The construction of I496 in Lansing impacted not only the commute for people heading to work, but the community, and more specifically the families whose houses got completely turned upside down. The photographs from the Lansing State Journal of the demolition of homes was devastating to see, especially when you put yourself in the perspective of that being your home being flattened. The Miller article added to the personal connection of this project to those who lived in the area, "But when he dreams about home, he still dreams of 1212 W. Main, a house long torn down, a yard where the weeping willow trees have been uprooted. And he dreams of a neighborhood cut in half to make way for Interstate 496" (Miller).
Several questions I had were from reading about the construction, seeing the maps, and viewing the pictures:
- How did they argue the benefits of the construction for the communities (particularly those being dominantly nonwhite) in jobs? Did they follow through in the hiring or work that was benefitted from this project for those people? And were they easily transitioned in to new homes?
- Now with Lansing suffering through the hard economic times that we as a country are going through, was it worth it now to ruin all the homes and businesses that the construction did?
- Did MSU have any role or opinion in the controversy of the construction of I 496?
BEST SUB DAY EVER!!!
15 years ago
you make a really good point. were the residents who were moved, moved into new housing and if so what was the state of this housing? you raise some very good questions that quite frankly, I want the answers to.
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