To commemorate the first wave of residents moving in to new buildings, the Kindlewood Advisory Committee, Piedmont Housing Alliance, and National Housing Trust hosted community members and stakeholders at the redevelopment site on August 19.
Following a procession from the Second Street SE entrance to the new parking lot near the intersection of Sixth Street SE and Monticello Avenue, celebration attendees heard remarks from resident, redevelopment, and area leaders.
Developed in 1978, the 12-acre Kindlewood—formerly known as Friendship Court, and before that Garrett Square—was created following the destruction of the predominantly Black Vinegar Hill neighborhood under the guise of urban renewal. The site of the Kindlewood community has a complicated and disturbing history that began long before the razing of Vinegar Hill, with a plantation that enslaved at least 51 people formerly occupying the land, which was stolen from the Monacan Tribe.
Addressing the crowd, City Councilor Michael Payne acknowledged Charlottesville’s historic lack of investment in Kindlewood. “The city had committed great sins against this community [over the course of] decades,” he said. Despite the long history of city wrongdoings, Payne is optimistic that Kindlewood’s resident-led, zero displacement approach to redevelopment will be “view[ed] not as a one-off, but as a model.”
While a number of local leaders spoke at the celebration, the most impactful remarks came from former and current Kindlewood residents. As a resident member of the Kindlewood Advisory Committee, Crystal Johnson dedicated hours of her time to improving her community and ensuring that residents were at the forefront of the redevelopment effort. “Kindlewood will be a thriving, inclusive, and diverse neighborhood because of your contributions,” she said.
“I am purposely stopping, pausing, to just breathe the preciousness of the air, calm our minds, calm our spirits, and take this moment in,” said former resident and current KAC member Myrtle Houchens. “Behold the beauty, there are no words. … Every tear that I shed today is happiness, tears of hopefulness, tears that we made it, and there’s so much more to come.”
With her fellow KAC members and residents surrounding her, Houchens cut a bright red ribbon to celebrate the 20 families moving in to the first section of new housing. Move in officially began on August 14.
“The [look] of these buildings makes us so excited, bring[s] us so much excitement,” said resident and PHA employee Maryam Bayan. After living in Kindlewood for four years, Bayan is ecstatic to finally be in her new home. Speaking about everyone involved in the redevelopment, she said, “they are so diverse, so working hard, and we appreciate them.”
“It really means a dream come true to me. It’s a big day,” said resident Towheed Zaki. “We have been waiting for this for almost three years now.” Speaking about his experience living in Kindlewood, Zaki expressed his gratitude to specific members of administration and leadership. “Miss Houchens, Miss Marcy, Miss Arlene from the office—they have been wonderful to everyone, they have been kind to everyone.”
Kindlewood’s redevelopment will continue with the demolition of empty units and construction of new housing over the next eight years.