Nestled between North Tryon Street and I-85 is one of Charlotte’s most infamous neighborhoods. While that is not the most accurate way to describe the neighborhood today, Hidden Valley’s recent past still hangs over the community. When development beginning in 1959, Hidden Valley was initially intended to house white middle class families. But with the destruction of neighborhoods like Brooklyn and the construction of freeways around Uptown carving up communities, many of Charlotte’s Blacks found refuge across the city. However, due to racism and lies, the influx of Black residents led to large swaths of the neighborhood’s white residents to move away; causing the city to ignore and neglect the neighborhood for decades. This neglect left Hidden Valley with a nationally bad reputation. But in recent years, things may be changing. With the completion of the Blue Line extension and the hard work of the Hidden Valley Community Association, the area surrounding Hidden Valley has seen more economic activity, development, and attention. But with all this happening, will Hidden Valley be able to maintain its identity, or will it change and gentrify like Southend? Or can Charlotte learn from its past? Stick around and while we explore Hidden Valley! With special guest, Frederick Murphy. 

Website

Sources:

About Us (hiddenvalleyclt.com)

Suburban growth, government policies, racism led to 'white flight' in Newark | Video | NJ Spotlight News

http://www.thecharlottepost.com/index.php?src=permalinks/Hidden_Valley_out_front_in_mounting_comeback#:~:text=Developed%20in%201959%2C%20Hidden%20Valley,Neighborhood%20Quality%20of%20Life%20Index.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/9-investigates/hidden-valley-residents-continue-to-improve-neighborhood-s-reputation/822465035/

Black Homeowners Face Discrimination in Appraisals - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Blacks will take hundreds of years to catch up to white wealth (cnn.com)

Report Confirms Charlotte's Lack Of Upward Mobility, Offers Priorities | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source

Brookhill: How one of Charlotte’s most complicated and misunderstood developments could end up a success story - Axios Charlotte

FAQ City: What Happened To Charlotte's Earle Village? | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source

Home Again Foundation - Housing, Nonprofit, Charitable Organization (homeagainclt.org)

Intro and Outro music - By a Thread by Nu Alkemi$t

Social Media:

Wherewehavebeen.com

Where We've Been | Facebook

Where We've Been US | Instagram