Masthead Logo Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1-1-2005 Efficiency of participatory planning in the revitalization of an inner-city neighborhood : a case study of the Center Street neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa Madison Richards DeShay Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Recommended Citation DeShay, Madison Richards, "Efficiency of participatory planning in the revitalization of an inner-city neighborhood : a case study of the Center Street neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa" (2005). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 18931. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/18931 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Efficiency of participatory planning in the revitalization of an inner- city neighborhood; a case study of the Center Street neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa by Madison Richards DeShay A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING Major: Community and Regional Planning Program of Study Committee Timothy Borich, Major Professor David Gradwohl Riad Mahayni Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2005 Copyright© Madison Richards DeShay, 2005. All rights reserved. 11 Graduate College Iowa State University This is to certify that the master's thesis of Madison Richards DeShay has met the thesis requirements of Iowa State University Signatures have been redacted for privacy l11 Dedicated to the Center Street Neighborhood the Golden Ghetto that is Gone but not Forgotten and the Center Street Family that was Denied but not Defeated a Legacy that Lives on JV TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES vii LIST OF TABLES viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix ABSTRACT x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY RATIONALE 1 PURPOSE 5 OBJECTIVES 5 ORDER OF ANALYSIS 5 STUDY NEIGHBORHOODS 6 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 11 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF CITY PLANNING 11 PLANNING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE INNER CITY 12 PLANNING LAW 14 STANDARD PLANNING ENABLING LEGISLATION 15 THE NEW DEAL 16 FEDERAL URBAN RENEWAL PROGRAM 17 IOWA URBAN RENEWAL LAW 19 POWERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY 20 THE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL AWARENESS ON LAW, THEORY AND PRACTICE 21 ADVOCACY APPROACH TO CITY PLANNING 22 MODEL CITY PROGRAM, A PARADIGM SHIFT IN CITY PLANNING 25 A NEW ERA OF REVITALIZATION PROGRAMS: EZ/EC 27 MOVING TOWARDS AN AUTHENTIC PARTICIPATORY PROCESS 29 SUMMARY 32 DEFINITION OF TERMS 34 v CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS 38 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 38 RESEARCH QUESTION 39 STUDY BOUNDARIES 40 EMIG PERSPECTIVE 42 DATA COLLECTION 46 ANALYSIS 47 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY 48 GENERALIZABILITY 50 PRESENT-DAY IMPLICATIONS 51 CHAPTER FOUR: CENTER STREET: HISTORICAL CASE STUDY DATA 52 DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1959 WORKABLE PROGRAM (WP) FOR URBAN RENEWAL FOR THE CITY OF DES MOINES 52 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 53 PROJECTED OUTCOMES 53 PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE WP 1959 53 SUMMARY 55 GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL PROJECT (GNRP) 55 OAKRIDGE PROJECT N0.1 56 RELOCATION PROCESS 58 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 60 MODEL CITIES: A CITIZEN-LED REVITALIZATION CONCEPT 62 INTENDED OUTCOMES: ACHIEVMENTS OF THE STATED OBJECTIVES FOR THE 1959 WP FOR THE CITY OF DES MOINES 65 UNINTENDED OUTCOMES 67 ECONOMIC GROWTH 69 HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF DISPARITIES BETWEEN WHITES AND AFRICAN AMERICANS BASED ON THE U.S. CENSUS 71 SUMMARY 74 CHAPTER FIVE: DISSCUSSION OF THE HISTORICAL CASE STUDY DATA, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 75 REFLECTIONS OF CENTER STREET 75 VI GENTRIFICATION OF CENTER STREET 82 KING IRVING NEIGHBORHOOD 88 CURRENT CONDITIONS 89 DISPELLING THE INNER-CITY MYTHS 91 CONCLUSIONS 93 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN KING IRVING 94 POSSIBLE REASONS CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IS LOW 95 SUMMARY 95 IMPORTANCE OF CITIZEN PARTICPATION 96 IMPLICATIONS OF NATIONAL PLANNING LAW AT THE LOCAL LEVEL 98 RECOMMENDATIONS 99 THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S ROLE 101 APPROACHES FOR CITY PLANNERS 102 ASSET BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 103 COLLABORATIVE PLANNING MODEL 105 FUTURE RESEARCH 109 REFERENCES 111 APPENDIX A: DENIED BUT NOT DEFEATED; CENTER STREET LEGACIES 121 APPENDIX B: CONSENT TO RELEASE INFORMATION TO MADISON R. DESHAY 181 APPENDIX C: HUMAN SUBJECTS EXEMPTION LETTER 182 vu LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: STUDY NEIGHBORHOOD MAP 7 FIGURE 2: OAKRIDGE GNRP PROJECT SITES 8 FIGURE 3: CENTER STREET PRIOR TO URBAN RENEWAL 9 FIGURE 4A: CENTER STREET POST URBAN RENEWAL 10 FIGURE 4B: HOMES OF OAKRIDGE 10 FIGURE 5: CITY OF DES MOINES NEIGHBORHOOD MAP 41 FIGURE 6A: 11TH AND CENTER STREET, DE PATTEN'S LAUNDERETTE 76 FIGURE 6B: 1435 MARYLAND AVENUE, FORMER DE PATTEN FAMILY HOME 76 FIGURE 6C: A CENTER STREET RESTAURANT 77 FIGURE 6D: ST. PAUL AME MEMBERS 77 FIGURE 6E: 1417 CENTER STREET, CHILDHOOD HOME OF RICHARD DUNCAN 78 FIGURE 6F: TEENAGERSINFORMERSCHOOLSTREETAREA 78 FIGURE 6G: NEIGHBORHOOD BOYS 79 FIGURE 6H: HOUSE PARTY 79 FIGURE 61: SOCIALIZING AT A CENTER STREET CLUB 80 FIGURE 6J: DANCING AT A CENTER STREET CLUB 80 FIGURE 7A: SOUTH SIDE OF CENTER STREET 1950S 86 FIGURE 7B: SOUTH SIDE OF CENTER STREET 2002 86 FIGURE 7C: NORTH SIDE OF CENTER STREET 1950S 87 FIGURE 7D: NORTH SIDE OF CENTER STREET 2002 87 Vlll LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1A: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF INCOMES BASED ON RACE AND ECONOMIC CLASS FOR THE U.S. FROM 1966-2000. 