Logue, Edward J.

d. January 27, 2000.

Edward Joseph Logue was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 7, 1921. His career includes work as a lawyer, political aide, urban planner and administrator in New Haven, Boston, and New York state, political candidate for mayor of Boston (1967), president and chief executive officer of the Urban Development Corporation, and president of the South Bronx Redevelopment Organization, Inc. Logue graduated from Yale University (B.A., 1942; LL. B., 1947). He authored many articles and speeches on urban topics, consulted on redevelopment projects around the world, and taught urban planning seminars at several colleges and universities. Logue died on January 27, 2000.

Edward Joseph Logue was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 7, 1921. His career includes work as a lawyer, political aide, urban planner and administrator in New Haven, Boston, and New York state, political candidate for mayor of Boston (1967), president and chief executive officer of the Urban Development Corporation, and president of the South Bronx Redevelopment Organization, Inc. Logue graduated from Yale University (B.A., 1942; LL. B., 1947). He authored many articles and speeches on urban topics, consulted on redevelopment projects around the world, and taught urban planning seminars at several colleges and universities. Logue died on January 27, 2000.

Edward Joseph Logue was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 7, 1921. His career includes work as a lawyer, political aide, urban planner and administrator in New Haven, Boston, and New York state, political candidate for mayor of Boston (1967), president and chief executive officer of the Urban Development Corporation, and president of the South Bronx Redevelopment Organization, Inc. Logue graduated from Yale University (B.A., 1942; LL.B., 1947). He authored many articles and speeches on urban topics, consulted on redevelopment projects around the world, and taught urban planning seminars at several colleges and universities. Logue died on January 27, 2000, in West Tisbury, Massachusetts.

Edward J. Logue was born on February 7, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In a distinguished and sometimes controversial career as a lawyer, urban planner and administrator, and educator, Logue has been a leading figure in the areas of city planning and urban redevelopment. Few men have so combined similar degrees of legal training, administrative skills, scholarship, and political expertise toward service in the municipal arena.

Logue was raised in Philadelphia, where his father worked as a real estate assessor for the city. He was the first of four brothers to attend Yale, receiving his B.A. in 1942 and LL.B. in 1947. Brothers John (1944), James Gordon (1945), and Frank (1947) all received their undergraduate education; at Yale. It was at Yale that Logue first became politically active. An interest in labor unions led him to serve as General Organizer for the Yale Employees Union, Local 142, of the United Construction Workers. Logue's diligent efforts on behalf of the union won a favorable ruling from the U.S. Conciliation Service of the Labor Department.

After graduation in 1942 Logue enlisted with the Army Air Force. He flew seventeen missions as a bombadier in the European theatre during World War II, and was decorated for his service. Logue returned to Yale after the war and received his law degree in 1947. In June of 1947 he married Margaret DeVane, the daughter of Yale College Dean William Clyde DeVane. They have two children, Kathy and William.

Following marriage Logue returned to his hometown of Philadelphia, where his legal career began in the law office of M. H. Goldstein. By 1949 two opportunities attracted Logue's interest. He received offers to join the staffs of Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota and Governor Chester Bowles of Connecticut. Logue opted for the position in Governor Bowles' office and thus launched his political career. The defeat of Bowles in the 1950 election led Logue to accept the offer of state Democratic Party boss John Bailey (later to become Democratic National Committee leader), who asked Logue to serve as counsel to Democrats in the state senate.

In 1951 Chester Bowles was named Ambassador to India. He quickly cleared the path for Logue to join his staff in New Delhi. Although he remained in India for less than two years (1951-1953), Logue continued to remain an active observer on the Indian situation, largely through his work with the Ford Foundation. The Logues returned from India by way of Ceylon and Japan in time to become parents and to help friend Richard C. Lee campaign for the office of mayor in New Haven, Connecticut.

