WEST PORT ARTHUR CONTEXT
Project Team: Greg Estes, Eimile Gavagan, Jules Gianakos, Jennifer King, Reid Mulligan, and Jay Taylor Community Design Resource Center Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture University of Houston 2010
CONTENTS West Port Arthur: Context
WPA
Introduction
05
Context
07
History
17
Demographics
25
Environment
33
3
WPA
WEST PORT ARTHUR Introduction
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 findings 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
CONTEXT West Port Arthur
UR RTH TA POR
LO CA LP AR KS
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
PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITIES
EAST SIDE
DOWNTOWN
WEST SIDE
9
PARKS SAV AN NA H
PR OC TER
HO US TO N
LO CA LP AR KS
GU LFW AY
THO MA S
ML K
7TH ST.
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.
REG ION AL
PA RK S
AMENITIES
*
Restaurants Food Mart/grocery Major Retail Pharmacy
*
Lodging
*
**
*
* * *
*
AAccess c ss ttoo basic ba amenities, amen am meni enitie ities es, s,, such ssuc uch uch as as a grocery groce groc rocer ery ryy store, stoore stor re, e, pharmacy, pharm phar pha rma mac acy cy, y or bankin bbanking ank nkin kinng ng service sservices, eervicces, es,, iss one one ne key ke keyy to a healthy hhea ealth ealt thhy hy community. cco com om mmun mmu munit nity ty. y. This This h s map map ap illustratess the thee disparity ddis disp ispa par arit rity tyy inn access accce acc cess ess ss to basic bas bbaasic sicc amenities amenit am enitie n ties ess between bbe bet etw twe wee een enn West Weest Wes stt and an andd Eastt Port P Arth Arthur, rtrth thu hur, ur,, and andd clearly an cleearl clea arly lyy identifies idden ide ent ntif tifie fies ess the thee need th nee neeed ne ed for foorr additional add ad addi ditio ition ona nal all amenities am amen meniti enitie ties es on the west west we est s side. sid ide de. e.
11
SAV AN NA H
PR OC TER
HO US TO N
GU LFW AY
THO MA S
ML K
7TH ST.
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
65% OF PORT ARTHUR’S POPULATION BELONGS TO A RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 50%
17% 39% 35%
9 OF THE 12 FOUNDING CHURCHES ARE STILL IN EXISTENCE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
9%
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.
13
VACANT LAND SAV AN NA H
PR OC TER
HO US TO N
GU LFW AY
THO MA S
ML K
7TH ST.
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. •
Port Arthur has 860 residents. • Began cutting canal. • Category 1 hurricane kills 13 people and leaves Port Arthur homes in shambles. •
1911
1897
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. •
• 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
1895
John W. Gates becomes chief financial backer of Port Arthur.
•
Sabine-Neches Canal is deepened and extended to Beaumont and Orange.
•
1908
1904
1901
1896
Port Arthur Channel and Dock Co. established.
After ‘The Spindle Top Boom’ in Beaumont, Texaco and Gulf built major refineries in Port Arthur. • Population reaches 900 residents. •
•
1899
1906 •
Port Arthur becomes an official port of entry.
Port Arthur becomes a port. Pleasure Island and Pier are constructed from the deposits of the dredge of the Port Arthur Canal.
• •
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. •
TIMELINE 1895 -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. •
Abraham Lincoln High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for whites were established. With rivaling mascots of Bumblebees and Yellow Jackets.
•
1922
1948 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. •
1940 Port Arthur is the 2nd largest oil-refining point in the nation.
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.
1914
1931
•
•
1932
1915
A city-manager-commission system is implemented replacing the mayor-council government.
A major flood hits Port Arthur.
•
•
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. •
1913 Pleasure Pier dance hall and roller coaster are built. Pleasure Pier becomes a family attraction for Port Arthur residents.
•
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.
•
19
Gulf Gate Bridge was built over the SabineNeches 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. •
1960 •
Port Arthur annexes Sabine Pass, an important site in Texas history.
1978
Port Arthur Levee System is completed after 18 years of construction.
•
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 AfricanAmericans. •
1984 Port Arthur Refinery was streamlined and crude oil production reduced dramatically when oil prices dropped.
•
Port Arthur was integrated. Wealthy African Americans move out of the West side of town and into other areas throughout the region.
•
1973
1950
1985
1974
1957
Port Arthur College and Lamar University merge to become Lamar University Center at Port Arthur.
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.
•
•
1975
Lamar University Center at Port Arthur opens with 200 students.
•
1966
Port Arthur Levee System begins construction.
•
1979 Tropical Storm Claudette dumped 40 inches of rain on Port Arthur streets.
•
TIMELINE 1950 - 2010
• Tropical
Storm Edouard and Hurricane Ike hit Port Arthur in the same year, both causing major wind damage and flooding. Storm surge was 11ft.
2008 • Motiva
Enterprises LLC was created by a joint venture with Star Enterprise and Shell Oil Co.
