When he saw a vacant lot three decades ago, he said, “I thought I could make something beautiful out of it.” The result was the Elizabeth Street Garden. Source: New York Times
Posts published in “Area Planning and Renewal”
Herb Sturz, a Quiet Force in the Life of New York City, Dies at 90
By Gotham Rex on June 11, 2021
His agenda and reach, in government and out, extended from criminal justice to urban planning, though his constituency — prisoners, the homeless, the elderly and more — hardly knew his name. Source: New York Times
How an ‘Open Streets’ Operative Spends His Sundays
By Gotham Rex on June 5, 2021
Kyle Gorman spends much of the day touring parts of the city that are participating in the popular outdoor program. Source: New York Times
Why the Gowanus Canal Is a Litmus Test for NYC Development
By Gotham Rex on April 9, 2021
The Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn is notorious for its century-old filth. Now that the cleanup of the waterway has begun, a thorny question emerges. Who gets to live there? Source: New York Times
‘One Property at a Time’: A City Tries to Revive Without Gentrifying
By Gotham Rex on February 3, 2021
Neighborhoods in Newark are beginning to see a flurry of redevelopment, a decade after the city’s downtown gained vogue. Source: New York Times
He Brought Moynihan Train Hall to Life, but Didn’t Live to See It
By Gotham Rex on January 15, 2021
Many credit Michael Evans with turning the vision for the hall at Penn Station into a reality. Before it opened, he took his own life. Source: New York Times
Moynihan Train Hall: It’s Stunning. And, a First Step.
By Gotham Rex on January 11, 2021
A $1.6 billion transformation of a post office has gifted the city with a lofty, light-filled steel, glass and marble cathedral, our critic writes. Source: New York Times
Igloos and Iceless Curling: How New York Hopes to Fight Off a Grim Winter
By Gotham Rex on January 6, 2021
The threat of the virus has transformed outdoor spaces that would normally sit empty during cold-weather months — though some options are priced beyond the reach of many New Yorkers. Source: New York Times
These Wetlands Helped Stop Flooding From Sandy. Now a BJ’s May Move In.
By Gotham Rex on October 28, 2020
A group of Staten Island residents concerned about climate change is challenging the project. Source: New York Times
At Hunter’s Point South, a Popular Park Paves the Way for Housing
By Gotham Rex on October 6, 2020
Two new towers rising on industrial land in Queens will be filled predominantly with affordable housing. Source: New York Times
Industry City Project in Brooklyn Defeated by Progressives
By Gotham Rex on September 23, 2020
The developers behind Industry City abandoned a rezoning proposal after left-leaning Democrats raised concerns about gentrification. Source: New York Times
A Rockaway Life
By Gotham Rex on July 31, 2020
Rockaway Beach has a land’s-end bacchanalian spirit, but it also a place where you can get to know people just by being there. Source: New York Times
Jane Walentas, Who Planted a Carousel in Dumbo, Dies at 76
By Gotham Rex on July 17, 2020
With her husband, David, Ms. Walentas helped develop the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood into a desirable address — and gave it an unusual gift. Source: New York Times
What the Coronavirus Has Done to New Development
By Gotham Rex on July 3, 2020
The pandemic paused residential construction and stalled sales. Now developers in Long Island City and Greenpoint are scrambling to bounce back. Source: New York Times
Public Spaces Weren’t Designed for Pandemics. N.Y.C. Is Trying to Adapt.
By Gotham Rex on June 29, 2020
New rules and design will try to keep New Yorkers safe in the usually crowded plazas, parks and streets. Source: New York Times