Charlotte area "ring cities"

[KJHburg]

I honestly think this conversation about Asheboro does not  need to be discussed further.  I can find hate groups in every city in America so lets drop this discussion.  I get it some of you hate Asheboro.  Somebody might say the same thing about Charlotte.  Or your hometown.  

Edited June 16, 2021 by KJHburg

[DownEast]

To be honest, this not an Asheboro specific or even a Southern specific issue. Rural areas across the country share the same fear, intolerance, and reluctance to change. It's just the classic urban/rural divide. Nothing new. No need to target one particular town. 

[KJHburg]

I have met MANY bigoted and racist people in the cities too both in the Northeast and south. 

We NEED the rural areas and small towns in order to survive in the big cities.  Most of the factories in this country are in small towns.  Not to mention where our food comes from so I do not like small town bashing. 

[Skyybutter]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

I have met MANY bigoted and racist people in the cities too both in the Northeast and south. 

We NEED the rural areas and small towns in order to survive in the big cities.  Most of the factories in this country are in small towns.  Not to mention where our food comes from so I do not like small town bashing. 

I gave my thoughts on Asheboro and Randolph County. There are many small towns such as Davidson,  Franklin, and Marshall NC that produce food and had/have factories. But to my knowledge free thinking and difference of opinion are quite welcome in those towns. 

  Places like Denton and Asheboro, among others, people get hurt sometimes for not following the pack. 

   Watering down present day reality has failed so many times in history. 

  That area of NC is as racist and bigoted as it gets in our state. FACTS.

[Windsurfer]

19 minutes ago, Skyybutter said:

I gave my thoughts on Asheboro and Randolph County. There are many small towns such as Davidson,  Franklin, and Marshall NC that produce food and had/have factories. But to my knowledge free thinking and difference of opinion are quite welcome in those towns. 

  Places like Denton and Asheboro, among others, people get hurt sometimes for not following the pack. 

   Watering down present day reality has failed so many times in history. 

  That area of NC is as racist and bigoted as it gets in our state. FACTS.

I'll never forget one of my delivery men returning from Asheboro, crying. He was African American.  He told me the owner of the business where he was supposed to have made a delivery ran him off the property with a gun. I called up the owner .  In the owner's words, " I don't want any GD N..... on my property.  Find someone white to deliver!"     Of course I just cut him off after that. 

[JacksonH]

8 hours ago, Nick2 said:

@JacksonH Redneck culture is still alive and well but if you stay away from certain parts of town, you wouldn't notice it much. Hang out downtown in the coffee shops, restaurants, bars/brewery, farmers market, parks, theater, etc and the group of people you'll see are similar to what you'd find in a more "sophisticated" city. 

There's also a thriving Mexican American culture. I've been to a few amazing quinceaneras and block parties with people I've worked with or went to school with. It's a lot of fun interacting with different people groups. Asheboro is 30% Hispanic.

You'll do yourself a favor if you delete any Qanon/magahat wearing wackadoodles from your life. They're much louder in media than in real life.

I commend you.  You have a lot more fortitude than I do.  That town needs more like you.  I do know you're not alone, but it's just that you're a rare breed. 

There are 100 counties in NC and Randolph has the 13th lowest COVID vaccination rate.  They have never taken it seriously and last year was very difficult for me because my parents are there and they're elderly.  My mother was terrified by the people in that community and their lack of concern/caring. One of her good friends was hospitalized with COVID, and a family member of a family that runs a nursing home apparently died of COVID but they tried to keep it secret, which disturbs me on several levels.  I stayed in a hotel in December that advertised that staff were following mask policy, but they weren't!  It's all just very disturbing to me.  Not to mention, Heirs of the Confederacy (a hate group) is based there.  But people like you, and this guy --  (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Kemp -- who grew up in my neighborhood, give me some hope.

4 hours ago, Skyybutter said:

I gave my thoughts on Asheboro and Randolph County. There are many small towns such as Davidson,  Franklin, and Marshall NC that produce food and had/have factories. But to my knowledge free thinking and difference of opinion are quite welcome in those towns. 

You are absolutely correct!  And add Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough to that list.  I recently discovered Hillsborough and I absolutely love it!  Everything about it.

[SpiritOf76]

Few shots from downtown concord. And, First time at a ‘what a burger  

[KJHburg]

^^^  that building being torn down in the photos above in Concord is the old city hall which is now going to be an apartment building call Novi Lofts with ground floor retail.  The crane is at the new Cabarrus County courthouse. 

Novi Lofts - Lansing Melbourne Group (lmgroup.us)

 

[KJHburg]

Kannapolis downtown receives gift of 2 sculptures.

Kannapolis Receives Gift of Two Public Art Sculptures > City of Kannapolis | City of Kannapolis (kannapolisnc.gov)

[rancenc]

High end development for seniors breaks ground in Huntersville.

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2021/06/22/symphony-park-ground-breaking-huntersville.html?cx_testId=40&cx_testVariant=cx_23&cx_artPos=1#cxrecs_s

[KJHburg]

Good summary and development map of downtown Concord which has several projects underway including new Cabarrus Co Courthouse and new midrise apartment complex.

#ConcordRising and with a web cam to watch construction!

