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WEST PORT RTHURWEST PORT ARTHURONT XTCONTEXT
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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
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Introduction
Context
History
Demographics
Environment
CONTENTSWest Port Arthur: Context
05
07
17
25
33
WPA
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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 Colleges
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 communitys history, development, environment, demographics, context and the priorities of citizens.
This project is a partnership with the Community In-Power Development Association.
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CONTEXTWest Port Arthur
PORTARTHUR
LOCALPARKS
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.
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WESTSIDE
DOWNTOWN
EASTSIDE
PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITIES
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HOUSTON
THOM
AS
7THST
.
PRO
CTER
GULFW
AY
MLK
SAVANNAH
LOCALPARKS
REGIONALPARKS
PARKS
7THST
.
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.
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*
*
***
*
*
*
*
*
Restaurants
Food Mart/grocery
Major Retail
Pharmacy
Lodging
AMENITIES
Access to basic amenities, such as a grocery store, pharmacy,
r an ng servces, s one ey to a ea t y communty. s map .
ustrates t e spar ty n access to as c amen t es etween est an
East Port Arthur, and clearly identifies the need for additional amenities
n t e west s e.
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HOUSTON
THOM
AS
7THST
.
PRO
CTER
GULFW
AY
MLK
SAVANNAH
7THST
.
G
WA
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.
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FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY
39%
17%
35%
9%
65%OF PORT ARTHURS POPULATION
BELONGS TO A RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION
WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE OF50%
9 OF THE 12FOUNDING 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
THOM
AS
7THST
.
PRO
CTER
GULFW
AY
MLK
SAVANNAH
VACANT LAND
7THST
.
G
WA
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.
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Babe Didrickson was born, she was
later to become a multiple Olympic
medal winner. She is one of the foundersof the LPGA and became its leader for
several years on and off the links.
1895
1896Port Arthur Channel andDock Co. established.
1901After The Spindle Top Boom in
Beaumont, Texaco and Gulf builtmajor refineries in Port Arthur.
Population reaches 900
residents.
1906Port Arthur becomes an official port of entry.
1911
1897
Port Arthur has 860residents.
Began cutting canal.
Category 1 hurricane kills
13people and leaves Port
Arthur homes in shambles.
1899Port Arthur becomes a port.
Pleasure Island and Pier areconstructed from the deposits of the
dredge of the Port Arthur Canal.
Arthur E. Stillwell buys land forthe 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 majorexport of Port Arthur.
A number of hotels are built around downtown andon Procter Street.
Procter Street is the Main Street through downtown PortArthur, and becomes the scene of many parades, nightlifeand family fun.
1904
John W. Gatesbecomes chief financial
backer of Port Arthur.
1908
Sabine-Neches
Canal is deepenedand extended to
Beaumont and
Orange.
1909Port Arthur becomes the 12thlargest port in UnitedStates 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 ofEducation of the Methodist Episcopal Church North, a
forerunner of the present United Methodis t Temple.
The church operated the growing campus until1918, when it was turned over to a non-profit Texas
corporation.
Population of 7,663residents.
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TIMELINE1895 -1948
1913Pleasure Pier dance hall and rollercoaster are built. Pleasure Pier
becomes a family attraction for PortArthur residents.
1914
Port Arthur is the 2nd
largest oil-refining point inthe nation.
1915A major flood hits Port
Arthur.
1922
Abraham Lincoln High School and Thomas Jefferson
High School for whites were established. With rivalingmascots of Bumblebees and Yellow Jackets.
1930St. Marys Hospital was
constructed. Transferring the
patients of Mary Gates Hospital,named after the late wife of John
W. Gates, to the new St. Marysfacilities.
1931
The Neches River Rainbow Bridgeis completed crossing over the
Neches River on State Highway 87,
the bridge is still one of the tallestbridges in the South.
1932A city-manager-commission
system is implementedreplacing the mayor-council
government.
1940
Port Arthurs black population increases.
White flight begins to impact the city.
Many white residents move to neighboring towns
such as Port Acres, Nederland, Port Neches, andGroves.
African-Americans settle on the West sidebecasue of segregation.
1943Janis Joplin is born in Port Arthur.
Later she would become one of themost recognized singers from the city.
NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson, was also born
this year. Johnson was the head coach forthe Dallas Cowboys when they won the Super
Bowl in consecutive years 1992 & 1993.
1948
Unionization.The Congress of Industrial
Organizations Oil Workers Internationalhad around 8,000Port Arthur
members.
Various craft unions of the AmericanFederation of Labor had around5,000
members.
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1950
Port Arthur was home to
5refineries that employed
approximately 12,000workerswhose salaries accounted for
50% of the money spent in PortArthur.
Carver Terrace, a hous ingunit, 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 toPleasure 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.
1966Port Arthur Levee System
begins construction.
1973
Port Arthur was integrated. Wealthy
African Americans move out of theWest side of town and into other areas
throughout the region.
1974Port Arthur College and Lamar
University merge to become
Lamar University Center at PortArthur.
1975Lamar University Center at Port
Arthur opens with 200 students.
1978
Port Arthur annexes Sabine Pass, an important site inTexas history.
1979Tropical Storm Claudette
dumped 40 inches of rain onPort Arthur streets.
1984
Port Arthur Levee System is completed after18 years of construction.
1985
Port Arthur Refinery was
streamlined and crude oil productionreduced dramatically when oil prices
dropped.
