Abstract
During the early nineteenth century, Boston grew from a small town of 25,000 to a bustling urban center of approximately 93,000.[1] Through such a dramatic increase its population, redevelopments within Boston became necessary as massive amounts of European immigrants continually flooded into the city during this time in search of new opportunities. As the city became a flourishing international trading center due to technological developments and transportation advancements, an increasing demand of land became inevitable as the city began housing more and more residents. Although housing became a major issue during the nineteenth century, through the growing popularity of slums and sprawl, developing new areas of living and redesigning old residencies and other areas within the city played a significant role as Boston transitioned from a colonial town to a urban metropolitan.
From 1880 to 1920, the city of Boston experienced significant growth and expansion. In the last decades of the 19th century, city planning shifted from private sectors to Boston’s city government. Despite the loss of opportunity to rebuild the downtown area after the Great Fire of 1872, Boston completed an assortment of landmark projects during this era. In the late 19th century, Boston experienced a landscape expansion and growth from an annexation of towns, development of the park system, and the construction of the transit system. At the end of the 19th century, Boston’s mayor, Josiah Quincy sought to address the physical and social problems of the poor by mobilizing political support for public works projects. Despite his agenda was short lived, Mayor Quincy gained grounds for the support and benefits of local government to do more to shape the city than simply distributing land and planning streets.[2]
In the early 20th century, professionals from engineers to architects asserted the ideals of city planning in the urban landscape of Boston. The City Beautiful Movement sparked the idea of a city planning committee to turn to government power to complete a project. The recognition of local planning board was felt in Boston and accomplished with the establishment of a Boston planning board in 1914. While Boston had leaders who sought to intervene and collaboration with business leaders but would eventually discover the social and political gap made it impossible to foster the economic fortune of business leaders along with those of the city.
The era between 1920-1950 Boston falls amongst the Great Depression (1920-1940’s) and World War II (1939-1945). The United States encountered trends of high unemployment and poverty rates.[4] It did not help that prices of everyday products were rising and becoming unaffordable.[4] Another reason why these trends were evident in Boston is because of the increase in population prior to the Immigration Act of 1924. The greater a population is, the higher the demand for products. However most people could not afford the high prices. Following the 1924 Immigration Act, Boston’s population growth stagnated as the legislation restricted certain immigrants from entering the nation.[4] The city’s population increased by only 7% between 1920 and 1950, as opposed to 67% prior to the restricted piece of legislation.[4]
The new immigrants and migrants to Boston were willing to take any and all employment opportunities available to them especially during a time of economic stagnation and depression.[6] These kinds of jobs were often found in the industrial areas of the city where housing was of low sanitation and living standards.[4] This caused native Bostonians to flee as far away as possible from the immigrants.[6] The flight of native Bostonians landed them to areas surrounding the city and ultimately drove the era’s massive suburbanization.[8]
Boston has not always been seen as a desirable city to live in. This era marked a time of rapid and unmatched growth. From 1950 to 1980, Boston has witnessed an increase downturn of middle class residents migrating away from downtown and into the suburbs. The city’s population declined rapidly due to suburbanization and suffered from poor public maintenance and civil protection.
The economy for fixed capital – shipping and manufacturing – weakened dramatically, while the mobile capital – technology and financial services – rose significantly. The city had reshaped itself for the arrival of the automobiles, leading to the construction of highway infrastructures – demolishing homes and businesses throughout the process. The waves of migration from South America, Puerto Rico, and other international immigrants characterized the ethnicity of Boston.
This was the era for many urban renewal projects – such as the birth of affordable housing developments. To bring back order and growth to the ailing city from the massive suburbanization, a trio of visionary and foresighted mayors set out to initiate the creation for a New Boston. After an era witnessing minimal change, this era of revitalization gave birth to the characteristics Boston has to present today – such as the Central Artery highway.
The modern era of Boston’s planning and development history refers to the time period from the early 1980s to today. The 1980s of Boston’s urban history were characterized by changes and revitalization. During the 1980s, Boston encountered numerous challenges in terms of population growth, economic prosperity, and numerous social problems, as the city with rich history was developing but at the same time deteriorating. Although Boston’s population hit a century low (2,806,000) in the beginning of 1980s and had a tremendously high crime rate, the 1980s was, indeed, the golden era to Boston in terms growth, social and economic prosperities. The City of Boston, ultimately, viewed and turned these challenges into opportunities.
References
1. 1880-1920: Transformation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1880-1920/.
2. 1920-1950: Stagnation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1920-1949/
3. Affordable Housing | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/planning/affordable-housing/
4. Boston and Its Neighborhoods » BU Libraries | Boston University. (n.d.). Boston University. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/boston/
5. Carr, J. B. (2005). After the Siege - A Social History of Boston 1775-1800. Boston: Northeaster University Press.
6. Griffin, A. L., & Hoskins, E. F. (1947). The Boston Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Huse, C. P. (1916). The Financial History of Boston. New York: Harvard University Press.
7. Kennedy, Lawrence W. Planning the City upon a Hill: Boston since 1630. University of Massachusetts Press, 1994.
8. O'Connor, T. H. (1995). The Boston Irish: A Political History. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
9. O’Connor, Thomas H. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northwestern University Press, 2001. Print. 74.