Come Visit - Concord Downtown

[rancenc]

New arts venue coming to Cornelius

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-sandhills/news/2021/06/25/new-arts-center-coming-to-cornelius-

[rancenc]

New mixed used development in the works for Huntersville.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/another-mixed-use-development-planned-huntersville/6B5PKDJ4K5HQFJKVKEONHVEJYU/

[KJHburg]

Kannapolis the rising star of Charlotte ring cities.  2nd old movie theater being renovated now downtown.  Apartments finishing up.  New for sale townhomes starting.  and just found this out there is a new boutique hotel downtown.  Downtown Amtrak that is opened today and free parking.  and of course the NC Research Campus 

Our Place – The Mill Inn (the-mill-inn.com)   check out some of the older photos of Kannapolis on this website too. 

Future site of UP meetup at some point.  possibly at the Old Armor Beer Company

Oh yeah tonight was game day for Cannon Ballers. 

[carolinaboy]

Kannapolis; my understanding is that the downtown was (originally) styled after historic Williamsburg, VA. (which is an awesome place to go if you've never been)

Looks really good. Kudos to their Planning/Development/Economic Development persons.

[KJHburg]

Little tour today of Fort Mill one of the metro's best suburbs.  Baxter, Kingsley designed to look old, and real downtown Ft Mill prepping for fireworks. 

Last photo open cleared site with steel framework new Fort Hill hospital by HCA Piedmont Hospital. 

I was taking photos like an out of state tourist which of course I am. 

[Skyybutter]

On 6/20/2021 at 10:42 AM, SpiritOf76 said:

Few shots from downtown concord. And, First time at a ‘what a burger  

I hope you got a witch doctor to drink!!! Just in case, its like a "cherry-lemon" (no need to add drink to the end. But it has pickles like the one on your what-a-burger and then they add actual pickle juice. I always ask for extra pickle juice.  They are addictive I swear! Mr.C's by the Hospital also serves them.

[Bikeguy]

Al-be-marle  - gateway to the Uwharries.

https://businessviewmagazine.com/albemarle-north-carolina-community-driven-purpose/?fbclid=IwAR1BixoSlm2DnqAlq8SKcrRhP9hEP0cDMGoHvAoyVJ3OtM7PYSpB6w2e-4g

..and this.  Dinner on Main.  Catered by Off The Square, a jewel of a restaurant.

https://www.facebook.com/Dinner-on-Main-1075365425818029/

[rancenc]

Trenton Mill project in downtown Gastonia making progress for a late 2021 opening.

https://www.facebook.com/LiveTrentonMill

[KJHburg]

On 7/16/2021 at 9:20 PM, Bikeguy said:

Al-be-marle  - gateway to the Uwharries.

https://businessviewmagazine.com/albemarle-north-carolina-community-driven-purpose/?fbclid=IwAR1BixoSlm2DnqAlq8SKcrRhP9hEP0cDMGoHvAoyVJ3OtM7PYSpB6w2e-4g

..and this.  Dinner on Main.  Catered by Off The Square, a jewel of a restaurant.

https://www.facebook.com/Dinner-on-Main-1075365425818029/

I do have been to the Off the Square restaurant and thought it was good.  I think you will see Albemarle really grow as well as all of Stanly County in the next 5 years.  it is affordable and close to Charlotte. 

[SpiritOf76]

On 77 s.  I’m pretty sure they are clearing fir the panthers training facility. 

[carolinaboy]

On 7/16/2021 at 9:20 PM, Bikeguy said:

Al-be-marle  - gateway to the Uwharries.

https://businessviewmagazine.com/albemarle-north-carolina-community-driven-purpose/?fbclid=IwAR1BixoSlm2DnqAlq8SKcrRhP9hEP0cDMGoHvAoyVJ3OtM7PYSpB6w2e-4g

..and this.  Dinner on Main.  Catered by Off The Square, a jewel of a restaurant.

https://www.facebook.com/Dinner-on-Main-1075365425818029/

My region of the state is known as the Albemarle region. We have Museum of the Albemarle and College of the Albemarle, etc. I've always wondered if the town of Albemarle had the same namesake.

[videtur quam contuor]

Decades ago when one used an operator to reach a long distance number I was calling Albemarle city and the operator connected me to Albemarle (something) in the north east of the state. I was in Tennessee, never been in North Carolina, and knew nothing of the region, Sound, or other factors creating this confusion. 

[KJHburg]

The Albemarle Sound region and the city of Albemarle are not as mixed up as the two Greenvilles one in North and one in South Carolina.  when I was at ECU in Greenville NC a basketball team landed in Greenville SC to play ECU!  this was widely reported.  

The Albemarle Region esp. Currituck and Camden counties in Northeastern NC getting quite a bit of overflow from the Tidewater metro Norfolk VA Beach and lots of new homes are built in towns like Moyock just inside NC from VA.  

[carolinaboy]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

The Albemarle Sound region and the city of Albemarle are not as mixed up as the two Greenvilles one in North and one in South Carolina.  when I was at ECU in Greenville NC a basketball team landed in Greenville SC to play ECU!  this was widely reported.  

The Albemarle Region esp. Currituck and Camden counties in Northeastern NC getting quite a bit of overflow from the Tidewater metro Norfolk VA Beach and lots of new homes are built in towns like Moyock just inside NC from VA.  

I never thought I'd see someone mention Moyock on UP. 

Your comment is spot on and 100% correct KJ. You do have a vast knowledge of the happenings not only in Charlotte and it's surrounding area but all over this great state. I look forward to the information you bring to us on this site (and everyone else too of course).