Model Cities Administration records

Boston's Model City Program was developed under the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966, a Federal Program aimed at improving the life quality of inner-city people throughout the nation. The program was designed to concentrate public and private resources for a five-year period on experimental projects attacking urban social, physical and economic problems in poor and neglected neighborhoods of participating cities. Cities whose plans for local Model City Programs were approved by Federal government were granted a specified amount of Model City Supplemental Funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to carry out program activities. These cities also became eligible for additional financial support through Federal grant-in-aid programs and from private funding agencies.

Planning for Boston's Model City Program began in 1967. Representatives of the Mayor worked closely with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, Action for Boston Community Development, heads of City departments, and community leaders to define the exact boundaries of Boston's Model Neighborhood Area and to prepare a proposal to obtain planning funds. The area selected encompassed most of Roxbury, parts of North Dorchester and Jamaica Plain, and all of Franklin Park.

In January of 1968, the City of Boston officially established the Boston Model City Administration (also referred to as the City Demonstration Agency or CDA). In April of 1968, Boston became the first city in the nation to receive its planning funds. The proposal was formally submitted to HUD as an application in November of 1968. In January of 1969, HUD announced its approval of the Boston program. The change of Administration in Washington delayed final approval and signing of the contract. The majority of the projects were given final approval in November of 1969. Chapter 16 of the Ordinances of 1969 approved on December 23, 1969 established for a limited time a Model City Agency and a Model Neighborhood Board.