The newly-elected mayor brought Logue into city hall politics with him, first as executive secretary (1954-1955), then as development administrator (1955-1961) as New Haven undertook one of the most expensive and comprehensive urban renewal programs yet planned. As development administrator for the New Haven Redevelopment Agency from 1955-1960, Logue demonstrated a great acumen for acquiring federal funds to finance and subsidize New Haven's redevelopment projects. His familiarity with federal and state law was most helpful in dealings with organizations such as the Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA). By working closely with Mayor Lee and city departments, a coordinated city-wide redevelopment program was implemented to combat the spread of slums, blight, and urban decay which plagued New Haven. The New Haven program soon attracted national attention for its scope as the city received more dollars (per capita) than any other municipality and for its dynamic leaders.

Logue and Lee recognized the importance of active and continued public support for a successful redevelopment effort. A major component of the redevelopment operation involved the creation and effective use of the Citizens Action Commission (CAC), a body which sought to unify public, business, and government support under the leadership of the mayor's office. This commission, with its following six subcommittees proved an invaluable tool in rallying support and resources to the redevelopment program:

(1) Central Business District (CBD)

(2) Education

(3) Housing

(4) Industrial and Harbor Development

(5) Metropolitan Approach

(6) Recreation, Health and Welfare, Human Relations

Maurice E. H. Rotival was hired as New Haven's planning consultant to produce the specific plans and recommendations of the CAC for further study.

A host of major projects were initiated in the years 1953-1961. Among the official redevelopment projects and programs were:

(1) Church Street Redevelopment Project

(2) Church Street Extension

(3) Oak Street Redevelopment Project

(4) Oak Street Extension

(5) Long Wharf Redevelopment Project

(6) Wooster Square Redevelopment Project

(7) Southern Boulevard Project

(8) Dixwell Renewal Area

(9) Hill Renewal Area

(10) Harbor Dredging

(11) High school construction

(12) Route 5 (Interstate 91) construction

These efforts and others required constant interaction with city departments, including the Bureau of Environmental Sanitation, the City Plan Commission, the Traffic and Parking Department, the Public Works Department, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Entwined with the administrative responsibilities for renewal were the political realities of the situation. Logue spent a great deal of time and energy both speaking and writing about New Haven's renewal efforts on the local and national scene. Necessities such as city charter revision, the re-election campaigns of Mayor Lee, and community relations also required serious attention. Crucial matters which struck directly at the public's perception of the urban renewal program were the rehabilitation of decaying buildings and neighborhoods, the relocation of displaced businesses, families, and religious sites, slum clearance, land acquisition, the creation of parks and playgrounds, budgets, and taxes. The compilation and distillation of pertinent data on these matters often fell to Logue and his staff.

Edward Logue helped to rebuild much of New Haven during his tenure as development Administrator. Both he and Mayor Lee became recognized experts on urban renewal, and they achieved prominence in such circles as the American Municipal Association (AMA), the Democratic National Committee, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), the National Housing Conference (NHC), and the United States Conference of Mayors. At the same time, Logue was in frequent demand as a speaker and author on the topic of American cities. He lectured at various colleges and universities, including Yale, and contributed essays to publications such as the New York Times Magazine ("Urban Ruin - Or Urban Renewal," November 1958). New Haven was only the first in a series of urban renewal programs for Edward Logue, however.

Beginning in 1960, Mayor John Collins of Boston presented Logue with a powerful challenge. Collins wanted Logue to head his urban redevelopment program in Boston. After much negotiation Logue accepted the offer and ultimately served as development administrator for the Boston Redevelopment Authority (B.R.A.) from 1960-1967. Logue came to Boston politics as an outsider, with a much publicized $30,000 salary.

In Boston Logue applied many of the same tactics which he effectively initiated in New Haven. On many occasions he reiterated the four underlying principles necessary for a successful renewal program in Boston:

(1) leadership from City Hall

(2) organized citizen support

(3) a dedicated and highly competent staff

(4) coordinated administration

The same dedication, drive, and personal traits which contributed to Logue's success also served to create problems for him. Supporters often described him as "a doer, a brilliant programmer, charming," while critics chose terms such as "nasty, tough, and a megalomaniac." Logue himself accepted the role of "lightning rod" for his urban renewal efforts and the controversy which accompanied them. "When you plan with people it's a two way street," he once said, "You must be reasonable, by which I don't mean agreeable."

