Starmount, located along South Boulevard and Arrowood Road, is the largest established neighborhood in South Charlotte with nearly 1,400 homes. It was constructed in the 1960s and the majority of the homes are ranch-style. It's not a luxurious neighborhood like SouthPark, but it is a neighborhood that was built to last with sturdy homes that reflect practicality rather than luxury.
Starmount is also one of the city's quieter areas with little through-traffic, lots of trees and spacious lots. And its close proximity to center city -- combined with the affordability of its homes ($120k to 200k) -- is making it a hot spot for young professionals and first-time homebuyers.
What's so great about Starmount?
"Many Charlotte neighborhoods claim to be diverse, but Starmount is probably the most diverse neighborhood in the city," says Creative Loafing's own editor, Carlton Hargro. "A huge Latino population lives in the area and members of that community have established dozens and dozens of great businesses -- from restaurants to grocery stores to clothing stores. On top of that, Starmount is right down the street from South End, Uptown, SouthPark and even Ballantyne. You can get anywhere within minutes without hopping on the highway."
Favorite hangouts?
"Manifest Discs is one of the best record stores in the city; the shop sells used and new CDs, vinyl records, magazines, T-shirts and more. Lempira is a great restaurant, which has been favorably reviewed in the pages of CL. And hell, since I like to cook, I love that the local Food Lion sells a ton of specialty ethnic items."
Hood Stats
Dimension Ratings
Social Dimension:......................Medium
Crime Dimension:......................Medium
Physical Dimension:..................Medium
Economic Dimension:................Low
Profile NSA City
Population...................................2,743 656,983
Youth Population........................680 168,188
Number of Housing Units..........1,013 281,358
Area (Acres)...............................566 150,093
Median Household Income........$53,962 $46,082
Average House Value.................$126,289 $192,844
Number of Organizations...........2 N/A
Unemployment Index.................Medium N/A
Hood Attractions
Restaurants and Bars
BEST CHINA, 9601 Brookdale Dr., 704-494-3944.
CAPRICCIO PIZZA & ITALIAN, 9611 Brookdale Dr., 704-596-5454. Lunch menu, traditional Italian and pizza.
HACKERS BAR & GRILLE, 7105 South Blvd., 704-556-0444.
HARRIGAN'S GOURMET DELI, 5033-K South Blvd., 704-522-3550. Traditional cold-cut sandwiches on round bread, specialty "Dilbert" sandwiches, homemade salads and daily specials.
LUIGI'S SUPER SUBS, 7101 South Blvd., 704-552-9583.
SUSHI 101, NOODLE AND SUSHI BAR, 1730-F E. Woodlawn Rd., 704-672-0990. Fun environment for casual dining with great selection of sushi rolls, noodles and beer to choose from.
Entertainment And Cultural Venues
ZUMA FUN CENTER, 1044 Cadillac St., 704-552-7888. Amusement for the whole family with kart races, bumper boats and mini golf. Party and corporate services available.
Parks And Recreation
PARK ROAD PARK, 5300 Closeburn Rd., 704-643-3405. (Majority of park is outside of Starmount, but it does intersect on far end.)
STARCLAIRE SWIM CLUB, 770 Woodstream Dr., 704-499-3788, www.starclaire.com. Large grass area for picnics or cookouts, concession stand, children's playground and wading pool, 25 meter pool with diving boards and lifeguards on hand.