10. Olmsted, Frederick Law. "Public parks and the enlargement of towns." Cambridge, Mass (1870).
From 1880 to 1920, the city of Boston experienced significant growth and expansion. In the last decades of the 19th century, city planning shifted from private sectors to Boston’s city government. Despite the loss of opportunity to rebuild the downtown area after the Great Fire of 1872, Boston completed an assortment of landmark projects during this era. In the late 19th century, Boston experienced a landscape expansion and growth from an annexation of towns, development of the park system, and the construction of the transit system. At the end of the 19th century, Boston’s mayor, Josiah Quincy sought to address the physical and social problems of the poor by mobilizing political support for public works projects. Despite his agenda was short lived, Mayor Quincy gained grounds for the support and benefits of local government to do more to shape the city than simply distributing land and planning streets.[2]
In the early 20th century, professionals from engineers to architects asserted the ideals of city planning in the urban landscape of Boston. The City Beautiful Movement sparked the idea of a city planning committee to turn to government power to complete a project. The recognition of local planning board was felt in Boston and accomplished with the establishment of a Boston planning board in 1914. While Boston had leaders who sought to intervene and collaboration with business leaders but would eventually discover the social and political gap made it impossible to foster the economic fortune of business leaders along with those of the city.
The era between 1920-1950 Boston falls amongst the Great Depression (1920-1940’s) and World War II (1939-1945). The United States encountered trends of high unemployment and poverty rates.[4] It did not help that prices of everyday products were rising and becoming unaffordable.[4] Another reason why these trends were evident in Boston is because of the increase in population prior to the Immigration Act of 1924. The greater a population is, the higher the demand for products. However most people could not afford the high prices. Following the 1924 Immigration Act, Boston’s population growth stagnated as the legislation restricted certain immigrants from entering the nation.[4] The city’s population increased by only 7% between 1920 and 1950, as opposed to 67% prior to the restricted piece of legislation.[4]
The new immigrants and migrants to Boston were willing to take any and all employment opportunities available to them especially during a time of economic stagnation and depression.[6] These kinds of jobs were often found in the industrial areas of the city where housing was of low sanitation and living standards.[4] This caused native Bostonians to flee as far away as possible from the immigrants.[6] The flight of native Bostonians landed them to areas surrounding the city and ultimately drove the era’s massive suburbanization.[8]
Boston has not always been seen as a desirable city to live in. This era marked a time of rapid and unmatched growth. From 1950 to 1980, Boston has witnessed an increase downturn of middle class residents migrating away from downtown and into the suburbs. The city’s population declined rapidly due to suburbanization and suffered from poor public maintenance and civil protection.
The economy for fixed capital – shipping and manufacturing – weakened dramatically, while the mobile capital – technology and financial services – rose significantly. The city had reshaped itself for the arrival of the automobiles, leading to the construction of highway infrastructures – demolishing homes and businesses throughout the process. The waves of migration from South America, Puerto Rico, and other international immigrants characterized the ethnicity of Boston.
This was the era for many urban renewal projects – such as the birth of affordable housing developments. To bring back order and growth to the ailing city from the massive suburbanization, a trio of visionary and foresighted mayors set out to initiate the creation for a New Boston. After an era witnessing minimal change, this era of revitalization gave birth to the characteristics Boston has to present today – such as the Central Artery highway.
The modern era of Boston’s planning and development history refers to the time period from the early 1980s to today. The 1980s of Boston’s urban history were characterized by changes and revitalization. During the 1980s, Boston encountered numerous challenges in terms of population growth, economic prosperity, and numerous social problems, as the city with rich history was developing but at the same time deteriorating. Although Boston’s population hit a century low (2,806,000) in the beginning of 1980s and had a tremendously high crime rate, the 1980s was, indeed, the golden era to Boston in terms growth, social and economic prosperities. The City of Boston, ultimately, viewed and turned these challenges into opportunities.
References
1. 1880-1920: Transformation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1880-1920/.
2. 1920-1950: Stagnation | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/eras/1920-1949/
3. Affordable Housing | People, Places & Planning in Boston. (n.d.). People, Places & Planning in Boston. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://planningboston.org/planning/affordable-housing/
4. Boston and Its Neighborhoods » BU Libraries | Boston University. (n.d.). Boston University. Retrieved February 13, 2013, from http://www.bu.edu/library/guide/boston/
5. Carr, J. B. (2005). After the Siege - A Social History of Boston 1775-1800. Boston: Northeaster University Press.
6. Griffin, A. L., & Hoskins, E. F. (1947). The Boston Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Huse, C. P. (1916). The Financial History of Boston. New York: Harvard University Press.
7. Kennedy, Lawrence W. Planning the City upon a Hill: Boston since 1630. University of Massachusetts Press, 1994.
8. O'Connor, T. H. (1995). The Boston Irish: A Political History. Boston: Northeastern University Press.
9. O’Connor, Thomas H. The Hub: Boston Past and Present. Boston: Northwestern University Press, 2001. Print. 74.
10. Olmsted, Frederick Law. "Public parks and the enlargement of towns." Cambridge, Mass (1870).