A Decent Place To Live: From Columbia Point to Harbor Point-A Community History [Paperback]

Jane Roessner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2000 | ISBN-10: 1555534368 | ISBN-13: 978-1555534363

"A Decent Place to Live is a fabulous piece of work. Well-written, candid and engaging, its honesty is refreshing; nothing is swept under the rug. The voices of the tenants carry the story forward, but the transformation of Columbia Point is set in a political context and the impact of government policies is explored. A valuable resource for urban planners, architects, housing policy makers, and developers." -- Hubert E. Jones, Assistant Chancellor for Urban Affairs, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Editorial Reviews

Review

A moving portrait of the strong women who tried to hold a community together against all the centrifugal forces of politics and race and class. -- Ellen Goodman, columnist, Boston Globe, and author of I Know Just What You Mean: The Power of Friendship in Women's Lives

Filled with wonderful photographs and evocative voices, this book tells an inspirational and poignant story about community building. -- Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Emily Hargroves Fisher Professor of Education

This is a story of people—most of them poor and disadvantaged, most of them people of color—and that is its strength." -- Thomas O'Connor, University Historian and Professor of History, Emeritus, Boston College

[Roessner] gets behind the brick facades of both Columbia Point and Harbor Point, where she discovers the essential elements of successful urban communities. -- Lawrence Harmon, Boston Globe --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A Decent Place to Live is a fabulous piece of work. Well-written, candid and engaging, its honesty is refreshing; nothing is swept under the rug. The voices of the tenants carry the story forward, but the transformation of Columbia Point is set in a political context and the impact of government policies is explored. A valuable resource for urban planners, architects, housing policy makers, and developers." (Hubert E. Jones, Assistant Chancellor for Urban Affairs, University of Massachusetts, Boston )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Northeastern (June 22, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555534368
• ISBN-13: 978-1555534363
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #941,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What about the good times!, November 9, 2008

By 

Shirley Brown "Long Lost Friend" (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Decent Place To Live: From Columbia Point to Harbor Point-A Community History (Paperback)

I lived in Columbia Point from 1963 - 1973 and I don't see anything in this book about the good times we had there. Lived on Montpelier Road and Monticello Avenue and I sure had some good times. I remember Ms. Shearer and her lovely family and Ms. McCluskey and her family - I use to go to school with them and they were good friends with my mother working at the Health Center. There were good times when parents looked out after other parent kids while working hard and keeping us in check; I marched with the Dorchester Brigadiers and remember when they were under St. Christopher. I had a wonderful stay at CP and I am not a shame to say that I did. I don't remember too much trouble back them as we go dancing at the Center; playing basketball in the city league at the playground. But the most of all that I will never forget is the summer jobs that Bernie Sneed, Ben Wade and Stevie Sullivan were my supervisors and we had wonderful time. They were discipline people and I admire them for what they contributed to the community, especially Bernie Sneed. Oh I have to speak on the "summer thing" across the street from the Center every summer - there was always something going on in CP.

Those Dorchester Brigadiers and myself, marching through Columbia Point (all through the Point) and everyone looking out their windows cheering, coming out of the buildings cheering us on as they could here use all the way up near the church. I remember marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston. Incredible! Those were the days that I remember and not the bad!

In 1973, my parents stated that it is time to go but I kept coming out to visit my friends - I missed them so much as I was also angry that my parents took us out of CP.

I know everyone in this book that spoke their minds, use to working under Ms. Young and the people in this book were and still great people. What happened after our family moved out, I can't speak on it but can amazing what happened, that's everywhere. So this book should of focus on the good and the bad and not just only on the bad because back in the day, it was a great place to be rise at and look at me know, I turn out alright!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars columbia point--an experiment gone sour, February 15, 2011

By 

rls - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Decent Place To Live: From Columbia Point to Harbor Point-A Community History (Paperback)

I lived and grew up in the project at the end of the mile road(mt vernon st)1952-1962
the city dump was at the end of the road too--it burned 24/7 and the rats were as big as small dogs
2800 apartments and everyone was on welfare. we were all in the same boat, so we had no peer pressure-we were all the same--no stores/the grocery bus came 3 times a week and set up in the parking lots/the fruit trucks came and sold their wares along with fresh vegetables-- the demise of the project was in the fact that the powers that be put us there and then just forgot about us--we where on our own--and we survived-we had each other-we were a family of sorts/we laughed/cried/fought/cared/and beat the odds to become the best we could be. growing up at the point was like getting an education the no one could pay for. anyone that was there in the beginning will tell you the same thing. the book was written by an 'outsider' that came very close to what it was like to be there--kudos--remember no stores-no school-no church-but wwe never felt stuck there we made do--we survived because we had each other--then after 1961 it all changed--so the tore it down(like tabaco road) and started over again--enter HARBOR POINT -- if you grew up at columbia point--you know that UMASS/THE KENNEDY LIBRARY/all sit on the city dumb--the train stop was columbia nt jfk--ahhh the memories

5.0 out of 5 stars A Decent Place to Live, Indeed, May 4, 2006

By 

G. Brown - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Decent Place To Live: From Columbia Point to Harbor Point-A Community History (Hardcover)

This is a book detailing the entire history of a Boston neighborhood I lived in for 5 years ('89-'94). And...it's good! It's well-written, comprehensive, & thoroughly researched.

The point of the book was how the neighborhood rebounded after degenerating into one of the worst & most notorious housing projects in the country. Due to a few local businessmen dedicated to their home city & a team of local community leaders (strong-willed housewives & grandmothers, mainly), the neglected, miserable-looking brick buildings were eradicated (along with the tainted "Columbia Point" name) & smartly-designed townhouses & apartment complexes took their place. The key to it all was the fusing of considerable private funds (the local businessmen) with state & federal funds to create an attractive profit-generating mixed-income developement that would appeal to professionals while at the same time treating the poorer long-time residents as equal partners in community decisions. In addition, because of all the funding, the landscaping was greatly improved, a private security force was created, and amenities like tennis courts, a gym, & a pool were added. And as a result, Harbor Point WAS a decent place to live.

Brilliant!

Why can't ALL housing projects be redone like this?