Charlotte/Uptown



Uptown is the central business district of Charlotte. It is home to most of the city's major institutions, and is the historic core. It is also the geographic center of Charlotte, with the center point of the city at the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets.

Wards
The four wards were the original political divisions of the city, and part of Uptown. The axis that determines their boundaries is along Trade and Tryon St., but few people consider the canyon of skyscrapers at the center of the city to really be identifiable as part of the wards. Each ward has its own personality:


 * First Ward -- Very heavily residential, but beginning to feed commercially off ambitious projects such as the light rail and arena. This area was almost entirely public housing for several decades, but was redeveloped with great success as a mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood. Now it is a vibrant and well-kept neighborhood that seems quaint against the backdrop of skyscrapers nearby, and its attractiveness is verified by several major residential developments.
 * Second Ward -- Now the city's government center, this area was the victim of a short-sighted urban renewal project in the 1960s. It had been the Brooklyn neighborhood: a largely impoverished but self-sufficient African-American district that was deemed unsightly and dangerous by city planners. Today, Second Ward is by far the most lifeless quarter of Uptown after working hours, as government workers disperse quickly and head to other parts of the city to live and play. A good place to find parking at night, but a bit of a social vacuum that can be a bit isolated.
 * Third Ward -- Much of Third Ward was lost to the decline of industry in the center city, but what is left still largely reflects a very blue-collar industrial heritage. Bank of America Stadium (home of the Panthers) is the ward's most recognizable symbol, though a new park and a proposed baseball stadium have provided good reason to believe that this may be a major center of growth in coming years. Third Ward's largest current development is the gleaming Gateway Village, home to many offices and the Johnson and Wales University campus. Straddling W. Trade St. between Third and Fourth Wards, Gateway Village is one of the city's most bustling areas during the daytime.
 * Fourth Ward -- The best-preserved part of Uptown, Fourth Ward is host to Charlotte's only remaining Queen Anne architecture. Shady streets and brick sidewalks make for some of the city's best walking, and the homes in this district are the object of envy.  Fourth Ward Park is at the center of the neighborhood, and is a common ground for all kinds of city-dwellers. Several major condo projects have been proposed for this area, which will further densify it.

Get in
Almost all visitors arrive by car. Though Uptown is easily walkable and bike-friendly in most places, the I-277 loop makes travel into and out of the district difficult for anything other than auto traffic.

The 19-mile (31-km) Lynx Blue Line light rail runs from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in University City through NoDa, Uptown, and South End, then parallels South Boulevard to its southern terminus just north of Interstate 485 at the Pineville city limits.

The largest artery in the area is I-77, which joins with I-277 to circle the city center. Most of the time these highways flow quickly; however, it is worth keeping an eye out for construction alerts. Roadwork, or even the most minor of accidents, can bring traffic to a crawl on the interstate. NC Highway 74 also forms part of the big loop; the eight-lane freeway becomes Independence Blvd. to the east and Wilkinson Blvd. to the west.

The city's Greyhound bus station is on Trade St. near the edge of Uptown. It is a very direct, convenient walk from the center of the city.

Parking
Parking is usually abundant in the center city, though it has become something of an issue during large events that overload the area with cars. Visitors will immediately notice the large number of surface lots at the edges of Uptown, which makes finding a parking space relatively easy. However, these lots can be somewhat expensive; their prices will reflect their proximity to Tryon St. Savvy travelers can save money by parking in the cheaper lots ($3 near 277) and using a Gold Rush trolley to take a free trip to the attractions of their choice.

Parking decks are also available in most of the highrises near the center of Uptown. However, they are usually much more expensive than lots and often reserve spaces for regular visitors. If you are interested in taking panoramic photos, park on the top of the 10-story Seventh Street Station parking deck for an open-air view of the city and surrounding areas (but do it quickly, or security guards will shoo you away).

There are curbside parking meters along most streets inside the Loop, which are usually much less expensive than using a lot or deck, and are free on the weekend. However, these meters are usually deactivated during high-traffic hours. It is worth an attempt at finding a meter, especially if you are only making a brief stop.

By foot
Uptown Charlotte is very dense, and almost all attractions in this part of town are easily reached by walking. Drivers are generally polite to pedestrians.

By car
Compared to most large cities, Charlotte's central district is fairly auto-friendly. Unless there is a major event, you should have no problem making your way around the district in a car (provided you have the patience to wait at frequent stoplights). However, "cruising" (circling the district repeatedly) is against the law and is being targeted by local police in an effort to reduce other criminal activity, especially at night.

Uptown is laid out in a grid, with numbered streets running east-west with few exceptions. Streets running north-south have proper names. From any direction, it is fairly easy to know where you are relative to the central intersection of Trade & Tryon St. If you are using a paper map, you might note that the street grid is aligned at a 45-degree angle relative to the compass; "North" streets actually go northeast.

Taxis are fairly common in Uptown, and you can usually hail one from the curb. See "taxis" in the main Charlotte article for more information.



By public transit
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates buses throughout the city, including Uptown. The central bus terminal is across Trade Street from the Bobcats Arena.

The Lynx Blue Line light rail service, which connects Uptown to the South End and neighborhoods further southwest. In Uptown, Lynx uses the same route and most of the same stations as the Charlotte Trolley line. Frequency varies from 7-10 minutes on weekdays to 20-30 minutes on weekends.

