Steele Creek Just 10 years ago, southwest Charlotte was covered mostly by forests and farmland. How times change. Over the past decade, the number of households in this area has doubled. And thanks to the new leg of I-485 which recently opened and the rising housing costs in other sections of the city, southwest Charlotte is quickly becoming one of the primary residential and business growth spots of the future. Lake Wylie is a huge draw for new residents of southwest Charlotte who want to enjoy the recreational lifestyle within close proximity to the urban areas of Charlotte. The recent expansion of N.C. 49 to four lanes has helped to bolster growth in the area. Southwest Charlotte is also known as Steele Creek, named after the stream that runs through the region, and includes the area south of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport and west of I-77. Settled by Scotch-Irish immigrants in the late 1600s, Steele Creek continues to have a strong sense of community. Its historical society maintains records and photos of the region’s early days, and the Steele Creek Residents Association is a strong voice in the midst of intense growth. While Steele Creek offers the charm of an established neighborhood, this area has much to offer if you’re in the market for a new home. Recently developed communities line N.C. 49, the main thoroughfare of southwest Charlotte, and higher-end communities are under way on the Mecklenburg side of Lake Wylie. The Sanctuary, a 1,300-acre community off Shopton Road West on the shores of Lake Wylie, is one of the most unique developments in the region. The Sanctuary includes just 188 homesites ranging from two to more than 13 acres, averaging about five acres. In fact, The Sanctuary refers to its spacious homesites as “private preserves” and 80 percent of the development remains untouched. Audubon International awarded the community with its Three Diamond designation based on protection of wildlife and flora, water quality, and green-building practices and site design. The Sanctuary was also named one of the 20 “Top Places to Live” by Forbes magazine. The community features 20 miles of nature trails, 200 acres of natural areas and The Camp, a 17-acre lakefront community center with swimming pools, tennis courts, lodge with a fitness center and kids’ room, playground, picnic areas and a boating center. Twenty million-dollar homes are part of the development; homesites range from $270,000 to more than $2 million. In 2006, The Sanctuary hosted HomeArama, an annual home tour of a premier development in the region that is sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Charlotte. Another luxury community in southwest Charlotte is The Palisades, covering 1,500 acres on a Lake Wylie peninsula just south of N.C. 49. It offers an 18-hole Nicklaus Design championship golf course, private country club, equestrian center with a jumping arena, soccer training complex and miles of nature trails connecting neighborhoods within the development. Homes at The Palisades range from the $300s to more than $2 million. In 2005, The Palisades was the site of HomeArama. The Tim Wilkison Signature Tennis and Sports Complex brings the Outback Champions Cup Series to Charlotte in September 2006, which features tennis legends John McEnroe and Jim Courier. The Palisades will eventually include a Main Street-style town center with retail shops, restaurants, offices and a Harris Teeter grocery store. Palisades Episcopal School is set to open in the fall of 2007. Covering 1,050 acres, Berewick is a mixed-use development near I-485. Berewick offers several neighborhoods with single-family homes ranging from $140,000 to $350,000 and Berewick TownCenter, a pedestrian-friendly live/work center with 750 townhomes and apartments, offices, retail shops and restaurants. The community’s clubhouse features a Junior Olympic-size pool, playfields, sports courts, an event lawn and organized children’s programs. Also part of the community, Berewick District Park covers 195 acres and includes soccer and ball fields, a dog park, 3.5 miles of trails, playgrounds and a 30,000-square-foot recreation center. Following the residential buildup, the area has seen a surge of retail and entertainment growth. RiverGate, at the intersection of N.C. 49 and N.C. 160, is anchored by a Super Target and Home Depot. An Old Navy, Best Buy, Office Max, PetSmart and several new restaurants are expected to open within the next year. Calling itself “the uptown of Southwest Charlotte,” the Ayrsley project at I-485 and N.C. 49 includes 140 acres of business development. This new design features shops, restaurants, a 14-screen movie theater, the Steele Creek YMCA, and luxury apartments and townhomes designed with the feel of an old European village. In spite of all the development, Steele Creek continues to maintain its recreational appeal. A planned greenway along Steele Creek and Walker Branch is currently in the works and a grass-roots community group called the Steele Creek Community Trail committee is looking for ways to connect the proposed greenway to more than 50 miles of walking and biking trails. For nearly 50 years, the Steele Creek Athletic Association off Choate Circle has organized sports programs for youth. Run entirely by volunteers, SCAA offers baseball, softball, soccer, basketball, cheerleading and football teams. Its community center – a former schoolhouse dating back to 1902 – hosts events and meetings. The annual SCAA barbecue, held each March, is a huge fundraiser for the organization and has been a Steele Creek tradition for over 35 years. You will not believe you’re only minutes from the city when you visit McDowell Park on Lake Wylie. The park features 1,108 picturesque acres of forest where you can hike, picnic, camp or visit the nature center. A waterfront deck on the shores of Lake Wylie offers spectacular views, and paddlers can utilize the park’s boat launch. With seven miles of hiking trails, 90 percent of the preserve remains undeveloped. Just north of McDowell Nature Preserve off Pine Harbor Road, Long Cove Marina and Yacht Club offers an Olympic-size pool, private beach, campgrounds, picnic areas, fishing pier, volleyball courts in addition to its boat slips. The Steele Creek Library on Steele Creek Road near N.C. 49 recently opened its 15,000-square-foot facility in front of Southwest Middle School. The new building provides a wealth of books, technology and programs for families. In August 2006, Winget Park Elementary School opens to serve the rapidly growing western section of Steele Creek, closest to the lake. The school is near Winget Park, which offers soccer fields, basketball courts, a playground and picnic shelters. Paramount’s Carowinds, a 100-acre theme and water park that straddles the N.C./S.C. border, is a major family attraction. The young and young-at-heart enjoy more than 100 rides, shows and attractions.