1998
• Saudi
Refining, Inc. purchased 50% of Port Arthur Refinery as part of a joint venture with Texaco known as Star Enterprise.
• 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.
2002
1989
1995 • Denny
Larson of Global Community Monitor, a non-profit out of San Francisco, trains residents to do rudimentary air monitoring.
1986
• Hurricane • Moderate
• Hurricane
Rita hits the Procter Street seawall and damages many downtown businesses. Port Arthur sustained major wind damage and some flooding. • Winds reached 116mph.
2005
2000
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.
• 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.
• A group of UH graduate students and professor come to West Port Arthur to begin planning a better future.
hits with 80mph winds killing 3 people. wind damage is sustained.
2007 • Hurricane
Humberto comes through killing 1 person and leaving 120,000 without power. 21
Sabine Hotel
Victory Parade
Procter Street
Downtown’s First Jail
1915
Hardware Store
1897
1900
1899
1902
1907
Fourth of July Parade
Downtown Post Office
Crystal Saloon
Downtown Pool
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN 1895 -1948
Flood Procter Street
1917
Downtown Nightlife
Winter Snow
Procter Street
1940
1947 Procter Street
1930
Downtown Port Arthur
1945
Victory Parade
1950
1920
Town Parade
Downtown Procter St.
23
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.
25
POPULATION Growth and Decline
+16%
PORT ARTHUR POPULATON (THOUSANDS)
70
-14%
60
-3%
+130%
50 40 30 20 10 0 CITY CITYFOUNDATION FOUNDATION
1900
1910
1920
POPULATION DECLINE
POPULATION GROWTH
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
25
POPULATION CHANGE: 1990 TO 2000 (%)
TEXAS (+22.8% )
20 15
HOUSTON (+19.8%) U.S. (+13.2%)
10 5 0 -5 -10 -15
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.
PORT ARTHUR (-1.6%) DETROIT (-7.5%) W. PORT ARTHUR (-9.4%)
ETHNICITY
ASIAN
WHITE
HISPANIC
Changing Demographics
BLACK
HISPANIC
WHITE
ASIAN
PORT ARTHUR - 1990
BLACK
PORT ARTHUR - 2000
WHITE
BLACK
WEST PORT ARTHUR - 2000 HISPANIC POPULATION
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.
128%
31%
WHITE POPULATION
DIVERSE CITY
SEGREGATED COMMUNITIES
27
HOUSING TENURE Renters or Owners?
13,574
62%
OWNER OCCUPIED
14,515 Own (occupied c units) 8,260 RENTER OCCUPIED
38%
7,811
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
2,879
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0 VACANT
Rent (occupied c units)
12% Vacant
2000 CENSUS 1990 CENSUS
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.
residents own their own homes, and 45% rent.
EDUCATION Graduation Rates
US
TEXAS
PORT ARTHUR
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
W PORT ARTHUR
PERCENT OF THE POPULATION OVER THE AGE OF 25 THAT GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL MALE FEMALE
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.
29
INCOME
Household Income & Poverty Rates
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
WEST PORT ARTHUR
PORT ARTHUR
TEXAS
$10,000
UNITED STATES
$20,000
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME PERCENTAGE OF POULATION FALLING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE* UNITED STATES TEXAS PORT ARTHUR WEST PORT ARTHUR
12% 15% 25% 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.
TRANSPORTATION How do the People get Around?
UNITED STATES
TEXAS
PORT ARTHUR
WEST PORT ARTHUR
CAR, TRUCK, OR VAN
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
WALKED
WORK AT HOME
OTHER
31
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.
33
Jefferson County vs. All US Counties The are 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States.
Jefferson County Ranks:
5TH for releases of carcinogens into the air & water
8TH for releases of brain-damaging neurotoxicants into the air & water.
8TH for releases development toxicants into the air & water
8TH for releases of reproductive toxicants into the air & water
29TH for releases of respiratory
toxicants into the air & water
1ST in Texas for chemical releases 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.
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)
PIPELINES What is the City Breathing?
SAV AN NA H
PR OC TER
HO US TO N
ML K
GU LFW AY
THO MA S
ING HOUS IC L B PU
NON HIGH VOLATILE LIQUID
7TH ST.
HIGH VOLATILE LIQUID GAS TRANSMISSION CRUDE TRANSMISSION
35
HUNTSMAN EMISSIONS What is the City Breathing?
URI
HIGH
SINUS
* *
HUNTSMAN
* *
*
WEST SIDE
** **
BRONCHITIS ASTHMA
MEDIUM LOW
MOTIVA EMISSIONS What is the City Breathing?
URI
HIGH
SINUS
* *
BRONCHITIS ASTHMA
MEDIUM LOW
MOTIVA
** WEST SIDE
* **
37
CHEVRON EMISSIONS What is the City Breathing?
URI
HIGH
SINUS
* *
*
* WEST SIDE
* * *
CHEVRON
BRONCHITIS ASTHMA
MEDIUM LOW
Community Design Resource Center University of Houston 2010