History Of Urban Renewal in St. Louis
I’m not writing the history, just passing it along. As I come across interesting documents in my files I’m scanning them for safe keeping as sharing the info with you, the reader.
One such document is the history of Urban Renewal in St. Louis. It was published by the City Plan Commission in the early 1970s.
The document gives a detailed look at Urban Renewal projects in St. Louis like Plaza Square, Mill Creek Valley and Desoto-Carr (these last two have been razed & replaced).
Enjoy this valuable resource.
Thanks so much for scanning this in – it is a great way to both preserve and distribute the report!
Umm…you are amazing, Steve. This is not good news for me at the moment–I’m at work, trying to get stuff done…
Thank you!
Thanks Steve, this is a great resource. Interesting how many planners were on staff at that time compared to today. I guess it take a lot of people to destroy a city.
Note that the report states that the city undertook a rehabilitation plan for the West End but lacked funds for code enforcement. Operation NEAT was very needed in the 60s and the Arch grounds development was noted as a major asset. Unfortunately the financial and demographic situations of StL has worsen with time and some important lessons have yet to be understood. No mention of how the highways were being rapidly developed to subsidize sprawl or how the elimination of mass transit services made everyone more dependent on automobiles.
Thank you for publishing this document Mr. Patterson. My family was relocated from the 2200 blk of Carr Street to the 2300 blk of Mullanphy with the help of the Catholic church after watching the P-I construction and deciding against moving there. Once moved they found a viable diverse working class neighborhood with its own business district on N Market. Also, there were churches, schools(private and public), community centers, and job training facilities. It was certainly not utopian but it was on its way to being something different.
Many of the “boys” who went away to Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines returned to a neighborhood they did not recognize. Homes were destroyed or boared up indefinely. Businesses pulled out, flight was rampant. P-I demoliton, LRA aquisitions and condemnations soon followed. I spoke to a woman who moved from this neighborhood to Southhampton in the 70’s when her neighbors told her husband that a black guy was following her from the Lee bus stop. She said that she never saw anyone and if so it was the middle of the day she did not feel unsafe, but her husband was determined move.
Now here we are 30 years later and the site where P-I stood remains vacant. No one seems to know what to do about Blairmont, our neighbors are feeling preyed upon, and the Team Four plan, although constantly referenced, is considered as mythical as a unicorn swimming through Atlantis being chased by a dragon in the eyes of those in power.
The question that I have is where do we go from here? How do we move beyond years of back room planning that affects those who have no say and changes to the historical landscape of the City of St Louis that are irreversible? If anyone has any suggestions you are invited to attend our monthly meetings held at Vashon High School on the last Monday of the month.
Sheila Rendon
Neighbors for Social Justice
P.S.
The Literacy of Social Justice Teachers Research Group is hosting a Social Justice social at Legacy Books 5249 Delmar Tommorrow 5:30-8:30. They are asking all social justice groups to come with their flyers and meet other like-minded individuals.
Sheila, what TIME on the last Monday are your meetings at Vashon?
6pm
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