Top 25 reasons to live in Ballantyne

While I don’t know the entire basis behind this sentiment, I’d guess that most Ballantyne cynics have never lived in the 28277 and can’t legitimately back up this misanthropic suburbia sentiment.

Ballantyne is far from perfect, we’re fighting congestion too and jumping on 485 to get Uptown can be a traffic nightmare. Sometimes, it does feel like we’re a sterilized suburb juiced up on steroids. Born in 1996, Ballantyne is young. It’s going through a huge growth spurt and as it ages, the culture and charm will come. There are good reasons to live in Ballantyne, here’s 25 of them.

(1) Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge. Charlotte’s only Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond recognized hotel. Obama stayed here during the DNC in 2012. Even if you can’t afford the swanky interior, it’s pretty for drive by ogling.

(2) The people are nice. They’d never use the word “sucks” to describe other Charlotte neighborhoods. They’d just kindly remind you that Ballantyne is the best.

(3) You get a lot of house for your money. They only make houses with more than 1 bathroom here.

(4) The public schools. Yes, they’re crowded, but parents are engaged and that makes all the difference.

(5) Ballantyne Village is making a comeback.

(6) Blakeney Shopping Center. Good luck trying to find a parking spot Friday and Saturday nights during their summer music festival.

(7) Bradshaw Social House. Though scarce, nighttime entertainment in Ballantyne exists.

(8) If it’s good enough for ESPN, it’s good enough for you.

(9) So fresh and so clean. This is one of the advantages of being new, and after living in NY, I have public restroom PTSD, so I’ll take our squeaky clean zip code any day.

(10) Food. There are lots of options and as the area is maturing, more restaurants are expanding into the area. Midwood Smokehouse and Brazwells opened this year, now we just need some more multicultural choices.

(11) Stonecrest Shopping Center. The options are endless.

(12) The ease of living here can’t be overstated. Doctors, schools, shopping, entertainment, it’s all within 10 minutes.

(13) Hall Family Farm. Please, Hall Family Farm, don’t sell. There are too many memories out there picking berries, looking for pumpkins and getting hopelessly lost in the massive corn maze.

(14) Omni Montessori School. Founded 30 years ago, this school is tucked back and nestled on 7 idyllic acres in bustling Blakeney.

(15) You can live AND work here. Ballantyne Corporate Park has 4 million square feet of commercial Class A space. Mini parks, ponds, Fit Trail, 20 exercise stations, 16 miles of walking paths. The YMCA also just broke ground this week for Sara’s Y- a new 16+ only, 24,000 sq. ft. YMCA in Ballantyne Corporate Park.

(16) The Morrison YMCA is a behemoth and has the best outdoor pool.

(17) Amélies. Thanks to Amélie’s new Carmel Commons location, you can get your salted caramel brownie fix in under 15 minutes.

(18) The British International School of Charlotte. An International education for the future leaders of our world.

(19) Regal Cinemas Art House in Ballantyne Village. One of Charlotte’s only art house theatres.

(20) Ballantyne District Park. Almost 100 acres of land, trails for biking and more.

(21) Whole Foods is coming! Whole Food is coming! In 2016.

(22) Disc Golf at Elon Park Recreation Center. I know there’s some Frisbee loving people in Charlotte. The beginner course is called the Eager Beaver and the advanced is Angry Beaver. That’s quite a progression of emotions. I wish they called it gopher instead so players could make Caddyshack jokes all day long, which they probably do anyway.

Hole 6. Par 4-481ft Into the clowns mouth. #nofilter #discgolf @innovadiscs

A photo posted by Aaron Ramsey (@aaronramsey55) on

(23) You can drive 5 minutes to SC and get cheap gas. (Sorry, 28277 gas station owners.)

(24) Dana Rader Golf School. Do the bull dance, feel the flow, work on your slice.

(25) Your house will sell. If you do need to move from Charlotte, your chances of selling a house quickly in 28277 is pretty good. In fact, in 2013, 28277 was the 5 most searched zip code on realtor.com, in America. Yes, in America.