Boston’s iconic Quincy Market was AHF’s first project. During the 1960s, the marketplace was a run-down collection of commercial buildings surrounded by parking lots. The Central Artery separated the properties from the waterfront that had historically been the tenants’ lifeline, while the wrecking balls of Urban Renewal created a wasteland in the nearby West End. The site was a far cry from the bustling commercial corridor that its namesake, former Boston Mayor Josiah Quincy, had in mind when he commissioned the buildings in the 1820s.
Nevertheless, our late founder Roger Webb recognized Quincy Market’s potential to become a major destination. In 1966 he presented a series of feasibility studies to the City of Boston that envisioned the site as a unified marketplace. He outlined a plan to restore the North and South Markets to their original appearance, create designated pedestrian right-of-ways, and line the paths with trees. Roger’s work also provided the economic model for the eventual redevelopers to execute the project. Today, Quincy Market is one of Boston’s greatest attractions and a beloved public space, linking the city’s historic core to the harbor.
