Every year in May, historic preservation groups, businesses, and civic organizations across the country celebrate Preservation Month. The Charlotte Historic Commission’s fifty-year anniversary is an opportunity to share the stories that shaped Charlotte’s historic districts and chart the future of the city’s preservation program for the coming years.
Development and Destruction
During the second half of the nineteenth century, Charlotte’s urban core was divided into four wards. The northwest quadrant, called Fourth Ward, was a prosperous area where merchants, clergy, and professionals lived and worked. This prosperity, however, did not last in the decades to follow. Shifts in urban development and federal programs drew residential development away from Fourth Ward.
The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought streetcar lines to newly developed areas like Dilworth, Myers Park, Plaza Midwood, and Elizabeth. The construction of the interstate system with the passage of the Federal Highway Act of 1956 and new home construction spurred by the low-cost mortgage incentives of the GI Bill pulled homeowners away from urban areas. Federal urban renewal programs aimed at eradicating “blight” exacerbated the decline of urban residential areas. In the case of Charlotte, the once-vibrant African American community in Second Ward’s Brooklyn Village was virtually erased, now occupied by the Government Center Complex.
These changes left urban residential areas – in Charlotte and across the nation – underinvested or vacant. By the 1970s, many historic residences were subdivided into rentals or boardinghouses and deteriorated with little upkeep. Vandalism, fire, illegal activities, and a lack of new investment worsened these conditions.
Yet even in the midst of these challenges, some Charlotte residents saw possibility instead of loss. Local civic groups began to recognize the potential in neighborhoods like Fourth Ward and stepped forward to champion their revitalization. The Junior League and the Citizens for Preservation (CFP) led the effort. Dan Morill and Edward Perzel, two junior faculty in the history department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, advocated the benefits of preserving historic neighborhoods. Dennis Rash, Hugh McColl, and Joe Martin at North Carolina National Bank (NCNB)- now Bank of America- also backed the movement, adding influential support to the growing push for revitalization.
The House That Sparked a Movement
Revival of the Fourth Ward neighborhood started in 1975, when the Junior League purchased the Berryhill House at 324 W. 9th Street. Built in 1884 by industrialist John Newcomb, the elaborate Italianate-style home had been converted into apartments in the 1950s. Like many structures in the neighborhood, it had suffered years of decline, and demolition appeared likely.
Instead, the house became a catalyst for change. With funding from the Knight Foundation, Ivey’s Department Store, and NCNB, nearly 100 volunteers spent months stabilizing and restoring the building. Their work paid off in 1976, when the Berryhill House reopened as a restored landmark and shining example of preservation. To continue the momentum, members of the Junior League and the Citizens for Preservation formed the Berryhill Foundation. Over the next several years, they rehabilitated dozens of homes and relocated endangered historic buildings from across Charlotte onto vacant lots in Fourth Ward—saving them from destruction and integrating them into the neighborhood fabric.
As the transformation became visible, City stakeholders recognized an opportunity to build on this new energy. They began exploring ways to support the broader rebirth of the center city and attract cultural institutions and housing development to the area.
A New Framework for Protecting Charlotte’s History
As Fourth Ward came back to life, the City began laying the groundwork for long‑term preservation. In May 1976, City Council adopted the Historic District Ordinance, giving Charlotte formal tools to safeguard historic neighborhoods. Fourth Ward became the city’s first local historic district under the new ordinance.
The Ordinance also led to the creation of the Historic District Commission, tasked with “encouraging the restoration, preservation, and conservation of historically significant areas, structures, sites or objects within the City’s historic districts”. This marked a turning point: preservation was no longer just a grassroots effort—it now had an official city-backed framework and a dedicated body to guide development.
Since the adoption of the ordinance, the Charlotte Historic District Commission (HDC) has guided development and offered technical advice across all designated districts. The Commission has reviewed thousands of projects—from small exterior repairs to large mixed‑use developments—to ensure they respect and reinforce each neighborhood’s character. Through this steady, decades‑long stewardship, the HDC has helped protect the identity of the city’s historic communities as Charlotte has continued to grow.
Over the next fifty years, an additional seven local historic districts were designated across the city: Dilworth (1983, with an expansion in 1992), Plaza Midwood (1992), Wesley Heights (1994), Hermitage Court (2006), Wilmore (2010), Oaklawn Park (2020), and McCrorey Heights (2022). Each designation reflects a growing recognition that these neighborhoods offer irreplaceable pieces of the city’s diverse cultural and architectural story.
Looking Ahead – The Next Fifty Years
In the early years of the Country’s historic preservation movement, the focus was on preserving the nation’s iconic colonial sites– places like Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Mount Vernon, and Boston’s Old South Meeting House. Over time, however, preservation expanded to include a wider range of places that tell the story of community identity, cultural heritage, and everyday life. That shift is shaping Charlotte’s next chapter.
At the May 13th Historic District Commission meeting, we introduced our new name—Charlotte Historic Preservation (CHP). The name reflects a broader vision: a city where “historic places, cultural heritage, and community identity” are essential components of the city’s future success. To make that vision real, CHP is focusing on three areas of work: stewarding historic districts, expanding cultural heritage programming, and strengthening preservation trades training.
These efforts are already forging new connections across the city. CHP staff have been collaborating with teams such as the Office of Sustainability & Resilience, Workforce Development, Economic Development, Corridors of Opportunity, and Housing & Neighborhood Services. Together, we’re exploring how preservation tools can advance some of Charlotte’s core initiatives—from reducing waste by reusing historic materials, to leveraging older buildings for affordable housing, to training skilled workers in areas like window repair and masonry.
With a renewed vision and growing partnerships, Charlotte Historic Preservation is building on fifty years of progress. Just as earlier generations rallied to save Fourth Ward, today’s preservation work is laying the foundation for vibrant, inclusive, and resilient historic communities for decades to come. As Charlotte grows, its historic neighborhoods will continue to anchor the city’s identity—reminding us where we’ve been, inspiring where we’re going, and ensuring that progress and preservation move forward together.
Learn More
Interested in what’s going on with our team and new initiatives? Follow the department @cltplanning and keep an eye out for updates.
Need help navigating the Historic District Commission process or have questions for Charlotte Historic Preservation Staff? Reach out to us via email at charlottehdc@charlottenc.gov.
Additional Resources
To learn more about the Berryhill House that helped spark the local preservation movement in Charlotte, visit http://landmarkscommission.org/2016/10/14/the-berryhill-house/
Information about Charlotte’s eight local historic districts is available on our website and Chapter 3 in the Historic District Design Standards.
Learn more about the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, the federal legislation that helped enable to the creation of local historic districts: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/archeology/national-historic-preservation-act.htm
References
Bank of America, The Bank that Built: The Story of Bank of America and Charlotte, 2019.
Bradbury, Tom. Dilworth: The First 100 Years. Charlotte, NC: Dilworth Community Development Association, 1992.
Friends of Fourth Ward, A Walk Through Historic Fourth Ward. Charlotte, NC: Loftin & Company, 1997.
Holtz, Cameron. Fourth Ward Charlotte: A Neighborhood History. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2023.
History South – Tom Hanchett. (2025, July 20). History South. https://www.historysouth.org/
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