River Drive, all of the parks, all of the bridges, stadiums like Shea Stadium, cultural centers like Lincoln Center, colleges, and luxury residential towers. 162 His methods often involved displacing hundreds of thousands of people and razing whole neighborhoods to make way the modern developments prioritized by Robert Moses only. 163 Inspired by Moses, Atlanta sought to apply similar strategies to reshape its urban landscape. An abrupt change in funding occurred when the United States entered World War II (WWII), the money that had been flowing to communities for planning and development was redirected to bolster the war effort. 164 After the war, the federal government rebounded and passed redevelopment acts by 1949. 165 The Urban Redevelopment Act of 1945, and the Housing Act of 1949 combined to transform public housing into commercial and industrial projects, purportedly bringing more “benefit” to the city rather than to its residents. 166 This marked the beginning of an era when public housing and transportation collided, leading to urban renewal efforts that became equated with “Negro removal”. Atlanta City Aldermen voted to raze Buttermilk Bottom in 1949 with Councilperson White leading the charge, "section around Butler Street" had the highest crime statistics and disease report in the city. 167 A 10-person committee was established to conduct a feasibility study on slum clearance. 168 Mayor Hartsfield and Henry H. Robinson, President of the Atlanta Real Estate Board, hired Harland Bartholomew and Associates to guide the planning efforts. 169 Bartholomew’s plan used zoning and roadways to control residential areas where Black residents lived was developed in St. Louis where he worked as the city planner. 170 The plan the city selected and was implemented continued to enforce segregation. By 1963, The Atlanta Constitution described Buttermilk Bottom as one of the city's "worst ghettos", and highlighted the poor living conditions, emphasizing that it was the city’s responsibility to address and resolve the issues. "When it rains, the dirt roads become rivers of mud. When it’s cold[,] it’s people are cold.” 171 These were the home built without durability in mind during the rebuilding boom after the Great Fire. Multifamily housing was constructed in a hastily manner, and during periods of economic instability in the country; World War I and II (WW I and WWII), the Great Depression for example, families and individuals would subdivide their dwelling which
162 Robert A. Caro , “The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York.”, Knof Doubleday Publishing Group, 1974. 163 Caro , “The Power Broker”. 164 Barbara Milz, “Urban Renewal Is ‘Old Hat” Here”, The Atlanta Constitution.
165 Milz, “Urban Renewal Is ‘Old Hat’”. 166 Milz, “Urban Renewal Is ‘Old Hat’”. 167 “Slum Clearance.”
168 New Journal and Guide , "Plans Slum Clearance." 169 New Journal and Guide , "Plans Slum Clearance." 170 https://nextstl.com/2021/04/harland-bartholomew-destroyer-of-the-urban-fabric-of-st-louis/ 171 "Buttermilk Bottom in the Heart of the City," SNCC , 1, 1964.
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