College Hill, Greensboro, North Carolina

Typical nineteenth-century residence in College Hill

College Hill is a neighborhood in the west central section of the United States city of Greensboro, North Carolina. College Hill has the distinction of being Greensboro’s first neighborhood. The narrow streets lined with Queen Anne mansions and humble bungalows are enhanced by offbeat boutiques and eateries that cater to an eclectic clientele from nearby colleges. Packed with historic sites and conveniently located, College Hill blends historic architecture with urban amenities to create an energetic neighborhood.

Geography

Boundaries

College Hill is bounded as follows:

• on the north by West Market Street;
• on the west by Tate/McIver Streets and UNCG;
• on the east by Spring Street; and
• on the south by the Southern Railway tracks.

ZIP code

The 27403 ZIP code corresponds entirely or almost entirely with College Hill.

History

This broad hilltop just west of downtown Greensboro was settled in the 1840s and 50s by individuals associated with nearby Greensboro College. Their strong Methodist affiliation earned the hill it’s nineteenth century nickname “Piety Hill,” and several commodious homes from the period remain including the Bumpass-Troy House (now Troy-Bumpas) and Boxwood.

The hill and its convenient location proved a popular choice for Greensboro Victorian era middle class who wished to escape the hustle and bustle of the growing village. Renamed “College Hill” after the establishment of UNCG in 1891, a number of elaborate Queen Anne-style houses were built along Walker Avenue, Mendenhall Street, and Morehead Avenue in the 1890s The Orlo Epps House (private) of 1890 was designed by architect of UNCG’s Foust Hall, with elaborate details such as turned porch posts, shingle siding and colorful paint scheme.

Development was not limited to residences. Greensboro’s oldest fire house stands at 547 South Mendenhall Street. The two-story brick building served as the West End Hose Company from 1897 to 1919, when it was replaced with a new building one block north at 442 South Mendenhall. Both building have been adaptively reused, the first as a general store, the second as a private residence. The Wafco Mill complex began as a grist mill in 1893, with subsequent additions through 1912. The complex was restored in 1983 as unusual and charming condominiums.

Two small commercial areas are located in College Hill. The intersection of Tate Street and Walker Avenue features numerous restaurants, two coffee houses, and stores that cater to the nearby university. The intersection of Mendenhall and Spring Garden streets has a smaller collection of stores that serve the student population. The students and growing nearby campuses that give the neighborhood its energy also create special problems. Parking has been an issue in the narrow streets for decades, and student housing sometimes challenges city health codes. However, the area has seen handsome returns in housing values over the past several years and a strong homeowners association has created a powerful political voice for residents.^[1]

Parks and public spaces

• Peabody Park
• Springdale Park

Notable architects and builders

• Harry Barton
• Orlo Epps
• Frank A. Weston

Other notable civic institutions

• Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
• College Place Methodist Church
• Greensboro College
• The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)

On the National Register of Historic Places

College Hill National Register Historic District, 1993

References

1. ^ College Hill National Register Nomination, 1993

External links

• City of Greensboro