Gentrification or opportunity? Tallahassee’s ‘Southside’ community speaks out

By Amea Smith 

FAMU Broadcast Journalism Student 

It has been two years since the deconstruction of the Orange Avenue ‘South City’, section eight, Apartment homes. Mary Copland, a elderly African-American woman, lives adjacent to the former complex. Behind her tiny, wooden, blue house; construction workers work diligently to redevelop the area.

Copland has been living at the corner of Brighton Road and Orange Avenue all of her adult life. 

Brighton Road contains only three habitable homes and several severely abandoned houses. 

“I’ve been witnessing changes in the neighborhood since the 1970’s,” said Copland.

According to Copland, the neighborhood across the street, Apalachee Ridge (APR) used to be majority white in the 70’s but they moved out because the Tallahassee Housing Authority (THA) built South City projects next door. Shortly afterwards, blacks with money moved into APR.

Corner of Orange Avenue and Brighton Road

What happened to South City ?

Christic Henry, managing broker of Kingdom First Realty and APR neighborhood association president, explains the history of South City and breaks down the THA’s  plan for a better community.

“The discussion phase began in 2014, then there was a policy shift with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2015 allowing the THA to be granted funds to begin the housing project,” said Henry.

Henry said the Orange Avenue apartments were “severely outdated”. South City had many problems with flooding, and structural damage; and the complex didn’t provide units with washer and dryer hookups, said Henry. In addition to the living conditions, South City had become an entrapment for generational poverty and crime, said Henry.

Abandoned SouthCity apartment homes 

 

How does it make you feel?

Two towering buildings stalk in the background of Mrs. Copland’s, little, blue house. Phase one is underway and it’s leaving the community with mixed emotions. 

Mrs. Copland has a daughter who used to live in South City. Copland said the housing vouchers that were given to residents of South City weren’t accepted everywhere.  

“ It was hard for them to find places to stay…families were in student housing and they didn't really care where they lived,” said Copland. 

“Listen I get it, I live right across the street in Apalachee Ridge, but as a realtor, I know a good project when I see one,” said Henry. 

This project will bring a higher standard and quality of living to the south side of Tallahassee, said Henry. “I’ve seen the plans and I'm excited. The THA’s vision for the neighborhood is going to bring so many resources to our community,”said Henry.

The THA’s vision 

According to Henry the new development will host water amenities, facilities for the elderly and the youth. There will be larger units incomparable in size to the old ones, Henry said.

“ I have been inside one of phase one’s three-two apartment homes. The unit was 1300 square feet… it's amazing,” said Henry.

The THA’s plan is to bring back all two hundred families that were relocated, said Henry. There will be an income restricted area for the former residents and development for other residents of Tallahassee.

“ We are looking at four - hundred planned units,” said Henry.

Phase one THA South City new development 

Where do we go from here? 

For Mrs. Copland change is something she’s gotten used to. Copland shared that her family used to own land in Southwood but they sold it and now her family is disbursed all over the state.

“ We have a black Heritage graveyard from the 1800s right next to Florida High School,” said Copland.

To Mrs. Copland, the Orange Avenue project is just another reminder that she could be next. “ I think they are going to try to move us out and they are trying to buy up everything and I think Southwood is going to come into this area,” said Copland.

Other residents and business owners such as Mrs. Henry views the Orange Avenue project as an opportunity for the community to thrive. “The project will be broken up into several phases that will take place over the course of the next several years,” said Henry.

One thing is for certain, Tallahassee’s Southside will no longer look the same.