Rebuilding Neighborhoods

Affordable Housing

Early projects were intended to replace substandard housing for both whites and blacks. Occupants were required to be “natural or cohesive American families.”

• Photo: 5/19/57 - Article: unknown. A post-war population boom created a demand for affordable housing. Belvedere Homes was completed in March 1953. Its sister project, Southside Homes, was “built for Negroes.”               
• Symbols of poor housing, shotgun houses were named for their architectural style and were not unique to urban settings. A few of these houses are available for viewing at the African American Cultural Center.
• Photo: 1/27/86 (Diedra Laird) - Article: 1/28/86. Children in front of old style houses
• Photo: 11/10/81 (Bill Billings) - Article: 11/11/81. Not all housing was government sponsored. United House of Prayer for All People built a low-income apartment complex at the corner of 9th and Davidson Streets. It is no longer in use.

Neighbors and Neighborhoods

Structures alone cannot create a community. Grassroots efforts by residents are also necessary. “Taking Back Our Neighborhoods Carolina Crime Solutions” is an attempt to fight crime with a multitude of resources and a mix of “residents, government and charities.” In addition, youth involvement is a key part of community revitalization and a primary motivation for such efforts.

• Photo: 8/10/93 (Gary O’Brien) - Article: 8/15/93. Regal Heights residents Angela and Eugene Perkins are struggling to protect themselves and their neighbors from the negative influence of criminals and drug dealers. “We intend to be an example for other communities because we intend for this to work,” said Eugene Perkins.
• Photo: 5/24/86 (Wes Bobbitt) - Article: 5/25/86. Renewing neighborhoods is not a new issue. Beginning in 1980, the Cherry community southeast of downtown organized the Cherry Reunion. Cherry is an historic black community that survived the bulldozers of urban renewal.            Cherry Reunion
• Photo: 8/7/93 (Gary O’Brien) - Article: 8/8/93. Another target of urban renewal, the Greenville neighborhood has worked to survive. Its history and future were celebrated in the 2nd annual Greenville Festival.
• Photo: 12/2/95 - Article: 12/3/95. Volunteers rallied to support a worthy project. It remains to be seen if their work will continue or be undone.