Class please read this article and discuss how it relates to the information we learned about urban renewal. Are there any parallels to back when Robert Moses was in charge? Why is the situation in Soho being discussed in relation to inequality? What is the association with affordable housing? (Please also discuss anything else that comes to mind).
*Be sure to review the discussion board grading rubric found under Course Materials to know the expectations for participation*
There are parallels to back when Robert Moses was in charge. The situation in Soho being discussed in relation to inequality is that wealthy neighborhoods would be expected to shoulder changes that are usually relegated to other communities. Therefore changing the character of the neighborhood. The association with affordable housing is to help recover from New York’s post-pandemic. The plan would also amend commercial zoning, including replacing an outdated regulation that requires new retailers to get special permission to occupy ground floor space.
The New York Times article, ” Does SoHo, Haven For Art and Wealth, Have Room For Affordable Housing” written by Jasmine Hughes discusses urban renewal and rezoning areas in SoHo. The situation in SoHo is being discussed in relations to inequality because constructing officials want build high rise buildings for wealthy people to move in the area making it a less diverse SoHo neighborhood. That fact that rezoning is going to allow more luxury store fronts and high rise buildings to be build meaning that more of the white population is going to increase. The problem with affordable housing is that rent levels are increasing and lower income people won’t have enough money to afford rent which is going to cause people to move out SoHo areas. Moreover, rezoning and constructing new building is going to eliminate SoHo historic images and locations figures which makes SoHo stand out including the texture of the streets.
Hi Idany,
I agree with you that “The problem with affordable housing is that rent levels are increasing and lower income people won’t have enough money to afford rent which is going to cause people to move out SoHo areas.” To solve this problem, I believe the rent control policy is necessary for new builders. If they want to tear down and rebuild the house, they must provide rent-control units. By limiting the amount of rent that can be charged for some apartments, how much the rent can be increased per year, or both, the government can protect original residents, especially low-income families, from landlord negligence and eviction.
After reading the article, there are most definitely parallels to when Robert Moses was in charge. The situation in Soho is being discussed in the relation to inequality because a lot has changed during the time period. People of color are being treated wrong and unequally. According to Jazmine Hughes, “and the subsequent increased police presence in SoHo made Mr. Felton realize he would start being seen more as a target than a neighbor. After one evening of looting, he was afraid to leave his apartment without ID. “I wasn’t going to be a Black man walking around SoHo without proof that I lived here,” he said.”. This quote demonstrated that now the current events that have been happening show the situation that has been occurring in the relation to inequality. There is more information Hughes added to inform readers about the inequality that has been happening. The association with affordable housing is that rent has increased, affordable housing seems to be just for the rich. Hughes added, “in order to live in the neighborhood legally, prospective buyers or renters must either become certified or sign a “SoHo Letter” acknowledging that they may be asked to prove their certification in the future”. That should not have been necessary to live in a place. Many things have changed over the course of the years. Not only that but the association with affordable housing is supposed to help with the pandemic we been through and still going through.
Hello Anika, Yes I agree with your response. Right now we should have more help from the governments with affordable houses. Especially right when this pandemic started people couldn’t pay rent because they lost their jobs. 39% of people lost a job or income.
Hi, Anika yes, when I read the part where the black man who lived in the Soho during the protest of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor saying that he made sure that he had the proof that he lived in Soho remind me of the time where black people had to show their freedom papers.
It’s crazy how times have changed, but things are not changing; a black man having to show his ID to show you that he lived in a neighborhood without you taking his word for it is freedom papers in the 21st-century is disgusting.
Firstly, the aim of so-called ‘urban renewal’ is to displace poorer working-class residents in SoHo. When developers have a chance to build or upgrade new houses, they would not build houses for low-income families. As a result, the number of affordable housing in SoHo would decrease while prices of everything else in the neighborhood would increase. With property prices increasing, the original residents of the SoHo would be forced out because they cannot afford it. Similarly, Robert Moses did the same thing by evicting African Americans from a diverse, working-class neighborhood to Bronx and Harlem under the name of urban renewal.
