In mid 2017, a group of African Americans from the business community were brought together by two city council members to answer the question, “why are there no Black led development companies actively building for Charlottesville’s black community?” This question inevitably led to questions of “what, why, where and how” and so began our journey to the creation of an African American led community development corporation. New Hill is inspired by the legacy of Vinegar Hill, a once thriving, mixed development, Black community in Charlottesville that was razed in the 1960’s. The destruction of Vinegar Hill has had lasting consequences for the African American community of Charlottesville and has hindered equitable prosperity within the community for decades. Charlottesville is undergoing significant growth and development and it is imperative that the Black community be actively included in this process. Development in Charlottesville has generally not favored the Black community, therefore it's time for more members of the Black community to take on leadership roles at all development levels, and New Hill is here to bring in everyone's voice It's time to be the developers. Talking is no longer sufficient; we must reclaim our sense of community, rebuild our appropriated assets, and celebrate our history and culture. We believe that New Hill, guided by the needs stated by the Black Community, can begin to restore what was lost.
