Abstract

"The Complexities of Altering a Sacred Land for a City's Infrastructure: The Business and Economics of Building the Boston Common Parking Garage"

Kelly Kilcrease, University of New Hampshire (kelly.kilcrease@unh.edu)

The Boston Common is the oldest and most historic public park in the U.S. Within its almost 400 years, its 44 acres have changed very little relative to dimension. Despite its unchanged appearance, the Common has some alterations due to colonial military events, landscaping and pathways, a subway tunnel, and pipes and channels bringing services to those who live and work in Boston. However, none of these were on the scale of bringing automobile parking beneath the Common.
The idea of a parking garage beneath the Boston Common was first proposed in 1919, but it wasn't until the 1940s that it gained serious consideration. A comprehensive analysis of Boston's traffic conditions in 1940 revealed a surge in traffic volumes, a decline in public transportation use, and decreased property values and consumer sales for businesses in central Boston. In response, a strategic plan was devised, which included a significant investment of $15 million for a parking garage under the Common, a decision with far-reaching economic implications.
Over the next two decades, the idea of a parking garage beneath the Boston Common would dramatically transform from concept to construction. The journey was fraught with challenges from Back Bay and Beacon Hill residents, historical associations, and the Boston Planning Board. However, Boston Mayor Curley's strategic maneuvering skillfully tied the parking garage to a solution that symbolized the resolution of the City's parking and congestion challenges. This move was crucial in securing the future economic stability of the downtown area. Specifically, Curley let the courts address the special interest groups, and he ignored the concerns of the Boston Planning Board as frivolous compared to the greater weight of economic growth.