Citywide Quality of Life Results

Stable NSAs have a high quality of life. Threatened NSAs have a moderate quality of life. In fragile NSAs the quality of life is marginal. Figure 5 and companion Table 4 identify the neighborhood scores and the distribution of these neighborhoods. For detailed information on specific neighborhoods, see Appendix A, Neighborhood Profiles.  

The quality of life experienced by residents in a particular area can vary from person to person. Quantifying a concept as subjective as “quality of life” is a complicated task. However, in order to assess all aspects of what makes a community a desirable, safe, and socially healthy place to live, it is necessary to reduce the complex idea of “quality of life” to a manageable set of measurable information. This information can, in turn, be used to improve or maintain neighborhoods in Charlotte. 

For this study, it was determined that a strong, healthy neighborhood or NSA has few social needs, low crime rates, low levels of physical deterioration and low levels of economic stress. These are important aspects of any healthy community. However, these qualities do not occur independently. For example, neighborhoods with high crime rates typically have relatively high rates of social need or physical deterioration. This type of situation illustrates the need to address quality of life from many different perspectives, utilizing the talents and resources of many people and organizations in a cooperative effort with neighborhood residents. 

Strong, healthy inner-city neighborhoods are the backbone of a successful city. Acknowledging the interrelated issues of quality of life is the first step in creating a program to routinely assess progress towards healthy neighborhoods and focus efforts on strengthening the inner city. 

Of the 173 NSAs, 99 were stable, 44 were threatened and 30 were fragile. Detailed mapped results for CWAC and the larger area are presented on Figures 6 and 7. Tables 4 and 5 contain a listing of NSAs in each category. Citywide, stable neighborhoods were concentrated in the southeast, northeast and peripheral west areas of Charlotte and the Sphere of Influence. Threatened neighborhoods were generally scattered in pockets in the west, southwest, and north portions of Charlotte. Fragile neighborhoods lined the Interstate-77 corridor and were concentrated in the west, northeast and north sections of inner city Charlotte.

Table 4. CWAC Quality of Life Ratings

Table 5. NSA Quality of Life Ratings

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