Ascendancy, Thompson Karri

In the last years of the 19th century, city folk escaped from downtown on trolley cars to appreciate the natural springs and cool breezes of higher elevations; by the 1920s, clusters of subdivisions had created affordable homes in which the city workers could live. The community suffered a period of decline in the mid-20th century due to the impact of desegregation and a planned highway that would have cut through the neighborhood. After the highway was halted by community activists, young professionals and families began to move back into the city, renovating houses and embracing in-town living. Many historic structures, coupled with eclectic business activity, a number of parks, and vibrant culture, have influenced the identity of Virginia-Highland.