Erie Homes

The Erie Homes apartments were public housing developments constructed in 1954. This housing was primarily rented to the Black population of Evansville in Baptisttown, which has its own implications. These apartments were widely accepted to be substandard and did not meet the overall needs of the tenants; it developed into an eyesore to the community. Thus, in 2008, these apartments were razed after being closed for good in 2006. Nonetheless, in its heyday, these apartments were a housing staple for the Black community.

Before Erie Homes was constructed, the same plot of land was composed of Day’s Row and Trockman Junkyards.^[1] This meant that the owners of those properties needed to be bought out in order to construct the new housing complex. Needless to say, this was a long and tiresome process due to many reasons relating to pricing for the deeds to be sold to the Evansville Housing Authority. Multiple meetings needed to be had with the owners in order to negotiate and reason with one another. Finally towards the beginning of 1954 though, an agreement was reached; all the hurdles were jumped over, and construction could begin that same year.^[2]

These apartments consisted of 108 units, which would have been considered largely congested for Days Row, but because this site was expanded with the addition of Trockman Junkyards, it was much more comfortable.^[3] These apartments were seen as a necessary and unproblematic addition for a few decades until acts of vandalism started to be committed against the housing project, and some against its manager. In 1973, the manager's car windows were smashed in by two youths. The few white families who lived in the homes also faced threats and acts of violence.^[4] In the next few decades, discussions about Erie Homes increased on the topic of areas for improvement. Namely, recreation, safety, and detailing were among the concerns some community members and tenants brought up, and a few of these needs were met.^[5] In the next few years though, the Evansville Housing Authority would seek out grants in order to raze Erie Homes and build different apartments or perhaps a community center.^[6] This did not come to fruition right away though, but this did not stop complaints.

At the turn of the century, Evansville residents began to grow tired of seeing the now about half-a-century-old apartments, with many referring to it as substandard and the "final eyesore" of the town.^[7] Conversations about getting rid of this housing skyrocketed once again. According to many, the amenities of the apartments were no longer usable and the electrical systems among other facilities were just not up to date. As much as the functions were depleted, the visual appeal was lacking just as much; it had survived far longer than it had been useful to the masses and was far past the point of repair.^[8] Therefore, in 2006, Erie Homes closed for good to the delight of many, and the conversation of what to build after demolition spurred. Naturally, conversations of historical preservation were also being had, but with gaining federal funding to raze the apartments in 2008, it can be said that those conversations did not prevail.^[9]

This site now is home to newer housing facilities called Erie Pointe with a fresher appeal and seemingly better amenities (pictured below).

^[1] Evansville Courier & Press (1999-2009); Evansville, Indiana. 15 September 2006: 1.

^[2] Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 11 November 1953: 24.; Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 26 January 1954: 7.; Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 14 September 1953: 10.; Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 9 January 1954: 1.

^[3] Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 20 May 1998: 11.

^[4] Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 29 November 1973: 27.

^[5] Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 21 November 1992: 11.

^[6] Evansville Press (1906-1998); Evansville, Indiana. 20 May 1998: 11.

^[7] Evansville Courier & Press (1999-2009); Evansville, Indiana. 17 November 2002: 20. 

^[8] Evansville Courier & Press (1999-2009); Evansville, Indiana. 17 November 2002: 20. 

^[9] Evansville Courier & Press (1999-2009); Evansville, Indiana. 24 July 2007: 6.