight:
Eliza says: “SouthEnd gives you a ‘big city in a small city’ kind of feeling; you’re just a few minutes away from the great restaurants Uptown as well as Dilworth and Wilmore – you’re in the middle of everything. It is an extremely dog/animal friendly area so if you have an animal, it is the place to be. A lot of investors will buy the condos/ townhomes and rent them out, if you’re buying as a primary initially, it could be a great investment property down the road. The homes here sell on avg 101% over list price.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a relaxed, mostly residential area and the streetcar line runs from Uptown along Elizabeth Avenue. Zip Codes: 28204, 28207
Our expert guide: HAR Agent McKinna Hahn
Who lives here?
Those who are looking for the convenience to downtown, and other neighboring areas, such as Plaza Midwood or Midtown/Cherry. Also, typically those who are looking to grow in their living space.
How much does it cost to live in Elizabeth?
Average price per square foot is $400. Although there are lots of older homes and new builds, the neighborhood has many lovely condos, also new, old and everything in-between. The styles of single family homes range from bungalows to original craftsman style to Victorian and colonial revival. Almost all properties in this neighborhood have a front and backyard and a driveway.
Since Elizabeth is located in central Charlotte, the homes are much older, most of them 80-100 years in age. Not to say there aren’t newer builds, there definitely are, but be prepared for the love and continued maintenance of one of these unique properties. Be cautious of, if any, updates that have been made, especially with original plumbing and electrical.
Hidden Gems and fave spots?
Like most established neighborhoods in Charlotte, we love local businesses. The most popular places to eat are The Crunkleton for brunch, dinner and cocktails (they have a great patio too); Caswell Station for sports fans and bar food, and Hawthorne’s Pizza for comfort food. Also, you can’t forget 7th St Station for New York Deli style sandwiches.
McKinna’s Must-do dinning?
“One of my favorite bakeries for years now, is Sunflour, and a new favorite spot we’ve been going the last couple of years is, Villani’s Bakery on the cusp of Chantilly. Best date spot or for dinner with friends is Custom Shop on Elizabeth Ave.
Best way to get a sense of the neighborhood?
The heart of Elizabeth is right on 7th St., that’s where you get the most restaurants. I love to cut down any side street and enjoy all the well-maintained older homes.
Everyday essentials?
For groceries, head over to Cherry for Trader Joe’s and or get up in the morning and head to the King’s Drive Farmer’s Market (be sure to check the days they are open during different seasons). Both are just outside of Elizabeth. For a traditional grocery store you have Harris Teeter on Central Ave in Plaza Midwood just next door.
McKinna’s Top Picks for Area-specific things to do?
Independence park (N.C.’s first public park) is a lovely place to eat your lunch to-go, pass through or sit and enjoy a book. There is also the Gold Line Lightrail that was recently completed last year which takes you in a straight line through the neighborhood on Hawthorne all the way up to the hospital that is also right in the neighborhood. For those who love live music, The Visualite Theater is always a treat located on Elizabeth Ave.
Give it to us straight:
My experience with Elizabeth has always been a positive one, it is one of my absolute favorite neighborhoods in Charlotte. The best thing to point out is: it is quiet. Namely because it is considerably more residential than commercial. Not to mention an older and more established area of Charlotte, there are lots of mature shade trees and beautiful architecture from the 1910s -30s.
Plaza Midwood
From consignment to vintage to the latest trends in fashion and food. Plaza Midwood has it all in a laid-back way that makes everyone feel welcome. Zip codes 28204, 28205.
Our expert guide – HAR Agent – Van Dang
What’s the average cost to live in Plaza Midwood?
Average income of $97,157 of buyers in Plaza Midwood. At the time of publishing there are 20 listings on the market in Plaza Midwood with an average list price of homes for sale of $478,034k, $334.09 price per SQ FT and 49 SFR listings with average $689,204K, $346.1 price per SQ FT.
Van’s hidden gems and fave places?
• Soul Gastrolounge never disappoints for Asian Fusion
• Lang Van is well known in the area for Vietnamese food
• Supperland is a popular newcomer for a pricier date night
• Euro Grill and Café is a great, less well-known spot for Eastern European food and a small market
• Ocha Time is my favorite for bubble tea or rolled ice cream
• Cilantro Noodle is an original concept for Vietnamese food- think Chipotle ordering style for Vietnamese cuisine
Best way to get a sense of the neighborhood?
Giddy Goat Coffee has been my favorite to take clients since there’s plenty of seating with great coffee.
What’s the ‘nightlife’ situation?
Van says “Not too rowdy – but it’s easy to head on over to Central/Plaza streets. Workman’s Friend, Southern Strain brewery, Whiskey Warehouse and Common Market patio are all places you’ll see packed at night.”
Van’s area-specific recommendations?
Veterans’ Park: Look for lots of team sports like kickball and other great features like tennis courts, splash pads, and multiple picnic areas.
Give it to us straight:
Looking forward to development progress at Central Square on corner of Pecan and Central Ave.
Many thanks to our experts at Helen Adams Realty for this in-depth look at some of the QC’s finest older neighborhoods.
Helen Adams, a sixth-generation Charlottean, founded her residential real estate company in Charlotte in 1975. Her achievements as an entrepreneur and community leader laid the foundation for a thriving, multi-office real estate business, and today she has become a role model for women throughout the Charlotte region. Second- and third-generation family members, led by Jeff Adams, continue to successfully operate four offices serving Charlotte’s finest neighborhoods with a stalwart commitment to perfecting their craft.
