Aug. 31--Gas prices are coming down, but they still aren't what they used to be. That has many Charlotte residents wondering whether they should ditch their cars and suburban homes in favor of condo life along the city's light rail line. Developers have been quick to oblige. Housing developments are sprouting around the rail stations, and more are planned. So if you decided to get rid of your car, what would your options be? Could you live along the rail line without spending millions for a penthouse? Red Dirt Alert looked at a few housing developments in uptown, South End and south Charlotte. In general, residents could go completely car-free and have most of their needs met if they bought a condo close to the rail line uptown. South End and south Charlotte were also rather convenient. Getting uptown to Seventh Street Station took six to 21 minutes. Janet Pace, a consultant who works uptown and lives at the 3030 South development at New Bern Station, said she considers her 10-minute commute reasonable. "I used to live in Ballantyne and it was a nightmare getting up here," Pace said. "Now, I just let someone else drive." Living closer to the city does cost more. Of the properties surveyed, an 800-square-foot uptown condo cost at least $8,000 more than the same-sized unit in South End. It was about $120,000 more than a comparable unit even farther south on the line. Condo managers said they have seen a flood of house hunters whose primary desire is to be close to the rail line "It's a huge selling point for us," said Patricia Fenton, sales and closing coordinator for Conformity Corp, developer of the Southborough development on South Boulevard.

Uptown

Seventh, Third, Arena and Stonewall stations.

Properties: Courtside, Catalyst and Center City Green (proposed for late 2009).

Price: Units ranged from $180,000 to $1 million; about $270 to $357 per square foot.

Atmosphere: Living close to these light rail stations puts residents right in the heart of Charlotte's work and social scene. Office buildings and restaurants abound, and the street layout is most kind to people traveling on foot. Medical facilities are also nearby, making uptown a safe bet for house hunters who want to go totally car-free.

Conveniences: Grocery stores and pharmacies include Reid's Fine Foods, Harris Teeter, Rite Aid and CVS. Wachovia, Bank of America and other banks are nearby. A movie theater and bowling alley are coming soon to the EpiCentre development.