Plaza-Midwood (Charlotte neighborhood)

Plaza-Midwood is a neighborhood located approximately one mile to the northeast of Uptown in Charlotte, North Carolina. The neighborhood is roughly bound by Hawthorne Lane to the west, The Plaza to the north, Briar Creek Road and the Charlotte Country Club to the east and Central Avenue to the south.[4]

Plaza Midwood
Neighborhood
Central Avenue as it passes through Plaza-Midwood
Central Avenue as it passes through Plaza-Midwood
Country United States
State North Carolina
CountyMecklenburg
CityCharlotte
Council District1
Neighborhood Profile Areas378
Chatham Estates [1]1903
Founded byPaul Chatham
Government
 • City CouncilLarken Egleston (D)
Area
[2]
 • Total370 ha (914 acres)
Population
 (2015)[3]
 • Total4,350
 • Density1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Zip Code
28204, 28205
Area codes704, 980
Quality of Life Dashboard

Locally known as one of Charlotte's most diverse and eclectic neighborhoods, it is filled with art galleries, funky stores, and restaurants.[5][6] Just south of Central Avenue in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood is the 19 acre Veterans Park.[7]

History

Plaza-Midwood was first established in 1910 as a streetcar suburb of Charlotte. The Oakland Land Company was responsible for the layout of the roads within the neighborhood. Through the Great Depression, Plaza-Midwood would thrive, before its decline commenced in the 1950s.[6]

By 1975, the Plaza Midwood Neighborhood Association was established to protect and preserve the neighborhood.[6]

Since the mid-1990s, the area has seen a dramatic comeback as reinvestment has transformed once dilapidated homes into funky urban dwellings. It continued redevelopment has spilled over into other surrounding neighborhoods, and resulted in the overall renaissance of the former inner-ring suburbs of old Charlotte.[6][8][9]

Plaza-Midwood's Historic District is located in the western section of the neighborhood and is maintained by residents and business operators. The area along The Plaza, Thomas Avenue and parts of Pecan and Clement were designated as a Local Historic District in 1992. The district is now regulated by the Historic District Commission.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
20003,897—
20103,9932.5%
2015 (est.)4,3508.9%
[3]

As of 2010, Plaza-Midwood had a population of 3,993. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 84.2% White American, 8.2% Black or African American, 1.6% Asian American, and 2.8% of some other race. Hispanic or Latino American of any race were 3.2% of the population. The median household income for the area was $97,576.[10]

Transportation infrastructure

Mass transit

The following buses from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) serve the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood:[11]

  • #4 (Country Club)
  • #9 (Central Avenue)
  • #17 (Commonwealth)
  • #39 (Eastway)

Five stops are planned for the future CityLynx Gold Line streetcar, with stations proposed for Hawthorne at Barnhardt, the Plaza, St. Julien Street, Iris Drive, and Morningside Drive.[12] There are also possible plans for a stop along the future Silver Line light rail in Plaza-Midwood, though an alignment for the line hasn't been finalized.[13]

Roads

The major thoroughfares are Central Avenue, Hawthorne Lane and The Plaza.[14]

Education and libraries
The Plaza-Midwood branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County

School system

Residents of Plaza-Midwood attend Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, including Eastway Middle School, Garinger High School and Shamrock Gardens Elementary School.[15][16]

Libraries

Plaza-Midwood is served by the Plaza Midwood branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.[17] The library is located on the corner of the Central Avenue and the Plaza.

Pop musician Jon Lindsay included a reference to the neighborhood (in which he also owns a home) in the title of his official label debut LP, Escape From Plaza-Midwood, released August 17, 2010 on Chocolate Lab Records. Plaza Midwood was also used as Little Korea for the USA Network pilot for the show "The Novice" in December 2013 [18] 35°13′14.23″N 80°48′39.71″W

References
  1. Hanchett, Thomas. "Plaza-Midwood". Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  2. "Neighborhood Profile Area (in acres)". City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and UNCC. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. "Neighborhood Profile Population". City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and UNCC. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  4. "Charlotte Neighborhood Quality Of Life Study for Plaza-Midwood". CharMeck.org. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  5. Morman, Ebony (October 5, 2021). "The changing look of Charlotte's Plaza Midwood neighborhood". Business North Carolina. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  6. "Plaza-Midwood History". PlazaMidwood.org. Retrieved 2006-10-25.
  7. "Mecklenburg County Park and Rec: Veterans Park". Charmeck.org. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  8. Wygant, Erin (August 10, 2017). "Block by Block: Plaza Midwood Then And Now". wfae.org. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  9. Soloff Peralta, Katie (September 7, 2021). "See renderings of the development that will forever change the heart of Plaza Midwood". Axios Charlotte. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  10. "Quality of Life Dashboard". City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and UNCC. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  11. "System Map" (PDF). Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  12. "CityLYNX Gold Line". City of Charlotte. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  13. "LYNX Silver Line/Southeast Corridor Transit Study". Charlotte Area Transit System. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  14. Lang, Hannah (September 7, 2021). "The heart of Plaza Midwwod will soon undergo major changes, here's the latest". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  15. "Eastway Middle School – Charlotte-Mecklemburg Schools". cmsk12.org. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  16. "Shamrock Gardens Elementary School – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools". cmsk12.org. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  17. "Plaza Midwood branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County". Archived from the original on 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  18. "New TV show shuts down Charlotte streets, transforms neighborhood". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-17.

35.22062°N 80.81103°W / 35.22062; -80.81103

Further reading
  • Byers, Jeff (2004). Plaza-Midwood Neighborhood of Charlotte. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738517018.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Plaza-Midwood.
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