Downtown: Its Rise And Fall

The Boston Globe interviews author and urban historian Robert M. Fogelson about the unique history of the American downtown.

1 minute read

November 25, 2001, 6:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

The most famous tribute to downtown came from England, Petula Clark's 1964 number one single, but Europe has no real urban equivalent. 'It is very much an American concept,' Fogelson said. The idea of a central district where people work and shop but few live is unique to the United States.'In the busiest [European] commercial districts people live all along the side streets,' Fogelson explained. 'That's true of Madrid, Paris. London does have the City, its financial district. But once you get outside of there, people live everywhere.'"

Thanks to Tom Collins

FULL STORY: On the town

Saturday, November 24, 2001 in The Boston Globe

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