Check out the First Ward website!

In 1993, the Charlotte Housing Authority received a federal grant to redevelop Earle Village, a public housing complex. The authority and its partner, Bank of America, developed First Ward Place, which is being hailed nationally as an enlightened and economically viable alternative to low-income housing. And First Ward Place, in turn, became the engine that drove the economic miracle that is the First Ward neighborhood today.

Another obvious feature of the neighborhood is the hum of construction activity, as developers vie to fill the remaining vacant property with new projects. This is a living example of the economic phenomenon of pump priming, as the obvious vitality and success of First Ward Place has led to other development activity.

The First Ward is the home of important historic and civic institutions. What today is the performance and artistic venue of Spirit Square was born as First Baptist Church. Other neighborhood icons include the Little Rock AME Zion Church, the Afro-American Cultural Center and First Ward Elementary School.

Going forward, the future of First Ward appears certain to have a strong flavor of artistic and cultural venues. The North Tryon area has become a vibrant cultural, arts and entertainment district. A restored Carolina Theater and new Children's Learning Center (a joint venture of the public library and Children's Theater of Charlotte) will only enhance that. And the city's vintage trolley line, slated to be extended from its current base in South End through the Center City to Eleventh Street, will encompass several stops in First Ward, which will drive further development.

First Ward Community Fund, Inc.
Over the past several years First Ward, one of Charlotte's most blighted inner-city neighborhoods, has been completely rebuilt. This occurred in part through funding provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the form of a Hope VI grant. While making steady and certain progress toward self-sufficiency, a substantial portion of our residents still rely on some form of public assistance. To aid those families several neighbors started the First Ward Community Fund, Inc., a nonprofit corporation formed in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund works to raise money for educational, cultural and charitable endeavors for residents of First Ward. Our organizational priorities have been to raise money for scholarships to summer camps and to provide an annual holiday party for the neighborhood children. The First Ward Community Fund is a grassroots organization that applies 100% of all donations toward its mission.