Sunset Hills Neighborhood, established in 1924, sits west of downtown Greensboro bordering North Elam Avenue, Friendly Avenue, Wright Avenue and Kensington Road. The Sunset Hills neighborhood motto is ‘Great Neighbors make great neighborhoods’. The first homes were completed in 1925. Sunset Hills features charming architecture, gracious yards, stream-side parklands, and shaded sidewalks that are collectively considered a treasure for Greensboro. As one of our state’s great Jazz Age communities – and with designation on the National Register Historic District in Guilford County since 2013, Sunset Hills enjoys wide recognition.
Developer A.K. Moore pioneered the model home in Greensboro to promote property sales. His first model home was in the neighboring Westerwood neighborhood in 1921. He opened his first home in Sunset Hills in December 1924 at 1714 Madison Avenue.
The neighborhood is celebrating its centennial in 2024. To commemorate the milestone, Preservation Greensboro will do their tour of homes in Sunset Hills in 2024. There will be a social media campaign to highlight the park, architecture and residents. In the 1925 Sunset Hills Sales Brochure it was quoted:
“Everybody has an inherent love for trees. It is nothing short of tragedy to see a great oak, elm or maple hewn to the ground to make way for progress. In the construction work of Sunset Hills everything possible and practical has been done to preserve its 185 acres of beautiful trees. The developers have, in many cases, changed the sizes of lots rather than permit the destruction of a tree in the laying of a drive, gas or water line. Hundreds of dollars have been expended in moving and transplanting trees from street right-of-ways. How blest is the resident of Sunset Hills for the preservation- for this gift of Nature that has been years and years in the making.”
As part of the Centennial, residents have the opportunity to participate in the reinvented Reforestation Program in an effort to plant at least 100 native canopy trees in the neighborhood to celebrate the Sunset Hills Centennial 1924-2024.
SH publishes a printed and online monthly newsletter to keep residents informed of volunteer opportunities, upcoming events,
The neighborhood is full of diverse historic architecture, trees that are over 100 years old that line the streets, and residents from all walks of life.
Explore Like a Local
- Sunset Hills is nationally known for the lighted balls that are displayed in the trees of most every home from Thanksgiving into the new year. Anne and Jonathan Smith, SH long-time residents started the nationally famous tradition in the neighborhood sitting at the kitchen table in 1996. It is a seasonal attraction that attracts thousands of sightseers and has raised close to $500,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.
- Running of the Balls- a 5k-ish run through the neighborhood that takes place on a Saturday in mid-December evening to raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank. Bands line the streets, food trucks, local musicians. The run started in 2011. In the first year, they expected 750 participants and winding up with 1,500 and now averages 4,000-5,000 walkers and runners dressed in the season’s most festive attire. Sunset Hills resident John Kelly handles decorating the trees in the parks along West and East Greenway Drives. The 12th Running of the Balls sends runners and walkers throughout Sunset Hills, where collection bins are out to receive canned good donations from motorists and pedestrians during December.
- Rock the Block— four summertime block parties are planned each summer with band, food trucks, and sponsored by resident businesses always bring a crowd to the Sunset Hills Park located between West and East Greenway Drive.
Insider Tips
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church is located at the corner of West Friendly Ave and Chapman Street and has OLG Catholic School for PreK through 8th grade. The neighborhood includes a children’s playground, tennis/pickleball courts, basketball court located at the corner of Madison Ave and West/East Greenway Drive.
An easy walk up Elam will take you to the Corner, located at Walker Avenue and South Elam Avenue and has a number of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, including:
- Bars: Walkers, Wahoo’s Tavern
- Coffee Shop: Common Grounds
- Bar/Laundromat: Suds & Duds was originally called Elam Drug Co; in 1980 Bill Wardle bought the building and opened Suds & Duds. You can wash your clothes, have a beer and play pool all at the same time!
- Restaurants: Lindley Park Filling Station, Fishbones, Emma Keys, Sticks & Stone
- And Sunset Hills has its own grocery store—Bestway— that is known for its large selection of beer and wine. It has been serving the Lindley Park and Sunset Hills neighborhoods since 1947.
- And an easy walk east down Madison Avenue will take you to Bandito Bodega, Embur Fire Fusion, Tex and Shirleys or 1618 West.
- Reader’s Digest named Sunset Hills a finalist in 2019 for a feel-good competition for the nicest place in North Carolina.
