WEST PORT ARTHURWEST PORT ARTHURCONTEXTCONTEXT

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

Introduction

Context

History

Demographics

Environment

CONTENTSWest Port Arthur: Context

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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 College’s

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 fi ndings of

that study and is the foundation for the second report that highlights potential economic and community development strategies that build on

the community’s 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

PORT ARTHURLOCAL PARKS

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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WEST SIDE

DOWNTOWN

EAST SIDE

PORT ARTHUR COMMUNITIES

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HOUSTON

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LOCAL PARKS

REGIONAL PARKS

PARKS

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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, ss o basic aAAAAAccAccess t ba mmemeneninitieitieses, s, , ssusucuch ch aas as s aa a ggggrogrocrocecereryry y sstostororere, e, pphphaphararmrmamacacycy, yto basic am

or banking services, is one key to a healthy community. This mapor b ervicaaanknkinkinor bankinngng g sses ccees,es, , isis s oonone ne ke kekeyey y toto to a a a hheheaealtalththhy hy cy cocomommmmmumununitnityty. y. TThThishis s mmamapappng service

illustrates the disparity in access to basic amenities between West andillustrates s tthe he de disdispispapararitrity ty iny in n aacaccccecessess ss toto to b babasasicsic c aamammeenenitnitietieses bs bebetetwtweweeeenen Wn WWeWesest st at anandnddthe

East Port Arthur, and clearly identifies the need for additional amenities t P rtrththuhur, ur, a, anandnd d cclecleaearlarly ly idy idedenentntiftifiefieses ts ththehe ne neneeeeeded d foforor ar adaddddiditioitiononanalal al amammemenenitinitieties esArth

on the west side. on wweesest st ssididede. e. we

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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.

FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY

39%

17%

35%

9%

65% OF PORT ARTHUR’S POPULATION BELONGS TO A RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 50%

9 OF THE 12 FOUNDING 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

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VACANT LAND

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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.

HISTORY

The City of Port Arthur was established in 1895 when Arthur E. Stillwell purchased the land and began platting it for sale. Stillwell’s vision for the city was

for it to become a resort and also a major port and the terminus for the Kansas City Southern railroad. Pleasure Island and Pier were constructed in the late

1890s to cater to both residents and tourists, the ship canal was dredged in the early 1900s to create a port, and the Spindle Top discovery in Beaumont

would encourage the construction of two refineries in the city. By 1914 the port ranked as the twelfth largest in the United States. By this time refining

had already become a major industry in the city and the port ranked second in the shipping of refinery products. Beginning in 1915, and throughout Port

Arthur’s history, flooding and hurricanes impact the city. In the last five years the city has been again devastated by major storms.

The city has changed over the last one hundred years, downtown has been abandoned in favor of new development on the periphery of the city along

highways and major roads and the population, which peaked in the 1960s at nearly 70,000 people, has begun a steady decline numbering just under

58,000 today. The population decline has impacted the built fabric significantly, there are many vacant buildings in the city in various states of decay. The

one thing that has not changed in the city is the economic dependence on refineries. These industries have continued to grow over time and today Port

Arthur is home to three major refineries.

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• Babe Didrickson was born, she was later to become a multiple Olympic

medal winner. She is one of the founders of the LPGA and became its leader for

several years on and off the links.

1895

1896• Port Arthur Channel and Dock Co. established.

1901• After ‘The Spindle Top Boom’ in Beaumont, Texaco and Gulf built major refineries in Port Arthur. • Population reaches 900 residents.

1906• Port Arthur becomes an official port of entry.

19111897

• Port Arthur has 860 residents. • Began cutting canal.• Category 1 hurricane kills 13 people and leaves Port Arthur homes in shambles.

1899• Port Arthur becomes a port. • Pleasure Island and Pier are constructed from the deposits of the dredge of the Port Arthur Canal.

