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Magical Transformation or Illusion of Grandeur: The Development of Downtown West Palm Beach, 1985-2015

by Jeffrey G Fine

Institution:	Florida Atlantic University
Year:	2017
Posted:	02/01/2018
Record ID:	2168799
Full text PDF:	http://fau.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fau:34547

Abstract

From 1985 to 2015, local politicians like Kenneth G. Spillias, Jan Winters, andNancy M. Graham reshaped downtown West Palm Beach. They promised to eliminateurban blight, and turned a crime-ridden area of the city into an upper-middle classentertainment zone frequented by wealthy pleasure-seekers from throughout Palm BeachCounty.However, much of this transformation was an illusion. These politicianseliminated local taxpayers from the decision-making process by circumventing theirvotes, but subsequently taxed them to pay for the improvements. Furthermore, blight wasnot eliminated downtown, merely relocated to areas surrounding the entertainment zone.This resulted in ongoing tension between the mostly white patrons and business ownersin the redeveloped area, and the primarily black residents in the dilapidatedneighborhoods surrounding this development. 2017 Degree granted: Thesis(M.A.) FloridaAtlanticUniversity, 2017. Collection: FAUAdvisors/Committee Members: Rose, Mark H. Dr. (Thesis advisor), Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters (Degree grantor).