brianrri

You are welcome Larryfla, and thanks to all for the welcome! I lived in PVD on and off for about 30 years up until 2000 when we moved to Orlando and then to Cape Town in 2002. Yes Cape town was/is beautiful and I return often. Providence is nice and has come a LOOONG way from what it was when I was a kid but it still has a myriad of problems, especially with it's neighboods. The city poured tremendous amounts of money into the downtown area under Mayor Cianci but they really neglected the neighborhoods. I always thought it was wrong to spice up the guest areas of a home for show (downtown) but neglect the more private areas of the house such as the bedrooms (neighborhoods). Charlotte though is a very "pretty" place all the way around. Providence has a nice area called the 'east side' but Charlotte has areas just as nice or better but on a much, much larger scale. I'm aware that there are some not so nice areas here but they are still not as bad as most places (I've been to 47 States). Race relations also seem to be good and opportunity seems to be available to all (Btw, I'm African-American). They used to tell us up North that the South is too rascist but we have been treated perfcetly well here by all races. I am proud to live in Charlotte! I am also glad to have moved here during this time of unprecedented growth in the city. I have always been a fan of urban development and population statistics. I remember when Providence was on a development roll (although on a much smaller scale than that of Charlotte) and I would monitor the city's transformation with great eagerness. Charlotte has the least amount of things that I dislike in comparison to any other place I've lived. One of my gripes is how littered the freeways can become sometimes. I feel that if they can keep the city interior areas as clean as they do why not the same for the interstates? I would like to add that when my friends from South Africa and friends/family from up North come down here they are pleasantly surprised at how large a city it is and how beautiful it is. Many want to move here right away. Charlotteans have much to be proud of!

I agree! I grew up in Providence, RI. Lived in Phoenix, Tampa, Orlando and, before moving to Charlotte, we lived for 3 years in Cape Town, South Africa. My family and I after leaving Cape Town (one of the world's most beautiful cities) travelled to Austin and Houston. We thought Austin was way over-hyped and that Charlotte was the kind of city we could settle down in. My wife is very discriminating when it comes to complimenting cities, but she LOVES downtown Charlotte and it's neighborhoods. At first when exploring around I mentioned to my wife that Charlotte was very clean for a large city and some of the neighborhood were some of the best I have ever seen in the country. My children also love it here! We think it's a great place. As I previously mentioned, I am from New England. Forty miles from Boston. But we much prefer Charlotte than back home.