This past June, Memphis received the grant from Hope VI to revitalize Cleaborn Homes. This 56 year old public housing project has been known as an "eye sore" to Memphis (1). Cleaborn Homes will be replaced with units for public housing, low tax credit rentals, voucher units, and rental units. This idea sounds great, but many do not understand that they will no longer be able to live in this area because most of these people will not fit the vigorous requirements to receive aid in order to live in these homes. Memphis Housing Authority Executive Director Robert Lipscomb stated, "When Cleaborn is reborn, we hope those who want to return will be willing and able to adhere to the stringent requirements that will allow them to do so." Though people will be displaced, I ultimately believe this revitalization is necessary to help revitalize the whole city. Memphis has numerous of "eye sores" such as vacant lots and these public housing projects. These areas become prime locations for crime. By displacing these people and bringing in new people whom are working, will bring about new energy to the city. I believe by changing the outside image of Memphis is a huge step in turning Memphis into a prosper city. Building new homes and keeping them maintained could lead to more people coming downtown and more people living downtown, which will bring more money to the city. So while it will be unfortunate that some residents will be displaced, I believe it is neccessary in order to revitalize Memphis.
1. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jun/03/editorials-grant-provides-housing-hope/
2. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jun/02/22-million-will-upgrade-memphis-public-housing/
HOPE VI is a difficult thing to talk about for a person like me. I am deeply dedicated to social justice, and as such there are many problems with HOPE VI. That about 2/3 of people are being relocated from their lifelong homes is not a solution to the problems that have been plaguing this area. While the mixed-income housing that will be developed in its place will ultimately make the area look better and potentially improve downtown, it is doing a disservice to the citizens of Memphis who live in that housing complex.
ReplyDeleteMany might counter my argument by saying that these residents should be trying to get out of Cleaborne homes anyways; public housing is just temporary, right? Well, history tells a different story. During the post-war era in the United States when many white families were moving into the suburbs thanks to low-interests loans provided by the GI Bill, black families were relegated to inner-city public housing complexes, thanks to laws that were blatantly racist. All in all I think that Memphis needs to reevaluate the way it is going about improving downtown. HOPE VI is not the answer.