The Impact of Urban Renewal and I-75 on Cincinnati's Historically African American West End Neighborhood

Urban renewal has had a significant impact on the West End neighborhood of Cincinnati, particularly through the construction of I-75 in the 1950s. This highway project resulted in the destruction of a historically African American community, causing the displacement of thousands of residents and damaging the fabric of the neighborhood.

Prior to 1950, the West End was a thriving community with a vibrant culture and strong sense of community. The neighborhood was home to a mix of working-class families and small businesses, many of which were owned by African Americans. The West End was also home to several historic sites, including churches, schools, and theatres.

However, the construction of I-75 in the 1950s brought about significant changes to the West End. The highway was built through the heart of the neighborhood, resulting in the destruction of thousands of homes and businesses. Many residents were forced to relocate, and the community was left divided and disjointed.

The West End today is a shadow of its former self. The construction of the highway has had a lasting impact on the neighborhood, essentially cutting it off from the downtown area, and many of the residents who were displaced have never returned. The once-thriving community is now plagued by poverty and disinvestment, with many buildings left vacant and in disrepair.

Recently, the federal government has acknowledged in a memorandum the injustice of building highways through black neighborhoods.

“The creation of the Interstate Highway System, funded and constructed by the federal government and state governments in the 20th century, disproportionately burdened many historically Black and low-income neighborhoods in many American cities. Many urban interstate highways were deliberately built to pass through Black neighborhoods, often requiring the destruction of housing and other local institutions.  To this day, many Black neighborhoods are disconnected from access to high-quality housing, jobs, public transit, and other resources.

The federal government must recognize and acknowledge its role in systematically declining to invest in communities of color and preventing residents of those communities from accessing the same services and resources as their white counterparts. The effects of these policy decisions continue to be felt today, as racial inequality still permeates land-use patterns in most U.S. cities and virtually all aspects of housing markets.”

We have the opportunity to take a stand and help to reconnect our neighbors who were impacted the most by Urban Renewal and the construction of I-75. If you agree, please sign the Expand Transit, Not Highways petition.

"A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true." -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.