Afterlives of San Juan Hill: A Profile of the Residents

Displacement of a Puerto Rican Community for Urban Development

In 1958, a Puerto Rican community was displaced from Lincoln Square and San Juan Hill neighborhoods in New York City to make way for the construction of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Fordham University. The neighborhoods, labeled as a "Puerto Rican Slum" and "the worst slum in New York" by Robert Moses, were home to around 2,000 Puerto Rican families. This exhibit explores the history of the Lincoln Square Urban Renewal project and the displacement process faced by these families, shedding light on the dispossession that occurred in the name of development in mid-20th century New York City.

(Source: Page 1)

Uncovering the Stories of Displaced Residents

The exhibit delves into the individual stories of the residents of Lincoln Square during this crucial period, utilizing archival documents provided by the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts and other sources from that era. By examining the lived experiences of the community members, the project aims to reframe the narratives that justified displacement for urban development purposes across New York City during the 1950s.

(Source: Page 3)

Insights from Relocation Records

During the relocation process, Braislin, Porter & Wheelock (BPW), a real estate company, acted as property managers and relocation agents for both the Lincoln Center and Fordham University sites. They conducted interviews with families and businesses that were to be relocated, and CENTRO gained access to previously unseen records from these interviews. Analysis of over 2,100 site occupation records provided information on family composition, housing conditions, and the relocation process.

(Source: Pages 5-7)

Afterlives of San Juan Hill: A Profile of the Residents - Flipbook by Fleepit