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Totally with you, @wanderer. To be fair, though, both my current and future careers don’t have much of a presence in Charlotte, so Boston, DC, and maybe New York are the only places I’d seriously weigh against the Triangle. With that said,…

I wouldn’t do take that offer, either. If I lived in Charlotte, I’d still have to remind my family and friends abroad where North Carolina is; both cities are equally (ir)relevant to non-Americans. In that light, I really wouldn’t gain much from Charlotte’s brand.

Off the top of my head, there’s:

  • CATS’ drama with Norfolk Southern over the Red Line
  • Planning troubles over their comprehensive transit plan
  • Geographic scars from historical redlining that’s on par with Durham
  • Awkward compromises in establishing TODs near the airport, and making half-assed attempts at value capture
  • Struggling to establish its own medical school, having to rely on Wake Forest after botching a potential merger with UNC Health

I think Charlotte has its strengths like pro sports and the South End’s restaurants; I’d happily take day trips to the Queen City once Covid’s endemic and the Gateway Station’s complete. But just like Raleigh and any other city in the world, I wouldn’t say it’s perfect.

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