Edmund Bacon
| Born | May 2, 1910 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Died | October 14, 2005 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Urban planner, architect |
| Education | Cornell University, Cranbrook Academy |
Edmund Bacon (1910-2005) was Philadelphia's most influential urban planner of the 20th century, serving as executive director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission from 1949 to 1970. His ambitious vision transformed post-war Philadelphia through projects like Penn Center, Society Hill restoration, Market East, and the Independence Mall expansion. Featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1964 as a symbol of urban renewal, Bacon shaped modern Philadelphia more than any individual since William Penn. While some of his urban renewal projects later drew criticism for displacing communities, his work on Society Hill became a model for historic preservation nationwide.[1]
Early Life
Philadelphia Roots
Background:
- Born May 2, 1910, in Philadelphia
- Old Philadelphia family
- Great-great-grandson of a founder of Girard College
- Father Kevin Bacon, actor, is his son
Education
Training:
- Cornell University (architecture)
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- Studied in Europe
- Influenced by modernist planning
Career
Early Work
Formative projects:
- Flint, Michigan planning work
- Philadelphia Housing Association
- Returned to Philadelphia (1940)
- Joined City Planning Commission (1949)
Executive Director (1949-1970)
Peak influence:
- Led City Planning Commission 21 years
- Unprecedented power and vision
- Federal urban renewal funds
- Comprehensive replanning of center city
Major Projects
Penn Center
Urban renewal landmark:
- Replaced Broad Street Station rail yards
- First major urban renewal in Philadelphia
- Underground concourse
- Modern office towers
- Controversial demolition of grand station
Society Hill
Historic preservation triumph:
- Restored 18th-century neighborhood
- Removed wholesale food markets
- I.M. Pei towers as "bookends"
- Model for urban preservation nationwide
- Bacon's greatest success
Independence Mall
Civic expansion:
- Extended Mall north of Independence Hall
- Created national park setting
- Controversial demolitions
- National Constitution Center site
Market East
Downtown retail:
- Gallery at Market East
- Reading Terminal preservation
- Underground transit connections
- Mixed legacy
Crosstown Expressway (Defeated)
What he stopped:
- Opposed South Street expressway
- Highway would have destroyed neighborhoods
- Community opposition
- Bacon eventually joined opposition
Planning Philosophy
Design of Cities
1967 book:
- Influential planning text
- Historical analysis of great cities
- Vision for Philadelphia
- Still read today
Movement Systems
Key concept:
- Urban design based on movement
- Pedestrian networks
- Transit integration
- Visual connections
Historic Preservation
Society Hill approach:
- Save historic fabric
- Infill modern architecture sensitively
- Create coherent district
- Public investment attracts private
Criticism
Urban Renewal Controversies
Negative impacts:
- Displacement of communities
- Loss of historic buildings
- "Negro removal" criticisms
- Heavy-handed approach
Penn Center
Mixed legacy:
- Demolished Broad Street Station
- Generic modernist architecture
- Less vibrant than hoped
- Critics call it sterile
Recognition
Time Magazine Cover (1964)
National attention:
- Cover story on urban planning
- Symbol of urban renewal era
- Height of influence
- National spokesman for cities
Legacy
Lasting impact:
- Shaped modern Philadelphia
- Society Hill a success
- Penn Center a mixed result
- Influenced generation of planners
Later Life
Post-Planning Career
After 1970:
- Private practice
- Teaching
- Writing and lecturing
- Advocacy
Kevin Bacon
Famous son:
- Actor Kevin Bacon is his son
- Edmund lived to see son's fame
- Family remained in Philadelphia area
Death
Final years:
- Died October 14, 2005
- Age 95
- Philadelphia
See Also
References
- ↑ [ Design of Cities] by {{{first}}} {{{last}}} (1967), Viking Press, {{{location}}}