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The Story Of 'Historic' South End

Shook Kelley

Charlotte's South End wasn't always a hip, vibrant district of shops, restaurants and condos filled with young people that's currently thriving along the city's light rail line. The district right outside of Center City along South Boulevard got its start in the 1850's when the first railroad line came to Charlotte and cotton mills and neighborhoods like Dilworth started to spring up around the rail corridor to house mill workers. But when the cotton mills moved out, South End turned into a vacant, barbed-wired and even dangerous wasteland. We'll talk to some of the people responsible for bringing it back to life about the history of the area from train to trolley to light rail. A look at the surprising story of 'Historic' South End from cotton mills to food trucks, when Charlotte Talks.

Guests
Gaines Brown
- He moved his exhibit design business to South End in the 1980's and helped improve the 'vibe' of the then industrial wasteland.
Terry Shook - Founding Partner and Principal of the design firm Shook Kelley. They christened the district 'Historic South End' in the mid-1990's
Ted Boyd - Director of South End for Charlotte Center City Partners

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