Mega projects: Worth the Cost? A Study of Three Boston Mega projects and Their Impact on Their Neighborhoods.
Pirk, Samantha.
2018
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Abstract: Abstract: This thesis asks the question: why do urban megaprojects create a negative public perception for staying on budget, and seeks to determine if the economic gain for the city is worth the cost despite the potential backlash and setbacks? To answer this question, we examined three cases studies in the City of Boston: The West End Redevelopment, The John B. Hynes Auditorium (now ... read morethe John B. Hynes Convention Center) and the Seaport World Trade Center. They have been selected based on the simple fact that they have had time to mature and that there is historical data to support claims of economic success or failure. Each of these projects was funded by a mixture of public and private funds, were met with moderate to severe resident opposition, encountered multiple hiccups and setback, and changed the shape of the neighborhoods in which they were built. Despite this, all produced ongoing benefits for the Boston in terms of property values, increased taxes, jobs, and revitalization of dilapidated areas. There was, however, significant differences in how much economic benefit was captured in each project. This should be dependent on what the area looked like before the projects, and how the project was executed. While mega projects might, universally, produce some economic benefit, certain projects can truly justify their cost, while others do not.
Thesis (M.A.)--Tufts University, 2018.
Submitted to the Dept. of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning.
Advisors: Justin Hollander, and Sumeeta Srinivasan.
Keyword: Urban planning.read less - ID:
- 4f16cf01t
- Component ID:
- tufts:25068
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
