Difference between revisions of "Central Little Rock Urban Renewal Project"
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The '''Central Little Rock Urban Renewal Project''' was begun in 1961 as a joint effort of the [[Urban Progress Association]], the [[Little Rock Housing Authority]], [[Downtown Little Rock Unlimited]] the [[City of Little Rock]], and local architects. The project's roots lay in the [[Main Street 1969 plan]] created by the [[Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects]] in the spring of 1957. The Central Litle Rock Project became a national model for urban revitalization in the 1960s, bolstered by a $18.8 million loan from the federal Urban Renewal Administration secured in large part by U.S. Senator [[J. William Fulbright]] in June 1962. | The '''Central Little Rock Urban Renewal Project''' was begun in 1961 as a joint effort of the [[Urban Progress Association]], the [[Little Rock Housing Authority]], [[Downtown Little Rock Unlimited]] the [[City of Little Rock]], and local architects. The project's roots lay in the [[Main Street 1969 plan]] created by the [[Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects]] in the spring of 1957. The Central Litle Rock Project became a national model for urban revitalization in the 1960s, bolstered by a $18.8 million loan from the federal Urban Renewal Administration secured in large part by U.S. Senator [[J. William Fulbright]] in June 1962. | ||
| − | The Central Little Rock project swiftly became a nationally-recognized for leadership in slum clearance in the 1950s and 1960s. The city received $282,928 to engage in urban renewal activities in the [[Philander Smith neighborhood]], $2.2 million for the [[Dunbar neighborhood]], $1.3 million for slum clearance in the [[Granite Mountain neighborhood]], $1.3 million for renewal in the [[Livestock Show Area]], $1.4 million in [[Westrock]], and $2.5 million in the [[East End neighborhood]]. The Housing Authority, led by executive director [[George Millar Jr.]] purchased sixty-five properties in the [[University Park]] neighborhood for another $832,486. In all, fifteen percent of the land area of the city underwent significant renewal activity. Five hundred and eight acres of downtown were demolished, which displaced 280 businesses of varying size. [[Raymond Rebsamen]], the president of the organization, claimed the group’s goal in the | + | The Central Little Rock project swiftly became a nationally-recognized for leadership in slum clearance in the 1950s and 1960s. The city received $282,928 to engage in urban renewal activities in the [[Philander Smith neighborhood]], $2.2 million for the [[Dunbar neighborhood]], $1.3 million for slum clearance in the [[Granite Mountain neighborhood]], $1.3 million for renewal in the [[Livestock Show Area]], $1.4 million in [[Westrock]], and $2.5 million in the [[East End neighborhood]]. The Housing Authority, led by executive director [[George Millar Jr.]] purchased sixty-five properties in the [[University Park]] neighborhood for another $832,486. In all, fifteen percent of the land area of the city underwent significant renewal activity. Five hundred and eight acres of downtown were demolished, which displaced 280 businesses of varying size. [[Raymond Rebsamen]], the president of the organization, claimed the group’s goal in the Central Little Rock Urban Renewal Project was to have "the first capital city in the national where no child will come out of a slum to go to school." |
The renewal project included proposals for an Arkansas Exchange market for good manufactured in the south-central part of the country, a sports center and marina along the Arkansas River, a downtown local and interurban bus terminal, a convention center, a Variety Lane pedestrian district for retailing in an area bounded by West Capitol, West Eighth, Spring, and Center streets, underground fallout shelters, parking ramps, upscale apartments, and plazas across from the [[new Tower Building]] and along Main Street. The renewal project also had a special committee designated for work on a proposed [[Quapaw Quarter]] of historic homes just south of downtown. The plan included projected razing of 2,292 houses and tenement units. In all, more than five hundred acres of the central business district fell under the jurisdiction of the renewal project, and fifteen percent of the city as a whole. | The renewal project included proposals for an Arkansas Exchange market for good manufactured in the south-central part of the country, a sports center and marina along the Arkansas River, a downtown local and interurban bus terminal, a convention center, a Variety Lane pedestrian district for retailing in an area bounded by West Capitol, West Eighth, Spring, and Center streets, underground fallout shelters, parking ramps, upscale apartments, and plazas across from the [[new Tower Building]] and along Main Street. The renewal project also had a special committee designated for work on a proposed [[Quapaw Quarter]] of historic homes just south of downtown. The plan included projected razing of 2,292 houses and tenement units. In all, more than five hundred acres of the central business district fell under the jurisdiction of the renewal project, and fifteen percent of the city as a whole. | ||
Revision as of 02:03, 27 August 2008
The Central Little Rock Urban Renewal Project was begun in 1961 as a joint effort of the Urban Progress Association, the Little Rock Housing Authority, Downtown Little Rock Unlimited the City of Little Rock, and local architects. The project's roots lay in the Main Street 1969 plan created by the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in the spring of 1957. The Central Litle Rock Project became a national model for urban revitalization in the 1960s, bolstered by a $18.8 million loan from the federal Urban Renewal Administration secured in large part by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright in June 1962.
The Central Little Rock project swiftly became a nationally-recognized for leadership in slum clearance in the 1950s and 1960s. The city received $282,928 to engage in urban renewal activities in the Philander Smith neighborhood, $2.2 million for the Dunbar neighborhood, $1.3 million for slum clearance in the Granite Mountain neighborhood, $1.3 million for renewal in the Livestock Show Area, $1.4 million in Westrock, and $2.5 million in the East End neighborhood. The Housing Authority, led by executive director George Millar Jr. purchased sixty-five properties in the University Park neighborhood for another $832,486. In all, fifteen percent of the land area of the city underwent significant renewal activity. Five hundred and eight acres of downtown were demolished, which displaced 280 businesses of varying size. Raymond Rebsamen, the president of the organization, claimed the group’s goal in the Central Little Rock Urban Renewal Project was to have "the first capital city in the national where no child will come out of a slum to go to school."
The renewal project included proposals for an Arkansas Exchange market for good manufactured in the south-central part of the country, a sports center and marina along the Arkansas River, a downtown local and interurban bus terminal, a convention center, a Variety Lane pedestrian district for retailing in an area bounded by West Capitol, West Eighth, Spring, and Center streets, underground fallout shelters, parking ramps, upscale apartments, and plazas across from the new Tower Building and along Main Street. The renewal project also had a special committee designated for work on a proposed Quapaw Quarter of historic homes just south of downtown. The plan included projected razing of 2,292 houses and tenement units. In all, more than five hundred acres of the central business district fell under the jurisdiction of the renewal project, and fifteen percent of the city as a whole.
The total cost of the project was $82 million. The project was occasionally deemed "socialistic," politically corrupt, and a "white preserve" maker by commentators and members of the public. Major features of the plan eventually became the Main Street Mall and the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock.
References
- "Bright Promise Lies in Central City Project," Arkansas Gazette, June 13, 1962.
- "11 More Properties Acquired for University Park Project," Arkansas Gazette, December 2, 1964.
- Ernest Dumas, "Mid-Little Rock Renewal Plan Wins Approval," Arkansas Gazette, June 12, 1962.
- John L. Fletcher, "Little Rock Leads in New Endeavor of Urban Renewal," Arkansas Gazette, November 19, 1961.
- Jimmy Jones, "Downtown Plight: Only Big Business Can Afford Land," Arkansas Gazette, April 12, 1970.
- Jimmy Jones, "LR Held Out Hand and U.S. Filled It With $6,526,897," Arkansas Gazette, December 18, 1966.
- Bette Orsini, "Renewal in Little Rock: 'Dedicated to People,'" Arkansas Gazette, October 1, 1965 (reprint from St. Petersburg (FL) Times).
- Matilda Tuohey, "Little Rock Has Massive Urban Renewal Program," Arkansas Gazette, February 17, 1963.
- "More Goes On Than Meets the Eye in Urban Renewal," Arkansas Gazette, June 27, 1965.