71 TABLE 1B: THE RATE OF INCREASE FOR AVRICAN AMERICANS COMPARED TO WHITES NATIONWIDE PER ECONOMIC CLASS 71 TABLE 1C: DISPARITY OF INCOME FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS COMPARED TO WHITES NATIONWIDE 71 IX ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My academic journey can truly be summed up as arduous, extraordinary, and most of all exemplary of the educational commitment of Iowa State University faculty. I first want to thank my graduate committee that includes my major professor Dr. Timothy Borich, Dr. David Gradwohl and Dr. Riad Mahayni whose guidance and ultimate approval is invaluable. In addition to my committee and other individuals within the College of Design there are countless others throughout the university that were instrumental in my success. Unfortunately space will not allow me to name you all or to detail the various ways you assisted me. However, you know who you are and please know that I am eternally appreciative for the part each of you played in ensuring that I accomplished my goals. To Rachael, Tyler, Johnathon, Ebonee and Brandon my five blessings from God and my inspiration I express my love and thank each of you for sharing in the sacrifices that were made in order that we might beat the odds and that I might achieve my dream. I also recognize that without good ground it is impossible to spur good fruit and without a solid foundation it would have been impossible for me to remain steadfast and finish the course. Therefore, I first thank God! Second, I pay tribute to my Grandparents, who sowed a legacy of fortitude, and third I honor my parents Melvin and Diana Lloyd who instilled in me the spirit to excel. To my family and friends I thank you for your unyielding support in this endeavor. With the utmost admiration I give special thanks to my first advisors; Richard Duncan and Edna Hall who helped me realize my potential and gave me nourishment when I needed it most. Lastly, to the Center Street Family thank you for welcoming me into your homes, into your hearts and into your Neighborhood! Without you my accomplishments at Iowa State University would not have been possible. x ABSTRACT The Center Street neighborhood once was a thriving section of Des Moines, one in which African Americans played important roles. It changed dramatically during the decades since the middle of the 201h century, however, with shifts occurring among businesses as well as residents. Using information obtained through interviews with individuals who lived in the area and documents available about it, this thesis reconstructs the physical and social contexts of the neighborhood at earlier points and notes current conditions, based on past city planning revitalization programs. Factors that contributed to great change among African Americans in the area are noted. 1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY The rise and fall of predominately African American central-city neighborhoods throughout the U.S. during the 1950s-1960s urban renewal periods should not be considered a happenstance. Rather, neighborhoods such as these were systematically redeveloped by city planning agencies with the explicit consent and funding from the federal government. As explained by Peter Marris (1966), discrimination against African Americans was relentless. Marris stated that, Households cleared by urban renewal have included many of the poorest in the city, and they have been mostly Negro., ... the proportion of non-white families relocated varies from about 62 percent in New York to nearly 100 per cent in Baltimore, Washington, and Chicago. As a whole, about 80 percent of the families relocated are non-white, (in Wilson, ed, 1966:411-412). Similar to central-city neighborhoods throughout the country, Center Street, a predominately African American business district and residential neighborhood that had existed for over 40 years in the central city of Des Moines, Iowa was completely destroyed for urban renewal. The practice of destroying African American neighborhoods throughout the country was so prevalent during the 1960s that the urban renewal program was commonly referred to as Negro Removal, (Barron and Barron, 1965; Warren, ed. , 1966; Alex, 2002). Rationale In Black Corona, a case study about an African American community in New York City, Steven Gregory, (1998) suggests that post civil rights era research on African American communities too often focuses on stereotypical views of black ghetto culture.