New York: privatising housing co-ops, mapping congestion and the ‘City of Yes’

Chapter 1

‘Homes for Living’ by Jonathan Tarleton

In the new book ‘Homes for Living’, urban planner and oral historian Jonathan Tarleton brings the stories of two social housing co-ops in Brooklyn and Manhattan to life as residents weigh up whether or not to privatise. Do they stick to the rules that have kept their homes affordable for decades? Or, do they rethink the model for a personal profit but in the process deny future generations the advantages the co-operative provides?

Chapter 2

Traffic mapping with Tomtom

One of the biggest recent changes facing motorists who frequent the streets of Manhattan is the introduction of a congestion charge. But how can we tell if the charge is actually making a difference in New York’s most backed-up streets? Technology company Tomtom has been running a traffic index for the past 14 years, allowing them to observe trends and changes in the clogging up of our cities.

Chapter 3

‘City of Yes’

We assess a recent plan introduced by New York’s mayor, Eric Adams, to bring more residential space to the city. Called ‘City of Yes’, it’s essentially an update to the zoning rules which are preventing good density and more effective home building in New York. It seems like a step in the right direction but is it enough to make a difference?