Why are there Victorian mansions in Uptown’s historic Fourth Ward neighborhood?
These days, skyscrapers and modern architecture take up most of Charlotte’s center city. Its historic homes and buildings have been long since demolished, in large part as a result of the government’s Urban Renewal program in the 1950s and 60s, which was designed to remove unsightly low-income housing. Unfortunately, in addition to pushing out the vibrant culture of the city’s lower income communities, the program also cleared out many of the area’s more impressive homes.
Then, in the 1970s, the focus shifted—right around the same time it became popular to renovate historic Victorian homes. And while the city’s master plan from 1966 indicated that the historic residences in the Fourth Ward should be bulldozed in favor of more skyscrapers, local Charlotteans saw the value in preserving some of these homes and through them, the city’s history.
Redevelopment began in the neighborhood in the late 1970s and now around 40 of the several hundred houses originally there, remain in its historic district. A walk down its tree-lined streets will take you past Victorian-style homes from the late 1800s, including an 1890s residence on Church Street where Charlotte mayor S.S. McNinch lived at one time. Like its neighbors, it’s an impressive home that especially stands out against the backdrop of the rest of the city’s gleaming high-rises.
Historic Fourth Ward
What: The neighborhood in the northwest quadrant of Uptown Charlotte featuring 100-plus-year-old Victorian homes.
Where: The area is loosely bordered by Graham Street, 10th Street, Church Street, and 6th Street.
Cost: Free
Pro Tip: There are walking maps for touring the area available at Charlotte’s Visitor Information Center at 501 S. College Street. Keep an eye out for annual tours including a holiday tour in December and garden tour in May. And whenever you go, plan on stopping in for a bite at Alexander Michael’s. A local tavern located in the former Crowell-Berryhill grocery store, which opened in 1897, Al Mike’s has been a neighborhood favorite since the area’s redevelopment in the early 1980s.
This story comes from Sarah Crosland’s book “Secret Charlotte: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure,” which you can buy on Amazon here or at local shops like Park Road Books and Paper Skyscraper. It’s a great read for anyone who loves Charlotte — and we’re not just saying that because she’s our former boss.
Photo: Austin Caine
This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Why are there Victorian mansions in Uptown’s historic Fourth Ward neighborhood?."