In the 1930s and 1940s, the 15th Ward was a haven for those who could not find housing elsewhere in Syracuse. Following World War II, many displaced refugees and African Americans moved north in hopes of finding work and safety. However, when they arrived in Syracuse, they found few places they were allowed to live outside of the 15th Ward through a combination of redlining, racial covenants, and other systemic discrimination practices. The new residents soon turned the 15th Ward into a bustling and vibrant economic and social hub. However, through urban renewal policies that were aimed at modernizing cities but often disproportionately impacted minority communities, the 15th Ward was deemed blighted and ultimately decimated by the construction of I-81. This not only destroyed over 500 businesses and displaced thousands of people, it left the remaining residents to deal with the economic and environmental consequences of being located feet from a major thoroughfare.