Between 1945 and 1960, the United States and District of Columbia governments planned and executed a massive and unprecedented demolition of unsanitary housing in Southwest Washington, D.C. 25,000 residents were affected, and thousands were displaced. This episode clearly demonstrates federal involvement in and support for
the many post-war "urban renewal" activities in cities across the nation. Yet despite the federal government's crucial role in funding these ambitious and frequently controversial projects, the experience of Southwest Washington, D.C. demonstrates the diverse and conflicting goals, competing interests, and varied legacies involved in urban renewal.
This website will provide a brief history of Southwest Washington, D.C.'s urban renewal story - including its background and legacy - as well as this author's own analysis and suggestions for further research. Additionally, it will provide primary sources and a list of outside resources for reference.
Background Image: James Rosenthal, "View of Town Center, Marina View Towers South Building [Southwest Washington, D.C.]... Designed by I.M. Pei & Partners and Built in 1962 by Webb & Knapp," July 2004.