Urban Renewal
Post-World War II, San Francisco took the opportunity to address blighted neighborhoods through the national push for urban renewal. Maps dating as early as 1945 show that San Francisco planning officials were discussing which neighborhoods to target for redevelopment; however, a 1960 City-Wide Urban Renewal Plan demonstrates that specific projects were actually being written into policy. These targeted areas were often western African-American neighborhoods (e.g. the Fillmore), and other traditionally minority neighborhoods (e.g. Japantown). Consequently, many African-Americans and other minority group members were displaced during this time, setting off an out-migration of African-American households from San Francisco—still occurring today [25]. This has not only had an effect on racial distributions, but also on socioeconomic/wealth distributions in the city. Contemporary mayoral administrations continue to deal with the effects of Urban Renewal, as they try to bring back Black populations to the city through various programs aimed at establishing affordable housing and job creation [25].
While San Francisco has always been a more liberal and progressive city, Urban Renewal led to a boost in community organizing at the neighborhood-level. Groups that rallied to protect against displacement were so persistent and pervasive, they influenced a shift of local governance to become more neighborhood-focused. The work of the contemporary Planning department reflects this neighborhood-specific approach.
While San Francisco has always been a more liberal and progressive city, Urban Renewal led to a boost in community organizing at the neighborhood-level. Groups that rallied to protect against displacement were so persistent and pervasive, they influenced a shift of local governance to become more neighborhood-focused. The work of the contemporary Planning department reflects this neighborhood-specific approach.
Scroll over images below to see the progression of redevelopment strategies surrounding Urban Renewal policies.