Living in Charlotte Park: Guide to Food, Entertainment, & Real Estate

About Charlotte Park, Nashville

Visitors to this classic Nashville suburb might think they’ve stumbled into some sort of corporate residential nirvana. In reality, the neighborhood’s street names, like Thunderbird, Starliner, and Henry Ford Drive, are a homage to the Ford Glass Factory that started Charlotte Park's surge in popularity during the 1960s. Nowadays, Charlotte Park is yet again thriving as a satellite of downtown Nashville just outside the orbits of Sylvan Park and The Nations. I-40 runs right through the neighborhood’s heart and grants residents easy access to downtown without sacrificing space to spread out. Indeed, there are few Nashville districts that can rival Charlotte Park’s enticing balance of urban living and suburban comfort.

Where Is Charlotte Park Located?

While it may feel like the outskirts of the Nashville area, Charlotte Park is an easy 15-minute drive west of downtown Nashville, just beyond Sylvan Park and The Nations. The area is easily accessible via I-40, and it’s just north of the happening Charlotte Avenue. It also neighbors the Cumberland River, offering some lucky residents waterfront property.

How’s The Vibe In Charlotte Park?

Tucked into West Nashville, you will find the welcoming, young, and hip neighborhood, of Charlotte Park. This growing neighborhood is in a prime location, and it attracts young professionals and young families. This tight-knit, family-friendly area has a progressive atmosphere and a good balance between yard space, privacy, and community. Because of its close vicinity to downtown and other transitioning areas, Charlotte Park has its fair share of new construction houses in addition to older ranch-style homes.

What’s The Food + Nightlife Scene Like In Charlotte Park?

Charlotte Park offers families a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of surrounding areas. Because of this, there are not many restaurants in the residential side of the neighborhood, nor are there bars, clubs, or pubs. This makes Charlotte Park delightfully private and quiet.

Luckily for Charlotte Park residents, there are quite a few restaurants and a handful of great bars nearby on Charlotte Avenue.

For authentic Mexican food, locals love Taqueria Azteca, where you can enjoy light, fresh tacos and salads. They also offer an inviting dining room and Mexican comfort food with a kick.

The Ridge is about a five-minute drive from Charlotte Park and has some of the best barbecue and southern cooking in all of Nashville. Many residents recommend picking one of their family meals or classic barbecue dishes and bringing them home to enjoy from the comfort of their porch. Above The Ridge’s dining room, you’ll find a laid-back bar, The Attic, where you can enjoy a cold one while your carry-out is being prepared.

If you’re a fan of a well-made breakfast, Big Bad Breakfast is a local staple. This cafe is a great place for the whole family, and they make an amazing omelet.

For a craft cocktail or an evening out, the Twilight Tavern has a unique personality and a flavor-filled twist on classic bar fare. M.L.Rose is just minutes away, as well, and is a favorite spot for a cold beer and friendly conversation.

What Are The Top Things To Do In Charlotte Park?

It’s surprising that buyers took so long to catch on to Charlotte Park because there’s plenty to do in the area. Outdoorsy types have the Cumberland River along the neighborhood’s entire western border. There’s even a Paddle Up Nashville to outfit you with gear for your trip down the river. Just to the north, Rock Harbor Marina offers beautiful views and laidback waterfront dining. Charlotte Park is also home to a park by the same name that services the neighborhood as a centrally-located greenspace with fields, courts, and plenty of shade. For the foodies among us, Charlotte Avenue has everything from Honduran cuisine to good ol’ barbecue. And if you need a change of scenery, downtown and everything in between is no more than a 15-minute drive.

How’s The Real Estate Market In Charlotte Park?

Once The Nations and Sylvan Park started their real estate renaissance, it was just a matter of time before Charlotte Park joined the party. Just on the other side of Briley Parkway, only four minutes further outside of town, Charlotte Park offers nearly all the big-city convenience (and maybe even some extra space), at a nice discount. It’s a rooted neighborhood, with a large number of homes built between 1940 and 1999, but builders are working hard to transform that old-fashioned image.

Despite the high proportion of older homes, many of the properties on the market are new construction with chic, modern touches. Newer homes often sell from around $550,000 to $800,000, depending on the number of bedrooms they offer. While these options help drive up property values, older homes keep the market from becoming inaccessible. Many of these older properties, even with 3+ bedrooms, land between the $400,000 - $600,000 range. As an added bonus that’s rare this close to downtown, these homes often stand on lots of a half-acre or more.

While there are new apartments in the area, like the Views at Hillwood, builders are focusing almost completely on single-family homes. If you can find a quality apartment, though, rents are quite reasonable. Usually, the price range is around $1,200-$2,000 per month, which is a fairly low barrier to entry for such a hot Nashville neighborhood.

Charlotte Park has recently seen one of Nashville’s most rapid increases in home values, as buyers have discovered the neighborhood’s charm and convenience. The same homes that sold in the mid-$200,000s around 2010, now often come off the market for twice that. Aside from the trendiness of the location itself, new construction on smaller lots is helping to drive up property values. In the last year, the area’s median home sale price has increased by over 13.7%, as older homes gain more value and newer homes flood the market. Simply put, Charlotte Park isn’t just a good investment, it’s one of the best residential real estate opportunities in all of metro Nashville.

PRO TIP: See homes for sale in Charlotte Park

How’s The Cost Of Living In Charlotte Park?

Because of its limited size, Charlotte Park is considered somewhat exclusive, especially for those looking for waterfront homes and water access. This area continues to transition and offers a slightly lower cost of living than its neighboring areas such as The Nations and Sylvan Park. There are affordable housing options, including townhouses, apartments, and some smaller and older homes for those on a budget.

How Is Transportation In Charlotte Park?

Those that live in Charlotte Park will want a vehicle to get around. While there are nearby restaurants and bars, they’re south of I-40 or east in The Nations, making them less-than-walkable. It’s also quite difficult to get around using the Nashville bus system, although there is a route that follows Charlotte Avenue to downtown.

What Are The Top Schools In Charlotte Park?

Charlotte Park Elementary offers students a nurturing environment and a great place to build confidence and academic skills. H.G. Hill Middle School is a stone’s throw from the neighborhood and is beloved by local parents.

What Are The Best Parks In Charlotte Park?

H.G. Hill Park has the best playground in the area for little ones. For those wanting to hike, walk, jog, bird watch, or have a picnic, the short drive to Percy Warner Park is well worth it. Percy Warner attracts people from all over Nashville and the surrounding area.

Is Charlotte Park A Safe Place To Live?

This up-and-coming neighborhood is considered safe and quaint, but not Stepford-perfect. Charlotte Park continues to improve, grow, and change. It is going through some growing pains in the process, though. While the area is undergoing gentrification, it still has petty crime and other minor crime issues to deal with such as homelessness.

Pros To Living In Charlotte Park

• This area is filled with young families and young professionals that are active in the community, often spending time outdoors, and very friendly. The close-knit feeling of the neighborhood creates a friendly atmosphere while the lack of businesses within the residential side of the neighborhood keeps traffic and noise down.
• It is also tucked along the Cumberland River and has some waterfront properties that are more affordable than other Nashville neighborhoods.
• Charlotte Park features an easy commute downtown and plenty to do within a five-to-ten-minute drive.

Cons To Living In Charlotte Park

• Charlotte Park is not very walkable for shopping and dining.
• This area is still in mid-transition in the gentrification process, which means there is a lot of construction.
• Charlotte Avenue can be quite congested for those commuting to downtown Nashville.