Communities
Uptown is one of Charlotte’s most vibrant and diverse neighborhoods made up of individual residential areas (First, Second, Third and Fourth Wards Uptown and Historic South End). Each has its own distinct history, character and uniqueness. Residents of these neighborhoods work to preserve their distinctiveness and enhance their community through their own neighborhood associations. The Center City residential population is approaching 20,000. One of our core missions is to work with all Center City neighborhood associations. We are dedicated to building strong center city neighborhoods and enhancing constituent services for residents through communications and advocacy. We also help our neighborhoods connect with each other. We are working with neighborhoods on initiatives including parks, education, events, public safety, parking, lighting and gardens.
First Ward
First Ward combines quiet, tree-lined neighborhood streets and proximity to great cultural and educational institutions. Once home to the publicly owned housing of Earle Village, the neighborhood’s redevelopment began in 1993 when the Charlotte Housing Authority partnered with Bank of America to develop First Ward Place, one of the first HOPE VI mixed-income housing projects. Today, residential options in First Ward include new craftsman-style single family homes, contemporary townhouses, mid-rise apartments and high-rise condominiums. The four-acre First Ward Park opened in late 2015, across the street from ImaginOn children’s theater and library and the 7th Street Public Market. The neighborhood has both private and public k-12 education, the main branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg public library and the Center City campus of UNC Charlotte. First Ward is set to see another phase of development, as Levine Properties begins developing 24 acres land between the Garden District and North Tryon Street. The LYNX Blue Line extension, set to open in 2017, will double the length of the light rail line with a new station at 9th Street.
First Ward Neighborhood Association
Second Ward
Second Ward is the center of hospitality in Uptown, with more than 3,000 hotel rooms, the Charlotte Convention Center, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Wells Fargo’s campus anchors the employment district, along with the Wells Fargo atrium and plaza on South Tryon Street, and the park and sculpture garden at The Green. Second Ward was once known as Brooklyn, and was Charlotte’s most vibrant African-American neighborhood until so-called “urban renewal” initiatives of the 1960s razed residential areas and forced residents to move. Today, Second Ward is home to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, and Marshall Park. It has some of Uptown’s newest condominiums, including the Trust, Radcliffe, Madison and Skye, and the entertainment and retail hub at the EpiCentre. The LYNX Blue Line light rail connects Second Ward to South End and the South Boulevard corridor.
Third Ward
Third Ward is home to the ballpark neighborhood, where new apartment towers surround Romare Bearden Park and BB&T Ballpark. It is also home to the Carolina Panthers, who play at Bank of America stadium and practice at an adjacent facility. Spring and summer nights are filled with baseball and fireworks, and in the fall neighborhood bars and nearby parking lots fill with Panthers fans. The west edge of the neighborhood is a mix of historic bungalows and contemporary condos and townhomes surrounding the dog park, recreational fields and greenway at Frazier Park. Bank of America’s 1.5 million square foot complex Gateway Village has retail, hospitality, and the Charlotte campus of Johnson & Wales University.
Historic Fourth Ward
Fourth Ward is known for its historic district of charming Victorians and quiet streets, a strong sense of community and a variety of housing choices. The neighborhood association has existed since 1976, but the neighborhood dates to the 1800s when it was home to prosperous merchants, ministers and physicians. It endured a period of decline until the 1970s, when the Junior League partnered with Bank of America to begin revitalizing the neighborhood home by home. Today, residents value the combination of neighborhood feel and proximity to all of Center City’s dining, culture and employment offerings. Every December for more than 35 years, the neighborhood has organized its annual Holiday Home Tour, showcasing both its historic houses and modern high-rise condominiums. With SkyHouse I now open and SkyHouse II under construction, Fourth Ward is excited to welcome new neighbors and retail.