An official website of the City of Boston
About Us
Contact Us
Careers
Get Involved
News
Calendar
Translate Page
Google Translate
Neighborhoods
Planning & Zoning
Urban Design
Development
Research
3D Data & Maps
Real Estate
Procurement
Home
Neighborhoods
Allston
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Back Bay
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Bay Village
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Beacon Hill
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Brighton
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Charlestown
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Navy Yard Master Plan Implementation
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Chinatown
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Dorchester
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Downtown
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
East Boston
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Fenway
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Hyde Park
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Jamaica Plain
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Leather District
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Longwood Medical Area
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Mattapan
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Mission Hill
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
North End
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Roslindale
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Roxbury
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
South Boston
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
South Boston Waterfront
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
South End
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
West End
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
West Roxbury
At a Glance
BPDA Owned Land
Documents
Events
News
Planning
Projects
Research Publications
Planning & Zoning
Our Team
Comprehensive Planning Team
Zoning Reform Team
Planning Review Team
Waterfront Planning (MGL Ch.91)
Boston Zoning Code
Zoning Commission
Current Planning Initiatives
Current Zoning Initiatives
Amendments Related to Redevelopment of Public Land
Cannabis Establishments
Chinatown Rezoning Process
Citywide ADU Zoning
Citywide Child Care Zoning
Definitions
2024 Net Zero Carbon Zoning Initiative
Federal Flood Hazard Zoning Updates
Open Space Zoning Districts
Resident & Property Owner Zoning Petitions for Text Amendments
Resident & Property Owner Zoning Petitions for Map Amendments
Sign Code Modernization
Squares + Streets Zoning Districts
Zoning for Parking and Loading
Look up ZBA Reports
Find My Zoning
Boston Smart Utilities
Background and History
Urban Design
What is Urban Design?
Urban Design Resources
Urban Design Initiatives
Boston Design Vision
Greening While Growing
Sign Code Modernization
Boston Civic Design Commission
Commissioner Biographies
BCDC Meetings and Minutes
Storefront & Signage
Sustainability and Resilience Review
Article 25A Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District
Article 37 Green Building
Climate Resilience Building Case Study
E+ Green Building Program
Mass Timber Accelerator
2024 Net Zero Carbon Zoning Initiative
Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS)
Development
Article 80 Records Library
Development Projects & Plans
Institutional Master Plans
Overview
Higher Education
Hospitals
What is Development Review?
What is Article 80?
Large Projects
Small Projects
Planned Development Areas
Institutional Master Plans
Mitigation & Impact Advisory Groups
Development Standards
Accessibility Guidelines and Checklist
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Article 80
Article 25A Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District
Article 37 Green Building and Climate Resiliency Guidelines
Article 80 Design Review Broadband Ready Buildings Questionnaire
Building Wraps
Day Care Facility Requirement
DEI in Development Policy
Developer Compliance
Inclusionary Development Policy
Language Access Plan for Article 80
Life Sciences Action Agenda
Life Science Building Design Guidelines
Linkage
Smart Utilities Checklist
Improving Our Development Review Process
Office to Residential Conversion Program
Developer Portal
3D Data & Maps
3D Smart Model
About 3D
Citywide 3D Model
3D Data Download
Map Library
Citywide Maps
Electoral Maps
Map Atlases
Atlascope Boston
Mapjunction
Neighborhood Maps
Urban Renewal
Zoning Maps
GIS Data & Mapping Resources
Research
Division Overview
Frequently Requested Information
Research Publications
2020 Census
MyCensus Viewer
Boston Stories and Numbers
Domestic Migration Map
Economic Indicators Dashboard
Employment Map
Exploring Neighborhood Change
Exploring Land Use and Value
Mapping Diversity in Boston
Research Inquiries
Data Sets
Real Estate
Overview
BPDA Owned Land
Real Estate Decarbonization Strategy
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Requirements for Public Land Dispositions
Disposition Projects
Commercial Spaces for Lease
Coastal Resilience Delivery Team
Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park
Urban Renewal
Urban Renewal
Urban Renewal Areas
Urban Renewal Dashboard
Procurement
Equitable Procurement
Buying Plan
Procurement Portal
Vendor Resources
About Us
About the Planning Cabinet
About the Planning Department
Leadership
Divisions
Office of the Chief of Planning
Communications
Community Engagement Managers
Development Review
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Language Access
Executive Director/ Secretary's Office
Finance
General Counsel
Information Technology
Planning & Zoning
Planning Advisory Council
Real Estate
Urban Design
Research
BPDA Board
Board Meetings
Meet the Board
Planning Advisory Council
History
Glossary
Careers
Career Opportunities
Internship and Contractor Opportunities
Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park
Model Room
Get Involved
Contact Us
Public Records Request
Copyright and Disclaimer
News & Calendar
News & Updates
Calendar
BPDA Board
Contact Us
Get Involved
Glossary
Search BostonPlans.org
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
News & Calendar
News & Updates
Calendar
News & Updates
Exhibition showcasing past, present, and future of urban renewal opens at West End Museum
Sep 25, 2015
It was a scene that wouldn’t have even been contemplated sixty years ago, as West End residents and staff from the Boston Redevelopment Authority mingled over wine and cheese and discussed urban renewal. The agency that approved the demolition and redevelopment of the old West End and the museum whose mission it is to preserve the history and culture of that neighborhood held an opening reception for a new exhibition entitled
Dewey Defeats Truman/The Housing Act of 1949
.
