Zoned Out!: Race, Displacement, and City Planning in New York City, Revised Edition

Zoned Out! examines how zoning policies contribute to gentrification and displacement of low-income communities of color in New York City, and offers solutions for truly affordable housing. It includes a tribute to Michael Sorkin and a new preface about changes in city policy since Mayor Bill de Blasio left office.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 24 May 2023
Publisher: New Village Press

Common sense solutions for affordable housing that is truly affordable are urgently needed in New York City, where gentrification and displacement of low-income communities of color are major issues. The city's zoning policies are a major cause of these problems, and race matters but is often ignored when shaping land use and housing policies. The book "Zoned Out!" shows how this has played out in neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Harlem, and Chinatown, where massive displacement of people of color has occurred. It looks at ways the city can address inequalities, promote authentic community-based planning, and develop housing in the public domain.

The revised edition of this seminal work is framed by Tom Angotti and Sylvia Morse with a tribute to the late urbanist and architect Michael Sorkin and his progressive and revolutionary approaches to cities. It also includes a new preface about changes in city policy since Mayor Bill de Blasio left office and what rights citizens need to defend. The book includes a foreword by the late, distinguished urban planning educator Peter Marcuse and individual chapters by community activist Philip DePaola, housing policy analyst Samuel Stein, and both the editors.

One of the key issues addressed in the book is the need for affordable housing that is truly affordable. The authors argue that the city's promises of affordable housing are often not met, and that the policies that are in place to address the issue are often ineffective. They point to the example of Williamsburg, where the city's rezoning efforts have led to the displacement of many low-income families and the loss of affordable housing units.

The book also looks at the ways in which the city can promote authentic community-based planning. It argues that community-based planning is essential for creating housing that is affordable, sustainable, and accessible to all. The authors provide examples of successful community-based planning projects in other cities and suggest ways that the city can implement similar programs in New York City.

In addition to promoting community-based planning, the book also looks at the need for the city to develop housing in the public domain. The authors argue that the private market is not able to provide affordable housing for all, and that the public sector must play a role in creating housing that is affordable to low-income families. They suggest ways that the city can use public land to develop affordable housing, such as through the use of community land trusts and public housing.

Another important issue addressed in the book is the need for the city to address inequalities. The authors argue that the city's policies have created a system that favors wealthy individuals and corporations over low-income families and communities of color. They suggest ways that the city can address these inequalities, such as through the use of rent control, tenant protections, and community development programs.

The book also provides a number of recommendations for how the city can address these issues. These recommendations include the following:

• Reforming the city's zoning policies to promote affordable housing and community-based planning.
• Increasing the supply of affordable housing units.
• Providing tenant protections and community development programs.
• Addressing inequalities in the city's housing market.

The book also includes a number of case studies that illustrate the impact of gentrification and displacement on low-income communities of color. These case studies include the example of Williamsburg, where the city's rezoning efforts have led to the displacement of many low-income families and the loss of affordable housing units. The authors also provide examples of successful community-based planning projects in other cities, such as the Harlem Community Development Corporation and the Chinatown Partnership.

In conclusion, "Zoned Out!" is a seminal work that provides common sense solutions for affordable housing that is truly affordable in New York City. The book looks at the ways in which the city's zoning policies are a major cause of gentrification and displacement of low-income communities of color, and provides a number of recommendations for how the city can address these issues. The book is framed by Tom Angotti and Sylvia Morse with a tribute to the late urbanist and architect Michael Sorkin and includes a new preface about changes in city policy since Mayor Bill de Blasio left office. The book includes a foreword by the late, distinguished urban planning educator Peter Marcuse and individual chapters by community activist Philip DePaola, housing policy analyst Samuel Stein, and both the editors.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781613322079