Bronte Wells
There are several places named Hillcrest that are associated with pollution. One is a neighborhood in Corpus Christi, Texas, which has been subjected to pollution from nearby refineries and flares, as well as an interstate highway and a sewage treatment plant. Another is Hinton-Hillcrest in Alberta, Canada, which has poor air quality. There is also a Hillcrest in Illinois, though there is no ground-level air quality station available there. Finally, there is a Hillcrest Heights in Maryland, which has a good air quality rating.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main pollutant | PM2.5 |
| PM2.5 concentration | 2.9 times the World Health Organization annual PM2.5 guideline value |
| Life expectancy | Less than 75 years |
| Infant mortality, child mortality and premature mortality | Highest among Black residents |
| Location | Texas |
| Relocation program | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Air quality in Hillcrest, Texas
The air quality in Hillcrest, Texas, has been a cause for concern for residents due to the presence of polluting infrastructure and industrial facilities in the area. Hillcrest, located in Corpus Christi, Texas, has a history of racial segregation and industrialization that has impacted the environmental conditions and health of its residents.
Initially an upscale, all-white community, the discovery of oil near Hillcrest in 1930 led to the expansion of the refinery sector. As a result, many white residents moved away, and in 1944, Corpus Christi recommended that Hillcrest be opened to Black residents. Over time, refinery flares and smokestacks emerged around the neighborhood, along with an interstate highway that isolated the area from the rest of the city.
The Texas Department of Transportation's plan to relocate the Harbor Bridge to Hillcrest in 2015 sparked resistance from residents. They filed a civil rights complaint, resulting in a $20 million voluntary buyout program for residents. However, this program has been criticized for not adequately addressing the concerns of those who chose to remain in the community.
The construction of a seawater desalination plant, intended to meet the region's industrial water demands, has also faced opposition. Hillcrest residents have expressed concerns about the cumulative impact of these projects, fearing that the bridge will bring increased traffic and pollution to the area.
The neighborhood has one of the lowest life expectancies in the region, less than 75 years. A 2021 study found significant disparities in life expectancy between high-income and low-income communities of color in Nueces County, with the highest rates of infant, child, and premature mortality among Black residents. The historical context of racial segregation and the siting of industrial facilities in Hillcrest have been cited as contributing factors to these health disparities.
While some residents have chosen to relocate through the buyout program, others remain committed to fighting for their community. The Texas Observer's articles highlight the complex social and environmental challenges faced by the residents of Hillcrest, Texas, as they navigate the impacts of pollution and work towards a healthier and more equitable future.
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Hillcrest's low life expectancy
The Hillcrest neighborhood in Corpus Christi, Texas, has a history of pollution and environmental racism. What was once an upscale, all-white community changed in 1944 when Corpus Christi recommended that Black people be allowed to live in the area. This shift coincided with the growth of the nearby refinery sector, and over time, Hillcrest became host to Corpus Christi's sewage treatment plant and industrial facilities. The neighborhood also experienced the construction of an interstate highway that cut it off from the rest of the city.
The residents of Hillcrest have been exposed to toxic pollution and chemicals from Refinery Row for decades. In the 1980s, they successfully sued the refineries, resulting in a settlement that included the buyout and demolition of houses to create a buffer zone between the residents and the toxic industry. Despite this victory, Hillcrest continues to face the threat of additional polluting infrastructure, including the proposed construction of Texas' first large-scale seawater desalination plant.
The neighborhood also has one of the region's lowest life expectancies, with rates of infant mortality, child mortality, and premature mortality being the highest among Black residents. A 2021 study by Nueces County found that life expectancies in Corpus Christi can differ by up to 15 years between predominantly high-income, white neighborhoods and low-income communities of color. This disparity highlights the impact of systemic racism and environmental injustice on the health and well-being of Hillcrest residents.
The Texas Department of Transportation's plan to relocate the Harbor Bridge to Hillcrest further exacerbates the situation. The $1 billion project would bring increased traffic and additional pollution to the area. While a voluntary buyout program has been offered, with about $20 million spent, it is not a sustainable long-term solution for the residents. Many have mixed feelings about leaving the community they grew up in, and those who remain face an uncertain future.
The story of Hillcrest is a stark example of how environmental racism and systemic injustices can disproportionately affect the health and life expectancy of communities of color. The neighborhood's history and ongoing struggles underscore the urgent need for equitable solutions that prioritize the well-being and longevity of all residents, regardless of race or income.
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Civil rights complaints against state agencies
In the United States, civil rights laws protect citizens from unlawful discrimination, harassment, or abuse in settings such as housing, the workplace, school, voting, business, healthcare, and public spaces. Civil rights complaints can be filed against state agencies that engage in discriminatory practices or violate civil rights laws.
One notable example of civil rights complaints against state agencies is the case of Corpus Christi's Hillcrest neighborhood, where residents have filed multiple complaints against the city's plans for polluting infrastructure. Hillcrest, a historically Black neighborhood, has endured decades of segregation, industrialization, and disinvestment, resulting in environmental racism and health impacts on its residents.
