Edward J.  Logue, the urban planner whose dream of affordable housing for all catalyzed the transformation of Welfare Island to Roosevelt Island, died January 27 in West Tisbury, Massachusetts.  He was 78.  Logue was President of the New York State Urban Development Corporation from 1968 to 1975.  Related editorial.

His concept for Roosevelt Island - a fully integrated community within the heart of New York City with low, moderate and higher income residents - has been widely hailed as innovative and courageous.  Kenneth T.  Jackson, Professor of History at Columbia University and editor of the Encyclopedia of New York City called Roosevelt Island "one of Logue's greatest successes - turning a decaying, barren island into a thriving residential community." Jackson went on to say that the Island has "won the endorsement of residents in the way that counts the most: families are anxious to live on Roosevelt Island."

Logue came to New York after a triumphant tenure as head of the Boston Redevelopment Authority.  Recruited and given unusually wide powers by Boston Mayor John F.  Collins, Logue changed the face of modern Boston.  He was responsible for building Government Center, completing Prudential Center and, arguably his most important project, conceiving the Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market Restoration.  Edgar J.  Driscoll, Jr., of the Boston Globe characterized the waterfront project as one of the best-known and most widely-imitated community development projects in the country.

In 1968, after running unsuccessfully for Mayor of Boston and a year at the John F.  Kennedy School of Government, Logue came to New York City to head the New York State Urban Development Corporation (UDC).  His eight years at UDC were controversial and he was sometimes compared to Robert Moses, the builder and planner who was often accused of creating great projects without sensitivity to community needs.  But Kent Barwick, President of the Municipal Art Society said Logue's "vision of Roosevelt Island was extraordinary for his time.  Of course, like anyone, Ed made mistakes, but he had enormous courage, vision and intelligence and was able to galvanize people - elected officials, the general public and professionals - on behalf of the rebuilding of New York.  And he believed in cities...  he believed in New York."

Barwick went on to say, "Anyone who ever worked for him counted it as a great period in their personal lives."

In 1977 the Municipal Art Society awarded a Certificate Of Merit to the architects and developers of Roosevelt Island, calling it "perhaps the most delightful place for living created in New York City in this century."  The certificate thanked Edward J.  Logue "for personally seizing this opportunity and using all of his powers and skills to realize the very best of what is possible in making cities."