North Davidson St, Optimist Park

I moved to the area about 4 years ago, and North Davidson Street and the surrounding area (NoDa) was a mecca of diversity, entertainment, and food.

It seems, however, that it's not being taken care of. The neighborhoods are run down, the people are like vagabonds, and the entertainment still exists but is starting to decline.

You'll likely hear the local college kids speaking of NoDa as if it's still the "cool" place to go. The fact of this is that the law enforcement is lax, there are people often drinking on the street corners, and many of the buildings are boarded up and vandalised.

Hopefully Charlotte will make some improvements to this area soon, before it becomes worse.

North Davidson Street runs past old textile buildings in an area of North Charlotte that has undergone a major revitalization. Like streets in similar neighborhoods of major historical cities across the nation, this street has gone from a major industrial hub to a seedy rundown slum, to an upscale art district. Look for trendy shops and galleries housed in historic buildings. You can find great places to eat and enjoy live entertainment shows within minutes of each other. I felt safe there during the day and early evening, but less so after 9 PM. After hours, the street is less attractive and homeless residents can be seen in the area. It reminded me of the SoHo area of Manhatten, NY.