Urban Redevelopment and I-81 Viaduct Through the Center of Syracuse, NY
The I-81 viaduct through the center of Syracuse, NY is one of the city’s defining landmarks. It has also reached the end of its design life, and there are serious arguments about what the future of I-81 should look
like. Write a ~1,000 word paper that draws on lecture, your work in discussion sections, and the supplemental readings to accomplish three linked tasks: (1) identify at least three different groups (for or against) and where they are located/represent [DON’T JUST PICK THE FIRST THREE ON THE LIST]; (2) explain how and why these groups present their arguments as a local, county, regional, state, or national issue; and (3) evaluate how different proposals might distribute costs and benefits unevenly, paying particular attention to the way that these patterns either continue or reframe existing socio-spatial patterns.
These include refining our geographic imaginations (by examining how past decisions shape uneven geographies in the present); learning how uneven access to social and political power shapes the uneven spatial distribution of costs and benefits (who à where); and understanding how the urban landscape of present day America (cities linked to surrounding suburbs by large freeways) was produced by policies that were – because of their uneven impact on poor communities and communities of color – examples of structural racism and exclusion.
Urban Redevelopment And I-81
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Urban Redevelopment And I-81
The I-81 viaduct through the center of Syracuse, NY, is a significant infrastructure that connects communities and economic hubs within and beyond the city. It has reached the end of its design life, and serious debates exist about its future. This paper identifies three groups, discusses how and why they present their arguments, and evaluates how different proposals might unevenly distribute costs and benefits, continuing or reframing existing socio-spatial patterns.
One group advocating for the reconstruction of the viaduct is the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC). This planning organization represents the region's various county, municipal, and transportation stakeholders. SMTC argues that the viaduct is an essential infrastructure that provides economic benefits to the region by facilitating the movement of goods and people (Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation council, 2020). They also contend that reconstructing the viaduct will maintain the status quo regarding how people and businesses are currently situated, ensuring that the benefits of the highway are spread across the region.
Another group that favors the viaduct's reconstruction is the business community, particularly the Downtown Committee of Syracuse. They argue that the viaduct is essential to maintaining and improving the economic vitality of downtown Syracuse, which relies heavily on the movement of people and goods through the city (Downtown Committee of Syracuse, 2020). They also contend that removing the viaduct would significantly disrupt businesses, particularly those reliant on car traffic, potentially leading to significant economic and job losses (Rethink81, 2020).
On the other hand, there is a group of residents and activists who favor the removal of the viaduct. This group, represented by the local organization Rethink81, argues that the highway is an outdated infrastructure that harms the community. They contend that the viaduct has caused environmental degradation and pollution and that its removal would allow for the restoration of green spaces, community cohesion, and improved access to the city's amenities (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2016). They also argue that the highway divides the community, with predominantly poor and minority neighborhoods bearing the brunt of the viaduct's negative impacts. In contrast, predominantly white and affluent neighborhoods have benefited from the economic opportunities it has created.
Each of these groups presents their argument as a local, county, regional, state, or national issue, depending on the scope and scale of their interests. The SMTC, for example, presents its argument as a regional issue, as it represents various stakeholders across the region, including county and municipal governments (Blumenthal, 2021; Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation council, 2020). The Downtown Committee presents its argument as a local issue, primarily concerned with downtown Syracuse's economic vitality. Rethink81, on the other hand, presents its argument as a local and national issue, as it advocates for removing the viaduct as a part of a broader movement to reimagine and reshape the urban landscape across the country.
Different proposals for the future of I-81 have the potential to distribute costs and benefits unevenly, continuing or reframing existing socio-spatial patterns. For example, reconstructing the viaduct would likely benefit the business community, particularly those reliant on car traffic, and maintain the status quo regarding how people and businesses are currently situated (Yu & Knaap, 2017). However, it may also perpetuate existing inequalities by reinforcing the divide between predominantly poor and minority neighborhoods and predominantly white and affluent neighborhoods, benefiting from the economic opportunities created by the highway.
Removing the viaduct and replacing it with a surface-level street or boulevard can significantly improve the city's livability and sustainability. Such a proposal could provide opportunities to restore green spaces, parks, and public areas that have been displ...