Also, to create urban renewal, Robert Moses removed entire neighborhoods of people, which destroyed the neighborhoods’ traditional character. According to the article “Battle for the Soul of SoHo’: A Debate on Gentrification, Race and Wealth”, similarly, residents of SoHo are also pushing back against the gentrification plan in SoHo, because “it will bring big retailers and more modern high-rise buildings that will change the character of the neighborhood” and “erase what makes SoHo so special and desirable.”
Hi Jingyue
Yeah I agree with your answer, when people move out of SoHo because of expensive rents that neighborhood will have less diversity. Just like what’s happening right now with the Pandemic some people lost their jobs and couldn’t afford to pay rent and that’s how we have so many homeless people now days.
After reading the article that had to be read, I can see some parallels to when Robert Moses was in charge of things. SoHo is changing and as it says in the article “Longtime residents are pushing back against the plan, saying it will bring big retailers and more modern high-rise buildings that will change the character of the neighborhood…” which means that if big retailers come and make more expensive apartments. This means that if the rent levels go up most people won’t be able to afford it. With the changes that want to be made it’s going to force people to move out of those neighborhoods. For example, I grew up in Bushwick and before it was mainly a hispanic neighborhood that was full of bodegas and more but now when I go around that neighborhood I see condos, juice bars, all organic supermarkets and it looks completely different. It’s like the culture and history that was there from years ago never happened. It also forced generations of people out of the area because they couldn’t afford it anymore. With constructing new buildings it’s going to erase all that history in the SoHo area.
HI, Johanna gentrification is becoming so crazy. I literally wrote in my post that they are even trying to justify gentrified areas. It’s crazy how things are just becoming so un-urban (sorry for the lack of a better word), And I know Brooklyn Is definitely a borough that is first being hit with gentrification.
After reading the article “Does SoHo, Haven For Art and Wealth, Have Room For Affordable Housing” by Jasmine Hughes it enlightened me on the fact that some people out there are sort of having the same situations that are occurring in many other neighborhoods. This article emphasizes urban renewals. In paragraph five it states that there is “a proposed rezoning that would allow 3,200 additional apartments over the next 10 years, including approximately 800 affordable units in an area that had fewer than 8,000 residents in the 2010 census”. Furthermore, this means that they are trying to change the community by raising rent and letting the wealthy live in these complexes which leads to inequality. This quote alone made me realize the parallel this has with Robert Moses. Furthermore, one can see another connection with urban renewal and gentrification. A lot of people in my neighborhood have to move out because of all the fast food chains, stores, and apartments that are being built around my neighborhood. All the property values are rising and people are forced to leave. Even after this pandemic things have only gotten worse.
The issue with affordable housing is that we have to recover from this pandemic. Vicki Been states that “The pandemic and the movement for racial justice make clear that all neighborhoods must pull their weight to provide safe, affordable housing options,” Moreover, this emphasizes on the idea that the pandemic can be a big issue for affordable housing.
When we think about Robert Moses in time of urban construction we remember him for turning the ghetto into more high class making it difficult for people of middle and low class to be able to make home of these locations. While reading the article “Does SoHo, Haven for Art and Wealth, Have Room for Affordable Housing,” we get a feel of some of Robert Moses idea for community housing. Many of the constructors taking over the plans of building Soho are favoring a more luxurious place to allow more of a “single wealth” population to move in and kick out the diverse community that there is at the moment. Taking over building to building high rising building, more store front of luxury are more in their minds than those who have made Soho their home as a diverse neighborhood. These new rule for residents in Soho needing to provide a certification in a near future is just a call for being unequal to those of middle and low class incomes. The area that was meant to be for ever class is now targeting to decrease the chances of anyone living in Soho.
