CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte you saw in the 1970s is long gone, with the city always expanding to welcome new residential development and businesses.
A Chicago-based developer recently unveiled its plan for a $750 million project that will bring two new towers into South End, including hundreds of apartments. The company originally predicted three towers, but some Mecklenburg County leaders say the massive project is still a win.
Some residents told WCNC Charlotte they are on board, but others said as expansion continues, hundreds more are getting priced out of the area daily.
The hustle and bustle of a busy city are matched with the noise of progress. As more companies move into the Queen City, there's another sound that doesn't get discussed as much.
“It was like a large gasp," resident Maddie Bamyas said.
Bamyas just moved to Charlotte in August of 2022 and says she was shocked at the high rent prices. Others said their rent has gone up more than $200 from their previous lease.
“Can I afford to live here?" Bamyas questioned.
Mecklenburg County Commissioner At-Large Pat Cotham said there's a reason why the city overall is exploding.
"We got here because years ago there were some great decisions made, especially from the city council," Cotham said.
Cotham said, years ago, the council focused heavily on making the Charlotte Douglas International Airport a major destination for air travel. She also said over the years, there's been a reduction in taxes for big business.
County leaders and some residents say it's nice to see the difference between South End and Uptown, but others — like the light rail — are on the move.
Based on the 2021 U.S. Census and Charlotte Business Alliance, the number show Charlotte as the seventh-largest growing metro in the Country with 84 people moving here every day.
In contrast, looking at Mecklenburg County, about six people move away every day. Residents in consensus said rent is the driving factor.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.