Iowa's Center Street Neighborhood Disrupted by Highway Construction and Urban Renewal
The Center Street neighborhood in Des Moines, once a thriving Black community, was largely destroyed by highway construction and urban renewal projects in the mid-20th century. Richard Duncan, a historian and co-director of the documentary 'The Center Street Story: Urban Renewal Retrospective,' recalls a vibrant business district with Black owners and patrons where everyone knew each other. The construction of I-235 in the 1950s divided the neighborhood, and the Oak Ridge Urban Renewal project completed its demise. According to Madison DeShay-Duncan, co-director of the documentary, residents were often paid less than the true value of their homes and businesses, forcing them to relocate and often fall into debt. This disruption shifted families from property ownership and entrepreneurship to renting, impacting their descendants' wealth for generations and contributing to economic inequality.
