Topic: World History
Historical topics entirely outside of Boston and/or Massachusetts, topics that affect communities outside of the United States, topics that primarily effect U.S. States other than Massachusetts
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…
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…
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…
Roosevelt Island: An Urban Planning Experiment in NYC’s East River Roosevelt Island has had many names and purposes since Europeans first began to settle New York City. After centuries as an isolated island for inmates, hospital patients, and impoverished New Yorkers, Roosevelt Island underwent a makeover in the late 20th century. It became a mixed…
Urban Renewal in Easton, PA’s “Syrian Town” The mid-size industrial city of Easton, PA was home to a thriving population of Lebanese-Americans living in a diverse neighborhood. However, city officials deemed their neighborhood a slum and used urban renewal funding to displace thousands of residents. This article tells the story of Easton’s brush with urban…
The Angels’ Flight from the Hill: Urban Renewal in L.A.’s Bunker Hill Neighborhood The area of Bunker Hill in downtown Los Angeles has a rich history. It started as a rugged sandstone highland overlooking a river plain. Later it transitioned from a wealthy residential enclave to a diverse mixed-use community. Like the West End, the…
Eminent Domain Part 2: Use in Early America Eminent domain is the right of the state to seize the private property of an individual for a public purpose with just compensation. This is the second article in a series of three. This article will discuss the use of eminent domain in the early decades of…
Eminent Domain Part 1: Origins Eminent domain is the right of the state to seize the private property of an individual for a public purpose with just compensation. This article will trace the origins of the concept from Ancient Roman law to its use in Early Modern states. The formal concept of eminent domain is…
