In the 1960s, urban renewal efforts in downtown Grand Rapids called for demolishing up to 75% of the Victorian “homes on the hill” or “The Hilltop” neighborhood, the city’s oldest residential district. Resident protests and impassioned leadership led to the organization of the Heritage Hill Association in 1968. Court challenges stopped the loss of beautiful and invaluable historic neighborhood properties, thanks to the then-brand-new 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. The Association celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2018. This presentation was created in honor of the momentous occasion. It visually and verbally traverses the stunning, tree-lined residential streets with bits of history and fascinating stories that introduce you to the special people who built the gracious homes on the hill and the ones who saved them.
