Welcome to 5Line Apartments in LoSo
At 5Line, we offer modern apartments in Lower South End Charlotte surrounded by the same spirit of connection that powered the city’s rise. With easy access to the Lynx Blue Line, walkable breweries, art galleries, and industrial-inspired design, our community bridges Charlotte’s past with its future.
The Story Behind 5Line Apartments
5Line Apartments was named for the five historic rail lines that helped shape Charlotte’s growth. These lines didn’t just move materials and people—they built neighborhoods, created opportunity, and gave the city momentum. Our community sits near where those rail lines once converged in Lower South End (LoSo), a part of Charlotte long known for movement, connection, and transformation. We chose the name 5Line to honor that legacy and to reflect the energy of LoSo today. Living here means becoming part of that ongoing story—where the power of connection continues in a new way.
Charlotte’s Original Five Rail Lines
Charlotte & South Carolina Railroad: Completed in 1852, the Charlotte & South Carolina Railroad was the city’s first rail line, connecting it to Columbia and sparking early growth. It later became part of the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta Railroad, then the Seaboard Air Line, helping establish Charlotte as a key transportation and trade hub in the Southeast.
North Carolina Railroad (NCRR): Chartered in 1849, the North Carolina Railroad offered an essential east-west route through the state. It’s still in operation today, used by freight carriers and Amtrak’s Piedmont and Carolinian passenger trains. While not directly running through LoSo, NCRR played a major role in regional development.
Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line Railway: This line was formed in the 1870s to connect Charlotte with Atlanta and Richmond. Eventually absorbed into Southern Railway, it helped establish Charlotte as a central rail hub in the South. Southern Railway is now part of Norfolk Southern, which remains active in the area today.
Seaboard Air Line Railroad: Formally named in 1900, the Seaboard Air Line included parts of the old Carolina Central Railway. Its passenger station, built in 1896, still stands on North College Street in Charlotte. This line reinforced Charlotte’s position as a transportation and commerce hub in the early 20th century.
Piedmont & Northern Railway (P&N): The P&N was an electric freight line operating between Charlotte and Gastonia from the 1910s through the 1950s. It was unique for its time and laid much of the groundwork for modern rail transit in the city. Portions of the old P&N route were later repurposed for the Lynx Blue Line light rail, which now runs through Lower South End and connects directly to Uptown Charlotte.
What Remains Today
- The North Carolina Railroad continues to support freight and passenger service.
- Routes from the Seaboard and Carolina Central are now operated by CSX Transportation.
- The Atlanta & Richmond lines were absorbed into Southern Railway, now Norfolk Southern.
- Segments of the Piedmont & Northern Railway live on through the Lynx Blue Line, which opened in 2007 and expanded in 2018, enhancing commuter access across South End and LoSo.
Five rail lines built Charlotte. One apartment community brings it full circle.
This is 5Line.
Welcome to 5Line Apartments in LoSo