6 best apartments in Plaza Midwood

Since the Great Recession, the stretch of Central Avenue on either side of The Plaza has been transformed from an under-the-radar cultural enclave to a thriving corridor of new development.

In 2008, there were few apartments and no luxury rentals in Plaza Midwood; today, there are over 2,500 luxury apartments, nearly 1,500 of which were constructed in the past 24 months.

Similar to South End, the surge of new apartments has bolstered the food, beverage, and entertainment offerings in the neighborhood. Most of the growth has been along Central between Louise Ave and Morningside Drive, with spurs now creeping down 10th Street into Belmont and along Hawthorne Lane to the north of Central.

Honorable mentions: 

• The Gibson: New build, across the street from Central Coffee, closer to Uptown
• Midwood Station: Brand new (completed in May of 2018) 97-unit apartment complex with 1 and 2 bedroom units super close to Resident Culture Brewing Company
• Overton Row: Newest building in the neighborhood, nice amenities, bonus points for embracing the Thirsty Beaver Saloon, quite literally
• The Nook: Only 24 units, ranging from 580 square-foot studio homes to 1,050 square foot two-bedroom apartments, right in the heart of Plaza Midwood on Central avenue
• Elizabeth Square: The OG apartment in Plaza Midwood; walkable to everything; easiest access to Sabor on 7 th Street (once the bridge reopens in Q1 2019)
• One305 Central: New build, offers townhomes, flats and regular apartments and it’s so close to Midwood Smokehouse and Yafo that you can practically smell the hushpuppies and laffa bread

Village at Commonwealth

Best overall 

Location: 1308 Lorna Street
Constructed: 2015
Number of units: 400+
Managed by: Northwood Ravin
Monthly rent:

• One bedroom:$1,211-$1,900
• Two bedroom: $1,865-$2,566
• Three bedroom: $2,327-$4,764

Why it stands out:

• Sprawling 15-acre campus includes townhomes, mid-rise apartments and garden-style walkups
• Huge amenity building with large pool, grilling stations, oversized gym with yoga studio, sauna and stream room and indoor entertainment area with full demonstration kitchen and bar
• Adjacent to Veterans Park, offering 15 acres of tennis and basketball courts, recreation fields and green space (great for pet owners)
• Less than a 10-minute walk to core Plaza Midwood shops and restaurants

The Lofts at Hawthorne Mill

Most unique design

Location: 1101 Hawthorne Lane
Total apartment units: 149, built in 2018
Monthly rent:

• 1 bedroom: $1,135-$1,500
• 2 bedroom: $1,550 to $2,000

Why it stands out:

• Built in the 122-year-old former Louise Cotton Mill
• Industrial design with exposed brick and beams
• Two bedrooms are two stories

The Julien

Best for quieter, neighborhood feel

Location: 2412 Commonwealth Avenue
Built: 2016
Number of units: 105
Managed by: Greystar
Monthly rent:

• 1 bedroom: $1,022-$1,517
• 2 bedroom: $1,627-$1,987
• 3 bedroom: $2,167-$2,242

Why it stands out: 

• Tucked away on Commonwealth just east of The Plaza intersection means a quieter neighborhood feel while still being within blocks of Plaza Midwood’s entertainment district
• Two blocks away from Harris Teeter on Central (the original HT!)

• Ground-floor parking offers the benefits of a garage but without the hassle of a parking deck
• Lower profile with only 105 apartments but still offers fitness center, grilling stations

Metro 808

Best walkability

Location: 808 Hawthorne Lane
Constructed: 2012
Number of units: 237
Managed by: Greystar
Monthly rent:

• Studio: $1,055-$1,610
• One bedroom: $1,155-$1,907
• Two bedroom: $1,617-$2,244
• Three bedroom: $2,131-$2,191

Why it stands out:

• Central location with a short walk to essentially everything in the neighborhood
• Full suite of community amenities including pool, clubhouse, fitness center, dog park
• Easy access to both Central Avenue and Hawthorne Lane (bridge scheduled to reopen in Q1 of 2019, with Gold Line extension slated for Q3 of 2020)

The Edison

Best unique look and location

Location: 1800 Commonwealth Avenue
Constructed: 2013
Number of units: 52
Managed by: My Niche Apartments
Monthly rent:

• One bedroom: $1,090+
• Two bedroom: $1,050+
• Three bedroom: $1,499+

Why it stands out:

• Unique art deco façade
• Located in the heart of the entertainment district
• Easy access to Elizabeth and 7th Street restaurants via Pecan

Vistas @ 707

Best affordability

Location: 707 Seigle Avenue
Constructed:2015
Number of units: 190
Managed by: RKW Residential
Monthly rent:

• Studio: Call for availability
• One bedroom: $999-$1,035
• Two bedroom: Call for availability
• Three bedroom: Call for availability

Why it stands out:

• Note: Vistas @ 707 is part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, meaning that residents need to make less than 50%-80% of area median income to apply. 
• One of a handful of mixed-income properties in Charlotte but still offers full amenities suite and covered parking
• Buffeted by Little Sugar Creek Greenway and Alexander Street Park with tennis courts and soccer fields
• Walkable access to Uptown via pedestrian cut-through into Third Ward, access to I-77 and I-85 in under five minutes via 12th Street and I-277
• Around the corner from Catawba’s huge Louise Avenue taproom