In the Early Republic period, the newly independent Commonwealth of Massachusetts allowed private mill owners, turnpike corporations, and landlocked landholders to use eminent domain to kickstart industrial development. Mills, canals, and roads were important to the development of the industrial revolution and eminent domain proved to be the best tool to make them possible.
Rebranded as an “Innovation District” and filled with new glass and steel towers, the Seaport has become a financial asset to the city. Yet, the neighborhood is highly racially and economically segregated. And what happens when sea level rise puts Boston’s most expensive neighborhood underwater?
Le Corbusier: Building Towers in the Park Le Corbusier (1887-1965) was one of the most influential figures in the international style of 20th century urban design. His monolithic concrete structures left their mark across the world. Like the crow, the bird that gave him his name, Le Corbusier scavenged from diverse inspirations to create a…
This conclusion to the story of Jewish businesses in the West End explains how small business interacted with the diverse immigrant neighborhood.
Redeveloping The Seaport, Part 1: Warehouse and Rail to Innovation District Boston’s newest neighborhood sprung up from a rail and wharf district along the South Boston Waterfront. After decades as a sparsely populated industrial and fishing district, the Seaport has quickly become a destination for business, luxury condos, and tourists. How did this rapid change…
I-91, Springfield’s North End, and Urban Renewal Today the fourth most populous city in New England, in the mid-twentieth century Springfield underwent an ambitious and catastrophic urban renewal project. Highway construction along the Connecticut River and the isolation of a historically immigrant neighborhood led to long-lasting consequences. Four Commonwealth cities – Boston, Cambridge, Salem, and…
How One Address Became the Geography of My LifeLiving Long Enough to Become Part of the West End’s Story Cindy Strousse has lived in Longfellow Place for over thirty five years. From her apartment, she has watched historical events unfold, seen fireworks and public displays, and run a business. This personal reflection on life in…
The West End (Of Cincinnati) and Urban Renewal Cincinnati’s West End neighborhood was a center of Black life in the city. Originally settled by self-emancipated Black residents and developed by meatpacking and other industries, the area went on to become a segregated but well-loved area of the city. Much like its Boston counterpart, the West…
