Assignment: Intro/Chapter One Posting Deadline: Thursday, May 28
Reading: Chapter Two: The Affair and Why It Ended
Questions:
Chapter 2 mentions the effect
Urban Renewal (a.k.a. Negro Removal) programs had on cities. Do you believe the
current efforts of revitalization in Detroit are having similar effects as did
previous Urban Renewal programs?
Assignment
- Deadline: Thursday, May 28
A.
Post your response to this week’s question.
B.
Post two separate comments to one or more of your colleagues reacting to their
posts for this week.
I've noticed similarities between the two. Especially in the immediate WSU area. I'm seeing both a change in demographic and in activity. The new apartments popping up in the area are over-priced and not many can afford them. A majority of those who can happen to be white. You can definitely see the change in your campus life which is also different now given the circumstances. I've both heard and witnessed police using their presence to intimidate individuals they believe to be suspicious. This mainly happens around the new apartments, which leads me to believe some people are unwanted in the newly revamp areas. It doesn't stop me from going to these areas, but I know people who reroute themselves in order to avoid police altogether. Not because they've got something to hide or have done something wrong but because of the aggressiveness of law enforcement.
ReplyDeleteJosh, that's scary-and is anything BUT diversity at work. When a city seeks to exclude its citizens in favor of more affluent ones, it's a problem. Police aggression will only make things worse. I'm glad that there is a police presence, but with all that has gone on over the past few months in the media with these horrific instances of police brutality (and all out murder), you would think that there would be a better approach to discouraging crime-profiling isn't the answer. Another thing-it would be nice to see some police protecting neighborhoods as much as they seem to be protecting WSU.
DeleteYeah, that's pretty terrible. That's a more subtle form of displacement - you're not kicking someone out of their home explicitly, but making it clear that they are not welcome. I also appreciate having good law enforcement in an area, but it comes at a cost - there was an article recently about the wide surveillance program that wayne state police has, which implied that if you're in "midtown," they're watching... It's useful to hear about problems other folks have with the police when you're a little white lady who no police officer ever bothers.
DeleteWhen I was a young child, my family was actually one of the victims of the Urban Renewal program, which had the effect of driving out hundreds of African Americans out of the city. In this case, city leaders intentionally drew up and carried out plans to lessen the Black population while leaving predominately white communities virtually unscathed.
DeleteHonestly, I do not see current development plans in the same light. African Americans do not face overt housing discrimination in the same way they did decades ago. Anyone can move into refurbished or new housing throughout the city, as long as they can make the payments. It also does not bother me that more white people are moving into Detroit. In fact, I would prefer a more diverse climate, than a homogeneous one. I find diversity to be a strength, not something we should inhibit.
If this question is really about whether there is enough affordable housing for working class, seniors or disabled people, then I would say that problem is being addressed. For instance, the two three apartments buildings to the southwest of the Center near MLK and Cass are being rehabbed for that purpose.
I definitely see a difference in the Downtown areas of Detroit-I don't know if I'd go as far as to call it "Negro Removal" though. I think we need a diversified city-most major cities are. My main concern is that once you create this bustling diversified center, what happens to the neighborhoods? Where is their revitilization?
ReplyDeleteI agree, Ayana. Various mayors of Detroit have been criticized for decades for focusing on downtown development rather than neighborhoods, but we're not seeing any changes. It seems clear now that expecting prosperity to trickle out from the center is not realistic. I also think that keeping greater downtown economically diverse requires huge investment in subsidized housing, whether it be in the form of developments, community land trusts, vouchers, etc. Land down here is only going to keep growing in value, and the public needs to own some of that and deliberately create housing that isn't market rate.
DeleteOld school urban renewal was pretty dramatic and I'm not sure whether current development will get to that level or not. But there are absolutely echoes of it. For instance, nobody is going to run a new freeway through a neighborhood in 2015, but they are still planning on expanding I-94, destroying homes and businesses. And the Red Wings development is the kind of large-scale, sports-oriented renewal project that one might have seen in earlier decades. In a way, though, it's even scarier, because former efforts were led by governments, where citizens at least had some representation. Current projects are almost exclusively led by private business moguls, who answer to nobody but stockholders. The end result may be positive, but so far the execution has been somewhat tone-deaf.
