Corner of Congress Avenue and George Street, Church Street Project area, New Haven

Title supplied by cataloger. Taken by Mrs. Marion R. Haskell, March 1959. One of a collection of photographs taken by the New Haven Redevelopment Agency to document a massive urban planning and development project undertaken from 1956 through the mid-1970s. The federally-financed redevelopment initiative was realized through a series of projects focused on particular New Haven city neighborhoods identified by street or area names. These projects involved the demolition of old structures and construction of new buildings, roadways and other facilities. Much of the Church Street project area had been characterized by a mix of small stores, restaurants, theaters and residences. In the course of redevelopment, whole blocks were demolished to make way for larger modern structures such as department stores, hotels, office buildings, a mall and the New Haven Coliseum. The commercial buildings west of Church and south of George were on the site eventually occupied by the new Malley's department store. A 1950 city directory map shows that Congress Avenue once intersected with George and Church Streets.