Moving up: Washington Manor residents say development has improved

Washington Manor, the public housing complex in downtown Charleston, has long been known for its history of violence and drug deals, a place where pizza delivery drivers and taxi cabs often refused to go. But some of that has changed since its demolition and redevelopment, and residents hope word will continue to spread about what they call the new Washington Manor.

The people that live here now should be given a chance, because this place is not like it was back during the time that the drugs and all this crazy stuff was going on. Its not like that here, said Ed Wiles, president of Washington Manors resident council.

Sgt. Scott Dempsey, the Charleston Police Departments housing liaison, attributed Washington Manors high crime rate to common stairwells, which were ideal for illegal activity and served as places to hide in the high rise buildings.

They could do their business and commit robberies and assaults without anybody seeing them, and they could leave, Dempsey said.

Cpl. Brian Jones, who now works in the traffic division, worked in housing from 1996 to 2003 and said Washington Manor was known as a place to sell drugs. Many of the people committing crimes there werent actually residents, Jones said.

We did surveys back then, got in vacant apartments and watched people come in and buy drugs and arrested people who were selling drugs, Jones said.

Wiles never thought he would live in Washington Manor.

There was times that I wouldnt even drive down the street at night time, because the first time that I drove down the street and I saw the things that was going on. I told my ma, this is a place that I wouldnt ever live, Wiles said.

Some residents say there is no place theyd rather be than Washington Manor. Sissy Wiley moved there in 1974 when she became pregnant with her son. She was going to school at Garnett Career Center at the time.

I loved it down here. I thought I was in NYC living down here at Washington Manor, Wiley said. You couldnt tell me I wasnt in the city when I got down here.

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Moving up: Washington Manor residents say development has improved