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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-754 Ramirez, Jonathan From:Emma Willis <emwill1102@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, October 2, 2023 11:37 AM To:Agenda Item Comment Cc:Sharon Killian Subject:Spout Spring Historic District Attachments:NWA BH Historic District Summary .pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the City of Fayetteville. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Fayetteville City Council, I am pleased to introduce myself as Emma Willis, a consultant retained by Northwest Arkansas Black Heritage to work on revising the proposed resolution to the city regarding the Historic Spout Spring Community. Over the last two months, I have worked tirelessly with the Northwest Arkansas Black Heritage team to draft a summary of the vision for the community. This summary offers more insight into how we believe the community benefits from the creation of a historic district. In the summary, we highlight the community's rich history and culture, as well as its economic and social potential. We also discuss the importance of preserving the community's historic structures and sites. I am confident that the accompanying summary will provide the city council with the information it needs to make an informed decision about the creation of a historic district in the Spout Spring Community. I look forward to working with you and other stakeholders to bring this vision to life. Sincerely, Emma Willis 1 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS BLACK HERITAGE OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED BLACK HISTORIC DISTRICT AT SPOUT SPRING BRANCH PRESENTED TO FAYETTEVILLE CITY COUNCIL I.Acknowledgment of the Legacy of American Slavery and Land Acknowledgement NWA Black Heritage acknowledges that we all live in a system that American Slavery built and that each of us is responsible for doing our part to dismantle it. NWA Black Heritage acknowledges the Osage,Caddo,and Quapaw peoples,and their elders past,present,and future,for their ancestral stewardship of the land dating from time immemorial and upon which we now live.It is within the responsibility of our educational mission and our commitment to diversity and inclusion that we discuss the intersection of their history with ours as forced cultivators of the NWA landscape from which they were removed in the early 19th century. II.Introduction Intricately involved in raising and building the region when they were trafficked as enslaved labor to Northwest Arkansas (NWA)in the early 1820s,Black Arkansans cut timber to clear the landscape upon which they built the homes,roads,and schools that the first Fayettevillians walked on and learned in.The only place to build community in this region fully built on their labor,Black people remained or moved to Fayetteville to make their home.In response,decision-makers chose to write residents of the Spout Spring Branch community out of city plans,systematically erasing them and the legacy of the original builders.NWA Black Heritage believes that stopping the erasure of African American culture and community and building up the local Historic Black District of Spout Spring Branch will bring pride of place to the entire region.Fayetteville will automatically become an example of real progress in the reach for justice and equity. Fayetteville has struggled through social and civic justice in Arkansas since its founding. As other parts of the state battled racial tensions,Fayetteville’s residents practiced a version of tolerance over exclusion,even if imperfect.A multi-use historic district along Spout Spring Branch is an opportunity to honor Fayetteville’s tenacity and Black legacy by restoring stewardship to the community. III.Historical Legacy of The Branch The legacy of the Spout Spring Branch community reaches back generations.Black people were brought to the region by Native and white traders,primarily as enslaved laborers before the city’s incorporation in 1841.After the legal end of slavery,they quickly learned that Fayetteville was as safe as could be expected in the region.The city on the hill was buttressed by sundown towns like Bentonville,Cane Hill,Springdale,and Rogers,with Greenwood and Harrison not far away.1 The original community was located on the edge of the scenic East Mountain and named for the spring-fed creek that runs through it,Spring Branch.Though Fayetteville’s Black residents dealt with racism and ostracisation at their own doorsteps,they built this community up and made it home.Ranging from alternative naming schemes to segregated neighborhood Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 2 schools and forced removal by urban renewal,Black Fayetteville has overcome countless obstacles before and since the city’s founding.Alternative names for the community,“Tin Cup” or worse,reflect the perspective of white travelers and passersby who only saw the community as a watering hole as they passed through or came into the community for entertainment.2 The first public school in the state,Henderson School,PS-1,was opened in Fayetteville in 1866 by the American Missionary Association to teach Black children.Black students attended this school for the next 73 years.Meanwhile,in 1932,a new school,Jefferson Elementary was built in the heart of Spout Spring Branch yet,exclusively served white students. Each day,Black students in the community walked past this new institution on the way to their studies at their own school.Consider the damage done to the Black students of Spout Spring Branch who had to make sense of their alternative education when a new school was in their neighborhood.Developers seemed to address the issue by opening the Lincoln School in 1939, which served only Black students but pushed Black residents farther south and out of the community.Furthermore,since no secondary