wpa: analysis book
DESCRIPTION
The History of West Port ArthurTRANSCRIPT
WEST PORT ARTHURWEST PORT ARTHURCONTEXTCONTEXT
Project Team: Greg Estes, Eimile Gavagan, Jules Gianakos, Jennifer King, Reid Mulligan, and Jay TaylorCommunity Design Resource CenterGerald D. Hines College of ArchitectureUniversity of Houston2010
Introduction
Context
History
Demographics
Environment
CONTENTSWest Port Arthur: Context
05
07
17
25
33
WPA
3
WEST PORT ARTHURIntroduction
WPA
Over the course of the last year graduate students in the College of Architecture at the University of Houston, in partnership with the College’s
Community Design Resource Center, have been studying the existing conditions in the West Port Arthur community as well as developing
potential future strategies for community development and change.
The comprehensive project began with an analysis of the demographics, existing conditions, and opportunities in the community to identify both
the community assets and constraints and as a means to develop broad-based design, community development and economic strategies that
support and augment the existing social and cultural strengths of the community and its citizens. The study compiles existing reports and data
and provides new information to provide a comprehensive document of current community conditions. This report highlights the key fi ndings of
that study and is the foundation for the second report that highlights potential economic and community development strategies that build on
the community’s history, development, environment, demographics, context and the priorities of citizens.
This project is a partnership with the Community In-Power Development Association.
5
CONTEXTWest Port Arthur
PORT ARTHURLOCAL PARKS
The City of Port Arthur is located in Southeast Texas, approximately ninety miles east of Houston. The city, near
the Louisiana border, is one part of the area referred to as the “Golden Triangle,” that also includes Beaumont
and Orange. The City of Port Arthur can be divided into three geographic zones that each have unique
characteristics, the zones are Downtown, East Port Arthur, and West Port Arthur. West Port Arthur, the subject
of this study, is the historic African-American area of the city, East Port Arthur is predominantly white, and the
abandoned and neglected core of the city, downtown, lies between these two areas.
West Port Arthur is located directly adjacent to two major refineries. Tanks provide a backdrop for a local park,
pipelines snake along the edges of the community, and the environmental risks of the adjacent industry are a
real concern. In addition, the West Port Arthur community lacks access to basic amenities, such as groceries,
pharmacies, and banking services. Poverty, low educational attainment, and unemployment are realities of
everyday life in West Port Arthur. Transportation options are limited in the community, and many residents
depend on family and friends or their own two feet for mobility.
7
WEST SIDE
DOWNTOWN
EAST SIDE
PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITIES
9
HOUSTON
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LOCAL PARKS
REGIONAL PARKS
PARKS
7TH S
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To a community, neighborhood parks serve a number of purposes.
Parks provide places to gather and uses to connect with one another,
as well as providing places to exercise, relax, and play games. Port
Arthur has a substantial amount of parks space, but much of it is out
of reach for West Port Arthur residents. The map above highlights the
parks in the study area.
**
** *
*
*
*
*
*
Restaurants
Food Mart/grocery
Major Retail
Pharmacy
Lodging
AMENITIES
Access to basic amenities, such as a grocery store, pharmacy, ss o basic aAAAAAccAccess t ba mmemeneninitieitieses, s, , ssusucuch ch aas as s aa a ggggrogrocrocecereryry y sstostororere, e, pphphaphararmrmamacacycy, yto basic am
or banking services, is one key to a healthy community. This mapor b ervicaaanknkinkinor bankinngng g sses ccees,es, , isis s oonone ne ke kekeyey y toto to a a a hheheaealtalththhy hy cy cocomommmmmumununitnityty. y. TThThishis s mmamapappng service
illustrates the disparity in access to basic amenities between West andillustrates s tthe he de disdispispapararitrity ty iny in n aacaccccecessess ss toto to b babasasicsic c aamammeenenitnitietieses bs bebetetwtweweeeenen Wn WWeWesest st at anandnddthe
East Port Arthur, and clearly identifies the need for additional amenities t P rtrththuhur, ur, a, anandnd d cclecleaearlarly ly idy idedenentntiftifiefieses ts ththehe ne neneeeeeded d foforor ar adaddddiditioitiononanalal al amammemenenitinitieties esArth
on the west side. on wweesest st ssididede. e. we
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HOUSTON
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The West Port Arthur community has an abundance of churches. The
churches should be considered a resource for the area. The map
above illustrates all of the places of worship in the study area.
FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY
39%
17%
35%
9%
65% OF PORT ARTHUR’S POPULATION BELONGS TO A RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 50%
9 OF THE 12 FOUNDING CHURCHES ARE STILL IN EXISTENCE
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
CATHOLIC
OTHER
The City of Port Arthur, and the community of West Port Arthur, have a large
and strong faith-based community. There are twelve active churches that
have existed since Port Arthur was founded. There are over twenty different
congregations that meet weekly in West Port Arthur. Looking for ways to
bring the faith-based community together can help the community come
together.
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HOUSTON
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VACANT LAND
7TH S
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Throughout Port Arthur there are large tracts of land that have been
abandoned. In the center of the West Port Arthur community, between
Carver Terrace to the north and the former Lincoln High School to
the south, is a former tank farm. The tanks have been removed but
the environmental condition of the site is unknown. The map above
illustrates the large tracts of vacant land.
HISTORY
The City of Port Arthur was established in 1895 when Arthur E. Stillwell purchased the land and began platting it for sale. Stillwell’s vision for the city was
for it to become a resort and also a major port and the terminus for the Kansas City Southern railroad. Pleasure Island and Pier were constructed in the late
1890s to cater to both residents and tourists, the ship canal was dredged in the early 1900s to create a port, and the Spindle Top discovery in Beaumont
would encourage the construction of two refineries in the city. By 1914 the port ranked as the twelfth largest in the United States. By this time refining
had already become a major industry in the city and the port ranked second in the shipping of refinery products. Beginning in 1915, and throughout Port
Arthur’s history, flooding and hurricanes impact the city. In the last five years the city has been again devastated by major storms.
The city has changed over the last one hundred years, downtown has been abandoned in favor of new development on the periphery of the city along
highways and major roads and the population, which peaked in the 1960s at nearly 70,000 people, has begun a steady decline numbering just under
58,000 today. The population decline has impacted the built fabric significantly, there are many vacant buildings in the city in various states of decay. The
one thing that has not changed in the city is the economic dependence on refineries. These industries have continued to grow over time and today Port
Arthur is home to three major refineries.
17
• Babe Didrickson was born, she was later to become a multiple Olympic
medal winner. She is one of the founders of the LPGA and became its leader for
several years on and off the links.
1895
1896• Port Arthur Channel and Dock Co. established.
1901• After ‘The Spindle Top Boom’ in Beaumont, Texaco and Gulf built major refineries in Port Arthur. • Population reaches 900 residents.
1906• Port Arthur becomes an official port of entry.
19111897
• Port Arthur has 860 residents. • Began cutting canal.• Category 1 hurricane kills 13 people and leaves Port Arthur homes in shambles.
1899• Port Arthur becomes a port. • Pleasure Island and Pier are constructed from the deposits of the dredge of the Port Arthur Canal.
• Arthur E. Stillwell buys land for the City of Port Arthur and began platting land. • Stillwell wanted Port Arthur to be the southern terminus for his Kansas City Southern Railroad.
1900
• John W. Gates builds a rice mill and rice becomes a major export of Port Arthur. • A number of hotels are built around downtown and on Procter Street. • Procter Street is the “Main Street” through downtown Port Arthur, and becomes the scene of many parades, nightlife and family fun.
1904
• John W. Gates becomes chief financial backer of Port Arthur.
1908
• Sabine-Neches Canal is deepened and extended to Beaumont and Orange.
1909• Port Arthur becomes the 12th largest port in United
States in value of exports. • Port Arthur College is established, a business and
radio school. • The college became Port Arthur Collegiate Institute in 1911, when the school was presented to the Board of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church North, a
forerunner of the present United Methodist Temple. • The church operated the growing campus until
1918, when it was turned over to a non-profit Texas corporation.
• Population of 7,663 residents.
TIMELINE1895 -1948
1913• Pleasure Pier dance hall and roller coaster are built. Pleasure Pier becomes a family attraction for Port Arthur residents.
1914
• Port Arthur is the 2nd largest oil-refining point in the nation.
1915• A major flood hits Port Arthur.
1922
• Abraham Lincoln High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for whites were established. With rivaling mascots of Bumblebees and Yellow Jackets.