Reading the article, the concern the residents have about skeptical about this new plan that claims to help make new apartments through rezoning is fully reasonable. This would not be the first time where a plan like this would be used against minorities and poor residents. Vicki Been’s speech is eye opening and important, but what is stopping (or what is making sure), that these policies are actually taking place. One only needs to remember Title I, also know as Urban Renewal, where residents in the area of this new rezoning were moved with the promise that new affordable housing will greet them only to have them displaced and the new housing were used to benefit white people. All of that was done by Robert Moses whose plan has the very similar parallels to what this plan is promising. One example is the demolition which promises to create affordable housing. Residents show wary to this because that might also mean establishing huge buildings which not only change the area but also can be used as luxury apartments and turn the area into something like 42nd street. But it is also important to keep in mind that if they deliver on their promises, this plan could hugely help minority groups by creating affordable housing. Not only would it help create affordable housing, but it will also help housing for minty groups and diversify the area. The association with affordable housing is that it will be used to help lower rent in the area and greatly benefit minority groups and young individuals who are the vast majority suffering from homelessness according to coalitionforthehomeless.org .
So based on the article I read. Does SoHo, Haven For Art and Wealth, Have Room For Affordable Housing” it’s not fair and affordable for people to live in lower Manhattan . The rent is expensive and you’re just getting a view of the High top building .The neighborhood is beautiful and a lot of rich people want to come here especially in Soho . Maybe in the next few years the community can be diverse and be happy with one another . But let’s talk about how expensive it is to live here and how the family won’t be able to afford it . basically for people that have or run small businesses and can afford and having to be “wealthy “should be in the neighborhood. I Agree with ms.Siegel that they are offering few opportunities to create affordable housing. It’s like they want people to struggle and pay rent and not Manage to take care of kids or put food on the table for their family . And the Pandemic caused big issues for the household and was not affordable and unequal for others making people want to move out of soho .
After reading the article,” Does SoHo, Haven For Art and Wealth, Have Room For Affordable Housing,” composed by Jasmine Hughes, examines metropolitan recharging and rezoning territories in SoHo. The circumstance in SoHo is being tended to concerning disparity because developing authorities need to construct elevated structures for affluent individuals, making it a less assorted SoHo area. Minorities are being dealt with wrong and inconsistent, as indicated by Jazmine Hughes. The way that rezoning will permit more extravagance customer-facing facades and tall structures to construct imply that a more significant amount of the white populace will increment. This report exhibited that now the current happening occasions show the circumstance that has been happening concerning disparity. Hughes also added more information to inform peruses about the difference that has been going on; the issue with moderate lodging is that lease levels are developing, making reasonable housing for only for the wealthy people, and making lower-pay individuals unable to manage the cost of the lease, to have as a result individual move out of SoHo regions. Hughes added, “to live in the neighborhood legitimately, forthcoming purchasers or tenants should either get guaranteed or sign a “SoHo Letter” recognizing that they might be approached to demonstrate their affirmation later on.” That should not to have been crucial to living in a location. Frequent things have changed throughout the long term, however, the relationship with moderate housing should assist with the pandemic we have experienced and yet going through.
After looking over the article I read. “Does SoHo, Haven for Art and Wealth, Have Room for Affordable Housing”. I believe that people are not given fair treatment and affordable housing for people that live in the lower Manhattan vicinity. The prices around for food alone is already expensive and now to get a building that you would never know will end up having a big corporate building to block the view usually sought after when housing in lower Manhattan. Also i would say the neighborhood is beautiful and with wealthy people coming and going through Soho, while people barely managing to pay off rent staying in the same area. But hopefully, the next few years the community will change along with the pricing within the area. But other than the housing prices, I wonder how it would affect family’s, but I would not really believe whether there would be family’s wishing to live near a crowded area. On the other hand, you may have your occasional family-owned businesses that are nearby, and which causes them only getting by with the income they have and not being able to improve a the steady lifestyle they live. I Agree with Ms. Siegel about the few opportunities to create affordable housing. It seems like wealthy people wish to make Manhattan more of like a gated community then a diverse part of the city. A little thought I have been having about the Pandemic is it given a lot and taken a lot in terms of opportunities and a lot of expressive people wanting to burst and be heard by anybody.