The
exhibition
traces the origins of urban renewal, which President Harry S. Truman pushed as a solution to America’s post-World War II housing crisis. Staff from the BRA
designed a complementary exhibit
about the future of urban renewal as part of the larger program. The unique partnership with the museum is an example of the BRA’s efforts to creatively and thoughtfully engage the public as the agency seeks a ten-year extension of its urban renewal authority. The exhibition is free and open to the public and will be on display until January 2016.
Director Brian Golden set the tone for the evening by issuing the first ever apology on behalf of the BRA to the West End for the damage that urban renewal strategies of old caused. Original West End residents that were in attendance remarked that they never thought they would live to see the day when this happened.
Below are Director Golden’s prepared remarks from the reception.
Thank you Duane [Lucia] and Susan [Hanson] for hosting us here tonight and for allowing me to say a few words. Despite the history of the BRA’s relationship with the West End, I think we can all agree that this museum is one of Boston’s hidden treasures.
And that’s why it’s so great to be here with all of you tonight as we begin a new chapter by reflecting on the past and contemplating what the future holds. I know we have some original West Enders, like Jim Campano, in attendance with us. Jim, I hope we’ll get to spend a minute together this evening. I’m looking forward to hearing people’s stories.
By the time I was born in the mid ‘60s the old West End had already been demolished in the name of so called “slum clearance” and a misguided redevelopment strategy. However, I feel it’s only appropriate that I set the tone for this event and our relationship going forward by acknowledging and apologizing for the past misdeeds of the BRA.
Although the destruction happened decades ago, the scars still remain. Time has helped to heal these wounds, but the lessons we have all learned from the West End is what brings us together tonight.
The BRA of today in no way condones the destruction of neighborhoods and the displacement of residents that happened in urban renewal’s wake. And I want to offer my heartfelt apology on behalf of the agency to the families of the West End that were affected.
There’s actually a bit of irony to the fact that I’m now Director of the BRA because the neighborhood where I grew up, Allston-Brighton, saw similar demolition of homes and displacement of families due to urban renewal, albeit on a much smaller scale than the West End.
When I was first hired by the BRA in 2009, relatives and family friends would tell me “never forget what they did to our neighborhood.” And I can honestly say I haven’t forgotten, and we haven’t forgotten. We have learned.
Just as our neighborhoods have evolved, so too has urban renewal and the agency that administers it. The BRA hasn’t been in the business of clearing neighborhoods for a long time. And this year we’ve tried to engage people around urban renewal in a manner that embodies the cultural change underway at the BRA.
We’ve held dozens of meetings with community organizations to explain how urban renewal tools are used in a much more nuanced manner. We’ve gathered feedback directly from residents about updating the goals of the plans. And we’ve placed an unprecedented amount of information online for people to browse in the comfort of their own homes.
Tonight I have the pleasure of speaking to you, but I want to acknowledge the people from the BRA behind today’s exhibit. Corey Zehngebot is a planner and urban designer who has been leading our urban renewal work. And Gwen Kidera is one of our talented graphic designers that helped put together the exhibition boards you’ll see. Thank you for all the time and energy you’ve devoted to this work.
I also want to acknowledge and thank Bill Kuttner and Jim Briand, curators of the West End Museum’s feature exhibit Dewey Defeats Truman, The Housing Act of 1949.
We hope our complementary exhibit on the future of urban renewal demonstrates the enlightened approach that we’re taking. As you consider the origin story of urban renewal, I would encourage you to keep an open mind about how the tools – used much differently today than in the past – can be of great benefit to the City of Boston.
Thank you again to the West End Museum, and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Share This Article:
Previous
Next
Subscribe to our News & Updates
*
indicates required
First Name :
Last Name :
Zip Code :
*
Email: