For more than 100 years, Emory Grove was an active, vibrant and close knit community – one of dozens of freed Black slave communities that dotted Montgomery County. In 1969, Urban Renewal brought undelivered promises to Emory Grove and, along with it, the demise of an endearing community culture. Some 125 homeshouses were razed, as were the community’s only grocery store (Tyler’s Store); and other signature landmarks such as Johnson’s Tavern, the Du-Drop Inn and Johnson’s Park, where several Negro League teams and baseball greats like Roy Campanella and Joe Black of the Brooklyn Dodgers once played. Month‐long United Methodist Church camp meetings that once were huge events each August ceased.
Heritage Emory Grove (HEG) is a concept redevelopment master plan honoring the history and ethos of the former Emory Grove settlement. HEG seeks to combine this history with redevelopment and infill opportunities that will allow the reintroduction of some of the historic features of the original settlement, along with new housing, especially senior housing for the repatriation of former residents.
The plan involves multiple stakeholders: Emory Grove United Methodist Church, HOC, Montgomery County and Montgomery Parks.
The HOC-owned parcels within HEG plan area include the former Emory Grove Village and Camp Hill Square, both under contract for redevelopment and are currently in the planning approval process to allow for the new construction of approximately 80 multi‐family rental units and 82 for‐sale townhomes. The new project will replace the demolished 54 rental multifamily units from the former Emory Grove Village and remove a similar 51 obsolete multi‐family rental units from Camp Hill Square. The proposed development will provide a collective 30% affordability within both the rental and for‐sale buildings. Also included are townhouses that will be a part of the Habitat for Humanity’s self‐help model.