1930• St. Mary’s Hospital was constructed. Transferring the patients of Mary Gates Hospital, named after the late wife of John W. Gates, to the new St. Mary’s facilities.
1931
• The Neches River Rainbow Bridge is completed crossing over the Neches River on State Highway 87, the bridge is still one of the tallest bridges in the South.
1932• A city-manager-commission system is implemented replacing the mayor-council government.
1940
• Port Arthur’s black population increases.• White flight begins to impact the city.
• Many white residents move to neighboring towns such as Port Acres, Nederland, Port Neches, and
Groves. • African-Americans settle on the West side
becasue of segregation.
1943• Janis Joplin is born in Port Arthur. Later she would become one of the most recognized singers from the city.• NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson, was also born this year. Johnson was the head coach for the Dallas Cowboys when they won the Super Bowl in consecutive years 1992 & 1993.
1948
• Unionization. • The Congress of Industrial
Organization’s Oil Workers International had around 8,000 Port Arthur
members. • Various craft unions of the American
Federation of Labor had around 5,000 members.
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1950
• Port Arthur was home to 5 refineries that employed approximately 12,000 workers whose salaries accounted for 50% of the money spent in Port Arthur. • Carver Terrace, a housing unit, was built on the West side to house low-income African-Americans.
1960
• Gulf Gate Bridge was built over the Sabine-Neches waterway to connect Port Arthur to Pleasure Island and connect to Louisiana. The bridge was later re-named the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge.• Population hits an all time high of 69,000 residents.
1966• Port Arthur Levee System begins construction.
1973
• Port Arthur was integrated. Wealthy African Americans move out of the West side of town and into other areas throughout the region.
1974• Port Arthur College and Lamar University merge to become Lamar University Center at Port Arthur.
1975• Lamar University Center at Port Arthur opens with 200 students.
1978
• Port Arthur annexes Sabine Pass, an important site in Texas history.
1979• Tropical Storm Claudette dumped 40 inches of rain on Port Arthur streets.
1984
• Port Arthur Levee System is completed after 18 years of construction.
1985
• Port Arthur Refinery was streamlined and crude oil production reduced dramatically when oil prices dropped.
1957• Two tornadoes rip through Port Arthur killing one person, injuring 82 and causing millions in damages. • Hurricane Audrey hits just east of Port Arthur with 150mph winds, and leaves 17,000 residents homeless.
1986• Hurricane hits with 80mph winds killing 3 people. • Moderate wind damage is sustained.
1989
• Saudi Refining, Inc. purchased 50% of Port Arthur Refinery as part of a joint venture with Texaco known as Star Enterprise.
1995• Denny Larson of Global Community Monitor, a non-profit out of San Francisco, trains residents to do rudimentary air monitoring.
1998
• Motiva Enterprises LLC was created by a joint venture with Star Enterprise and Shell
Oil Co.
2000• Community In-Power and Development Association (CIDA) is founded by Hilton Kelley. A non-profit organization that empowers residents of low-income Port Arthur communities to take action against the neighboring chemical manufacturers, refineries and incinerators to keep them from polluting the air, land and water.
2002
• Shell buys out Texaco-Chevron’s interest in Motiva. Port Arthur Refinery is operated as Motiva and jointly owned by Shell and Saudi refining.• The Environmental Integrity Project issues a report that in the first seven months of 2002 heavy industrial facilities surrounding Port Arthur released almost 725 tons of toxins into the air. These toxins include: Xylene, Toulene, Hexane, Benzene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide; all of which cause major health problems ranging from memory loss, kidney failure, numbness, Leukemia, Asthma, and more.
2007• Hurricane Humberto comes through killing 1 person and
leaving 120,000 without power.
2008
• Tropical Storm Edouard and Hurricane Ike hit Port Arthur in the same year,
both causing major wind damage and flooding. Storm surge
was 11ft.
2010• A towboat pushing two barges collides with
an 800 ft tanker carrying 462,000 gallons of light crude oil causing the worst Texas oil spill in more than 15 years. Port Arthur residents
were forced to evacuate their homes for several hours while officials tested the air
quality after the collision. Motiva $3.5 billion expansion proposed completion.
• A group of UH graduate students and professor come to West Port Arthur to begin
planning a better future.
2005
• Hurricane Rita hits the Procter Street seawall and damages many downtown businesses. Port Arthur sustained major wind damage and some flooding.• Winds reached 116mph.
