Part 14 (2/2)
1 Eventually, he brought in my uncle, who quickly struck out on his own, opening several stores in the East Village and then on Long Island. Eventually, he brought in my uncle, who quickly struck out on his own, opening several stores in the East Village and then on Long Island.
2 A Spaldeen, made by Spalding, is a pink rubber ball. A Spaldeen, made by Spalding, is a pink rubber ball.
3 For a full treatment of this period of urban stress, see my first book, For a full treatment of this period of urban stress, see my first book, The Living City The Living City.
4 For the movie, producers achieved a temporary postponement of the West Side blocks coming down for Lincoln Center in order to use them for film scenes. Look at the pictures of those blocks now and with a straight face say, ”Of course that was an irreparable slum.” For the movie, producers achieved a temporary postponement of the West Side blocks coming down for Lincoln Center in order to use them for film scenes. Look at the pictures of those blocks now and with a straight face say, ”Of course that was an irreparable slum.”
5 Yes, the same Mario Cuomo who resisted Moses on behalf of Willets Point property owners during the 1964 World's Fair clearance battle. Yes, the same Mario Cuomo who resisted Moses on behalf of Willets Point property owners during the 1964 World's Fair clearance battle.
6 In contrast, on August 14, 2003, a power failure blacked out New York for twenty-five hours. The city coped easily and peacefully. There were fewer arrests than on a normal August midweek day. In contrast, on August 14, 2003, a power failure blacked out New York for twenty-five hours. The city coped easily and peacefully. There were fewer arrests than on a normal August midweek day.
7 David Gonzalez, ”Will Gentrification Spoil the Birthplace of Hip-Hop?” David Gonzalez, ”Will Gentrification Spoil the Birthplace of Hip-Hop?” New York Times New York Times, May 21, 2007, focused on the concern by music historians and tenants at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue that Campbell's building could lose its middle- and low-income tenancy. The city eventually stepped in to ensure its continued affordability.
8 Thomas L. Friedman, ”The Open-Door Bailout,” Thomas L. Friedman, ”The Open-Door Bailout,” New York Times New York Times, February 11, 2009.
9 The City Futures, Inc., journal for the annual gala, 2006. The City Futures, Inc., journal for the annual gala, 2006.
10 The Pratt Center, led by Ron s.h.i.+ffman, was the advocacy planning model that similar organizations emulated around the country. The Pratt Center, led by Ron s.h.i.+ffman, was the advocacy planning model that similar organizations emulated around the country.
CHAPTER 2.
1 Even critic Lewis Mumford was so pessimistic he commented, ”Make the patient as comfortable as possible. His case is hopeless.” Even critic Lewis Mumford was so pessimistic he commented, ”Make the patient as comfortable as possible. His case is hopeless.”
2 Those tapes are in the archives of the J. M. Kaplan Fund. Those tapes are in the archives of the J. M. Kaplan Fund.
3 The full articles are available online at The full articles are available online at mission is an eleven-member body appointed by the mayor for three-year terms. By law it must include three architects, a historian, a city planner, and a Realtor. All five boroughs must be represented. The commission is an eleven-member body appointed by the mayor for three-year terms. By law it must include three architects, a historian, a city planner, and a Realtor. All five boroughs must be represented.
5 Norval White and Elliot Willensky, eds., Norval White and Elliot Willensky, eds., AIA Guide to New York AIA Guide to New York, 343, 353, 351.
6 The letter began, former MAS director, Kent Barwick remembers, ”Jack loved Grand Central.” The letter began, former MAS director, Kent Barwick remembers, ”Jack loved Grand Central.”
7 The Battery Park City School and the Spruce Street School. The Battery Park City School and the Spruce Street School.
CHAPTER 3.
1 For a full story of the Greenmarket's founding and significance, see ”To Market, to Market,” chap. 9 of For a full story of the Greenmarket's founding and significance, see ”To Market, to Market,” chap. 9 of Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown Cities Back from the Edge: New Life for Downtown, by Roberta Brandes Gratz with Norman Mintz.
2 Landscape architect and Village resident Robert Nichols was the chief designer. Landscape architect and Village resident Robert Nichols was the chief designer.
3 Conversation with the author, 1978. Conversation with the author, 1978.
4 A British study in 1998, for example, found that closing roads actually cuts driving trips. The research team a.n.a.lyzed sixty cases around the globe where roads were closed or capacity reduced. On average, 20 percent of the traffic just vanished, and in some cases the reduction was even more dramatic. A British study in 1998, for example, found that closing roads actually cuts driving trips. The research team a.n.a.lyzed sixty cases around the globe where roads were closed or capacity reduced. On average, 20 percent of the traffic just vanished, and in some cases the reduction was even more dramatic.
