VIRTUAL Lisbon Livable Cities

Abstract

In the aftermath of the 1967 race riots, New Haven’s Route 34 and Oak Street connectors severed Black and immigrant neighborhoods, leaving behind decades of urban decay (Lee 2018). Today, this area has transformed into the New Haven BioPharmaceutical Corridor, featuring upscale housing and retail spaces (Congress for the New Urbanism n.d.). Beneath this redevelopment lies a hidden narrative of how interstates, urban renewal, and federal grants perpetuated social inequities—displacing immigrant factory workers, deepening segregation, and silencing marginalized communities (AARP 2023). This paper explores the lasting impact of federal policies, from the 1930s Housing and Loan Commission to the Bipartisan Reconnecting Neighborhood Initiative (U.S. Department of Transportation 2024). The redevelopment of Route 34 highlights urban transformation that often prioritizes economic growth over community well-being (Lee 2018). The voices of Quinnipiac Indians, immigrant workers, Black residents, and professionals employed by Yale and biopharmaceutical firms remain unheard in shaping their city’s future (Connecticut History n.d.). Some organizations are revisiting the 1914 New Haven Olmsted Plan, which emphasized accessible public spaces and democratic planning. This citizen-driven micro-planning approach reimagines New Haven as an inclusive, equitable urban space where diverse voices shape the future. It challenges exclusionary, top-down urban development and prioritizes lived experiences over economic interests, offering a framework for a more just city.