URBAN RENEWAL (REMOVAL)
BEFORE | AFTER

Knoxville’s Urban Renewal projects (1959-1974) affected the largely African American population, and consisted of the Willow Street Project, the Mountain View Project, and the Morningside Project.

107

AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESSES PRE-URBAN RENEWAL

15

AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCHES AFFECTED BY URBAN RENEWAL

2,500+

FAMILIES DISPLACED THROUGH URBAN RENEWAL WITH MORE THAN 70% AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES

The Civic Coliseum 1961

To build the Civic Coliseum in 1961, 
72 Residences, 9 Businesses, and 2 Churches were razed.

URBAN RENEWAL

URBAN REMOVAL

Urban Renewal often dubbed Urban Removal or Negro Removal, was established under Title I of the Housing Act of 1949. The federal government granted assistance and loans to local communities wanting to eliminate slums, urban blight, and substandard housing. Yet, the devastating consequences, that disproportionately targeted minority communities through eminent domain, resulted in the displacement of many families. Urban Renewal will come to an end in 1974 but, the ramifications of Urban Renewal continues. 


Knoxville’s Urban Renewal projects (1959-1974) affected the largely African American population, and consisted of the Willow Street Project, the Mountain View Project, and the Morningside Project.


Beck was established in 1975 as a result of Knoxville’s Urban Renewal projects. It destroyed shacks and stately homes alike, businesses and churches. The projects relocated and displaced many black families. Much of the heritage of the Black community was erased from the map. Edifices that once stood as monuments to the struggles of early leaders no longer exist. Absent of the establishment of Beck, these places and the people may never have existed. 


INSTITUTE OF  MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES GRANT (IMLS)

The collection in the Beck Archive Studio, not currently available to the public, consists of 50,000 objects documenting over 200 years of local African American history and culture. The Urban Renewal Project grant, awarded by IMLS under the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture, is allowing a more in-depth assessment of the people, places and effects of Urban Renewal and its continuing impact. The grant is enabling Beck the opportunity to preserve and catalog its one-of-a-kind collection and make it accessible to the community its collection of materials related to Knoxville’s Urban. 

Volunteer with the Urban Renewal Project

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Please complete this form if you are interested in volunteering with the Urban Renewal Project. 


Additionally:

Do you remember Urban Renewal? We would like to hear your story and ensure that it is a part of our archives for generations to come. Please submit this form if you would like to share your story. Your story is important to our story.

Urban Renewal 
Beck Cultural Corridor &
Delaney Museum at Beck

Beck Cultural Corridor

The Beck Cultural Corridor is a project that will recognize African American related historical and cultural monuments throughout our greater community including a special highlighted section of the area commonly known as Urban Renewal. 
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Delaney Museum at Beck

A vibrant part of the Beck Cultural Corridor, whose history is also rooted in the story of Urban Renewal, is the only remaining home of the Delaney family located at 1935 Dandridge Avenue. Beauford Delaney, is considered to be among the greatest abstract painters of the 20th century. 
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