TIMELINE1950 - 2010
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1897
Downtown’s First Jail
1899
1900
1902 1907
1915Procter StreetSabine Hotel
Downtown Post Office
Hardware Store
Downtown Pool
Victory Parade
Crystal Saloon
Fourth of July Parade
1920
1930
1940
1945
1947
1950
1917Flood Procter Street
Downtown Procter St.
Winter Snow
Downtown Nightlife
Downtown Port Arthur
Town Parade
Victory Parade
Procter Street
Procter Street
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN1895 -1948
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DEMOGRAPHICS
The City of Port Arthur has experienced dramatic demographic change over the last five decades. The population of the city peaked in 1960 at 69,000
and has continued to decline since. The 2000 Census recorded approximately 57,500 people in the city, a loss of over eight percent of the total. The
West Port Arthur neighborhood has also experienced significant population loss. It is clear that the population of Port Arthur is shifting, moving east and
north away from heavy industry. In addition, ethnicity in the city is changing, similar to cities across the United States Port Arthur’s Hispanic and Asian
populations are rising, the White population is declining, and the African-American population is growing slightly. Poverty and unemployment are also high
in Port Arthur, but are a more daunting challenge for West Port Arthur where nearly half of residents struggle to survive on incomes below the poverty level.
The 2000 Census reported that the median household income for the census tracts that comprise West Port Arthur is only $13,000, or one-third of the
median household income in the State of Texas.
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POPULATIONGrowth and Decline
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25TEXAS (+22.8% )
HOUSTON (+19.8%)
U.S. (+13.2%)
PORT ARTHUR (-1.6%)
DETROIT (-7.5%)W. PORT ARTHUR (-9.4%)PO
PULA
TION
CHAN
GE: 1
990
TO 2
000
(%)
POPULATION GROWTHCITY FOUNDATION POPULATION DECLINECITY FOUNDATION
19201900 1910 1930 19501940 1960 19801970 1990 20102000
0
70
10
20
30
40
50
60
PORT
ART
HUR
POPU
LATO
N (T
HOUS
ANDS
)
+130%
+16%
-14% -3%
From the late 19th century to the early 1930s Port Arthur’s population quickly
increased as the city was laying its foundation, especially during the 1920s
when the oil refineries were established. The population growth levelled
off during the Great Depression in the 1930s and then began increasing
again between 1940-1960 as new residents came to the city in search of
opportunity and employment. The population peaked at 69,000 in 1960.
After 1960 the City’s population began to decline. Between 1980 and 1990
the population declined by 7.7%, and between 1990 and 2000 3.2%.
Population loss has been the most drastic in the West Port Arthur area, an
area that accounts for only 7% of the city’s total population, but 40% of the
population decline. The impact of this population loss is evident throughout
the city and the community of West Port Arthur.
ETHNICITYChanging Demographics
WHITE BLACKASIAN
HISP
ANIC
WHITE ASIAN
HISP
ANIC
BLACK
BLACKWHI
TE
PORT ARTHUR - 1990
PORT ARTHUR - 2000
WEST PORT ARTHUR - 2000
128%
31%
WHITE POPULATION
HISPANIC POPULATION
DIVERSE CITY SEGREGATEDCOMMUNITIES
Over the last decade the City of Port Arthur has experienced signifcant
demographic change. From 1990 to 2000 the white population has
decreased by 31%, the Hispanic population has increased by 128%, and
the African-American population has grown slightly. The ongoing shift in the
demographics of the city, combined with the substantial population loss, has
led to segregated communities without access to basic amenities. So, while
Port Arthur overall is a diverse city, communities like West Port Arthur are
segregated, with nearly a 95% African American population.
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HOUSING TENURERenters or Owners?
62%
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
0
38%
OWNER OCCUPIED
RENTER OCCUPIED
14,515
13,574
8,260
7,811
VACANT 2,879
2000 CENSUS
1990 CENSUS
12%
residents own their own homes, and 45% rent.
Own (occupied units)cc
Rent(occupied units)cc
Vacant
Since 1990, the amount of individuals owning their homes in all of Port
Arthur has declined. In 2000 62% of Port Arthur residents owned their own
homes, a number substantially smaller than the U.S. average of 68%. In
West Port Arthur, however, only 55% of residents own their own homes, and
45% rent. Nearly 12% of all residential properties in Port Arthur are vacant.