ReplyDeleteI think its a double edged sword in the sense that it has some great project ideas for the spaces, but the fact that the people of the area have no say yet pay for it all is scary. I think that if there was more of a way to bridge the people who come up with the ideas and the community, you could have less friction between both sides.
DeleteActually, I have a different take on the Red Wing development. I like the way the plans include a nice mixture of retail, housing – including “affordable” homes, and recreation. In addition, a major part of the area will below the surface, so the structure will be no taller than 80 feet above ground to avoid a disruption of the view.
DeleteI also believe city residents have lost political power, because far too many of them do not vote or hold their elected officials accountable. When apathy or indifference reigns, the Gilberts and Ilitches of the world will take advantage of that situation to create “sweet deals” that further increase their own power and wealth.
I have seen urban renewal in the city but I don't think it's bound to any specific race. I believe the renewal is moving people that have lived in the downtown/ cass corridor area for a majority of their lives and making new living spaces on the land. While having new living spaces is great for the area because of the revenue it will bring in, I don't think it should be at the cost of removing people who have roots in the area.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Gerrard. I do not find current development as being motivated by race. I am sure those with access to affordable housing are pleased there are new businesses being initiated closer to home, so there is less of a need to go to the suburbs for basic goods and services. I am also hopeful more job opportunities will arise for the city’s unemployed population.
DeleteI would agree with you as well Gerrard. I feel more of the redevelopment in Detroit is more political than social these days. You have a lot of private and public investors that, while are reinvesting in Detroit, are also reshaping the landscape of areas like Midtown, Downtown, etc. with moderate (at best) input from residents.
DeleteI cannot comment on Detroit as much as I would like to, because I haven't been in Michigan that long, but I can say that an unfortunate side of Atlanta becoming a successful city has included tearing down older neighborhoods in favor of large-scale commercial development, which forces long-time residents to move farther from the center of the city, because property values explode. The development in neighborhoods like the Old Fourth Ward is amazing - everything is modern and trendy, and it's safer there now, but when you walk through that neighborhood, you can't help but feel like it's almost too exclusive. I can visit those cool bars and vintage boutiques, but I certainly can't afford to live there, and you can't help but wonder what happened to the people who used to live there, because all of that redevelopment forced residents out, rather than actually benefitted them. It's definitely changing the social fabric of the city, and yes, it's Atlanta's black residents that are most adversely affected. I am concerned that the city of Atlanta, in worrying about collecting revenue from all this development, have neglected the people they're supposed to be helping. Going forward, I hope Detroit can balance its urban renewal with the needs of its residents, but when I see some of the construction around Detroit, I'm apprehensive about its ultimate consequences.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely one of the reasons I've not been able to truly connect to a area. There's always this feeling of being an outsider that I could never shake. While I do represent Detroit, I can't really say I feel welcome here. I just know how many have wished for this for so long and they may/may not be able to benefit from it.
DeleteThere's actually a similarity to what you are saying and professional sports. You look at the Super Bowl, an event that was originally accessible and affordable to the average person. As time has gone on, it's been developed and re-developed into this colossal corporate event that has priced out many fans in favor of corporations.
DeleteUltimately - while growing cities, businesses, etc. are generally good - there are casualties of development that hurts/pushes out those who have had long term investments in those places/businesses.
Yes, I think so. A cities sustainability, whether it be for fun of functionality, will all hinge on the bottom dollar. People voice that they want what is best for the community, but if the current community does not generate funds, widen the economic base, etc. something has got to give and something/one has got to go! For Detroit, it's been a lot of it's long standing citizens. NO ONE wants to be poor in any facet (money, mobility, education, etc.), but it's a reality. People are maintaining in the space and places allotted for them. Just because people have less than does not mean they do not care about WHAT they have. These places too can be build up the city. Diverse minds = Diverse designs = Diversified finds. #opportunitiesforall LOL That may have been a little extreme, but there is more than one way to build. Society would grow (financially and socially) far and wide, if there was more diverse thinking and actions, instead of homogeneous, cookie cutter, sugar coated racial tactics of kum-by-yah. #baitandswitch
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that current "urban renewal" projects will have the same results as those of the past. I believe that current projects are more inclusive than those of the past. I do not see current projects making race a significant factor in the planning and execution of those plans. Socio-economics will play a great role in in future plans, but that factor has less to do with race than many people believe (in my opinion).
ReplyDelete