New York for Sale: Community Planning Confronts Global Real Estate (Urban and Industrial Environments)

How community-based planning has challenged the powerful real estate industry in New York City.Remarkably, grassroots-based community planning flourishes in New York City—the self-proclaimed “real estate capital of the world”—with at least seventy community plans for different neighborhoods throughout the city. Most of these were developed during fierce struggles against gentrification, displacement, and environmental hazards, and most got little or no support from government. In fact, community-based plans in New York far outnumber the land use plans produced by government agencies. In New York for Sale, Tom Angotti tells some of the stories of community planning in New York City: how activists moved beyond simple protests and began to formulate community plans to protect neighborhoods against urban renewal, real estate mega-projects, gentrification, and environmental hazards. Angotti, both observer of and longtime participant in New York community planning, focuses on the close relationships among community planning, political strategy, and control over land. After describing the political economy of New York City real estate, its close ties to global financial capital, and the roots of community planning in social movements and community organizing, Angotti turns to specifics. He tells of two pioneering plans forged in reaction to urban renewal plans (including the first community plan in the city, the 1961 Cooper Square Alternate Plan—a response to a Robert Moses urban renewal scheme); struggles for environmental justice, including battles over incinerators, sludge, and garbage; plans officially adopted by the city; and plans dominated by powerful real estate interests. Finally, Angotti proposes strategies for progressive, inclusive community planning not only for New York City but for anywhere that neighborhoods want to protect themselves and their land. New York for Sale teaches the empowering lesson that community plans can challenge market-driven development even in global cities with powerful real estate industries Remarkably, grassroots-based community planning flourishes in New York City -- the self-proclaimed "real estate capital of the world" -- with at least seventy community plans for different neighborhoods throughout the city. Most of these were developed during fierce struggles against gentrification, displacement, and environmental hazards, and most got little or no support from government. In fact, community-based plans in New York far outnumber the land use plans produced by government agencies. In New York for Sale , Tom Angotti tells some of the stories of community planning in New York how activists moved beyond simple protests and began to formulate community plans to protect neighborhoods against urban renewal, real estate mega-projects, gentrification, and environmental hazards. Angotti, both observer of and longtime participant in New York community planning, focuses on the close relationships among community planning, political strategy, and control over land. After describing the political economy of New York City real estate, its close ties to global financial capital, and the roots of community planning in social movements and community organizing, Angotti turns to specifics. He tells of two pioneering plans forged in reaction to urban renewal plans (including the first community plan in the city, the 1961 Cooper Square Alternate Plan -- a response to a Robert Moses urban renewal scheme); struggles for environmental justice, including battles over incinerators, sludge, and garbage; plans officially adopted by the city; and plans dominated by powerful real estate interests. Finally, Angotti proposes strategies for progressive, inclusive community planning not only for New York City but for anywhere that neighborhoods want to protect themselves and their land. New York for Sale teaches the empowering lesson that community plans can challenge market-driven development even in global cities with powerful real estate industries In New York For Sale, Tom Angotti Tells Some Of The Stories Of Community Planning In New York City: How Activists Moved Beyond Simple Protests And Began To Formulate Community Plans To Protect Neighborhoods Against Urban Renewal, Real Estate Mega-projects, Gentrification, And Environmental Hazards. Angotti, Both Observer Of And Longtime Participant In New York Community Planning, Focuses On The Close Relationships Among Community Planning, Political Strategy, And Control Over Land. New York For Sale Teaches The Lesson That Community Plans Can Challenge Market-driven Development Even In Global Cities With Powerful Real Estate Industries.--book Jacket. Community Planning Without Displacement : Strategies For Progressive Planning -- The Real Estate Capital Of The World -- From Dislocation To Resistance : The Roots Of Community Planning -- From Protest To Community Plan -- From Environmental Justice To Community Planning -- Making The Plans Official -- Community Planning For The Few -- Progressive Directions For Community Planners. Tom Angotti. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [277]-281) And Index. Cover......Page 1 New York for Sale......Page 4 ISBN 9780262012478......Page 5 Contents ......Page 8 Foreword: So What’s Community Planning?......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 List of Acronyms......Page 18 Chronology of Major Planning Events in New York City......Page 22 1 Community Planning without Displacement: Strategies for Progressive Planning......Page 24 I Understanding Real Estate and Community......Page 58 2 The Real Estate Capital of the World......Page 60 3 From Dislocation to Resistance: The Roots of Community Planning......Page 104 II Community Planning Stories......Page 134 4 From Protest to Community Plan......Page 136 5 From Environmental Justice to Community Planning......Page 154 6 Making the Plans Offi cial......Page 176 7 Community Planning for the Few......Page 202 III The Future of Progressive Community Planning......Page 246 8 Progressive Directions for Community Planners......Page 248 Notes......Page 270 Selected Bibliography......Page 300 Index......Page 306