Watch Lost Rondout: A Story of Urban Removal

Lost Rondout: A Story of Urban Removal is a heart-wrenching documentary that delves into the story of Kingston, New York's Rondout neighborhood, which was a thriving community until urban renewal interventions in the 1960s took everything away. The movie is directed by Stephen Blauweiss, and it tells the story of the Rondout neighborhood's inhabitants, including its vibrant business owners, artists, and families. The documentary is a mix of historical footage, photographs, and interviews with people who lived in the neighborhood and witnessed its devastating destruction.

The film begins by detailing how the Rondout neighborhood was once a bustling and vibrant center for business, culture, and community in Kingston, New York. The area was a melting pot for different ethnicities, cultures, and beliefs, and it was a place where people from all walks of life came together to create something unique.

However, in the early 1960s, the city of Kingston decided to embark on an urban renewal project that would eventually lead to the complete destruction of the Rondout neighborhood. In the name of progress, the city demolished most of the buildings in the area and displaced its residents, who were mostly working-class families and people of color.

Lost Rondout: A Story of Urban Removal recounts the story of this demolition process through the eyes of the people who lived there, and it shows how the urban renewal project was a catastrophic failure and a tragedy for the families and the community that called Rondout home.

The movie features interviews from Rondout residents, including former shop owners and residents who lost everything in the demolition process. The filmmakers also talk to architects, historians, and local activists who were involved in the fight to save the neighborhood.

Throughout the movie, the filmmakers give voice to the people who were affected by the urban renewal project and share their stories of loss, displacement, and resistance. Lost Rondout: A Story of Urban Removal is an emotional and powerful documentary that highlights how urban renewal projects like the Rondout demolition are devastating and destructive to communities.

The film also includes historical footage and photographs that depict the neighborhood's former glory and how it fell victim to the city's misguided urban renewal policies. Through the use of archival footage and interviews, the film is able to create a vivid and moving portrait of the Rondout neighborhood before and after its destruction.

Lost Rondout: A Story of Urban Removal paints a poignant and powerful picture of the tragedy of Rondout, but it also showcases the resilience and strength of the people who survived it. The documentary highlights the importance of community preservation and how we must be careful not to sacrifice the fabric of neighborhoods in the name of progress.

Overall, Lost Rondout: A Story of Urban Removal is an engaging and thought-provoking documentary that is a must-watch for anyone interested in urban planning, community preservation, and the fight against gentrification. It is a story of loss, but it is also a story of resistance and hope.

Lost Rondout: A Story of Urban Removal is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 9 minutes.