After reading the article “Does SoHo, Haven for Art and Wealth, Have Room for Affordable Housing?” by Jazmine Hughes, I contend that there were parallels present when Robert Moses was in charge of things. They say they support increased diversity but urge that city officials are overstating the number of low-cost apartments that would be created, a claim the city disputes. SoHo is becoming less welcoming to the people who are not wealthy, which is another shift that is occurring in NYC. It is said from Ms. Azcuy, who is Black, that “the city did not lay out a plan to keep people of color in their homes in their community”. Yukie Ohta said, “What they’re proposing would eat away at and eventually erase what makes SoHo so special and desirable”. I agree with this statement because the city’s proposal is encouraging developers to construct commercial buildings, instead of homes for people, and this means the projection of affordable units would not come to fruition. It is as if the city officials are pushing for a more wealthier Soho and trying to kick to long living residents out for more commercial buildings and stores by raising the price of apartments etc.
Well said. I believe and it has been proven that the city does what it wants and does not take the needs of the people into consideration. There should be a fight from the people of Soho for the city to extinguish the plan to build commercial buildings but they should include more affordable housing in that request as well.
After reading the article “Does SoHo, Haven For Art and Wealth, Have Room For Affordable Housing” by Jazmine Hughes, this article is essentially discussing an issue concerning the SoHo neighborhood in New York. The neighborhood is planning on making changes associated with urban renewal and rezoning. The changes are through constructing new expensive buildings causing the neighborhood to become very expensive essentially forcing the low income individuals to move out. These changes are causing a shift and is turning the SoHo neighborhood more in favor of the wealthy high income individuals overall affecting the diversity of the neighborhood as well. This article has many parallels to Robert Moses because when he was in charge one of his main focuses was to take low income neighborhoods and re construct them creating high-class neighborhoods forcing the low income individuals to move out.
I agree with your statement about Robert Moses displacing people to build infrastructures in the city. However, the people in Soho also believe that the city wants to build more buildings which will bring businesses to the area changing the areas character. This may be true and I believe they should fight against it, but also the number of affordable housing should be increased to possibly eliminate this fear.
Although they want two create more business I feel they school have more affordable units, so you wouldn’t have people traveling 1-3 hours for work.
This article relates to the information we have learned about urban renewal because it shows privileges to whites and people with higher salary rate that can afford these kind of housing. Moving forward there are parallels to back when Robert Moses was in charge. The situation in Soho discussed in relation to inequality is that wealthy neighborhoods would be expected to shoulder changes that are usually relegated to other communities. Meaning in other words changing the characters of the people and the neighborhood of Soho. SoHo is not as diverse as many other neighborhoods and that needs to change, just because someone don’t make so much money doesn’t mean they can’t live in a nice neighborhood. To add on the battle might be a sign of what’s ahead as American cities begin to reopen and confront the realities of inequality and segregation exposed both by the pandemic and the racial protests over the summer. The economic pressure from emptied office buildings, closed businesses and falling revenue which did lead to a lot of stress and madness. Furthermore, the association with affordable housing is to help recover from New York’s pandemic that started last year and still occurring till this day. The Biden administration has introduced an infrastructure plan that includes $200 billion for building and improving affordable housing nationwide. The proposed rezoning highlights the difficulty of integrating a city that is known for its diversity, yet remains divided from one neighborhood to the next. The rarity of such a proposal is twofold that there is space in prime Manhattan for new housing construction and that a white wealthy neighborhood would be expected to shoulder changes that are usually relegated to other communities. The pandemic and the movement for racial justice make clear that all neighborhoods must pull their weight to provide safe, affordable housing options. Lastly under the proposal developers would have to set aside 20 to 30 percent of new housing as affordable though the exact rent levels have not yet been determined. The plan would also amend commercial zoning including replacing an outdated regulation that requires new retailers to get special permission to occupy ground floor space. Today, in order to live in the SoHo neighborhood legally, prospective buyers or renters must either become certified or sign a “SoHo Letter” acknowledging that they may be asked to prove their certification in the future a provision the city has rarely enforced.
