Blackhead Road: a community study in urban renewal

Abstract

The subject of how to improve the blighted and substandard conditions under which poor people live is an almost endless topic embodying a wide range of ideas. One broad approach to this problem, which has attracted a great deal of controversy, is urban renewal. -- This study has examined some of the important characteristics of the "rehabilitation" urban renewal approach as it has applied to a small Canadian village on the outskirts of metropolitan St, John's in the Province of Newfoundland, Here, a new approach in Canadian urban renewal was tried. The incentive for this approach lay with the new 1964 amendments to the National Housing Act which were supposed to stimulate upgrading in areas not sufficiently substandard to warrant complete clearance. -- In order to assess the situation, an in-depth look at the community to be affected was undertaken, followed by a close look at how people in the community were reacting to the project as construction of public works progressed. While "rehabilitation" urban renewal places its moral focus on the upgrading of the poor people in a given area, it is the conclusion of this study that under existing legislation these aims can become distorted. Furthermore, it is the conclusion of this study that there needs to be a greater commitment on the part of public officials to so-called "meaningful" citizen participation if successful rehabilitation urban renewal is to be attempted at all. -- It is hoped, however, that this study will not stand out as only a criticism of present policies. There were a number of things from which the people in the community under study did benefit, and where mistakes were made some suggestions are introduced. One of the biggest problems facing officials is making the proper distinctions between the types of programs available so that they may be applied in a plan with deliberate consciousness. This study addresses itself to these problems and others in a search for propositions which can lead to more practical methods of approach.