Boston literally scrapped facades off of buildings and moved a 100 year old church to add a car lane to Charles Street in 1920, but somehow adding bike lanes and widening the sidewalks now would be too extreme of a change.
ALT Boston Globe newspaper article form 1920 "Charles St Widening Approved by Mayor - The order fort the widening of Charles St, form Beacon st to Revere st, from 55 to 65 feet was signed yesterday by Mayor Peters"
ALT Photo taken in 1920 of half demolished brick buildings along Charles Street during street widening.