Hi Kiara,
I agree with you that “The pandemic and the movement for racial justice make clear that all neighborhoods must pull their weight to provide safe, affordable housing options. ” However, I feel conflicted about gentrification. On the one hand, the only way to solve the housing crisis is to build more houses. However, New York City is not Taxes where there is a lot of vacant lots to build up new single-family houses. If we really want to do something, the government has to destruct some areas with less cost and then build up some high-rise buildings. On the other hand, we should do something for original residents, especially for those low-income families.
Therefore, after inspiring by the gacha game model, where rich game players pay extra allowing a lot of game players to play the game for free, I believe that we should allow the government to do gentrification in SoHo with my plan: If the origin building is 5 floors, the new one must be at least 15 floors. The first 3 floors are allowed for commercial. The 4th-10th should be reserved for original residents, especially for those low-income families. The government should guarantee the builder not to evict the tenant by signing some contracts and providing the same quality units. The rent should keep in same for at least 15 years. The rest rent is paid by commercial rent. The 11th floor and above are open for sale.
Yes I agree with you both.
After reading the article “Does SoHo, Haven for Art and Wealth, Have Room for Affordable Housing?” by Jazmine Hughes, I can say that there are parallels to back when Robert Moses was in charge. The reason why the situation in Soho is being discussed in relation to inequality is because the neighbourhoods with money or wealthy neighborhoods would be expected to see change or allow others in their community. You can see that Soho is becoming less welcoming to people who don’t have money or are not as wealthy as they are. In the article a black woman named Ms.Azcuy states “the city did not lay out a plan to keep people of color in their homes in their community”. This shows us how the inequality is present in Soho because people are still being negative to other types of races that aren’t theirs or aren’t wealthy. Also some people even say that it’s like the government or the city is trying to kick certain residents out of their homes to build new attractions that will make them money or to just create new commercial buildings and businesses stores by raising the residents rent. The association with affordable housing is that they want to help people recover from the pandemic and everything that people went through.
This article relates to what we discussed in class because the author, Jazmine Hughes, talks about urban renewal and the lack of diversity in SoHo. “Soho…where it is easier to find a table at a restaurant than a reasonably priced apartment. And it is decidedly white” (Hughes, 2021). The plan in SoHo is to raise the rent and attract the rich to accumulate an undiverse setting. Since reading the article I have realized there are many parallels in regard to when Robert Moses was in charge. The author also mentions that the pandemic makes affordable housing difficult to acquire. People in communities are having to deal with recovery from loss of jobs, poor income, stress, and racial injustices. “The pandemic and the movement for racial justice make clear that all neighborhoods must pull their weight to provide safe, affordable housing options,” states Vicki Been, deputy mayor for housing and economic development. She also added that rezoning would not be in favor of New Yorkers during the post-pandemic.
Based on the article, ” Does SoHo, Haven for art and wealth, have room for affordable housing” by Jasmine Hughes. This article talks about the urban renewal in SoHo and how luxury buildings are build, making it expansive for people to afford living there. When there is expensive apartments/houses there is less diversity, just like what’s happening in SoHo neighborhoods. When rent increases lower income people won’t have money to afford that place so they move out. When I read this article it does have similar to Robert Moses because he made people move to other locations such as bronx and etc to create urban renewal.
