Little Known Facts by Joe Goodpasture. . . . Little Know Facts about Bristol’s Past Urban renewal rebuilt and transformed a large chunk of Bristol from the early 1960s through the ‘80s. Success of the massive program, which demolished historic landmarks and destroyed entire neighborhoods, is still debated three decades later. The ‘Central Business District Urban Renewal Projects’ were part of a nationwide movement to revitalize decaying neighborhoods and shore up declining downtown sections. In Bristol, the completion of I-81 (which bypassed downtown), the opening of Bristol Mall and a major flood in 1977 contributed to a rapid decline of the city’s historic central business district. The governments of the two Bristols agreed to seek federal urban renewal funds to redevelop nearly eight acres on the Virginia side and 36 acres in Tennessee. The majority of the Virginia land was downtown commercial property; 50 percent of the Tennessee projects were residential neighborhoods adjacent to downtown. Lost to the wrecking ball were the venerable General Shelby Hotel, the stately Virginia Court House, the Colonial Hotel and dozens of other buildings. In their place came the Channel 5 building, a new Virginia courthouse and correctional facility, Cumberland Park, TriSummit Bank and a number of other new structures, along with the widening of Anderson Street. Bristol’s downtown has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years and is once again a vital, inviting destination. Some claim that urban renewal helped spark the revitalization; others argue that it was not worth the loss of historic landmarks and their link to city’s heritage. The debate goes on.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 15:47:32 +0000
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