• Arthur E. Stillwell buys land for the 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 major export of Port Arthur. • A number of hotels are built around downtown and on Procter Street. • Procter Street is the “Main Street” through downtown Port Arthur, and becomes the scene of many parades, nightlife and family fun.

1904

• John W. Gates becomes chief financial backer of Port Arthur.

1908

• Sabine-Neches Canal is deepened and extended to Beaumont and Orange.

1909• Port Arthur becomes the 12th largest port in United

States 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 of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church North, a

forerunner of the present United Methodist Temple. • The church operated the growing campus until

1918, when it was turned over to a non-profit Texas corporation.

• Population of 7,663 residents.

TIMELINE1895 -1948

1913• Pleasure Pier dance hall and roller coaster are built. Pleasure Pier becomes a family attraction for Port Arthur residents.

1914

• Port Arthur is the 2nd largest oil-refining point in the nation.

1915• A major flood hits Port Arthur.

1922

• Abraham Lincoln High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for whites were established. With rivaling mascots of Bumblebees and Yellow Jackets.

1930• St. Mary’s Hospital was constructed. Transferring the patients of Mary Gates Hospital, named after the late wife of John W. Gates, to the new St. Mary’s facilities.

1931

• The Neches River Rainbow Bridge is completed crossing over the Neches River on State Highway 87, the bridge is still one of the tallest bridges in the South.

1932• A city-manager-commission system is implemented replacing the mayor-council government.

1940

• Port Arthur’s black population increases.• White flight begins to impact the city.

• Many white residents move to neighboring towns such as Port Acres, Nederland, Port Neches, and

Groves. • African-Americans settle on the West side

becasue of segregation.

1943• Janis Joplin is born in Port Arthur. Later she would become one of the most recognized singers from the city.• NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson, was also born this year. Johnson was the head coach for the Dallas Cowboys when they won the Super Bowl in consecutive years 1992 & 1993.

1948

• Unionization. • The Congress of Industrial

Organization’s Oil Workers International had around 8,000 Port Arthur

members. • Various craft unions of the American

Federation of Labor had around 5,000 members.

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1950

• Port Arthur was home to 5 refineries that employed approximately 12,000 workers whose salaries accounted for 50% of the money spent in Port Arthur. • Carver Terrace, a housing unit, 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 to Pleasure 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.

1966• Port Arthur Levee System begins construction.

1973

• Port Arthur was integrated. Wealthy African Americans move out of the West side of town and into other areas throughout the region.

1974• Port Arthur College and Lamar University merge to become Lamar University Center at Port Arthur.

1975• Lamar University Center at Port Arthur opens with 200 students.

1978

• Port Arthur annexes Sabine Pass, an important site in Texas history.

1979• Tropical Storm Claudette dumped 40 inches of rain on Port Arthur streets.

1984

• Port Arthur Levee System is completed after 18 years of construction.

1985

• Port Arthur Refinery was streamlined and crude oil production reduced dramatically when oil prices dropped.

1957• Two tornadoes rip through Port Arthur killing one person, injuring 82 and causing millions in damages. • Hurricane Audrey hits just east of Port Arthur with 150mph winds, and leaves 17,000 residents homeless.

1986• Hurricane hits with 80mph winds killing 3 people. • Moderate wind damage is sustained.

1989

• Saudi Refining, Inc. purchased 50% of Port Arthur Refinery as part of a joint venture with Texaco known as Star Enterprise.

1995• Denny Larson of Global Community Monitor, a non-profit out of San Francisco, trains residents to do rudimentary air monitoring.

1998

• Motiva Enterprises LLC was created by a joint 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-income Port Arthur communities to take action against the neighboring chemical manufacturers, refineries and incinerators to keep them from polluting the air, land and water.

2002

• Shell buys out Texaco-Chevron’s interest in Motiva. Port Arthur Refinery is operated as Motiva and jointly owned by Shell and Saudi refining.• The Environmental Integrity Project issues a report that in the first seven months of 2002 heavy industrial facilities surrounding Port Arthur released almost 725 tons of toxins into the air. These toxins include: Xylene, Toulene, Hexane, Benzene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Hydrogen Sulfide; all of which cause major health problems ranging from memory loss, kidney failure, numbness, Leukemia, Asthma, and more.