The purpose of urban renewal is to rejuvenate run down areas and update them. However, by doing this, usually the efforts of the city or local government, many people are displaced from their homes and long time businesses, and historical buildings are destroyed. The situation in Soho and Noho is paralleled to Robert Moses tearing down homes,displacing families, and destroying communities to build the Long Island Expressway and other infrastructures in and around the New York City. The situation in Soho relates to inequality because the area is not diversified. The residents are predominately White and wealthy. I agree with Aaron Carr who said in the article that “Soho is out of character with New York.” Most New York City neighborhoods are diversified and Soho and Noho is clearly not. It is nearly impossible to find a middle class or below middle class person living in the area unless they have been there, in a rent stabilized apartment or home, for decades. This is not the norm for most of the city’s neighborhoods which are diversified and include affordable housing residents. When I visit Soho I don’t feel as though I’m welcomed to live because I’m not White or wealthy. The residents of Soho feel that the city is not being honest about the number of affordable housing units in its plan, that number being 800 units out of 3,200 units. They believe that instead “big retailers and more modern high rise buildings will be put in the area changing the character of the neighborhood.” I believe the residents do not want impoverished people living there because it will change the look; from mostly White to a mix of all races in the neighborhood. In my option I would rather see people in homes that they can afford than people living on the street.
After reading the article “Does SoHo, Haven for Art and Wealth, Have Room for Affordable Housing”. I believe its is a complete scam, very over priced just for a name. You see million dollar apartments the size of my living room, I feel people are not given fair treatment and the only way to live there for a cheaper than usual price is being on a lottery. Food is limited to chino, pizza, halal, hot dog trucks, and groceries in the neighborhood are extremely expensive. In a few months to years there could be a building that could block the views. Although there is history on the neighborhood and it is is beautiful and a huge target for wealthy people coming and going through Soho, meanwhile people in different locations can barely manage to pay off rent. Hopefully within the next few years the community will change along with the pricing within the area. I don’t are why people enjoy living in tiny apartments in overcrowded areas. . On the other hand, you may have lots of your occasional family-owned businesses that are nearby, such as boutiques and pizzerias.. I Agree with Ms. Siegel about the few opportunities to create affordable housing. I feel wealthy people wish to make Manhattan more of popular gated like community more then a diverse part of the city.
The proposed plan of putting more other apartments is under faces opposition by elderly residents suggesting that it will bring more excellent retailers and modernized building designs, thus changing the neighborhood’s individuality (Hamlet, 2019). The situation in SOHO is suggested as inequality due to the increasing replacement of older buildings with tall, expensive towers, which does not favor retailers. The residents are not content with the affordable housing plan since it will interfere with older building structures used as historical sites in the district.
When I read the article “Does SoHo, Haven for Art and Wealth, Have Room for Affordable Housing?” written by Jasmine Hughes that discusses urban renewal and rezoning in the areas of Soho. It has many parallels to what Robert Moses was most known for. Building bridges parks & tunnels. Your name in New York City just for the simple fact that he wanted to attract the people he believed the best fit to live in the area.
This is exactly what they are doing in Soho, building these luxury high-rise buildings to bring in the wealthy renters & buyers. This is so messed up because it’s causing one of the most diverse cities to have communities where diversity is almost not existent it’s literally economic inequality because they know that people of color don’t average that amount of money to afford to live there and they if they it’s in the one percentile. This just screams “get out of our neighborhood’ or ‘we don’t want you here.”Even when I went down to Soho yesterday I saw that they were taking stores that girls like me like to shop in (black girls) and putting stores like Lululemon for obviously (white women) so they can just have more of the crowds that they would like to please, not knowing that black people are hyper consumers and without our money things will start plummeting, just saying. But not only are they but not denying us the businesses we like they’re denying us the availability to live in these neighborhoods. Even programs that allow low-income people to live in these neighborhoods are even being pushed back and not being conducted in the proper ways. So the community can be more black and white.
Robert Moses had the idea of reconstructing NY and creating the “suburbs”. He would usually create his ideas on top of Black and Brown neighborhoods. SOHO has become something of that sort on the fact that people are creating luxury houses and stores on top that once belonged to Black and Brown musicians and are pushing them out of their homes.
As more white people start to move in the rent becomes higher, the artistry and diversity is being lost, and it is being seen as more of a “glitzy” retail and dining district which makes it harder to find a reasonably priced apartment.
People feel as that the rezoning will increase the number of mass-market retailers and it would bring even more tourists and noise. They fear that it would erase what makes SOHO so special and desirable.