schools in Fayetteville accepted Black students, any Black child seeking further education past elementary school was shipped to and boarded in nearby towns like Ft.Smith where they could attend high school.3 A little more than a decade later,Fayetteville chose community over conflict in 1954 when they were one of the first Arkansas high schools to prepare for desegregation publicly.Though this is a significant highlight in the history of the town,this occasion was one of many formative events that shaped the town and this district. What remains of the Spout Spring community,the bedrock of Black Fayetteville,is still home to generations of American history within a few city blocks.A walk,ride,or drive down Willow,Rock,Lafayette,and Olive streets reveals the shared buildings of the Historic St.James Baptist Church and Historic St.James Methodist Church,a Confederate Cemetary,the East Mountain Cemetery,and multiple stops on the Green Book Route for Black Motorists.456 Each of these sites holds hundreds of years of tremendous historical value for the community and future generations. Through a selective effort to build up some parts of the city and diminish others,Black Fayetteville has been crushed.As evidenced in city plans that stretch back to at least 1945, decision-makers in Fayetteville have at best,ignored the potential damage to communities and at worst,targeted one of the oldest,least supported communities in town.Without a large investment like the suggested historic district,the community will continue to deteriorate according to the plan.The codification of the Spout Spring Branch community as a historic district will preserve these important elements of history and provide significant,sustained investment into the community. Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 3 IV.Inspiration for the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch NWA Black Heritage envisions the district as a mission-driven community of growing families,businesses,and cutting-edge scholarship and culture.The Fayetteville Historic Preservation Commission has identified myriad ways that historic preservation benefits the city. ●Historic preservation contributes to job creation,development,and income generation, directly and indirectly. ●Historic preservation provides economic opportunities related to heritage tourism. ●Small businesses benefit from historic preservation. ●Historic preservation fosters civic pride and identity. ●Historic preservation attracts newcomers and retains current residents. ●Historic preservation encourages interest in local history. The plans envisioned for the district support each of these benefits.Like the example districts discussed below,the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch will be an asset to the community and the city.In nearby Tulsa,Houston,and Kansas City,communities have significantly benefited from restoring their historic districts. Greenwood Historic District-Tulsa,Oklahoma The Greenwood District,remembered as home to “Black Wall Street”,was a bustling community filled with entrepreneurs,educators,and entertainers in the early 20th century.When racial tensions boiled over in the spring of 1921,the community became the site of “the worst racial violence in American history”.7 Over time,the community tried to rebuild but never reached the same level of success because of systemic barriers.As community members aged and urban renewal forced the dispersal of neighbors and homeowners,the district fell into disrepair.Recently,a team of concerned community members worked with the City of Tulsa and numerous other organizations to build and restore several sites in the Historic Greenwood District.Greenwood Rising,an award-winning history center located within the district,provides a narrative-centered experience of Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District.Exhibits showcase the best,worst,and brightest moments in Tulsa’s history,taking note of the tenacious Oklahomans whose perseverance through racial violence and systemic injustice continues to this day.8 Tourism brings dollars back into the community and moreover,the story of Black Wall Street has been brought back from recessed memories to the forefront.Like the Greenwood organizers,the team behind the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch seeks to recover and rejuvenate the space to restore and uplift erased histories. Independence Heights-Houston,Texas In early 1905,the Wright Land Company developed and sold plots of land to African Americans moving to what is now the northern part of Houston.By 1915,Independence Heights was home to about 600 Black people and established itself as the first municipality incorporated by African Americans in the State of Texas.9 Education,religion,and community networks were Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 4 pivotal in this early Black community.They established schools,churches,and black-owned businesses.The independent municipality held space for grocery stores,restaurants,a lumber company,a watch repair shop,ice cream parlors,beauty shops,barber shops,a drug store,a blacksmithing shop,law offices,and other services.Its citizens were business owners,teachers, attorneys,craftsmen,longshoremen,railroad workers,and more.Unfortunately,the city dissolved in 1929 and was absorbed into the municipality of Houston. Today,the Independence Heights Redevelopment Council works with the City of Houston to advocate for community interests.10 A multi-ethnic community,Independence Heights is a place where people honor the past and use lessons from those original incorporators to grow today.Recently,the Houston Endowment bestowed the organization with a large grant to support program development and restoration of the community.11 18th &Vine Historic Jazz District-Kansas City,Missouri Black Kansans established communities around 18th &Vine in the