College Downs - Charlotte, NC

College Downs developed as a result of the relocation of the University of North Carolina- Charlotte campus from Charlotte Central High School to its current location in University City. The first residents of this once-suburban neighborhood were the employees and professors of the university. As the area urbanized, the demographics shifted. Now, houses in College Downs are filled with college students and young families relying on the affordable rent and nearby conveniences.

The university hosts cultural events throughout the year. Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts is home to numerous plays and musical performances. The art department showcases student and professional exhibitions at the Rowe Arts Gallery on campus and at the Charlotte Center gallery located uptown. No festivals occur within the neighborhood boundary of College Downs, but the city of Charlotte holds many annual events including BIKE Charlotte in historic South End.

Restaurants in College Downs can be found scattered along the entire border of the neighborhood on University City Boulevard. Casual and family friendly, most dining options cater to the large number of college students in the area. A majority of restaurants in the neighborhood sit within the Town Center Plaza shopping center, including Macado's, Dunkin Donuts, O'Charley's and Outback Steakhouse.

Locally owned establishments abound in College Downs as well. Town Center Plaza houses Monterrey Restaurante Mexicano, featuring steaming fajitas, stuffed beef burritos and huge portions of nachos. They offer daily drink and food specials and locals recommend ordering the house margaritas upon arrival. Monterrey's serves up quality Mexican comfort food and shouldn't be missed.

Next to Monterrey lies the southern-style Italian cuisine hotspot, Amalfi's Pizza 'n' Pasta. The smell of tomato sauce fills the air at Almalfi's and authentic pizza, calzones and pasta dishes complete the menu. The food here tastes authentically New York, and regulars agree that it easily rivals some of the best pizza parlors around the city. Almalfi's does an amazing job of creating fresh and homemade creations just like Nana used to make.

A quick drive north from Town Center Plaza along University City Boulevard brings diners to Passage to India. The extensive lunch buffet here pleases those looking for a quick and savory meal that includes goat curry, pani poori and chili fish. Regulars claim this to be the best Indian restaurant in Charlotte, but service can sometimes be lacking during the lunch and dinner rushes.

Locals find great nightly entertainment available throughout University City at casual chains such as O'Charley's and Buffalo Wild Wings. Directly north of College Downs along East W.T. Harris Boulevard sits Picasso's Sports Cafe, which offers daily drink specials and a number of televisions to watch the game on a Sunday. Most consider traveling uptown for upscale nightclubs and music venues such as the AvidXchange Music Factory.

College Downs residents primarily rely on personal vehicles for transportation. The area has minimal sidewalks and no bike lanes, so securing reliable transportation is necessary in order to commute to work, school and access amenities. Charlotte's main interstates can easily be accessed in College Downs. Drivers reach I-485 by following University City Boulevard 4 miles from the neighborhood and I-85 by following East W.T. Harris Boulevard for 2 miles. Parking can be troublesome at times as there is a parking ban on residential streets from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Many locals find it necessary to park at garages and lots on campus.

Those without a vehicle utilize Charlotte Area Transit System's bus service. Buses stop every 50 minutes along University City Boulevard Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and service runs on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Many residents use taxis and Uber, but these must be called on ahead of time for service.

Newell Community Park, situated close to East W.T. Harris Boulevard, gives residents free use of 30 acres of park facilities including five softball fields, a batting cage, picnic shelter and walking trails. Local children love the playground located on-site and the park welcomes dogs.

Directly southeast of College Downs sits the expansive Reedy Creek Park. Numerous athletic fields, a community garden, three ponds, an on-site nature center and two playgrounds are just a small part of the 146-acre plot of land. Dog lovers flock to Barkingham Park, Reedy Creek's own dog park. This park brings residents from all over Charlotte together for fun activities and beautiful scenery. The Reedy Creek Nature Center hosts the annual Hummingbird Festival that draws in bird enthusiasts from across the state every August.

In terms of cost of living, residents of College Downs pay five percent less than the city average, and this is primarily due to the cost of housing in the community. Close to 75 percent of residents rent their residences and pay around $779 per month on a one-bedroom apartment. Goods and services, including restaurant and bar prices, remain steady throughout the city. Patrons at local dining establishments pay $5 for a pint of local beer.

Transportation costs in College Downs mirror the rest of the city as well, and gas prices sit at three percent less than the national average. Bus service with Charlotte Area Transit System costs $2.20 for one-way fare and $6.60 for a day pass.

The university area as a whole houses numerous large shopping centers, but College Downs only has one within its limits: Town Center Plaza. This complex contains a number of retail shops, restaurants and service providers, including Brownlee Jewelers, Rite Aid and Planet Nutrition.

Bike Line of Charlotte can be found here in Town Center Plaza. An avid cyclists' dream shop, Bike Line carries road and mountain bikes, apparel, accessories and offers services and regular maintenance. Bike Line is the largest Trek retailer in the Charlotte area and sells these and other bike brands at the manufacturer’s suggested price. Friendly service and a no-haggle guarantee keeps customers loyal to this fine local store. Save Point Video Games lies across from Bike Line and here, shoppers can buy, sell and trade video games. The extensive selection includes gamer favorites from the 1980s and 1990s.

The Shoppes at University Place is located further north along East W.T. Harris. Large retailers such as Michael's, Dick's Sporting Goods and Office Depot sit alongside smaller speciality shops such as Chicos, Velocity Boutique, and Delish Cakery.

A majority of Charlotte residents travel to the South Park community to visit upscale boutiques and speciality stores located within the South Park Mall and neighboring shopping centers.

For groceries, locals head to Harris Teeter in Town Center Plaza. A Food Lion can be found further down East W.T. Harris near Reedy Creek Park. The closest farmers market to College Downs, the Newell Farmers Market, opens its doors every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.