1957Two tornadoes rip through Port Arthurkilling one person, injuring 82and
causing millions in damages.Hurricane Audrey hits just east of Port
Arthur with 150mph winds, and leaves17,000residents homeless.
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1986 Hurricane hits with 80mph winds killing 3 people. Moderate wind damage is sustained.
1989
Saudi Refining, Inc.
purchased 50% of Port ArthurRefinery as part of a joint
venture with Texaco known as
Star Enterprise.
1995 Denny Larson of GlobalCommunity Monitor, a non-profit
out of San Francisco, trains
residents to do rudimentary airmonitoring.
1998
Motiva Enterprises LLC was created by ajoint 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-incomePort Arthur communities to take action against the
neighboring chemical manufacturers, refineries and
incinerators to keep them from polluting the air, landand water.
2002
Shell buys out Texaco-Chevrons interest in
Motiva. Port Arthur Refinery is operated asMotiva and jointly owned by Shell and Saudi
refining. The Environmental Integrity Project issues a
report that in the first seven months of2002heavy industrial facilities surrounding Port Arthur
released almost 725tons of toxins into the air.
These toxins include: Xylene, Toulene, Hexane,Benzene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide;
all of which cause major health problems rangingfrom memory loss, kidney failure, numbness,
Leukemia, Asthma, and more.
2007 Hurricane Humberto comes through killing 1person and
leaving 120,000without power.
2008
Tropical Storm Edouard and Hurricane
Ike hit Port Arthur in the same year,
both causing major wind damage andflooding. Storm surge
was 11ft.
2010A towboat pushing two barges collides with
an 800 fttanker carrying 462,000 gallons of
light crude oil causing the worst Texas oil spillin more than 15 years. Port Arthur residents
were forced to evacuate their homes forseveral hours while officials tested the air
quality after the collision. Motiva $3.5billionexpansion proposed completion.
A group of UH graduate students and
professor come to West Port Arthur to beginplanning a better future.
2005
Hurricane Rita hits the Procter
Street seawall and damagesmany downtown businesses.
Port Arthur sustained major wind
damage and some flooding. Winds reached 116mph.
TIMELINE1950 - 2010
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1897
Downtowns First Jail
1899
1900
1902 1907
1915Procter StreetSabine Hotel
Downtown Post Office
Hardware Store
Downtown Pool
Victory Parade
Crystal Saloon
Fourth of July Parade
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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 Arthurs 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%)POPULATIONCHANGE:19
90TO2000(%)
POPULATION GROWTHCITY FOUNDATION
POPULATION DECLINECITY FOUNDATION
19201900 1910 1930 19501940 1960 19801970 1990 20102000
0
70
10
20
30
40
50
60
PO
RTARTHURPOPULATON(THOUSANDS)
+130%
+16%
-14% -3%
From the late 19th century to the early 1930s Port Arthurs population quickly
increased as the city was laying its foundation, especially during the 1920s
when the oil refineries were established. The population growth levelledoff 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 Citys 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 citys 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.
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ETHNICITYChanging Demographics
WHITE BLACK ASIAN
HISPANIC
WHITE ASIAN
HISPANIC
BLACK
BLACKWHITE
PORT ARTHUR - 1990
PORT ARTHUR - 2000
WEST PORT ARTHUR - 2000
128%
31%
WHITE POPULATION
HISPANIC POPULATION
DIVERSE CITY SEGREGATED
COMMUNITIES
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%, andthe 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
1
0,000
1
2,000
1
4,000
1
6,000
0
38%
OWNER OCCUPIED
RENTER OCCUPIED
14,515
13,574
8,260
7,811
VACANT 2,879
2000 CENSUS
1990 CENSUS
12%
esidents own their own
omes, and 45% rent.
Ownoccup e un s
Rentoccup e un s
acant
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 ownhomes, 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.
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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 dono 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
$10,000
WEST
PORTARTHUR
UNITEDSTATES
TEXAS
PORTARTHUR
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 Arthurs 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.
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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 Associations 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 3,141counties and county equivalentsin the United States.
Jefferson County Ranks:
5THfor releases of carcinogensinto the air & water
8THfor releases of brain-damagingneurotoxicants into the air & water.
8THfor releases developmenttoxicants into the air & water
8THfor releases of reproductivetoxicants into the air & water
29THfor releases of respiratorytoxicants into the air & water
1STin Texas for chemical releases
The risk is 865 TIMESgreater than EPAsacceptable 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 emitted107,692 LBSofhexane in only 18 MINUTES. Totaling 54%of the annualhexane emissions for routine operations.
The average lifetime diesel soot cancer risk for a resident of
Jefferson County is1 IN 1,157which is approximatelyevery 250THPERSONin the county.
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OUSTON
THOM
AS
7THST
.
PRO
CTER
WAY
MLK
AVANNAH
PUBLICHO
USING
NON HIGH VOLATILE LIQUID
HIGH VOLATILE LIQUID
GAS TRANSMISSION
CRUDE TRANSMISSION
PIPELINESWhat is the City Breathing?
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HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
WEST SIDE
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
HUNTSMAN
**
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
SINUS
URI
HUNTSMAN EMISSIONSWhat is the City Breathing?
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HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW**
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
SINUS
URI
*
*
**
*WEST SIDE
MOTIVA
MOTIVA EMISSIONSWhat is the City Breathing?
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HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
*
*WEST SIDE
CHEVRON
**
ASTHMA
BRONCHITIS
SINUS
URI
*
**
CHEVRON EMISSIONSWhat is the City Breathing?
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