Created in 1957, the Charlotte Redevelopment Commission was charged by the city of Charlotte with planning and organizing urban renewal projects, and to a lesser extent, projects for rehabilitation of declining older neighborhoods. The organization's name changed several times during its lifespan (from Urban Redevelopment Department, to Community Development, and finally to Neighborhood Development). Neighborhoods where these urban development projects took place include Belmont, Brooklyn, Cherry, Dilworth, Downtown, First Ward, Greenville, North Charlotte, Third Ward, and Wilmore. Urban renewal in Charlotte disproportionately affected African American neighborhoods and residents. By far the largest of areas affected were Brooklyn and Greenville, which were almost completely torn down to make way for road construction and government offices. The first demolition took place in 1961. The Redevelopment Commission passed primary responsibility for the urban renewal program to the city of Charlotte on May 1, 1973. This digital collection is comprised of photographs of Charlotte Redevelopment Commission projects taken during the time of urban renewal projects. These photographs primarily document homes and businesses either before or after demolition or repair.
