Over the course of the semester, I studied the growth and evolution of the Bulfinch Triangle. Throughout the different assignments, I learned that the primary agent of change in the Triangle was transportation. Prior to being settled, the Bullfinch Triangle was an area of wetlands known as the Mill Pond. It served as a source of hydraulic power as well as a waste disposal system. Innovations in the way roads were paved caused too much waste to enter the pond, causing it to become stagnant. This made it a target for early land reclamation projects, leading to the initial development of the Triangle. Later on, major changes in the dominant form of transportation in the site were quickly followed by shifts in the land use trends, particularly around the Greenway.
The site currently occupied by the Greenway was initially a train station where raw goods and supplies would be brought in to restock local industries and shops. This made the area more attractive for both industry and commercial land use. Later, this rail line would evolve into the North Station, making the site a prime location for commercial and residential land use, but driving away industry. When the Central Artery was built, residential land use in the surrounding area decreased due to the presence of the nearby highway. This evolution in land use brought about by changes in transportation has left the Bulfinch Triangle with predominantly commercial land use. Recently, the expressway was torn down and converted into the Greenway. Over the coming years, the land use in the Triangle will continue to evolve due to this change.