Living Here Guide 2009
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Monday, Sep. 14, 2009

Amenities aplenty in South Charlotte

By Dave Wagner - NewsChannel 36 Anchor
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    Wagner

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    Sarah Brundick spins and twirls across the lobby of the Morrison Family YMCA in Ballantyne.

  • Hot picks

    Landmarks

    Colonel Francis Beatty Park: 265 acres with a beautiful lake, plus miles of walking and mountain bike trails. 4330 Weddington Road, Matthews.

    Dining

    Tony's Pizza of Ballantyne: Pizza by the slice that's the size of a baseball glove. The staff is incredibly friendly and we leave with a bill under $20. 14027 Conlan Circle. www.tonyspizza.org.

    Tokyo Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar: We love sushi and Tokyo is fresh, fast and friendly. 3429 Toringdon Way.

    Best Bets

    Hall Family Farm: Family-owned and operated for more than 70 years. You can pick your own strawberries and find fresh seasonal vegetables. 10713 Providence Road W. www.hallfamilyfarm.com

    Ballantyne Village Theatre: Great theater with a mixture of blockbuster movies and hard-to-find independent films. 14815 John J. Delaney Drive. www.ballantynevillage.com.

    Why You'd Want to Live Here

    Great neighbors, excellent schools and access to plenty of amenities, from shopping and dining to outdoor recreation.

When you're a family, it's all about compromise. I am drawn to the water and woods. My wife likes proximity to shopping, particularly Target. My kids want a neighborhood where they can find friends and roam.

In South Charlotte, we discovered you really can have it all. While the area has a reputation of being the gateway for newcomers, we found that to be an asset. We settled into a neighborhood full of interesting, friendly, welcoming people from all over the country.

Television often takes you from city to city, and we have been impressed with the convenience of South Charlotte. I am 23 minutes from work. Between Providence and Johnston Roads, we have found a dizzying array of shopping and restaurants. Stonecrest, The Promenade, Ballantyne Village, Blakeney and the Arboretum are all within 10 minutes of our home. SouthPark and Carolina Place malls are less than 20 minutes away.

I am amazed at the extra effort many of these shopping centers have taken to add green space, fountains and live music on weekends.

My oldest son is in college. When he's home, you'll find him running in some of the nearby parks or reading at one the many area coffee shops.

My 13-year-old son has found an assortment of friends who've all moved to Charlotte from somewhere else. A major factor in our moving to South Charlotte was schools. They are some of the highest-performing schools in Mecklenburg County and we have found the teachers and staff to be bright and engaged.

It took me a few months, but I discovered my water and woods. We live close to Colonel Francis Beatty Park. With a beautiful lake and miles of trails, it's a place where I can find solitude and exercise.

I love our proximity to the country. On weekends, we take drives in search of produce and nurseries. It's a great stress reliever after a long week at work.

Watch Dave Wagner on NewsChannel 36 at 5, 6 and 11 p.m.

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