Sharon Woods - Charlotte, NC Area Guide

Developed in the 1960s, Sharon Woods was originally built with mostly ranch homes and two-story colonials. Most homes sit on lots nearing one-half acre with mature landscaping. Lawns in the area tend to be well manicured, and it’s not uncommon to see children on the sidewalks or playing in large front yards.

As property values appreciated in the early 2000s, some of the original homes in Sharon Woods have given way to newer, custom-built luxury homes. This housing evolution, taking place throughout Charlotte’s popular neighborhoods, makes itself most known on streets closest to SouthPark, such as Sharon View Road.

The new money coming into older neighborhoods helps fuel a thriving arts and entertainment scene. SouthPark is home to more than a dozen art studios, galleries and museums. SouthPark Mall also hosts a popular summer pops concert series by the Charlotte Symphony.

Sharon Woods is located less than two miles from SouthPark, Charlotte’s midtown area, considered by many a city within a city because of its shopping and offices, not to mention the more than two dozen restaurants and bars in the area.

Here, you’ll find a wide variety of popular upscale restaurants. Dogwood Southern Table and Bar offers a farm-to-table experience with loads of flavor. The sautéed flounder, caught in the Carolinas and served with locally sourced crowder peas, faro and red mustard greens always pleases.

Another popular chef-driven restaurant, Upstream, offers fresh dayboat seafood and some of the area's best sushi. Esquire Magazine named Upstream one of the best new restaurants in the U.S., and Zagat named Upstream Charlotte's most popular restaurant.

On any given night, a half dozen or more places in the SouthPark area have live music. Brio Tuscan Grille, located in Piedmont Row two blocks west of SouthPark Mall, has one of the best venues. Its patio is usually packed on Wednesdays and Fridays with folks drinking wine and listening to live jazz.

The four-lane thoroughfares Sharon Road and Quail Hollow Road, border Sharon Woods and connect SouthPark with uptown and the interstates. I-77 is about 15 minutes from Sharon Woods; add another five minutes to get to I-85.

Cars are the predominant means of travel here, though Charlotte Area Transit System buses run through the neighborhood. Taxis and Uber service are also available by phone throughout the area. You'll find ample, free public parking throughout the SouthPark area, and both the mall and most restaurants offer valet parking.

While many families bicycle through the streets of Sharon Woods, the closer to SouthPark you get, the more traffic congestion you will encounter. A large section of Quail Hollow Road has dedicated bicycle lanes, but roads close to the mall are not considered bicycle friendly.

Only a mile away from the crowded SouthPark area lies an opportunity to unwind and enjoy some exercise in the great outdoors. Park Road Park, a 122-acre urban park, features basketball courts, playgrounds, baseball fields and an 11-acre lake. This park also has 12 lighted tennis courts considered among the best in Charlotte. The park hosts an annual children’s Fall Fun Fest presented by the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center.

Two dog-friendly parks sit within easy driving distance of Sharon Woods. William R. Davie Park, located 6 miles south, has two, separate, off-leash play areas for dogs. About 6 miles to the north, Frazier Park, offers designated dog play areas for large and small breeds.

Sharon Woods is nestled between the prestigious SouthPark area to the north and Quail Hollow Country Club to its south, so it’s no surprise the price of things here runs 13 percent than the cost of living for Charlotte as a whole. Apartments for rent in this area cost about 14 percent more than Charlotte, with the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment sitting at $996.

If you're headed out for a drink, expect to pay about $6 for a craft beer or $9 for a glass of pinot noir. Gas prices in the Sharon Woods and SouthPark area are the same as the rest of Charlotte, and about 4 percent higher than the national average. Charlotte Area Transit System buses are available for only $2.20 daily.

Charlotte’s premier venue for high-end shopping is SouthPark Mall, the largest mall in Charlotte and the state. Located just five minutes from Sharon Woods, SouthPark Mall has more than 150 stores, including designer favorites such as Kate Spade, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., and Hermes. The mall holds the distinction of being the most congested shopping area in the United States on Black Friday, which actually starts Thursday at SouthPark.

In addition to SouthPark Mall, you'll find several smaller, yet equally upscale shopping areas nearby. Phillips Place offers a refined Old World shopping experience with park benches, bubbling fountains and beautiful flowers. Featured stores include Restoration Hardware, the locally owned women’s specialty boutique Luna and Po’s Point, a needlepoint store featuring a large selection of hand-painted canvases, fabulous fibers and accessories.

Sharon Woods residents also love to shop at Specialty Shops on the Park, located across from SouthPark Mall. Beautifully landscaped, this open-air shopping center has a little something for everyone. From exquisite jewelry at Elizabeth Bruns Jewelers to high-end kitchenware from Williams-Sonoma to authentic Italian food at Toscana Ristorante Italiano – if you’re looking for something special, look no farther than the Specialty Shops on the Park.

Of course, not all purchases are as glamorous as a designer handbag. Groceries have to be bought, too. For that, there's Morrocroft Village, home of Harris Teeter, the area's biggest grocer. Half dozen farmers markets open up regularly within 20 minutes of Sharon Woods. The biggest one, the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market sells fresh produce, pork products, grass-fed beef, goat milk cheese, baked goods, and delectable jams and jellies.