McDevitt, Kevin Roche and Mayor Lee of New Haven, looking at Knights of Columbus building model

Title supplied by cataloger Dated August 1965. One of a collection of photographs taken by the New Haven Redevelopment Agency to document a massive urban planning and development project undertaken from 1956 through the mid-1970s. The federally-financed redevelopment initiative was realized through a series of projects focused on particular New Haven city neighborhoods identified by street or area names. These projects involved the demolition of old structures and construction of new buildings, roadways and other facilities. Construction of the Knights of Columbus building was part of the Church Street project. This project area had been characterized by a mix of small stores, restaurants, theaters and residences. In the course of redevelopment, whole blocks were demolished to make way for larger modern structures such as department stores, hotels, office buildings, a mall, the Coliseum and the Knights of Columbus building. Richard C. Lee was mayor of New Haven 1954-1970, and a driving force behind the redevelopment effort.