Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Documents of Urban Renewal

In a few places, scholars and journalists have found the original urban renewal files, including descriptions of the buildings and photographs of the place and its people.  These documents have helped us reconstruct neighborhood life in 1950s, and support the contention of displaced residents that they were unfairly stigmatized by the urban renewal authorities.

Pittsburgh's Lower Hill was demolished for urban renewal.  Diana Nelson Jones has investigated the story and published the photos.

Albany's downtown was also demolished.  The "98 Lost Acres" Project is sharing the documents and photos on the web.