Not to be confused with the town of Belmont in neighboring Gaston County, the Belmont Neighborhood of central Charlotte is located less than one mile from center city between downtown and NoDa. This neighborhood had an industrial past, as did North Charlotte, and has a large mix of housing styles (bungalow, mill homes, traditional, and multi-family) as well as commercial properties scattered throughout.

Belmont was classified by the city as "fragile" due to high crime rates, but interest in central neighborhoods has grown as has demand for downtown properties. As a result, property prices have risen, many homes have been restored, and the city won a 20 million dollar "Hope Grant" from the federal government to rework neighborhood streets, public housing and other infrastructure projects. Though demand has risen quickly, you can still find a bargain in Belmont. Home prices range from $20,000 to $130,000 though these numbers seem to rise on an almost weekly basis!

• Read Scott Lindsley's article in the Uptown Magazine online about The Wrecking ball and Piedmont Courts.