AUSTIN 1928 GENTRIFICATION

(Downtown Austin in 1940)

I've only lived in Austin about four years now and I've never known the history behind this weird but exciting city. After reading the articles "Austin, Texas: The East Austin Neighborhood", "The Empty Stairs: The History of East Austin", and "What is Gentrification?" there were three things that caught my interest. 

(The construction of I-35 at Airport)

The 1928 Master Plan called for all African Americans to move out of West Austin into East Austin. The city developed a master plan and suggested moving all blacks to East Austin. The Master Plan legally segregated African American citizens into their own community East of East Avenue. The City of Austin decided not to provide the Freemen Settlements of Clarksville and Wheatville with sewer lines and paved roads, further forcing African Americans to move to East Austin. A result of all blacks living in East Austin created a "Negro District" with all city services provided. Also, city leaders pushed the relatively few Mexican immigrants out of Downtown by relocating their churches and building Santa Rita Courts, the nations first federally funded housing project to East Austin. 

(The future Mueller Development)

A mixed use of redevelopment project at East Austin's former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport will add 2,400 multifamily units and 2,200 single family houses is one of Austin's strategies to increase the supply of affordable housing and mitigate gentrification displacement of low-income households East Austin. 

(The old Robert Muller Airport)

East  Austin has a rich African American history such as Perry Rhambo, who owned the first barbershop in East Austin. Johnny Holmes opened the Victory Grill which was a place for black soldiers and the community to come dance to live music and have a good meal.

(The Victory Grill)

James and Gladys Reed operated the Deluxe Hotel where they helped people in need of food, clothes, and money. 

(Deluxe Hotel)

 

(Colorado River Bridge and Austin Skyline 1942)

CRAFT Model

The CRAFT acronym in "Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts" stands for; 

C - contact  

R - research  

A - action   

F - feedback  

T - teaching

The research that would be important to our project would be as follows:

1.  Learn how to conduct an oral history report
2. Interview Robelo/Toress Family. 
3. What are the Holly Street boundries
4. Get addresses to family houses in the community that were owned or lived in.
5. Find out what issues the community is having.
6. Identify why the coming is in the state its in.
7. Research Holly Street history.
8. Map how Holly Street look 15 years ago vs now.
9. Find data on property changes such as taxes, land prices, housing rates, and  crime.
10. Find geographical changes in the community 

 

Three important points I have gained so far from research and the "R" in CRAFT are; 

• Gather information accurately 
• Know how to use databases
• Know this history and present issues of your project

Touchful Stories

    After reading the book, "Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts" the story that influenced me the most me the most was Rhodessa Jones from San Francisco.

    In Rhodessa's story, in the beginning she was hired to just be an aerobics teacher at the San Francisco County Jail at San Bruno. The jail population was majority African American and Latino American women. Rhodessa did more than just teach aerobatics she taught the women in the jail how to express themselves about there dreams, hopes, fears, ambitions, and feelings. The women who where leading conversations and teaching the other women to read and write.  Rhodessa learned that if we can maintain a relationship....a partnership with the jail. Rhodessa is currently training other artists and ex offenders to do what she has already done at San Bruno. 

    This story effected me in many different ways. First, I have had a very close family member of mines go to federal prison and if it was not for programs like Rhodessa's she may not have survived those three years being incarcerated. Secondly, being an African American young lady and knowing that the incarceration rate for minority women is increasing it really becomes a concern of mines. Last but not least, Rhodessa's story has inspired me to look inside myself and make more meaning out of the things I do. My career goal is to be a family social worker and this story has inspired me to find more meaning in my profession in a way that is more beneficial to my clients and myself.