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
[edit | edit source]Philadelphia Roots
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Training:
- Cornell University (architecture)
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- Studied in Europe
- Influenced by modernist planning
Career
[edit | edit source]Early Work
[edit | edit source]Formative projects:
- Flint, Michigan planning work
- Philadelphia Housing Association
- Returned to Philadelphia (1940)
- Joined City Planning Commission (1949)
Executive Director (1949-1970)
[edit | edit source]Peak influence:
- Led City Planning Commission 21 years
- Unprecedented power and vision
- Federal urban renewal funds
- Comprehensive replanning of center city
Major Projects
[edit | edit source]Penn Center
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]Civic expansion:
- Extended Mall north of Independence Hall
- Created national park setting
- Controversial demolitions
- National Constitution Center site
Market East
[edit | edit source]Downtown retail:
- Gallery at Market East
- Reading Terminal preservation
- Underground transit connections
- Mixed legacy
Crosstown Expressway (Defeated)
[edit | edit source]What he stopped:
- Opposed South Street expressway
- Highway would have destroyed neighborhoods
- Community opposition
- Bacon eventually joined opposition
Planning Philosophy
[edit | edit source]Design of Cities
[edit | edit source]1967 book:
- Influential planning text
- Historical analysis of great cities
- Vision for Philadelphia
- Still read today
Movement Systems
[edit | edit source]Key concept:
- Urban design based on movement
- Pedestrian networks
- Transit integration
- Visual connections
Historic Preservation
[edit | edit source]Society Hill approach:
- Save historic fabric
- Infill modern architecture sensitively
- Create coherent district
- Public investment attracts private
Criticism
[edit | edit source]Urban Renewal Controversies
[edit | edit source]Negative impacts:
- Displacement of communities
- Loss of historic buildings
- "Negro removal" criticisms
- Heavy-handed approach
Penn Center
[edit | edit source]Mixed legacy:
- Demolished Broad Street Station
- Generic modernist architecture
- Less vibrant than hoped
- Critics call it sterile
Recognition
[edit | edit source]Time Magazine Cover (1964)
[edit | edit source]National attention:
- Cover story on urban planning
- Symbol of urban renewal era
- Height of influence
- National spokesman for cities
Legacy
[edit | edit source]Lasting impact:
- Shaped modern Philadelphia
- Society Hill a success
- Penn Center a mixed result
- Influenced generation of planners
Later Life
[edit | edit source]Post-Planning Career
[edit | edit source]After 1970:
- Private practice
- Teaching
- Writing and lecturing
- Advocacy
Kevin Bacon
[edit | edit source]Famous son:
- Actor Kevin Bacon is his son
- Edmund lived to see son's fame
- Family remained in Philadelphia area
Death
[edit | edit source]Final years:
- Died October 14, 2005
- Age 95
- Philadelphia