Grier Heights Community Improvement Org

Grier Heights a Proud and Historically Progressive Neighborhood

Grier Heights History

Grier Heights was begun in 1886 with four houses. It was initially a farming community with land selling for $18.00 per acre. In 1907, land was bought by Mr. Sam Billings, Mr. John Jackson, Mr. Arthur S. Grier, Mr. Lee Father MacDuff Dinkins and Mr. James McVay.

Grier Heights History

In 1927 these men led by Father MacDuff Dinkins initiated the need for a school in the community. The Board of Education approved their request and offered to build a frame structure. Unsatisfied with the offer of a frame building, these landowners immediately began working to raise money for a brick structure. Supervised by Mrs. Nellie B. Dykes, $505.00 was raised by community. With a $500.00 donation from the School Board Committee, plus help from the Rosenwald Fund, two acres of land were purchased from Mr. Sam Billings at $1,000 per acre. Billings, the school namesake, donated one acre.

Completed in 1927, Billingsville School held its first session of school with classes taught by Connie H.Watson. The school grew rapidly and included grades 1-9 until the mid-60's when Randolph Jr. High was built. At that time Billingsville became an elementary school with grades 1-6.

The Neighborhood

Just 2 miles from the modern skyscrapers of uptwon Charlotte, Grier Heights is an urban residential community struggling for survival. Grier Heights is one of the oldest African-American communities in Charlotte, predating most of its neighbors. Over ninety percent of its 2,600 residents are black; many of these area descendants of original settlers. The neighborhood is bordered by Monroe, Wendover, Randolph and Briar Creek Roads and is surrounded by some of the city's most affluent areas. Grier Heights boasts an elementary school and major public services such as the headquarters of the Mecklenburg County Health and Social Services Departments. Large medical office parks reside nearby and new private-sector commercial developments on the edge of the neighborhood prove the area's viability. The tidy single family homes and apartments in Grier Heights were built by African-Americans in order to share in the American dream of home ownership.