Jul 20, 2015 - News

A quick guide to South End’s 22 apartment complexes

Jason Thomas

When it comes to South End apartments, they basically all the same: Overpriced beige monsters with little to no differentiating design characteristics and no retail. Most add nothing to the urban landscape than bodies and wood built ugliness.

That said, they are having to get more and more creative (since design aesthetics aren’t considered) when trying to lure the next millennial to come live in their unattractive monster.

Granite counters, check. Pool, or excuse me “resort style pool,” check. Stainless steel appliances, check. Dog washing station, check. The list goes on and on with similarities. So when moving to Charlotte and needing to pick one, you make ask yourself, “How do I chose?”

Well, I’d say don’t even bother with the amenities. Are some nicer than others? Sure, but not by much. Your primary factors should be price (obviously) and location (obviously number 2).

They’re all on the light rail, most easily accessible to a stop, so when it comes to location you should stay as close to Uptown (1100 South, 1225 S Church) as possible or as close to the South End urban core (Camden Gallery) as possible.

For price, it’s a total crap shoot, so look often and you’ll come across a steal or two. For reference, Camden Grandview and Ashton are on the higher end, 1225 S Church and Camden South End are on the less ridiculously priced end.

Take a look at this map I put together to get some additional thoughts and see the locations, prices and unit types of the 20 major South End apartment complexes (I think I got them all).