Hidden Valley

Hidden Valley is a neighborhood located in the North-east section of the city, between the I-85 highway, Sugar Creek and North Tryon streets. It was originally built in the early 1960s, as a predominately middle-class white residents suburban area. In the late 1960s, middle class black families seeking better housing began to move into the neighborhood. While this triggered a wave of white flight, the neighborhood remained stable and thriving as a enclave for mostly middle class black families. Data from the 1976 Neighborhood in Charlotte Report paint a picture of a thriving communitiy. The median family income for the neighborhood was $1,000 above the median income for the City has a whole. Only 4% of the families were reported as being below poverty level and only 1 % of residents were receiving some form of public assistance. According to City metrics, 90% of families were considered stable (a higher percentage than the city average), and the “deterioration potential” for the area was categorized as low. Hidden Valley Elementary School was open and operating. Much of the neighborhood remained undeveloped or utilized for industrial purposes. The neighborhood continued to grow during the 1980s, and quickly became one of the City’s most densely populated neighborhoods. Traffic congestion, school overcrowding, and utility consumption all played a role in decisions regarding new residential development in the area.

Today Hidden Valley is a rapidly changing neighborhood, whose population is mainly African-American and Hispanic/Latino. CHARP started working in the neighborhood in August 2018, establishing collaborations with the Hidden Valley Elementary school, the Hidden Valley Organization, and many other actors and stakeholders active in the neighborhood.