Willow Oaks
New Urbanism Brings Rebirth
“Born again” is a literal reality in Willow Oaks, a working class neighborhood in the heart of Greensboro. Reborn as a master-planned, mixed use, mixed income community, it represents the best planning practices of the 21st century.
Designed using New Urbanism plannng principles, Willow Oaks provides a traditional pedestrian-friendly neighborhood environment with tree-lined streets, small parks, alleyways, and sidewalks for homes built to reflect the best in established Greensboro neigborhoods.
A Village Center provides a Fitness Center with meeting and party rooms plus a childcare facility. Land is reserved for a neighborhood commercial center slated for predevelopment in 2012.
Besides its central location, Willow Oaks has easy access to golf courses, recreation centers, swimming pools and libraries, as well as the restaurants, shopping and theaters in dynamic Downtown Greensboro. Three magnet schools serve the neigborhood children: Hampton Elementary, a leadership school; Hairston Middle, a prospective International Baccalaureate school; and Dudley High, an Education, Engineering and Health Sciences magnet school.
The transformation from the deteriorated community of Morningside Homes is a remarkable story of quality land planning and architectural design, conjoined with private property development and management. It is a model for how a 50-year old “housing project” can become a catalyst for comprehensive neighborhood revitalization.
Sixty years ago the neighborhood was called Lincoln Grove, a solid working class community of single-family homes. The construction in the 1950s of Morningside Homes, a public housing project of 380 units, changed the original neighborhood into predominently rental housing with high density and Greensboro’s highest crime rate. The Nazi/Klan confontation in 1979 solidified Morningside’s image as housing of last choice, while a large percentage of the units were turned down by applicants.
The transfomation of Willow Oaks began with a public design charrette creating a new vision for the community. The planning process brought together more than 50 public and private entities including the City of Greensboro, the Greensboro Housing Authority, the Urban Atlantic land developer and local non-profit and for-profit builders. Public housing and community residents, neighborhood activists, Bennett College and N.C. A&T State University were also involved along with a host of service providers.
Today, Phase I has been completed with most of the 210 units of multi-family housing leased with a waiting list.
Single-family housing in Phase II is proceeding on schedule, following the completion of infrastructure construction. The builders, Habitat for Humanity (info@habitatgreensboro.org) and O.U. Chavis Contracting Company (ochavis@triad.rr.com), may offer more than $25,000 in incentives to qualified buyers.
The South English Street Corridor, intended as the third phase of development in Willow Oaks, is in the planning stage. The Cottage Grove Initiative, also a partnership between private and public entities and neighborhood residents, is being structured following the principles used to revitalize the East Lake Meadows neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia.
Critics agree that Willow Oaks is well on the way to becoming one of Greensboro’s most desirable neighborhoods. Learn more at: www.WillowOaksNewHomes.com.
The Village Center has meeting and party rooms, a Fitness Center and a childcare facility on the premises.
Phase I has been completed, with most of the 210 units of multi-family housing leased with a waiting list.
Duplex units are also available.
Single-family housing in Phase II is proceeding on schedule.