The first civil rights complaint filed by Hillcrest residents in 2007 successfully stopped the city from building a second sewage treatment plant in the neighborhood. The second complaint in 2015 challenged the construction of a billion-dollar bridge, resulting in an agreement for relocation services for the residents. The third complaint, filed in 2022, aimed to halt the construction of the Inner Harbor desalination plant, citing discriminatory practices and the sacrifice of residents' health and quality of life for industrial needs.
In another instance, civil rights lawyer David Ludder filed a complaint against the city of Dothan, Alabama, regarding the expansion of a landfill in predominantly Black neighborhoods, resulting in increased pollution. Additionally, in North Carolina, the EPA is negotiating with the state's environmental agency over a complaint about the permitting of hog farms in a region known as the Black Belt, further illustrating the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on communities of color.
These cases highlight the use of civil rights complaints as a legal tool to address environmental racism and hold state agencies accountable for their actions. By filing complaints and seeking investigations, residents can challenge discriminatory practices and protect their health, safety, and well-being.
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The impact of pollution on the community
The community of Hillcrest has been significantly impacted by pollution, with a history of industrialization and disinvestment shaping the neighborhood's present-day challenges. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, Hillcrest started as an upscale, all-white community. However, the discovery of oil nearby in 1930 led to the expansion of the refinery sector, and by 1944, the neighborhood was opened to Black residents. Over time, Hillcrest became home to Corpus Christi's sewage treatment plant, and it was cut off from the rest of the city by an interstate highway. The community has also faced the prospect of additional polluting infrastructure, including the proposed construction of Texas' first large-scale seawater desalination plant.
The impact of pollution on Hillcrest is evident in the health and well-being of its residents. A 2021 study by Nueces County found that life expectancies in the area can differ by up to 15 years between high-income neighborhoods and low-income communities of color. Black residents of Hillcrest experience the highest rates of infant mortality, child mortality, and premature mortality. The community also has one of the region's lowest life expectancies, with residents facing existing health issues due to a long history of segregation, industrialization, and disinvestment.
In response to the polluting industries in their neighborhood, Hillcrest residents have organized and taken legal action. In the 1980s, they successfully sued the nearby refineries, securing a settlement that led to the buyout and demolition of 100 houses to create a buffer zone between the residents and the toxic industry. More recently, in 2015, they filed a civil rights complaint against the state transportation agency over plans to relocate the aging Harbor Bridge to Hillcrest, which would have brought increased traffic and pollution. As a result of this complaint, the Corpus Christi Port Authority committed $20 million to a voluntary buyout program, enabling residents to relocate.
The relocation program has offered a way out for those wanting to leave Hillcrest due to pollution concerns. However, it has also led to the breakup of longstanding community relationships and the destruction of homes. Some residents have chosen to stay and continue fighting against the negative impacts of pollution, while others have relocated with "mixed feelings," torn between their love for the community and the desire for a healthier environment. The pollution and subsequent relocation efforts have had a profound impact on the social fabric of Hillcrest, highlighting the complex decisions faced by residents caught between their health and their sense of belonging.
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Efforts to improve air quality
I found information relating to Hillcrest, Corpus Christi, Texas, and also Hillcrest in Illinois. I also found a reference to a Hillcrest Heights in the US. This answer will focus on Hillcrest, Corpus Christi, Texas, as there was more information available about efforts to improve air quality in this location.
The residents of Hillcrest, an historically Black neighbourhood, have been fighting against polluting infrastructure for decades. In the 1980s, residents successfully sued nearby refineries and secured a settlement that saw 100 houses bought out and demolished to create a buffer zone between residents and the toxic industry.
In 2015, the Texas Department of Transportation wanted to relocate the Harbor Bridge to Hillcrest, which would have added another source of pollution in the form of traffic. Once again, residents organised and filed a civil rights complaint. They secured a commitment from the Corpus Christi Port Authority for a $20 million voluntary buyout program. However, residents recognised that this was not an ideal solution, as it would destroy the community and relationships built over many years.
Some Hillcrest residents are determined to stay and fight against the construction of yet more polluting infrastructure. They are currently back in court, with the support of EarthJustice, arguing that the Inner Harbor desalination plant should not be located in their neighbourhood.
I also found a brief reference to a voluntary relocation program for residents of Hillcrest, Illinois, who have been exposed to pollution from nearby Refinery Row for decades.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is. Residents of Hillcrest have been exposed to pollution from nearby Refinery Row, as well as flares and smoke stacks from the growing refinery sector.
The Texas Department of Transportation's plan to relocate the Harbor Bridge to Hillcrest added another source of pollution in the form of traffic. The neighborhood also has one of the region's lowest life expectancies—less than 75 years.
In 2015, residents organized and filed a civil rights complaint against the state transportation agency, securing a $20 million commitment for a voluntary buyout program. About 140 of the 450 residents have relocated, and roughly 90 properties have been demolished.
Yes, the main pollutant in Hillcrest, Illinois, is PM2.5, with a concentration that currently meets the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline.
