RETHINKING BOSTON: 1980 - PRESENT
Boston reclaimed its status as a world-class city for the first time since the 19th century. Strong economic growth led by finance, technology, medicine, and education was regarded as “the Massachusetts Miracle.” Boston rebuilt itself through a downtown building boom and the massive Big Dig project. With federal law open to new immigration again and an attractive job market, Boston’s strong economy attracted migrants from virtually everywhere. The city became more diverse than it had been in a century, and the suburbs more diverse than ever.
PEOPLEDiverse immigration, young professionals
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PLACEThe Big Dig, downtown building boom
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ECONOMYFinancial services, health care, high tech, education, construction
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PLANNINGProfessional planning
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PEOPLE
Back Bay Neighborhood
During this period, Boston became more racially and ethnically diverse than at any point in its history. Roughly half of the city’s residents are people of color. World events helped drive immigrants to Boston, including the Vietnam War, the end of communism in Eastern Europe, political instability, poverty, and natural disasters in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Central America.
Diversity and immigration also reached the suburbs during this era. Among the post-WWII auto suburbs. Other suburbs around the metro area also became much more diverse, both as a result of the growing number of immigrants from the professional class settling in expensive suburbs and from a broader availability of affordable housing and fewer instances of real estate discrimination.
As middle and upper class professionals found city living desirable again, gentrification changed the character of many areas, including the South End, the North End, Charlestown, South Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, Cambridge and Somerville (City of Boston, 2013). These areas struggle to provide affordable housing after decades of rehabilitation and condo conversions in their older homes and high-end new construction.
Diversity and immigration also reached the suburbs during this era. Among the post-WWII auto suburbs. Other suburbs around the metro area also became much more diverse, both as a result of the growing number of immigrants from the professional class settling in expensive suburbs and from a broader availability of affordable housing and fewer instances of real estate discrimination.
As middle and upper class professionals found city living desirable again, gentrification changed the character of many areas, including the South End, the North End, Charlestown, South Boston, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, Cambridge and Somerville (City of Boston, 2013). These areas struggle to provide affordable housing after decades of rehabilitation and condo conversions in their older homes and high-end new construction.
PLACE
The Big Dig, overview
The city of Boston was substantially rebuilt during this period. The most notable change was the depression of the Central Artery highway in the “Big Dig” project. Additionally, the downtown experienced a building boom as did other urban employment centers such as the Longwood Medical Area and Kendall Square. The city’s housing stock also changed dramatically through massive rehabilitation and new residential construction.
Planning for the Big Dig began in 1982. The project broke ground in 1991. Tunnels began to open in 2003, and the transportation project was completed in 2006. The Big Dig demolished the elevated Central Artery and provided better highway connections through a north-south downtown tunnel and an east-west Massachusetts Turnpike-extending tunnel to the airport (Building Design and Construction, 2007). After the project’s completion, a new greenway replaced the wound inflicted upon downtown by the Central Artery. The waterfront and North End were reconnected to the rest of the downtown area. New development along the edges of the greenway began, including new residential developments as Boston is once again beginning to view the downtown as a place to live as well as to work and shop (Boston Redevelopment Authority, eds. 2011).
The waterfront also saw a concurrent building revival. New commercial, residential, and hotel buildings and towers, a harbor walk, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway rose over an area that had become little more than parking lots and highway before this period.
As the city’s population and economy grew, its housing stock had to meet the demand. To serve the higher end of the market, developers built new condo projects and rehabilitated older brownstones. To improve life for Boston’s lowest-income residents and their neighborhoods, the Boston Housing Authority partnered with other private and non-profit developers to replace and rehabilitate nearly all of the city’s old public housing projects.
Planning for the Big Dig began in 1982. The project broke ground in 1991. Tunnels began to open in 2003, and the transportation project was completed in 2006. The Big Dig demolished the elevated Central Artery and provided better highway connections through a north-south downtown tunnel and an east-west Massachusetts Turnpike-extending tunnel to the airport (Building Design and Construction, 2007). After the project’s completion, a new greenway replaced the wound inflicted upon downtown by the Central Artery. The waterfront and North End were reconnected to the rest of the downtown area. New development along the edges of the greenway began, including new residential developments as Boston is once again beginning to view the downtown as a place to live as well as to work and shop (Boston Redevelopment Authority, eds. 2011).
The waterfront also saw a concurrent building revival. New commercial, residential, and hotel buildings and towers, a harbor walk, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway rose over an area that had become little more than parking lots and highway before this period.
As the city’s population and economy grew, its housing stock had to meet the demand. To serve the higher end of the market, developers built new condo projects and rehabilitated older brownstones. To improve life for Boston’s lowest-income residents and their neighborhoods, the Boston Housing Authority partnered with other private and non-profit developers to replace and rehabilitate nearly all of the city’s old public housing projects.
ECONOMY
In the 1990s and 2000s, Boston also became a world leader in the health care, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. These industries are closely related to the area’s many top universities. In this era of globalization, prominent financial firms once headquartered in Boston are now run from New York, Charlotte, Toronto and elsewhere as the result of mergers and acquisitions.
The 15 years of construction work for the Big Dig as well as residential construction during a period of growth and an unprecedented housing bubble boosted working-class employment.
The 15 years of construction work for the Big Dig as well as residential construction during a period of growth and an unprecedented housing bubble boosted working-class employment.
PLANNING
In the close of the 20th century, Boston's planning struggles centered on the problems created by its new prosperity and by the planning mishaps of mid-century. The Big Dig was one of the largest public works projects in history. The planning and implementation challenges stretched over two decades and three mayoral administrations (Building Design and Construction, 2007).
The success of Boston’s economy and its resulting population growth and gentrification nearly eliminated low-cost housing in many areas, especially in the downtown neighborhoods. The city struggles to satisfy the needs of its immigrant and middle class populations. Planning tools such as inclusionary zoning and linkage fees sought to use the downtown boom to benefit the outlying neighborhoods. Community development corporations help create affordable housing and pursue economic development strategies in underserved neighborhoods.
Looking towards the future, public and private actors launched ambitious programs to make Boston’s old housing stock more energy efficient and to shift people away from automobile transportation, including an expansion of public transit options and new facilities to serve bicyclists.
The success of Boston’s economy and its resulting population growth and gentrification nearly eliminated low-cost housing in many areas, especially in the downtown neighborhoods. The city struggles to satisfy the needs of its immigrant and middle class populations. Planning tools such as inclusionary zoning and linkage fees sought to use the downtown boom to benefit the outlying neighborhoods. Community development corporations help create affordable housing and pursue economic development strategies in underserved neighborhoods.
Looking towards the future, public and private actors launched ambitious programs to make Boston’s old housing stock more energy efficient and to shift people away from automobile transportation, including an expansion of public transit options and new facilities to serve bicyclists.