Emily and I live in a neighborhood on the northend of downtown Memphis called "Uptown". Uptown is a multi-economic, multi-ethnic, multi-generational neighborhood that continues to take shape.
Uptown, also known as the Greenlaw community, is the oldest neighborhood in Memphis. In the mid 1800's, prominent Memphis families began to build large, stately homes in the area. A large population of blue collar German and Irish immigrants followed, building smaller homes next door. What was then called "Greenlaw" quickly became a unique mix of ethnic and economic diversity.
Today, Uptown still retains its identity as a historic neighborhood, with beautifully constructed old homes and unique architecture. We really love walking through our neighborhood because you are able to see so many different types of homes, and so many different types of people. The diversity of Uptown is why we really love living here.
For years prior to the reinvestment in the Uptown community, the area suffered from serious neglect and "white flight", which left behind a community that was void of the resources it needed to sustain itself. The Hurt Village Housing Project, which once resided within the Uptown community had become a poverty compound, cramming low-income families into sub-standard housing.
Uptown was re-born out of a policy shift that transitioned dilapidated housing projects into legitimate housing stock that encourages a mix of incomes to reside side-by-side. Today, Uptown covers 100 city blocks and is the largest Hope VI redevelopment in the country.
The new homes that are now interspersed throughout the Uptown community are designed with New Urbanism principals in mind. Walkability and traditional neighborhood layouts were integrated to make Uptown a community where residents are better connected. All of the newly constructed homes were built with high "green" standards, using sustainable materials, and adhering to the regulations of ECObuild. The siding of Uptown houses are built using a material called Hardie Plank, a fiber & concrete material that was designed in Australia to withstand extreme weather conditions. Hardie Plank does not retain moisture, so it is resistant to mold and rot. Since the material does not expand or contract like wood, Hardie Plank also holds paint three to four times longer, reducing maintenance costs.
We love living in Uptown because of the diversity of people. I feel strongly that the success of an urban environment relies on its ability to accommodate and support everyone who lives in a particular community (not just the wealthy). My hope is that Uptown will become a place where black and white, rich and poor, old and young can join together in the spirit of community.
To read a little more about our neighborhood, check out the monthly newsletter that I help put together here.
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