5 Charles Grutzner, ”Strategy Revamped on Was.h.i.+ngton Sq.,” Charles Grutzner, ”Strategy Revamped on Was.h.i.+ngton Sq.,” New York Times New York Times, March 30, 1958, 58.
6 The terms The terms blight blight and and slum slum varied according to the appraiser and local definitions. There were point systems that might include the ”lack of community facilities nearby” (undefined), point systems that deducted points for lack of closets, insufficient hot water, dirty toilets and yards, pests, and other problems curable without demolition. varied according to the appraiser and local definitions. There were point systems that might include the ”lack of community facilities nearby” (undefined), point systems that deducted points for lack of closets, insufficient hot water, dirty toilets and yards, pests, and other problems curable without demolition.
7 Eisner alerted them to slum-clearance standards, such as square footage, number of occupants, kitchen and bathroom facilities, and rent levels. The West Village Committee's own survey showed that by these standards Greenwich Village was not a slum. Eisner alerted them to slum-clearance standards, such as square footage, number of occupants, kitchen and bathroom facilities, and rent levels. The West Village Committee's own survey showed that by these standards Greenwich Village was not a slum.
8 The corner stores were designed to be either a residential unit or a store, depending on the market, such a basically smart idea, fundamental flexibility. The corner stores were designed to be either a residential unit or a store, depending on the market, such a basically smart idea, fundamental flexibility.
9 The details and full significance of this community success story are told in The details and full significance of this community success story are told in The Living City The Living City, 168-174.
10 As Jacobs scholar Peter Laurence reports in ”The Death and Life of Urban Design: Jane Jacobs, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the New Research in Urbanism, 1955-1965,” this Moses project in partners.h.i.+p with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company displaced thirty-one hundred families (eleven thousand people), five hundred viable stores and small factories, three churches, three schools, two theaters, plus a series of gas tanks for which the ”Gas Light District” was named. Actually, the gas tanks were long gone by the time this demolition took place, having taken place more than a decade before. As Jacobs scholar Peter Laurence reports in ”The Death and Life of Urban Design: Jane Jacobs, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the New Research in Urbanism, 1955-1965,” this Moses project in partners.h.i.+p with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company displaced thirty-one hundred families (eleven thousand people), five hundred viable stores and small factories, three churches, three schools, two theaters, plus a series of gas tanks for which the ”Gas Light District” was named. Actually, the gas tanks were long gone by the time this demolition took place, having taken place more than a decade before.
CHAPTER 4.
1 Bridge Apartments, four high-rises lined up like dominos over the Cross Bronx Expressway, with four thousand residents. Bridge Apartments, four high-rises lined up like dominos over the Cross Bronx Expressway, with four thousand residents.
2 Her complete description of the event and the details of her arrest appear in the appendix and on the Web site Her complete description of the event and the details of her arrest appear in the appendix and on the Web site centerforthelivingcity.org.
3 Mayor Lindsay declared it ”dead for all time” on July 16, 1969. In 1971 Governor Rockefeller removed it from the list of proposals eligible for federal highway funding. Mayor Lindsay declared it ”dead for all time” on July 16, 1969. In 1971 Governor Rockefeller removed it from the list of proposals eligible for federal highway funding.
4 For a full treatment of how SoHo's history changed the course of American urban history, see ”The SoHo Syndrome,” chap. 13 in my book, For a full treatment of how SoHo's history changed the course of American urban history, see ”The SoHo Syndrome,” chap. 13 in my book, Cities Back from the Edge Cities Back from the Edge.
5 Chester Rapkin, Chester Rapkin, The South Houston Industrial Area The South Houston Industrial Area, 282. A plaque honoring Rapkin can be found on a building in SoHo between Prince and Spring Streets.
6 As always when I refer to the planning profession, exceptions existed especially among the progressive advocacy planners. This is true even if I don't specifically call attention to this fact. As always when I refer to the planning profession, exceptions existed especially among the progressive advocacy planners. This is true even if I don't specifically call attention to this fact.
7 I labeled this process the SoHo Syndrome in the final chapter of I labeled this process the SoHo Syndrome in the final chapter of Cities Back from the Edge Cities Back from the Edge.
CHAPTER 5.
<script>