Public awareness and reaction to B.R.A. activities (both pro and con) was acute in Boston. With the full support of the mayor and the B.R.A. Board Logue was able to initiate much of what he wanted. Fierce political battles were waged with members of the Boston City Council, however, and clashes over projects, programs, and personalities were frequent.

As in New Haven, Logue advocated a coordinated, simultaneous, all-encompassing renewal program. Among the renewal areas targeted for reform in the General Plan for the City and the Regional Core, 1965-1975 were:

(1) Downtown North

(2) Downtown

(3) South End

(4) Back Bay

(5) Parker Hill-Fenway

(6) Charlestown

(7) East Boston

(8) South Boston

(9) Roxbury-North Dorchester

(10) Jamaica Plain

Logue and the B.R.A. acted to change the face of Boston with major re-development projects in the Government Center, Waterfront, and Downtown Areas. Several modern city landmarks, including the new City Hall, are the results of these efforts. Boston's renewal projects translated into massive land acquisition, rehabilitation, relocation, and development responsibilities for the B.R.A. Logue once again proved quite adept at securing federal funds. Before leaving his position Logue had delivered more than 200 million dollars in federal funds (and an estimated investment of more than 2 billion dollars in private funds) to Boston's redevelopment programs.

Local keys to success involved cooperative efforts with such public agencies as: the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the Massachusetts Port Authority, and the commonwealth's Department of Public Works. City offices and departments were vital links in the coordinated program Logue attempted to create, and the Police Department, the Real Property Department, and the Finance Commission were three important contributors.

By 1967 Boston's urban renewal program was well underway, and tentative plans for a 1975 World's Fair, Freedom '75, were under consideration. The decision of Mayor John Collins not to seek re-election this same year was a key factor in the eventual campaign of Logue for the Democratic nomination. As with Mayor Lee in New Haven, Logue worked with the total support of Mayor Collins in Boston. Logue had, in fact, declined any kind of tenure, and preferred to work at the discretion of the mayor. There could be no such relationship with a different mayor.

The challenge of running the entire city of Boston was a natural progression for Logue. He resigned from the B.R.A., a move which would have been inevitable with the election of a new city leader, and campaigned strongly for the nomination. A fourth place finish eliminated Logue from consideration. Other challenges were soon forthcoming, however.

Logue continued to speak, write, and teach on urban affairs. He accepted an appointment as Maxwell Professor of Government at Boston University, and he considered private consulting offers. Opportunities to head urban redevelopment programs in other cities across the nation were examined. Logue turned down several such positions, including the post in New York City where he had previously conducted studies on the Bedford-Stuyvesant area and on general housing conditions. He feared that the support and power necessary to successfully operate would be lacking.

Finally, Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York convinced Logue to head that state's new Urban Development Corporation (U.D.C.), a state agency created in 1968. The U.D.C. was then described as possessing "the largest collection of urban renewal powers placed in any one public agency in the United States." Logue served the U.D.C. as president and chief executive officer from 1968 to February 1975. His resignation was prompted by the election of Governor Carey and was tendered three weeks before the U.D.C. defaulted on $100 million in bond anticipation notes. Logue defended his organization and his leadership before the Moreland Act Commission, empowered to investigate the U.D.C. The temporary default necessitated an elaborate rescue system by the state legislature, amidst charges and countercharges of failure, mismanagement, and miscalculation leveled by U.D.C. officials, private bankers and investors, and politicians.

Upon leaving the U.D.C. early in 1975, Logue taught at New York University Law School. In 1976 he taught city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania and was a member of the Critical Choice Commission. He maintained a private consulting practice and in September of 1978, "Mr. Urban Renewal," as the New York Times called Logue, was chosen by Mayor Koch to head the South Bronx Development Corporation.