Hillsboro Village (Hendersonville, Henderson: neighborhood, theater, construction)

[multics]

I recently came across the HWEN (Hillsboro-West End) newsletter and came upon an interesting article about the history of the Hillsboro West End area (which includes Hillsboro Village). Apparently two of the major issues facing the neighborhood back in the 70s were the construction of I-440 and (more interestingly) "negative perceptions" of the area.

I'm curious about what these "negative perceptions" were. Was Hillsboro Village a pretty rough part of town back in the day?

[alleycat]

It took years to finally get I-440 approved for construction and built.

I'm not sure about the "negative perceptions". I don't remember that there were that many negatives associated with Hillsboro Village. The only thing I can think of was it might have been perceived as "Bohemian" and flaming liberal by a few people (considering the times). I don't think all that many people had an opinion of the area either way. The article is probably referring to a comment made by one or two people about "pot smoking hippies" living in the area, or something like that. Either that, or it's referring to the never-ending parking problems in the area. ;-)

[IngleDave]

I lived in Hillsboro Village on Belcourt for several years during the early 80s, and spent quite a bit of time there prior to that...(this is not an admission of guilt, merely a fact). In my opinion, that was the perfect neighborhood. Within a short walk was the H.G. Hill grocery store, Woolworth's, the drug store, dry cleaners, laundry-mat, pet store, ice cream store, the Villager pub, of course the twin Belcourt theater, then showing first runs and everything else one would need to function. The tennis courts at Peabody were available, Centennial Park was a short walk away (or bike). I used to take my bike along the route of 440 before construction began. At that point it was more a linear park than anything. I can't imagine HV being considered unsavory...just perhaps a bit more natural with the expectations of a real life in a real urban center as opposed to the granite and stainless steel requiring generation we've created now. If we're lucky, we'll ditch the Dockers and laptops and get back to a bit of Bohemia and live conversations. Those were indeed happy times in the Village.

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by IngleDave

I can't imagine HV being considered unsavory...

I couldn't either, other than possibly the things I mentioned in my earlier post.

It certainly wasn't consider a "rough area" any time that I can remember (from the 70's onward).

I'm wondering if in the article mentioned in the original post, "negative perceptions" really meant that people were just not aware of what the area offered in the way of semi-urban living. In that case, it wasn't so much negative, as just not noticing the positives. I'm just wondering out loud.

[nicholasa101]

Originally Posted by IngleDave

I lived in Hillsboro Village on Belcourt for several years during the early 80s, and spent quite a bit of time there prior to that...(this is not an admission of guilt, merely a fact). In my opinion, that was the perfect neighborhood. Within a short walk was the H.G. Hill grocery store, Woolworth's, the drug store, dry cleaners, laundry-mat, pet store, ice cream store, the Villager pub, of course the twin Belcourt theater, then showing first runs and everything else one would need to function. The tennis courts at Peabody were available, Centennial Park was a short walk away (or bike). I used to take my bike along the route of 440 before construction began. At that point it was more a linear park than anything. I can't imagine HV being considered unsavory...just perhaps a bit more natural with the expectations of a real life in a real urban center as opposed to the granite and stainless steel requiring generation we've created now. If we're lucky, we'll ditch the Dockers and laptops and get back to a bit of Bohemia and live conversations. Those were indeed happy times in the Village.

Oh- thanks for the walk down memory lane--really! I lived there as well in the early eightys (actually in Hendersonville-but spent a lot of time in HV) I remember H.G. Hills-- the one in Hendersonville used to be the "hang out place" in the parking lot--looking back -- I dont know why it was fun to hang out in the parking lot, I also lived in downtown Nashville in the early 90's....I agree those were happy times!

[soulful]

I hung out in Hillsboro Village a lot in the early to mid 80's and thought it was a blast. I was young and it seemed like Nashville's little West Village or San Francisco. Fond memories