tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post324359703075424106..comments2023-10-27T03:16:03.213-04:00Comments on Burgh Diaspora: Reinventing CharlotteJim Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13078184665418828961noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29127973.post-27218085194047482122010-01-14T00:26:57.798-05:002010-01-14T00:26:57.798-05:00I could read the writing on the wall in my few sho...I could read the writing on the wall in my few short months there in '05-'06 before it chewed me up and spit me out. As much as its leaders tried to portray it as something different and "new South" and all, it was an absolute cliche.<br /><br />It was utterly failing to handle its own growth. Transit was a mess, economic opportunity was totally nil outside financial services and growth-dependent sectors like construction, and there was absolutely NO defining feature to the place (which my bf and I wrote about profusely at twincitysentinel.com). Other than newness, fast growth and big plans for the future, of course. The best analogy I can come up with is Dubai - really.<br /><br />I am not getting any pleasure in seeing this happen - I actually made some really good friends there, some of whom are facing very hard times now. But in the end, Charlotte wanted to be the next Atlanta, without understanding the Atlanta wanted to be the next Houston, without realizing that Houston wanted to be the next LA, without realizing that LA sucked.Mark Arsenalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17577014392699564592noreply@blogger.com