Sunday, October 10, 2010

Harlem Tenants Council Annual Housing Conference

Friday, October 15th - Saturday, October 16th 2010

Screening of "Rezoning Harlem" followed by panel discussion:
"The Gentrification of Harlem: East River to the Hudson River"


October 26, 2010 7 - 9 PM
The Maysles Cinema & Institute
545 Lenox Avenue (128th Street)

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Updates on the Atlantic Yards Development

In Security News:

The most current renderings of Bruce Ratners arena show strips of waist-high, metal, security bollards, raising questions over whether the security structure will end up looking similar to the large granite blocks recently placed outside the LIRR station. To read that story click here: http://gothamist.com/2010/01/06/the_new_long_island_rail.php.

The Empire State Development Corporation is keeping security plans for Atlantic Yards a secret, violating the Freedom of Inorfmation Law. The ESCD is a public agency and the new security measures could drastically affect the external aesthetic of the building.

Read what happened when a Brooklyn-based paper sent a FOIL request to the ESDC in regards to new security plan for Atlanic Yards: http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/48/32_48_sb_rejected_esdc_foil.html

In Health News:

According to the Architects Newspaper Blog, the Bloomberg Admin has recently released a study called the “New York City Community Air Survey," turning out to be one of the most comprehensive studies of the city’s air quality ever taken. Ironically, some of the most polluted areas are located outside of Manhattan, along expressways built by Bloomberg himself. The area around the Atlantic Yards site has already shown to be one of the more congested areas, and as more blocks begin to close and traffic grows heavier around the area, it is predicted that the air quality will become even worse.

Click here to check out the map indicating the most heavily polluted areas in the city: http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/5950

Art and Construction

Click here to read the New York Times article about how one non-profit group is making NYC construction sites more easy on the eye:

http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/5950

Friday, January 8, 2010

Atlantic Yards Projects Forces Homeless Shelter to Close

The Pacific Dean Homeless Shelter, located in Prospect Hight Brooklyn, will be closing next week to make way for apartment towers which won't be developed for several years. In the meantime the space will be used to store construction vehicles. Approximately 80 families currently reside in the shelter. According to the Department of Homeless Services most of the families have been placed into permanent housing with the remaining families to be placed in alternative shelters.

For more information contact the Department of Homeless Services:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/html/home/home.shtml

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Also Check out This Article About Who Has the Authority to Deem an Area as "Blighted"

Why the Blight Study is a Pertinent Step For Eminent Domain in the Columbia U Expansion.

Read the New York Observer Article Here:

http://www.observer.com/2010/real-estate/bill-perkins-no-fan-blight-consultant-akrf-esdc#


Columbia Plans to Continue Expansion Despite Court Ruling

Columbia University officials have outlined their first plan for expansion since the court ruling stating that the private institution could not use eminent domain to take over privately owned buildings in Harlem. As buildings continue to be torn down and ex-residents give up their expensive battle against the university, officials involved with the project have remained extremely evasive when asked about the eminent domain issue. According to this article it seems that the development is continuing as planned:
http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/5837

What are some of your thoughts?

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Columbia U. Learns That Allowing Neighborhood to Deteriorate Won't Get Them Anywhere

Click here to read an op-ed piece on the lessons Columbia University learned about misuse of seizing property via eminent domain:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704541004574600131499781664.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories