Hidden Mems (Neighborhood Edition!): Vollintine Evergreen
Memphis has done it’s fair share of revitalization the last few years. We’ve spruced up vacated skyscrapers, added more local retailers, and brought life to districts that had long been forgotten. Even in the midst of the pandemic, the city has been moving in a forward direction culturally and even economically as we’ve welcomed more international business and vision for the future. But one of the best things about Memphis is one of the things that doesn’t need changing...the people and the communities they create. Memphis is one big small town. And even in our big small town, the communities we create become even smaller and more intimate. The perfect example of this is a little neighborhood just north of North Parkway called Vollintine Evergreen.
A History of Stability
The stone and brick homes in Vollintine Evergreen (VE) were constructed in the 1920s. They were built as typical Midtown bungalows. The Pros: cozy and charming, french doors, gorgeous molding. The Cons: a single bathroom and minimal closet space. Some of the homes have sprawling front porches built with stone...leftover material from the grandiose facade of Rhodes College, which sets just a few streets East. The driveways in the neighborhood are small because Model Ts didn’t need much space to park and the basements have coal chutes so a truck could drop off fuel for the furnaces in the winter. The houses are close together and the yards are quaint and community is thick. People know each other and talk on their porches and kids bounce from house to house. The neighborhood, I’m told, has never really changed that much. Through good economies and bad, the residences in VE have always maintained a reasonable property value and the neighborhood has always been stable...family homes, a few college renters, and some older folks. Maybe that’s why community spirit has stayed so strong.
A Path for All
Flowers and other beautiful landscaping line the VE Greenline
Perhaps though, for the people who live in VE, the best thing about the neighborhood is the path that meanders through it. Created from a long abandoned railroad track, the VE Greenline stretches from Springdale Street East of Rhodes College, to Crosstown Concourse, creating a 1.8 mile walking trail. The trail is heavily shaded with various native trees and even features multiple bridges and a community flower garden. The Greenline runs directly through the neighborhood streets, providing an ideal place to walk a dog, visit with a neighbor, or teach a little one to ride a bike. And because the Greenline is funded through the Vollintine Evergreen Community Association, it relies on donations and is kept up by residents. On Saturday mornings, a gathering of neighbors and their children can be spotting picking weeds in the garden or harvesting seeds. College students and church members lead clean up projects throughout the year and the neighborhood’s Annual Art Walk helps fund maintenance endeavors and brings the community together to celebrate the Greenline space and celebrate local artisans.
Sure...we all know about that other Greenline and no one can argue what a tremendous gift it is to the city. But when it comes to seeing how Memphians can create joy and community among themselves, take yourself on a walk down the VE Greenline. There’s a lot of history in this part of the city and there is no doubt a lot of future as well.