Duttoville: Neighborhood Partnership in Action
In Duttoville, a historic neighborhood nestled south of downtown between Highway 80, West and Gallatin streets, residents are working to restore a sense of pride and stability through cleanup efforts, property redevelopment and the formation of a formal neighborhood association.
Once a standalone village, and originally known as the Hightower Subdivision, Duttoville was renamed in the early 1900s for catholic priest Luigi Dutto who parceled land to poor immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The renaming of the area was an effort to help solidify the village, and prevent the city of Jackson from annexing the neighborhood. Duttoville maintains a strong independent identity today.
Longtime residents describe Duttoville as a close-knit community where families looked out for one another and the church served as a central gathering place. Mt. Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, on Julienne Street, remains a focal point, offering both spiritual guidance and practical support for residents in need, according to community members.
“Everybody knew everybody,” said Brenda Carpenter, who was born and raised in Duttoville. “If something happened at one house, the whole neighborhood knew. People cared about each other.”
Today, however, the physical landscape tells a different story. Vacant homes, abandoned properties and overgrown lots are common throughout the neighborhood. Residents say years of neglect and population loss have taken a visible toll, but recent efforts signal a shift toward renewal.
In October, residents organized a neighborhood cleanup, followed by another cleanup effort last month along Gallatin Street. Community leaders say additional cleanups are planned as part of an ongoing effort to improve the area and morale, with the next one occurring in March.
Several people who grew up in Duttoville have also begun developing a plan for purchasing abandoned properties to rehabilitate them. Those efforts are currently moving through the city’s rezoning process, which residents say has slowed progress but has not dampened enthusiasm.
“We’re trying to rebuild responsibly and legally,” Carpenter said. “This is about long-term improvement, not quick fixes.”
At the organizational level, residents are in the process of forming the Duttoville Neighborhood Association, with a community meeting scheduled in the coming weeks to engage residents and gather input. Once established, the association plans to distribute a neighborhood-wide questionnaire to identify priorities related to housing, safety and infrastructure.
Anthony Carey, a neighborhood organizer, is working on securing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for the association. Carey and Carpenter also manage the Duttoville Neighborhood Facebook group, which currently serves as the primary communication platform for events, cleanups and neighborhood updates.
Carey says they are also learning from other Jackson neighborhoods through informal partnerships and city-led initiatives. “We are in the beginning stages of getting our community organized,” he said. “We have been in contact with Monica Cannon from Midtown Partners to identify opportunities to learn from the success and challenges the Midtown neighborhood has faced.”
Carpenter said that also working with their city council representative has helped them see how different departments and organizations within the city are connected, making it easier to get off the ground. "Councilman Parkinson and other city officials have encouraged collaboration among neighborhoods, offering guidance on navigating city processes and building collective momentum."
Despite its current challenges, Duttoville maintains strong cultural traditions. Each year on the third weekend in July, former and current residents come together for a multi-day neighborhood reunion. The event includes a Friday night meet-and-greet, a large Saturday picnic with food, music and children’s activities and a Sunday church service at Mt. Galilee Baptist Church.
Residents say the reunion reflects what Duttoville has always been at its core.
“It doesn’t look like it used to,” Carpenter said. “But the love is still here. The people who live here care about each other.”