late 1800s.By the 1920s,it “was a thriving commercial,residential and entertainment center”.12 Prohibited by redlining from spreading throughout the city,Black Kansans moving to the city were forced to settle in the district which,in turn,spurred its transformation into “the heart of Kansas City’s Black Business”.Black architects and builders laid out blocks of entertainment,housing,and business spaces.The district flourished as Black professionals,doctors,lawyers,dentists,and teachers chose to live,shop,and enjoy any number of the over 600 thriving Black-owned businesses housed there.In addition,the historic 18th and Vine District is credited with developing Kansas City’s unique jazz stylings.In its day,the Gem Theater,platformed jazz greats like Count Basie,Charlie “Bird”Parker,and Ella Fitzgerald. Today,the 18th &Vine Jazz District is built around two acclaimed museums,the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum and the Historic Gem Theater.13 Flanked by a host of restaurants,shops,and other experiences,the district serves as a point of pride for Kansas Citians and an immersive educational experience for visitors.The city uses funds garnered within the district to sustain and develop new businesses and attractions to maintain a positive growth cycle. These are three examples of Historic districts that offer opportunities for visitors and community members to learn and engage with their shared histories. V.Vision for the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch Communities are stronger when neighbors feel connected.The Historic District at Spout Spring Branch will offer residents space to learn,build,and grow together.Beyond the significant capital investment and job creation expected from this project,the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch will deliver economic and community benefits by reaching a long-underserved segment of the population directly and indirectly,supporting the city overall with new developments. Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 5 The survey that supported the Heritage and Historic Preservation Plan (2019)revealed that Jefferson Elementary School,churches,East Mountain Cemetary,South Fayetteville,and historic neighborhoods in general were among the top considerations of community members for Historic preservation.This project supports at least 3 of the 5 stated goals of the strategic plan:to identify and protect historic properties,provide public learning opportunities,and promote and protect cultural heritage.The vision for the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch is organized around three pillars:education,housing &economic development,and environmental equity. Afrofuturist Museum and Meditative Space Following the framework of other successful districts,the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch will be anchored by an Afrofuturist museum and meditative space dedicated to the community and its future.The space will serve as a protective zone and memorial for the numerous unmarked Black burial grounds currently violated by pedestrian traffic and dog-marking in the area.At the heart of the concept,Afrofuturism is a perspective wherein artists,activists,and other creators have dreamed of and built worlds and civilizations rooted in Black people's freedom and thought.Rather than beginning the Black American experience with slavery,Afrofuturism extends the bounds of time and space past,before,and beyond the forced bondage of Africans and Americans.Curators at the National Museum of African American History and Culture describe Afrofuturism as “the expression of notions of freedom,agency,and Black identity through art,creative works,and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life”.14 The notion of Afrofuturism is not foreign to the City of Fayetteville.Indeed,the integration experience of the Black students in the 1954 class was different from the experience in districts further south.Fayetteville’s residents,some Black and white,made a conscious effort to move past the fear of difference to achieve a peaceful coexistence that Arkansans outside of the region could only imagine.It was the future in real-time.Unfortunately,the equal and opposing force of systemic racism has existed alongside progress every step of the way.An Afrofuturist museum honors the courage of those and the many other community members who lived what other Arkansans could only dream of. Housing and Economic Development Economic development is a key outcome of historical designation.The Historic District at Spout Spring Branch will attract tourism,scholarship,and new business.These ventures will create jobs and other opportunities for sustainable economic infrastructure within the community. Today,like the first Black community members,Fayetteville’s Black neighborhoods are almost cordoned off by lack of access to resources.Black Arkansans face an unemployment rate of 4.1%while the general rate is closer to 2.7%.15 In March of 2023,the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that the average home price in Washington County has increased over 20%since the second half of 2021.16 Up from $311,572 to an average home price of around $376,018,the housing market is impenetrable for many Arkansans.The average home price is about ten times the median income for Black Arkansans statewide and five times as much as the median income for Black Arkansans in Benton County and surrounding areas.17 This gulf results Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 6 in lower homeownership rates overall.Arkansans have about a 44%homeownership rate with Black Arkansans having the smallest rates of ownership in some NWA counties like Benton and Sebastian.The local historic district would protect the interests of existing homeowners and make affordable housing more accessible. Historic districts attract serious developers because they