History of Public Housing in Charlottesville

In the 1960s, Charlottesville built its first public housing site, displacing residents from the primarily African-American Vinegar Hill neighborhood, which was razed in the name of “urban renewal.” Now spread over more than 40 acres, the city’s 376 public housing units—all built between 1965 and 1981—are deteriorating and in need of replacement. Crescent Halls, which is largely home to elderly low-income residents, is in particularly poor condition. Its elevators, heating and cooling, and plumbing systems are failing and in a state of general disrepair.

Many citizens who live in failing public housing, or lack access to affordable housing, have been marginalized and divested from our community.  Charlottesville faces an affordable housing crisis perpetuating generational cycles of poverty as families must make hard choices between shelter and other basic needs. Following the tragic events in Charlottesville during August 2017, long-standing disparities in basic measures of well-being and opportunity have been further brought to light.

The condition of, and access to, affordable housing reveals volumes about a city’s culture and values, and in Charlottesville, the history and current state of public housing leaves much to be desired. The time is now to build a better future, and plans (and construction) are under way to do just that.