Demolition debris, Parcel M, near Oak Street Connector, Church Street project area, New Haven

Title supplied by cataloger. Dated March 1960. 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. As part of this project, Malley's department store was relocated from its old quarters at Chapel and Temple Streets to a new building that occupied the block between Church and Temple Streets south of George Street. The Oak Street (Route 34) Connector is also known as the Richard C. Lee Connector. Lee was mayor of New Haven during the redevelopment period, and a driving force behind the effort.