know their investment will be protected over time.Dedicated funding through municipal ordinances ensures the continued care and prioritization of the neighborhood and the designation protects community members from predatory developers by holding them to a standard of completion,contractually obligated to use funds for their directed purposes.Black developers make up about 5-9%of the national market while Black Americans make up roughly 14%of the country’s population.18 This district will once again,put Fayetteville in a place to lead in racial equity.Encouraging and protecting Black developments in the district will set a standard in the region for how cities can attract and support Black businesses and residents.Portions of the non-contiguous district lie within one of the two Opportunity Zones in Fayetteville.A historic distinction would open up the area to more funding to develop the area.19 Environmental Equity Consistently ranked one of America’s best places to live,Fayetteville has invested in significant infrastructure to support sustainable lifestyles,including extensive walking and biking trails throughout the city.Walkability is a key indicator of community health and a driver of decreased exhaust emissions.20 The historic designation would pair well with the city’s plans to increase mobility in and out of the community. The proposed district will support multiple city initiatives surrounding transportation and planning.In the Active Transportation Plan drafted in 2019,there are proposed shared-use paved trails and bicycle trails laid out in the area.21 The district would tie the space together, providing an opportunity for education and beautification.Additionally,the district is an opportunity to chip away at goals for City Plan 2040 which include creating mixed-use/walkable neighborhoods,green networks,and attainable housing.22 A whopping 85.64%of Fayetteville Residents who responded to the city’s survey considered “preservation of historic structures” important/very important.22 Fayetteville’s residents see these historic communities as “appropriate infill”to prioritize by the city. Overall,the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch designation would improve the quality of life of Fayetteville residents and provide constituents with a readily identifiable service from Fayetteville city officials. Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 7 VI.Establishing the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch The community of Spout Spring Branch is home to important historical sites from the founding of the city,to the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement.The city should create the South Fayetteville Historic District to preserve the community and boost the local economy.The district could be funded with a bond to restore and redevelop historic buildings in the new historic district.The city and community should actively collaborate to develop a plan for the district that meets the current and anticipated needs of residents and businesses including goals and performance indicators.Both city officials and community partners should co-monitor the progress of the district,evaluate the metrics after a certain period of time,and make any needed adjustments to meet the predetermined goals or metrics. Legal advice from the City of Fayetteville (2017)on Arkansas state code recommends the following steps be taken to secure the district: 1.One of the following conditions must be satisfied in order to begin the process of placing restrictions on historic districts a.The majority of property owners in the proposed district must sign a petition agreeing that their property shall be included in the historic district OR b.Boundaries of a proposed historic district are identical to and encompass the area of a National Register of Historic Places Historic District. c.While there are some smaller districts included in the outlined area,the majority of the area is uncategorized.This will take a modest volunteer effort on NWA BH behalf.We will launch volunteers to do door-to-door canvassing and tabling events to gather signatures and educate the community on the district. 2.Once a simple majority of signatures (approximately 350)have been collected from stakeholders,the Historic District Commission investigates the historical significance of the district through surveying and other methods. 3.Their report is then sent to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and the Fayetteville Planning Commission for review 4.The Historic District Commission will announce and hold a public meeting in accordance with city codes and ordinances. 5.The Historic District Commission's Final report with recommendations and ordinance draft with a complete description and a map of the exact boundaries of the new district. 6.The city council then accepts returns with revisions or rejects the report. This process will require a collective effort by the city government,community members,and leaders but the payout will return with dividends in community satisfaction. Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 8 VII.Funding the Historic District at Spout Spring Branch The Historic District at Spout Spring Branch would require significant planning and investment to reach its fullest potential.We recommend the City of Fayetteville levy a bond to fund the restoration and redevelopment of historic buildings including improvements to infrastructure and public spaces.Using bond issues to fund community improvement projects is a common practice in the United States.In 2021,state and local governments issued $394 billion in bonds for infrastructure projects.This funding helped to improve roads,bridges,schools,and other vital infrastructure. Fayetteville’s residents have voted to support bond issues funding infrastructure projects. In recent years,the city has used bond issues to fund the construction of a new high school,a new convention center,and a new baseball stadium.Additionally,these funds could be used to acquire property to include in the district,public art displays and to spur economic development in the area.In 2019,the citizens of Fayetteville voted to use bonds to invest in much-needed infrastructure and arts development around the city.Without raising taxes,the city budgeted improvements for roads,trails,parks,public safety,job creation,and construction of the new Cultural Arts Corridor.A similar process could be used to educate the community on their contribution and support the district. VIII.Conclusion A historic district in the Spout Spring Branch is a win-win for the city and the community.The city of Fayetteville has used the historic preservation ordinances to give dwellings to a number of nonprofits,including the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation,the Fayetteville Arts Council,and the Fayetteville Historical Society.These nonprofits have renovated the dwellings and turned them into community spaces,such as libraries,performing arts venues,and museums.The city of Fayetteville's policy of giving dwellings for historic preservation is a positive step in the preservation of the city's historic heritage. The Historic District at Spout Spring Branch would add value to the city by preserving important historical and cultural elements,attracting tourists and businesses,and improving the quality of life for residents.This would be the first Afrofuturist museum in the state,a laudable feat.The City of Fayetteville could fund this district like it has funded others,with a TIF or a bond to fund the restoration and redevelopment of historic buildings and space.Improvements to this community will reverberate with a positive impact through the hills of the city and region. Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 9 Appendix Image 1:Submitted by Northwest Arkansas Black Heritage.Shows the new historic district in purple and other important landmarks and designations. Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 10 Image 2:Submitted by the City of Fayetteville.Shows the 690 parcels within the suggested historic district. Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 11 Endnotes 1.Loewen,J.(2023,July 7).Sundown Towns.Encyclopedia of Arkansas. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/sundown-towns-3658/ 2.Named by white settlers who would stop in the community and drink from the spring, https://shilohmuseum.org/spout-spring/ 3.Brill,A.(2006).Brown in Fayetteville:Peaceful Southern School Desegregation in 1954.The Arkansas Historical Quarterly,65(4),337.https://doi.org/10.2307/40028090 4.Cemeteries.(2023.).https://nwablackheritage.org/cemeteries 5.Communities.(2023).https://nwablackheritage.org/communities 6.Green Book https://transcription.si.edu/project/7955 7.Johnson,H.B.(n.d.).Greenwood District.The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=GR024 8.Greenwood Rising .(2021).Greenwood Rising.https://www.greenwoodrising.org/about 9.Houston Texas,C.of.(n.d.).Super neighborhood 13 -Independence Heights. https://www.houstontx.gov/superneighborhoods/13.html#:~:text=1915%20%2D%20On%20Janu ary%2017%2C%201915,today%20located%20at%20700%20E. 10.IHRC.(n.d.).Independence Heights Redevelopment Council.https://ihrchouston.org/ 11.Houston Endowment .(2022,August 15).Houston Endowment has awarded $20 million to local organizations working to achieve racial equity and social justice in Houston.Houston Endowment. https://www.houstonendowment.org/announcements/houston-endowment-has-awarded-20-millio n-to-local-organizations-working-to-achieve-racial-equity-and-social-justice-in-houston/ 12.The Kansas City Public Library .(n.d.).Why did the area of 18th and Vine become famous?. KC History.https://kchistory.org/faq/why-did-area-18th-and-vine-become-famous 13.Green,Z.(n.d.).18th &amp;Vine Historic District.African American Heritage Trail of Kansas City.https://aahtkc.org/18thandvine 14.NMAAHC.(2023,September 8).Afrofuturism.National Museum of African American History and Culture.https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/afrofuturism 15.Moore,K.(2023).Black unemployment levels off after a historic drop;labor market remains strong overall.State Unemployment by Race and Ethnicity . https://www.epi.org/indicators/state-unemployment-race-ethnicity/ Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 12 16.Magsam,J.(2023,March 15).Northwest Arkansas home prices up,sales dip slightly. Arkansas Online. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/mar/15/nw-home-prices-up-sales-dip-slightly/ 17.Smithwick,K.(n.d.).Families:Median Income.Aspire Arkansas. https://www.aspirearkansas.org/families/median-household-income?rc=1#racial-equity 18.Abrams,A.(2021,April 1).Black developers call for reckoning in real estate.The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/01/black-developers-call-reckoning-real-esta te/ 19.Fayetteville,C.of.(n.d.).Opportunity Zones within the City of Fayetteville.Opportunity Zones.https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/3670/Opportunity-Zones 20.Kotifani,A.(2021,April 28).What is walkability?(and why it matters for health,resilience, happiness).Blue Zones. https://www.bluezones.com/2020/05/what-is-walkability-and-why-it-matters-for-health-resilienc y-happiness-and-sustainability/#:~:text=Walkability%20is%20economic%20health.,according% 20to%20CEOs%20for%20Cities 21.City of Fayetteville Active Transportation Plan Map 2019 https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19921/Active-Transportation-Plan-Map-1 1-21-19 22.Fayetteville City Plan 2040 https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/1216/City-Plan-2040 23.Fayetteville City Plan Survey Results https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19623/Survey-results-CP2040 Historic District at Spout Spring Branch 13