Being a specialist in relocation to the Charlotte, Lake Norman and Mooresville areas of North Carolina who also happens to be a “transplant” from Long Island, New York, gives me a unique perspective on development and happenings here in our region. I often have some great conversations with relocating clients about the differences in lifestyle between here and “home” as we drive about pointing out areas of interest, local hot spots and some great communities of homes. They speak of the things they will miss most after moving to Charlotte and I try to impress them with the fact that they are gaining a whole new way of life & that because we are a very sought after place to live people are bringing the best of cultures left behind with them to Charlotte!
Growth
Over the past 10 years we’ve had explosive growth in the Charlotte Metro area, and, along with that growth we’ve seen some amazing changes in the availability of many things we fondly remember from “home”—wherever that may be. I was born & raised in Manhattan, New York and will readily agree that there is no place on earth like the “Big Apple” with its variety of cultures, ethnic backgrounds and an ability to satisfy almost any appetite. But would I want to live there now? Absolutely not…I’ve found a lifestyle that is so close to perfect I couldn’t think of moving back to New York!
Changes
Right now, we are living through a transformation of a Southern city – large by Southern standards – from a quiet city to a wonderfully complex metropolis. We are welcoming folks from all across the USA who are making the Charlotte region their new home. These newcomers are bringing changes to our city – welcome changes that are affording us the opportunity to indulge in remembered past pleasures as well as new adventures once unavailable. Who doesn’t dream of NY pizza, NY bagels and Ralph’s Italian Ices? My reflections highlight the place of my birth, New York, because many of our clients are from New York State and they are all seeking a lifestyle change.
Change in any area can be unsettling and welcome at the same time. My thought is that we must keep the reason for our relocation at the top of our consciousness and work together to preserve the wonderful flavor of the South.
Conclusion
So.... should Charlotte be thought of as the “new” New York? I think not! Let’s rejoice in what we’ve found here while we build a city that has all of the good things we can bring to it – from all over the country.
As one of my recent NY transplants told me: he loves living here in North Carolina ----people wave with all five fingers! We are living in one of the best places to live in the USA—welcome to Charlotte!