Anyone here grow up in Whitehaven? (Memphis, Germantown: upper-class, 2015, apartment complex)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

When Elvis Presley bought Graceland in 1957, Whitehaven was a separate community (I don't know if it was incorporated, with a mayor, aldermen, etc.) that was beginning to suburbanize. By 1970, when it was annexed by Memphis, it was a middle to upper-class area. Sometime thereafter, white flight started, and by the late 1980s Whitehaven was practically all-black. Most of the churches built for white congregations have been sold to black ones. Bishop Byrne High School closed a couple of years ago after years of declining enrollment.
But if you look at Google Maps, there are plenty of nice houses in the area.

[TheKernel91]

I lived in Whitehaven from 2004-2010 and yes there's some nice homes and neighborhoods all through Whitehaven. The area do hold alot of middle class blacks. The thing that hurt Whitehaven is troubled apartment complexes where alot of the crime happens, deterioration, and competition from Southaven just across the stateline. Whitehaven dose show some age in some areas. It needs just more investment in the community (which is in works) to help property values.

Honestly there's neighborhoods in Whitehaven that could be dropped in Germantown and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I brought company over from different parts of town and at times some were shocked at how nice my neighborhood was. (Media perception) ...Whitehaven high school is a school that doesn't receive the credit it deserves. Many good things happen from that school. Editorial: The Authentic Success Of Whitehaven High School - Memphis Daily News

Whitehaven isn't there yet as a place I would suggest new people to Memphis to look for a place to live. Truthfully there's just better options and there's issues need to be worked. Some life long Memphians on the other hand could deal with some of the short comings and find them a deal. The Haven - Memphis Daily News

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Originally Posted by TheKernel91

The thing that hurt Whitehaven is troubled apartment complexes where alot of the crime happens, deterioration, and competition from Southaven just across the stateline.

There is a huge apartment complex south of Winchester, between I-55 and the airport. It may have been nice when it was first built. Could it be a hotbed of crime? It appears that some of them have been torn down.



https://goo.gl/maps/DuSqAyaAKyS2

[TheKernel91]

Originally Posted by Mouldy Old Schmo

There is a huge apartment complex south of Winchester, between I-55 and the airport. It may have been nice when it was first built. Could it be a hotbed of crime? It appears that some of them have been torn down.



https://goo.gl/maps/DuSqAyaAKyS2

I believe they have torn it down. Haven't been on that side of town in a minute. I guarantee it was crime, a few have been shut/torn down because of it. Unfortunately alot of apartments in Whitehaven have fallen into crime hotbeds. (Pepper Tree, Lions Gate, Tulane, and etc.) Theres maybe a few with not much happening, but chances of crime raises. Then majority of them are older (1970s, 80s) with not much update done throughout the years.

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

A problem is that even if the crime-ridden apartments are torn down, the people living there will have to go somewhere. And only a minority of them are actually criminals.

[TheKernel91]

Originally Posted by Mouldy Old Schmo

A problem is that even if the crime-ridden apartments are torn down, the people living there will have to go somewhere. And only a minority of them are actually criminals.

True there's a small percent that actually cause the trouble. A lot of people living there are just lower income, and trying to make it to the next day. Dropping the crime in Whitehaven in general will most likely help the area with value and investment. Like I said most of the neighborhoods are well kept. When I use to hear people on these boards (or another) complain about the neighborhoods around Graceland, I was confused ?? Those neighborhoods are some of the best in the area.



https://goo.gl/maps/X3hmXa22Jsx

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

Before blacks moved into Whitehaven, I'm not sure they had an upscale neighborhood of their own.

[eastmemphisguy]

Originally Posted by Mouldy Old Schmo

Before blacks moved into Whitehaven, I'm not sure they had an upscale neighborhood of their own.

I believe Glenview/ South Parkway was earlier. Although the condition of individual properties over there can be hit or miss, you can tell it was once a very nice area. Lots of the kinds of houses people pay big bucks for in Midtown.

[BirdieBelle]

The changes began when the southern leg of 240 was built.

Bellevue/Hwy 51 and the businesses along there began to dry up, and property values eventually took a dive.

I remember going to see Footloose at a theatre out there in the mid-80s, and while Southland was not the top mall in the area at that time, it was not so scary to keep us Midtowners away.

[sldream]

That brings up an interesting point. I can't think of any one city where the introduction of the interstate system in established neighborhoods didn't adversely affect it which made the fight not to allow it to run through Overton Park such a huge deal.