Plaza-Midwood Neighborhood of Charlotte

In the early 1900s, Plaza-Midwood grew from several developments that were started by various interests. But challenges slowed its growth. In Dilworth and Elizabeth, bridges were built to carry the trolley over or under railroad tracks. But Plaza-Midwood commuters didn't have a bridge, and a busy track at Central Avenue meant frequent waits. Plaza-Midwood residents also had to transfer to a separate streetcar line that was battery powered, unlike the electric lines that served the other neighborhoods.

In 1910, a group of businessmen purchased land for a golf course out in the country on the north side of Central Avenue. In 1917, it became the Charlotte Country Club, the city's oldest country club. Land developed west of the clubhouse was planned for a subdivision, but city leaders didn't embrace the neighborhood for their homes until they could depend on their own automobiles for transportation.

Today, being able to get uptown quickly is still one of the reasons people choose the community that's bordered by Central Avenue and The Plaza.

The changing face of the neighborhood includes the new $400 million Morningside Village development that will replace a 1950s-era barracks-style apartment complex. The 32-acrea project will include small condos to penthouses, plus retail and commercial space.

With Shamrock Gardens Elementary School as the home school for Plaza-Midwood, families with elementary students have move out of the neighborhood in recent years to send their children to schools with higher test scores. But a new movement in the neighborhood is underway to get volunteers with the school and assist with fund-raising efforts. Parents who have chosen to keep their children at Shamrock Gardens are encouraging other families to get involved and make a difference in their children's education.

With all three communities ranked as stable on the city's quality of Life index, the early years of the 21st century will go down in history as a time when Dilworth, Elizabeth and Plaza-Midwood again enjoyed good times. And although residents will come and go, many who live there now are lese neighborhoods home.

Plaza-Midwood offers an eclectic blend of new, renovated, and fixer-upper ranch-style, 1.5 and 2 story homes ranging in size from around 800 to over 4000 square feet and priced from the low $100,000's to the $600,000's.

View available homes for sale with area map in Plaza-Midwood

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Chuck Webb, Wilkinson & Associates, www.ChuckWebb.net