2007• Hurricane Humberto comes through killing 1 person and

leaving 120,000 without power.

2008

• Tropical Storm Edouard and Hurricane Ike hit Port Arthur in the same year,

both causing major wind damage and flooding. Storm surge

was 11ft.

2010• A towboat pushing two barges collides with

an 800 ft tanker carrying 462,000 gallons of light crude oil causing the worst Texas oil spill in more than 15 years. Port Arthur residents

were forced to evacuate their homes for several hours while officials tested the air

quality after the collision. Motiva $3.5 billion expansion proposed completion.

• A group of UH graduate students and professor come to West Port Arthur to begin

planning a better future.

2005

• Hurricane Rita hits the Procter Street seawall and damages many downtown businesses. Port Arthur sustained major wind damage and some flooding.• Winds reached 116mph.

TIMELINE1950 - 2010

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1897

Downtown’s First Jail

1899

1900

1902 1907

1915Procter StreetSabine Hotel

Downtown Post Office

Hardware Store

Downtown Pool

Victory Parade

Crystal Saloon

Fourth of July Parade

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 Arthur’s 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

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20

25TEXAS (+22.8% )

HOUSTON (+19.8%)

U.S. (+13.2%)

PORT ARTHUR (-1.6%)

DETROIT (-7.5%)W. PORT ARTHUR (-9.4%)PO

PULA

TION

CHAN

GE: 1

990

TO 2

000

(%)

POPULATION GROWTHCITY FOUNDATION POPULATION DECLINECITY FOUNDATION

19201900 1910 1930 19501940 1960 19801970 1990 20102000

0

70

10

20

30

40

50

60

PORT

ART

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POPU

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ANDS

)

+130%

+16%

-14% -3%

From the late 19th century to the early 1930s Port Arthur’s population quickly

increased as the city was laying its foundation, especially during the 1920s

when the oil refineries were established. The population growth levelled

off 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 City’s 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 city’s 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.

ETHNICITYChanging Demographics

WHITE BLACKASIAN

HISP

ANIC

WHITE ASIAN

HISP

ANIC

BLACK

BLACKWHI

TE

PORT ARTHUR - 1990

PORT ARTHUR - 2000

WEST PORT ARTHUR - 2000

128%

31%

WHITE POPULATION

HISPANIC POPULATION

DIVERSE CITY SEGREGATEDCOMMUNITIES

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%, and

the 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

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

0

38%

OWNER OCCUPIED

RENTER OCCUPIED

14,515

13,574

8,260

7,811

VACANT 2,879

2000 CENSUS

1990 CENSUS

12%

residents own their own homes, and 45% rent.

Own (occupied units)cc

Rent(occupied units)cc

Vacant

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 own

homes, 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.

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 do

no 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

$10,000W

EST

PORT

ART

HUR

UNIT

ED S

TATE

S

TEXA

S

PORT

ART

HUR

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 Arthur’s 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.

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 Association’s “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 3,141 counties and county equivalentsin the United States.

Jefferson County Ranks:

5TH for releases of carcinogensinto the air & water

8TH for releases of brain-damagingneurotoxicants into the air & water.

8TH for releases developmenttoxicants into the air & water

8TH for releases of reproductivetoxicants into the air & water

29TH for releases of respiratorytoxicants into the air & water

1ST in Texas for chemical releases

The risk is 865 TIMES greater than EPA’s

acceptable 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 emitted 107,692 LBS of

hexane in only 18 MINUTES. Totaling 54% of the annual

hexane emissions for routine operations.

The average lifetime diesel soot cancer risk for a resident of

Jefferson County is 1 IN 1,157 which is approximately

every 250TH PERSON in the county.

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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?

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?

Community Design Resource CenterUniversity of Houston

2010