Charlottesville: Fascist Thugs Will Assault Black Folks In The Streets, But White Liberals Will Take House And Home

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This weekend is the one-year anniversary of Battle of Charlottesville. Everyone reading this article remembers the events of last August in Charlottesville; a college town that will forever be associated with Thomas Jefferson, like Winston-Salem will always be associated with R.J. Reynolds.

Gun-toting nazis and fascist white supremacists of various stripes in the streets of Charlottesville were a reminder of how relatively little progress our country has made combatting racism. America is still a violent and racist nation. God bless … Read the rest

Columbian Heights: Atkins’ Vision Crippled By Highway 52 and I40, Industrial Zoning, And WSSU’s Growth

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The New Winston Museum’s “Envisioning Columbian Heights” presentation at Mars Hill Baptist Church Thursday night drew a crowd of 40-50 people. Many of the attendees are longtime residents of East Winston with strong ties to Columbian Heights. They fondly remembered Columbian Heights and proudly recounted their memories of the neighborhood.

Columbian Heights is the neighborhood immediately surrounding Winston-Salem State University. It was founded by Simon Green Atkins in the 1890s. It was part of his twin vision of promoting African … Read the rest

Cheap Rents Are Needed For Artists And Workers To Thrive

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Saturday night at the Garage, the Vagabond Saints’ Society played two hours worth of the Velvet Underground’s greatest hits. As usual, the Vagabond Saints’ Society put on a great show, which will surely be memorialized in the Garage’s hallway of posters.

The Velvet Underground were a very influential rock band, ahead of their time. They were only fully appreciated years after the band broke up.

But the Velvet Underground and other New York bands of the late 1960s and 1970s … Read the rest

Winston-Salem Honors Another Historical Site That It Failed To Preserve

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This afternoon a local historic marker commemorating the 14th Street School was unveiled at 1215 N. Cameron Ave. It’s a warm September day, perfect weather for such a happy occasion.

The 14th Street School produced many proud graduates that went on to do many fine things in the community and beyond. Honoring the 14th School is in the same tradition as honoring the African School at Happy Hill, which was honored in May of this year.

Both former schools … Read the rest

Fourth Street Neighborhood Development Is Rejected Again-But Threat Of Gentrification Remains

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Monday night’s meeting of the City Council wasn’t too contentious. The two issues that drew the most debate were rules and regulations on accessory dwellings and the rezoning of a property on Fourth Street, near Peters Creek Parkway.Winston’s tiny house policies. I personally am more concerned with issues of development and gentrification.

Winston’s accessory dwelling/tiny house policies have received the most coverage from local media. I think Councilmember Clark’s comments on accessory dwellings/tiny houses were insightful. Clark said, “I think … Read the rest

East Winston Vs. Forsyth County Tax Assessor, Round II

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The most recent county-wide tax reappraisal was relatively non-controversial. Compared to the uproar that occurred in 2013, the 2017 reappraisal has been well received. Overall, the county’s home values increased. About 70 percent of homes in Forsyth County increased in value and 30 percent of homes decreased in value. But the 2017 tax reappraisal was more bad news for East Winston.

Winston’s majority-minority section of town, once again saw home values decline. East Winston residents are once again asking why … Read the rest

Still No Easy Solutions For New Hope Manor

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This month’s meeting of the Winston-Salem City Council’s Finance Committee once again addressed substandard living conditions at the New Hope Manor Apartments. See Jordan Green’s article at Triad City Beat for a good write-up of this issue. The last several months has seen a considerable amount of the city council’s time being spent on two troubled low-income apartment complexes; Rolling Hills and New Hope Manor. Rolling Hills and New Hope Manor were both allowed to deteriorate into disrepair by … Read the rest

West Salem Marketplace Plaza Fails To Get Planning Board Approval

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“Proposed development would displace working-class neighborhood,” reads Jordan Green’s October 5th headline in Triad City Beat. That’s a theme that is unfortunately all too familiar in Winston. A working-class African American neighborhood is torn down. Affluent housing/office/retail development is erected and people of color are displaced. Over the years Winston has consistently grown and developed at the expense of its African American neighborhoods.

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Happy Hill is Winston’s oldest black neighborhood with a history intertwined with Old Salem. … Read the rest

Gentrification Continues In Winston’s Holly Avenue Neighborhood

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The Winston-Salem Journal reported that an apartment renovation project is underway on Holly Avenue. Owner and developer Jeff Zenger is transforming the apartments at 648 Holly Avenue. When the 27-unit building is completed it will be known as “The Livery.” Apartments at the Livery will be equipped with a host of modern amenities, rents will range from $845 to over $900.

The Holly Avenue neighborhood is located between Downtown Winston and West Salem. Developers, such as Mr. Zenger have … Read the rest