A few years ago, Codman Square had the appearance of a shattered village devastated by war with abandoned buildings and empty storefronts, many of which were occupied by the homeless. Drugs and street violence were the most important issues in the Square. This situation became so offensive that it virtually paralyzed the business district.

Emile Paul and his wife moved to Jamaica Plain to avoid the risk of another member of their family becoming the victim of gang related violence. Paul observed helplessly the economic and social decline of a neighborhood that he called home, the place where he saw his two children grow up. Pointing to the angle formed by Talbot, Norfolk and Washington Streets he repeated in a tone of disgust: "This corner became a combat zone, drugs dealers and prostitutes took the square hostage and terrorized all of us."

Codman Square was transformed into the headquarters where all the unlawful activities took place. A man named Henry Joseph, who identified himself as an employee of the Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corp, later supported Emile Paul’s story. He said that before the renovations the U.S. Marshall listed Codman Square among the ten most dangerous places in the City of Boston. The former Smoke Shop, where the new McDonald’s is now located, was known as a mob center of operation.

In the late 80s, the angry estate holders, merchants and residents said that something should be done to rescue their community. Building organizations, to help developing and maintaining the area, appeared to be a necessity. Then the NDC took the lead and initiated some key projects such as the construction of modern housing units and new commercial buildings to enhance the physical image of the square and to attract new businesses.

As a result of the improvements together with the hard work of the Boston Police Department in Codman Square, the bad guys realized that their place was not there anymore. Now violent crime is down to its lowest point. Today, Codman Square has the resemblance of a thriving neighborhood with two banks, more than one hundred shops, 9 restaurants, medical facilities, a new post office, a new courthouse, function hall, about 10 churches and a municipal parking lot in the heart of the commercial district.

The best part of the story is that last year Emile Paul and his wife Margaret felt safe and comfortable enough to move back to their Codman Square dream home.

"The community is back on its feet, we are back," proudly exclaimed Harry Williams who recently bought a house in Milton Street near Codman Square. Williams had just finished shopping in a clothing store next door, when he stopped in the McDonald’s. He was sitting enjoying a crispy chicken sandwich while his wife was doing some banking transactions in the BankBoston across the street.

For many shoppers and residents, Codman Square’s recovery is a miracle. But for the informed citizens this development is the result of a community based effort involving many organizations including the Logical Initiative Support Corp, Codman Square Main Street, the Neighborhood Development Corporation, the Boston Police Department and several other private organizations and the Boston Mayor’s office.

During the past few years, these organizations successfully accomplished many fundamental projects that produced a dynamic recovery of the commercial district. The new brick building which houses BankBoston, on the corner of Talbot and Washington Streets, elevates the appearance of the square and the bank yields new opportunities in the square. The renovation of the storefronts and the implementation of marketing support and other security initiatives is giving confidence to shoppers and generating economic growth in the square.

Codman Square is rising and has become one of the most competitive neighborhood commercial districts in Boston, offering a variety of businesses and services. There are no empty storefronts noticeable on Washington Street and according to Christina Keefe, the executive director of Codman Square Main Street, three new businesses are scheduled to open up in the square before Christmas.

Codman Square Main Street and the NDC are pushing along the storefront restorations rapidly. The project is expected to be completed before the holiday season begins.

Codman Square has several organizations, all working together to make a difference. The Codman Square Merchant Associations, the Neighborhood Council and the Retail Security Initiative are among some of the other groups that have contributed to these successful community recovery projects. However, the Codman Square organizations have not focused only on economic development. The Great Hall was inaugurated about two years ago, it is a function hall where different culturally diverse events have taken place.

What makes Codman Square unique is the interest demonstrated by residents, local elected official and business leaders to develop their neighborhood.

The Codman Square Main Street is led by a board composed of citizens and merchants presided over by a very bright and outspoken young lady named Marie Armel Theodat. She is the youngest activist in the square and is described as very impressive, truthful and impartial. She is the daughter of a popular Haitian business leader who has operated his insurance agency in the square for a long time. Theodat was well aware of the risk of walking past drug dealers and bandits to her father’s enterprise. Now she is sharing a corner in the luxurious Law Offices of Guerrier and Associates on Granite Ave. Nevertheless, she still wants to be part of the solution in Codman Square.