Mitigating distrust: trauma and redevelopment in Eastwick, Philadelphia
Date
2017
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Eastwick, the low-lying, southwestern-most neighborhood of Philadelphia is currently undergoing a new urban renewal plan that has the opportunity to not only rebuild parts of the neighborhood, but also rebuild fractured relationships between the community and the city planners. The previous redevelopment of the 1950s left traumatic, intergenerational scars from the broken promises, displacement and demolition of both the physical space and social bonds of the community. This study will look into the intersections of physical land limitations, community activism, historical trauma and neoliberal real estate systems present in Eastwick and how they affect the redevelopment process. The physical, social, political and historical contexts of the current redevelopment have all converged on Eastwick and created unforeseen roadblocks to the process. Responsibly developing land such as the neighborhood of Eastwick will require a balance of socially and economically beneficial plans while at the same time avoiding an exacerbation of current flood risks. The participatory process of the current feasibility study is complicated by a tremendous level of activism in the area. Distrust of planners and the questionable authenticity of the participatory process has led to protests, conspiracy and animosity from activist groups. Participant observation, a focus group and semi-structured interviews with activists and planners were used to help understand how Eastwick residents are expressing their right to the city through trauma-fueled activism. Understanding activists’ deep connection to their community and their history is a crucial component to restore trust and foster the creation of an environmentally, socially and economically just redevelopment. It is also necessary for planners to look reflexively at the values they promote in the process and understand systematic disadvantages experienced by the community. While the planners have been working diligently to gather data and work with the activists to create the plan, they have not been able to ease tensions enough to begin finding common ground. Although the outcome of the current planning is forthcoming, the proceedings in Eastwick can be used to inform other spaces of development on how to move away from systems that depend on uneven development.
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Keywords
Social sciences, Earth sciences, Philadelphia, Redevelopment, Right to the city, Trauma, Urban geography