Editor’s note: Don Hasfurther, formerly with the Historic Lexington Foundation and the local branch of Preservation Virginia, submitted this article about concerns over a proposed rezoning of an African American neighborhood in Buena Vista.
Rockbridge County has a wonderful architectural history, including its African American communities, that are worthy of preservation. Lexington has its Diamond Hill and Green Hill. Buena Vista, its Sycamore Avenue. The latter is threatened by proposed rezoning changes.
Many in the community are adamantly opposed to the zoning change. They are striving to preserve the Buena Vista African American community. Danta Thompson, pastor of what is now People United in Christ United Methodist Church at 2446 Sycamore St. is among them. The church was built in 1909, then named Peoples United Methodist. Her grandfather the Rev. Matthew Blake was one of the founders and the first minister.
She notes that the community dates to the early 20th century. The homes along that section of Sycamore Avenue were built and occupied by some of Buena Vista’s most distinguished citizens. Today they are owned and occupied by third and fourth generations of the original owners.
Among the original owners were Henry Wright, who built his home on Sycamore Avenue. Wright was the owner and operator of the only Black barbershop in Buena Vista. Another was John E.M. Moore, whose home also stands today on Sycamore. He was the first principal and teacher at the Buena Vista Colored School. The Rev. Matthew Blake, Thompson’s grandfather, was one of the founders and the first minister of the city’s only Black Methodist Church. Henry Smith was the first Black to serve on the Buena Vista School Board.
Thompson’s mother, Irma Thompson, also lived on the block. A civic activist and educator, she was admired by many in Buena Vista and Lexington. She was one of two Black teachers hired at Parry McCluer High School after desegregation Danta Thompson and her husband own and live in a 100-yearold house on the block.
Thompson is reaching out to the city of Buena Vista and area preservationists to make sure that this little part of Buena Vista is preserved. “This section of Sycamore is so very important to our community. We ask citizens of Buena Vista, black and white, to contact our city officials and help us with this preservation cause.”
The reason for the concern is that an individual who lives outside of Buena Vista has requested that the area’s zoning be changed from Residential R-3 to Residential Limited R-4, which permits offices and commercial uses. The developer argues that the zoning change would support economic development in the downtown area and presumably the city’s finances.
A visitor to this neighborhood recently noted that an area two blocks away from the African American community, which includes an empty building, is ripe for commercial redevelopment. He urged city officials and residents to also visit the site.
“It is important that we work to preserve African American neighborhoods in our area,” said Margaret Samdahl, executive director of the Historic Lexington Foundation. “A block on Sycamore Avenue in Buena Vista is historically important as one such neighborhood.”
