Builders Unite:

Five Homes in Five Days in Historic Happy Hill Neighborhood

Nine local home builders and their subcontractors will come together May 13-17 to build five homes for Habitat families in the historic Happy Hill neighborhood.

The homes will be dedicated on Saturday, May 18, with a group ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by individual dedications and presentation of the keys to the families.

The Home Builders Blitz is a partnership between Habitat Forsyth, the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem, and the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem. A fourth partner, the City of Winston-Salem, approved a grant in fall 2023 to cover the building costs of 13 new single-family homes.



The Builders Blitz kickstarts what will be the construction of 13 Habitat homes in the Happy Hill community, the oldest neighborhood in Winston-Salem outside the original Moravian town of Salem. The land has been vacant since the Happy Hill Gardens housing project was torn down years ago.

“Habitat is honored to be part of revitalizing this historic area while at the same time helping to build more affordable housing,” said George Redd IV, Habitat’s CEO/Executive Director. “Happy Hill’s rich history dates back to 1872, when the community was built for enslaved and freed people who worked for the families who lived in Salem.”

According to an Architectural and Planning Report done in 1993 on behalf of the city, the community was first called Liberia but was referred to as Happy Hill beginning with the 1902-1903 city directory. Happy Hill was a thriving neighborhood with small businesses and homes owned by Black physicians, lawyers and other professionals until the 1950s, when 14 blocks were razed to make way for Happy Hill Gardens.

Habitat Forsyth's involvement signifies more than just the construction of houses; it represents a revival of community spirit and a commitment to preserving Happy Hill's rich heritage. With each nail driven and every brick laid, we honor the legacy of this historic neighborhood and pave the way for a brighter future for all who call Happy Hill home.

At Habitat, EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY! Habitat Forsyth builds affordable homes with methods, products and processes that create healthy homes and communities that are less expensive to operate, more durable, and that conserve resources throughout construction and after. Sustainable Building supports the development of families and communities while respecting our natural environment.

• Encapsulated crawl spaces with dehumidifiers
• Insulated slabs
• Energy-Star rated appliances
• System Vision certified
• Framing 2 Ft on center, conserving lumber usage
• LED bulbs
• Solar panels (select applications)
• Radon mitigation
• 1/2” foam insulated exterior with taped seams
• Caulk all bays
• Blower door test
• HVAC Seer rating compliant

In addition to promoting reuse and sustainable shopping, our ReStores support sustainable development by keeping items from landfills every day. Last year alone, Habitat Forsyth ReStores diverted 2.7 million pounds of material from area landfills.