Front Block (Chapel Square Mall and hotel building) construction, Church Street redevelopment area, New Haven

Title supplied by cataloger<br>Dated October 1965.<br>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.<br>The mall occupies the block between Church, Chapel, Temple and Crown Streets. Prior to redevelopment 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, including ""the front block"" depicted, were demolished to make way for larger modern structures such as department stores, hotels, office buildings, the Chapel Square Mall and the New Haven Coliseum.