The Downtown neighborhood was a close-knit African American community that included homes, businesses, and the Sycamore Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Descendants describe the area as thriving and vibrant with a high quality of life.
 The Housing Act as amended in 1949 created new national goals for decent living environments, funded "slum clearance," and urban renewal projects, and national public housing programs. This led to the creation of the Redevelopment Commission of the City of Greenville (December 1958) by the City Council. The commission's first task was the Shore Drive Redevelopment Project N. C. R-15 (February 1960). The Shore Drive Redevelopment Project was to revitalize Greenville's downtown area.
 Listen to Interview with: Charles Gatlin - ECU Digital Collections
 Listen to Interview with: Lucille W. Gorham and Lucille Gorham Sayles - ECU Digital Collections
 Listen to Interview with: Alton Harris - ECU Digital Collections
 The Housing Act as amended in 1949 created new national goals for decent living environments, funded "slum clearance," and urban renewal projects, and national public housing programs. This led to the creation of the Redevelopment Commission of the City of Greenville (December 1958) by the City Council. The commission's first task was the Shore Drive Redevelopment Project N. C. R-15 (February 1960). The Shore Drive Redevelopment Project was to revitalize Greenville's downtown area.
 Listen to Interview with: Charles Gatlin - ECU Digital Collections
 Listen to Interview with: Lucille W. Gorham and Lucille Gorham Sayles - ECU Digital Collections
 Listen to Interview with: Alton Harris - ECU Digital Collections
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African American
