Southside Park - Charlotte, NC

The South Park community sprouted up from what had once been a 3,000-acre farm and the 14,000-square-foot home of Cameron Morrison, the 55th governor of North Carolina from 1921 to 1925. The 14,000-square-foot Tudor Revival home has since been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The birth of the South Place Mall in February 1970 spurred the development of the community, which has a reputation of being a desirable place to live, work and play. Since its original opening, the shopping complex has undergone several renovation and improvements designed to ensure that the complex remains a focal point and evolves along with the rest of the community. Each year, and for a nominal entry fee, patrons can enjoy a series of concerts during the month of June and on Independence Day performed by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra at the amphitheater.

Located within walking distance of the Marriott, Southside Park offers scores of eateries, covering the gamut, ranging from Italian restaurants, Southern cooking, hamburgers, Sushi bars, pizza and more. The Roasting Company focuses on Southern cooking, giving its patrons high-quality service, reasonable prices and favorable food made from fresh ingredients. Yama Asian Fusion has a trendy interior and may have some of the best sushi in town. Patrons particularly like the rainbow roll, crunchy roll, and the extensive regional wine list which includes saki.

Growlers Pourhouse has a long list of all-American crafted beers and serves what the owners call "beer food." Think homemade chow that tastes great with beer. The menu includes chips/dips, hot dogs and sausages, and peel-and-eat shrimp.

When you enter Jeff's Bucket Shop, it may conjure up memories of walking down a narrow staircase leading into the basement of your best friend's home – probably some of the best times you ever had. Packed on the weekends, karaoke lovers with beer in hand try their best to nail their favorite tune. It has nice drinks at good prices and a friendly staff.

Personal vehicles are the best ways to travel in South Park and throughout Charlotte; getting to Interstate 77 and Interstate 485 can be a challenge for those not close by these expressways. The Charlotte Area Transit System operates the number 18 and number 20 bus lines in the community.

The LYNX Blue Line Light Rail system connects South Charlotte to Uptown and top destinations, such as the Discovery Place and the 7th Street Public Market. South Park residents can access the light rail line at the Tyvola station located long Old Pineville Road at Grover Road to the south of the business district.

For cab service, it’s best to call and schedule a pickup as opposed to attempting to hail one on the street. The fare starts at $2.50, plus an additional $0.50 per one-fifth of a mile. Many residents use Uber as a source of transportation to get around the community and the city. The quality of living in South Park more than compensates for the community’s lack of bike lanes and low walk score.

Symphony Park, adjacent to one of the large parking lots at South Park Mall, provides a pleasant place to walk your dog, have a picnic or simply sit on one of the benches to take in some fresh air. Ample parking, long grassy areas, and the Symphony dome suspended over the water make the park an amazing setting for a number of community events and activities.

For the active at heart, Freedom Park has just about everything you could expect: multiple playground areas for the kids, tennis courts, jogging trails, and baseball, football and soccer fields.

The Harris YMCA also has activities geared toward the young and old, and families. Sign the kids up for sports leagues, cool off in the indoor and outdoor pool, or participate in one of the many exercise classes hosted at the facility.

For your dog, check out Rays Fetching Meadow and Davie Dog Park in the south district.

The cost of living in the community ranks 37 percent higher than the average in Charlotte. A one-bedroom apartment in South Park prices out to an average of $1,283.48 per month. Gas prices average two percent less than the national average. A domestic beer costs about $3 and import brands $4.

In addition to the South Park Mall -- the largest shopping complex in Charlotte -- Phillips Place provides another option for upscale shopping, with its outstanding line up of specialty shops, well-known retailers, boutiques, and home furniture stores.

The neighborhood has plenty of independent stores and boutiques, too. Whether it’s jeans or a cocktail dress, the laid-back Scout and Molly’s has a helpful staff ready to assist you as well as an appealing selection of clothing and accessories for any occasion.

Earth Fare is a well-organized store popular with residents -- especially for its hot bar and prepared food selection, ideal for busy week nights.