Biography of Robert Moses: The Master Builder of New York, a Global City

Robert Moses (1888–1981) was an extraordinary administrator who created New York's urban infrastructure from the early 20th century through the 1960s. The structures he built, such as the Triborough Bridge connecting the airport to Manhattan and the Henry Hudson Bridge, are too numerous to mention. Attractive facilities such as beaches, parks, zoos, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and the United Nations Building were all projects he was involved in.

During Moses's active years, New York was facing an explosion of immigrants living in poor conditions without toilets or windows, crime was rampant, and diseases were spreading. The middle class was fleeing to the suburbs, and if left alone, the city would decline and riots might even occur. Concerned, Moses persuaded the governor to build numerous state parks on scenic Long Island to provide urban dwellers with light, greenery, and healthy recreational areas. In an era when the concept of "public" was thin, he demonstrated the spirit of noblesse oblige, working on the construction of 17 state parks, 13 massive bridges, and a total of 1,000 kilometers of new highways. Furthermore, he exercised strong authority to clear dozens of slums and build modern high-rise housing and mixed-use facilities. Utilizing New Deal and private funds, the total number of units supplied reached 30,000, with the number of residents totaling 270,000.

However, Jane Jacobs, an urban critic who advocated for "preserving pleasant neighborhoods" from a citizen's perspective, launched an opposition movement and thwarted his plans for the Lower Manhattan Expressway. Amidst a growing trend of private rights, such as "Not In My Backyard," and increasing environmental awareness, no new large-scale infrastructure has been built there since. Public opinion shifted significantly toward the Jacobs style, which continues to this day.

In this century, calls for the maintenance of exhausted infrastructure have grown stronger, and a movement to re-evaluate Moses has emerged. This movement views him as the person who saved the city from decline and awaits the appearance of a second Moses. My book follows his upbringing, his golden age when he received unanimous praise, his end marked by criticism and disappointment, and the movement toward re-evaluation, shedding light on his great contributions. To create an attractive city, in addition to a citizen-centered approach, the enhancement of large-scale infrastructure requiring strong leadership is essential.

Biography of Robert Moses: The Master Builder of New York, a Global City

Yasuhiko Watanabe (Author)

Kajima Institute Publishing

302 pages, 2,600 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of writing.