Yorkmount - Charlotte, NC

Yorkmount's history and culture directly relate to that of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The entire area grew in the 1930s as air travel started gaining momentum. By the 1950s and 1960s, those needing to access the airport helped develop this and other nearby neighborhoods into desirable residential areas.

Evangelical Christian leader Billy Graham's library and museum sits north of Yorkmount along the Billy Graham Parkway, and it houses a number of exhibits featuring his history and teachings. The Charlotte Aviation Museum, situated on the airport campus, features over 50 specialty aircraft and explains the science and social impact that aviation has had on American society. For other museums and events, locals head uptown to the Mint Museum, NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Queen City BBQ Festival.

Restaurants collect together to the north of the neighborhood along the I-77 and Woodlawn Road intersection as well as south near Archdale Road and Arrowood Road. The list of these dining establishments include mostly casual chains with recognizable names such as Ruby Tuesday, Sonny's BBQ, IHOP and Showmars. However, many locally owned restaurants find themselves farther to the in the neighborhood.

Morazan Restaurant sits near E.E. Waddell High School along Archdale Road and features tropical Latin cuisine with a focus on Mexican and Honduran specialties. Service begins at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast and doesn't stop until the last customer leaves at night. Customer favorites include the Salvadorian grilled beef, the taco platter with hot peppers and hearty tortas.

Menus Restaurant caters to workers from the Arrowood Road business park who need a bite to eat during the breakfast and lunch hours. Regulars order the perfectly tender French dip and the hearty pastrami Reuben. All its lunch items come with a side and a drink.

Up the road from Menus Restaurant on South Tryon Street sits the Charlotte institution La'Wan's Soul Food. La'Wan's creates soulful masterpieces with its barbeque chicken and grilled pork chops. The generous portion sizes and large selection of sides guarantees its appeal to soul food lovers and those new to the cuisine. La'Wan's affordability can't be beat. Many families choose to order the meal deal, which includes a choice of meat, two sides and tea.

For a quick drink, locals have limited options at chain restaurants such as Chili's and Ruby Tuesday. Jocks & Jills, a sports pub near Renaissance Park, sits directly north of Yorkmount and advertises daily drink specials and televisions for watching the big game. Another sports bar, Sidelines Bar, serves up drinks on South Boulevard. Nightclubs, bars and music venues cluster around uptown, where the selection includes more upscale options.

Most residents of Yorkmount rely on personal vehicles to travel to work, school and run errands, and the number of vehicles per household sits slightly above Charlotte's city average. Residents cannot easily walk or bike around the neighborhood because the neighborhood lacks bike lanes and safe walking paths. I-77 runs on the eastern side of Yorkmount, and locals access it via Arrowood Road, Tyvola Road and the Billy Graham Parkway. Yorkmount residents find Exit 1 of I-485 directly south of the Arrowood Road and S. Tryon Road intersection. Drivers easily find parking along residential streets within the neighborhood.

The primary mode of public transportation available to locals, the Charlotte Area Transit System's bus service, operates along Nations Ford Road, Tyvola Road, Arrowood Road and South Tryon Street. Most routes have service during the work week between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. Taxis cabs and Uber cars pick up those needing transportation within the neighborhood, but users of either service need to schedule them in advance.

Yorkmount Park sits in the heart of the community and maintains 3 acres of amenities, which include a basketball court and walking trails. Nearby, Springfield Neighborhood Park feels like a slightly larger version of Yorkmount Park, covering 12 acres. The highly regarded Renaissance Park lies directly northwest of the neighborhood. This gem encompasses over 140 acres and provides families amenities such as a world-championship caliber disc golf course, municipal golf course, five softball fields, 13 tennis courts, volleyball courts, soccer fields and over 6 miles of bike trails. Many area athletes use these grounds for training and games. All Charlotte parks cater to families seeking free fun for adults, children and even dogs.

Charlotte city parks put on numerous events throughout the year. Renaissance Park hosts a number of regional disc golf and other sports tournaments. Cultural events, such as Shakespeare on the Green and Festival in the Park, take place at uptown parks such as The Green and Freedom Park.

The cost of living in Yorkmount averages 8 percent less than the rest of Charlotte. Renters, who make up the majority of residents in Yorkmount, expect to pay around $758 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

Other costs incurred by residents, such as transportation, goods and services, are the same here as elsewhere around the metro area. Bus transportation costs $2.20 for one-way fare and $6.60 for a day pass. Gas prices mirror the rest of Charlotte and sit at 4 percent less than the national average. Reasonable restaurant and bar prices appear to be the norm in Yorkmount, with a pint of a locally made beer costing patrons around $5.

Limited shopping options within Yorkmount force residents to look elsewhere for stores that carry anything more than the basics. Yorkmont Shopping Center sits to the very north of the community and contains shops like Papaya and Dover Saddlery.

Pott's Hardware Inc., a Charlotte mainstay since 1960, can also be found in the Yorkmont Shopping Center. Family-owned and operated, Potts sells hardware, lawn and garden supplies, and contractor equipment. It also provides services such as small appliance repair and glass cutting.

Most find it necessary to visit the South Park Mall and neighboring shopping complexes in the South Park community to purchase namebrands and visit upscale boutiques. Considered one of the Carolina's most popular and high-end shopping areas, South Park retailers include Anthropologie, Orvis, and Coach.

Locals who live in the western portion of Yorkmount purchase groceries at the Publix or the WalMart Supercenter at the Shops at Whitehall Commons along South Tryon Street, while those situated closer to the east travel to the Food Lion and Aldi along South Boulevard. Three miles north lies the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, the area's largest public produce and meat market.