To natives, southwest Charlotte was always just Steele Creek, because for a long time that was the only neighborhood in this part of town.
How times change. Over the past decade, the number of households in southwest Charlotte has doubled. And thanks to the new leg of I-485 which recently opened and the rising housing costs in south Charlotte, southwest Charlotte is expected to be one of the primary residential and business growth spots of the future.
While Steele Creek offers the charm of an established neighborhood, this area has much to offer if you’re in the market for a new home. Recently developed communities line N.C. 49 (also known as South Tryon and York Road), the main thoroughfare of southwest Charlotte, and higher-end communities are under way on the Mecklenburg side of Lake Wylie. You’ll find southwest Charlotte homes listed in real estate area 7.
The Sanctuary, a 1,300-acre community off Shopton Road West on the shores of Lake Wylie, is one of the most unique developments in the region. Referring to each of its homesites as “preserves,” The Sanctuary’s sites range from 2 to more than 13 acres, averaging about 5 acres. Its builders use green building techniques to conserve energy and preserve open space. The community features 20 miles of nature trails, 200 acres of natural areas and The Camp, a lakefront community center with swimming pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, kids’ room, playground, an amphitheater, picnic areas and a boating center. Twenty million-dollar homes are part of the development; homesites range from $300,000 to $2 million.
Another luxury community is The Palisades, covering 1,500 acres of a Lake Wylie peninsula just south of N.C. 49. It offers a Nicklaus Design championship golf course, country club, equestrian center, soccer complex and nature trails. Homes at The Palisades range from the $400s to over $2 million.
Covering 1,050 acres, Berewick is a mixed-use development near I-485. The development includes office and retail space, as well as multi-family housing in the town center. Berewick also offers several neighborhoods with single-family homes ranging from $180,000 to $450,000.
Following the residential buildup, the area has seen a surge of retail and entertainment growth. Serving the burgeoning population near Lake Wylie, RiverGate, includes a Home Depot, Target and Best Buy as well as restaurants, grocery stores and retail shops.
The Ayrsley project at I-485 and N.C. 49 includes 140 acres of business development. This new design features shops, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, a branch of the YMCA, and luxury apartments and townhomes designed with the feel of an old European village. Calling itself the “Town Center of Southeast Charlotte,” the development anticipates the creation of roughly 50,000 new jobs, which would make it one of the largest employment districts in the state.
For many years, southwest Charlotte was attractive only to industrial companies. Today, it draws high-tech companies and national headquarters, with new buildings and office parks announced frequently. |