Fares for buses and for Lynx are $2.20 one-way (seniors and youth $1.10), $4.40 for a round trip and $6.60 for a day pass (Aug 2018).

The CityLynx Gold Line is a free tram that runs from the Time Warner Cable Arena to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center with six stations along the way. The Gold Line runs every 30 minutes:
 * M–Th ​6AM—11PM
 * F 6AM—midnight
 * Sa ​8AM—midnight
 * Su ​9AM—7PM

Other

 * Carriages. Horse-drawn carriages are becoming increasingly popular as a romantic form of transport around Uptown. They can be rented for either short- or long-term trips, and will not require reservations as long as you can find one vacant. Typically they will only run during the warmer months, when tourists are present and the climate favors open-air rides. There are a few carriage rental companies available, including Southern Breezes Carriages, picks up on Tryon between 6th and 7th, +1 704-301-5111.
 * Carriages. Horse-drawn carriages are becoming increasingly popular as a romantic form of transport around Uptown. They can be rented for either short- or long-term trips, and will not require reservations as long as you can find one vacant. Typically they will only run during the warmer months, when tourists are present and the climate favors open-air rides. There are a few carriage rental companies available, including Southern Breezes Carriages, picks up on Tryon between 6th and 7th, +1 704-301-5111.

Annual events

 * In mid-May, Speed Street brings half a million people to Uptown for major musical acts and events related to the NASCAR All-Star Race, which is held at nearby Concord. This event shuts down several major streets, and covers the entirety of Uptown with crowds after sundown. Parking is usually stretched to the limit, and hotels will be difficult to find. However, this is an excellent time for hard partiers to see the city at its most active.
 * Fourth of July Fireworks Display has shifted locations several times lately, but is always somewhere in Uptown. This event draws nearly 100,000 visitors to the center city at once; be prepared to sit in gridlock, especially during the display when streets will come to a complete halt. If coming in from another district, using public transit to park-and-ride is recommended.
 * Also in July, comic book collectors meet for the annual Heroes Convention at the Convention Center.
 * September is one of the best times to visit the city. The city's Labor Day Parade along Tryon St. is modest, but a well-established annual event. The Charlotte Film Festival is a collaboration between the city's most prominent theaters in and around Uptown.
 * For college football fans, the Belk Bowl is a chance to catch a great game as well as a football-themed festival. An ACC team and an SEC team close out their seasons in Bank of America Stadium. Price varies year-to-year.
 * Also in July, comic book collectors meet for the annual Heroes Convention at the Convention Center.
 * September is one of the best times to visit the city. The city's Labor Day Parade along Tryon St. is modest, but a well-established annual event. The Charlotte Film Festival is a collaboration between the city's most prominent theaters in and around Uptown.
 * For college football fans, the Belk Bowl is a chance to catch a great game as well as a football-themed festival. An ACC team and an SEC team close out their seasons in Bank of America Stadium. Price varies year-to-year.
 * For college football fans, the Belk Bowl is a chance to catch a great game as well as a football-themed festival. An ACC team and an SEC team close out their seasons in Bank of America Stadium. Price varies year-to-year.
 * For college football fans, the Belk Bowl is a chance to catch a great game as well as a football-themed festival. An ACC team and an SEC team close out their seasons in Bank of America Stadium. Price varies year-to-year.
 * For college football fans, the Belk Bowl is a chance to catch a great game as well as a football-themed festival. An ACC team and an SEC team close out their seasons in Bank of America Stadium. Price varies year-to-year.

Buy

 * The Overstreet Mall is part of the Wells Fargo complex at Tryon and 2nd St. It is not a "mall" in the traditional sense, but an indoor network of retail and service shops that connects several office buildings. Though it lacks the glamor of streetside shopping, it makes a good alternative to walking outside on cold or rainy days. Its most prominent entrance is through the Wells Fargo Atrium on the corner of Tryon & 3rd St., though several other entrances are convenient as well. Overstreet Mall's tenants include Dean & Deluca, Merle Norman Cosmetics, Blackberry Store, Just Fresh! Market, Julie's, Belk Express, the Center City YMCA, as well as plenty of restaurants and a variety of other services, including dry cleaning, salons, shoe repair, etc.
 * Center City Green Market opens on Wednesdays and Fridays 10AM-3PM and Saturdays 9AM-2PM during the warmer months at Trade and Tryon.
 * Center City Green Market opens on Wednesdays and Fridays 10AM-3PM and Saturdays 9AM-2PM during the warmer months at Trade and Tryon.

Connect
The city of Charlotte has mandatory 10-digit dialing, so you must include the area code even on local calls. Charlotte has two area codes: 704 and 980.

There are some public pay phones scattered around the city, but they are becoming increasingly rare with the predominance of cell phones. It is not safe to assume you will be able to find a pay phone at any given time.

All ZIP codes in the city of Charlotte begin with 282. The central district's code is 28202.

Libraries
The main branch of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library is on North Tryon St, a short walk from the central Square. It is easily recognizable by its green copper roof, and the authorial quotes which adorn its columns. Among its resources is an Internet cafe which offers free visitor access. On the third floor is a special library of local and regional history, including old maps and photographs of the city. The library is one of the best places to get directions if you need them.

Restrooms
Permanent public restrooms are relatively rare in Charlotte, though portable restrooms are usually provided for major public events. It is generally OK to duck into a bar or restaurant to use the restroom, though it is considered good etiquette to make at least a trivial purchase to compensate the business.