EDUCATIONGraduation Rates
US
TEXAS
PORT ARTHUR
W PORT ARTHUR
100%50%
90%
80%
70%
60%
40%
30%
20%
10%
MALE
FEMALE
PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OVER THE AGE OF 25 THAT GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL
More than 30% of residents in Port Arthur have not received a high school diploma, this is lower than the average graduation rate in the United States and
the State of Texas. In West Port Arthur educational attainment is directly related to gender. For example, while only 16% of males in West Port Arthur do
no have a high school diploma, more than double that number, or 39% of females, did not graduate from high school. This disparity points to the need
for educational programs and other services targeted directly at the young, school age females in the community.
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INCOMEHousehold Income & Poverty Rates
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000W
EST
PORT
ART
HUR
UNIT
ED S
TATE
S
TEXA
S
PORT
ART
HUR
PERCENTAGE OF POULATION FALLING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE*UNITED STATES 12%TEXAS 15%PORT ARTHUR 25%WEST PORT ARTHUR 46%
These graphs tell a sad, yet not completely surprising story. With our visit
to West Port Arthur we were aware that poverty was pervasive within the
community. However, the numbers we collected from the 2000 Census
were still severe and staggering, despite our expectations. Approximately
half of West Port Arthur’s population falls below the poverty line. The
median household income is approximately $13,000, one-third the
average median income in the state of Texas.
TRANSPORTATIONHow do the People get Around?
UNITED STATES
PORT ARTHUR
TEXAS
WEST PORT ARTHUR
CAR, TRUCK, OR VAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WALKED WORK AT HOME OTHER
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ENVIRONMENT
As the home of major refineries Port Arthur has a number of environmental issues that have the potential to impact the health and well-being of residents.
According to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air Report” (2007) of the more than 3,000 counties in the United States, Jefferson County
ranks fifth for releases of carcinogens, eighth for releases of neurotoxins, and eighth for the releases of general toxins. The city also ranks first in the State
of Texas for chemical releases. The Huntsman, Motiva, and Chevron refineries are all within approximately a mile of the West Port Arthur community. While
the prevailing breezes distribute many air pollutants north of the neighborhood, the proximity to these major plants is a cause of concern for residents. For
example, the accepted risk level for diesel soot cancer is one in one million, in Jefferson County the rate of this cancer is 865 times the accepted risk
level. In addition, there are many potential brownfield sites scattered throughout the city and in West Port Arthur. These sites also pose a potential health
risk to residents, especially children. Working with industry there is the potential to find ways to mitigate the hazards and risks of living in close proximity
to refineries.
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Jefferson County vs. All US Counties
The are 3,141 counties and county equivalentsin the United States.
Jefferson County Ranks:
5TH for releases of carcinogensinto the air & water
8TH for releases of brain-damagingneurotoxicants into the air & water.
8TH for releases developmenttoxicants into the air & water
8TH for releases of reproductivetoxicants into the air & water
29TH for releases of respiratorytoxicants into the air & water
1ST in Texas for chemical releases
The risk is 865 TIMES greater than EPA’s
acceptable cancer level of 1 IN 1 MILLION.
Source: American Lung Association 2007 State of the Air Report (Jefferson County)
On April 14, 2003, Motiva Refinery emitted 107,692 LBS of
hexane in only 18 MINUTES. Totaling 54% of the annual
hexane emissions for routine operations.
The average lifetime diesel soot cancer risk for a resident of
Jefferson County is 1 IN 1,157 which is approximately
every 250TH PERSON in the county.
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PUBLIC HOUSING
NON HIGH VOLATILE LIQUID
HIGH VOLATILE LIQUID
GAS TRANSMISSION
CRUDE TRANSMISSION
PIPELINESWhat is the City Breathing?
35
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
WEST SIDE
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
HUNTSMAN
**
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
SINUS
URI
HUNTSMAN EMISSIONSWhat is the City Breathing?
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW**
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
SINUS
URI
*
*
**
*WEST SIDE
MOTIVA
MOTIVA EMISSIONSWhat is the City Breathing?
37
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
*
*WEST SIDE
CHEVRON
**
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
SINUS
URI
*
**
CHEVRON EMISSIONSWhat is the City Breathing?
Community Design Resource CenterUniversity of Houston
2010