I found the zoning information packet from The Center of Urban Pedagogy to be extremely helpful and entertaining. There are so many terms in the world of housing and development that get used, and perhaps misused, regularly that I did not have a clear understanding of. In addition, some of these terms have a different connotation in New York because of all of the things that make the city a unique place to exist.

For example, I’ve heard the term “mixed use” in the context of real estate development with reference to a building that has retail space on the street-level and residences above. In New York, I learned, mixed use can more often mean the repurposing of industrial spaces for the sake of developing more residential space.

This manufacturing to residential shift has come as a result of manufacturing jobs declining in the city since the late sixties: “[b]etween 1960 and 1989, New York went from around 1 million manufacturing jobs to just 369,000”(88). As this massive decline continues to happen, some argue that the transition of these spaces makes it difficult for manufacturers to feasibly return to the city. Reading about zoning helped me to understand the reasons behind some of our neighborhoods looking and developing the way they do.

The Vice article about Berlin landlords being taken on by residents was a great case study for how members of a community can work together to try to create housing justice. Berlin landlords were raising rent at a steep rate and frustrated residents petitioned for a referendum on mass ownership of residential spaces. Berlin’s crisis was based on not having enough apartments and landlords seized that opportunity to price gouge residents. Very recently, those Berliners won out and it will be interesting to see the ripple effects of such a decision across Europe.

Gaspar, C., Torrey, M., & Mangin, J. (n.d.). The Center for Urban Pedagogy 232 … – mx1.welcometocup.org. Retrieved October 26, 2021, from http://mx1.welcometocup.org/file_columns/0000/0051/cup_urban_investigation_partners.pdf.

Ruby Lott-Lavigna. 2021. “The Inside Story of How Berlin Took On Corporate Landlords and Won.” Vice. September 21, 2021.