April 24, 2009Urban Planning Studio Final PresentationColumbia University in the City of New York

Victoria OkoyeMatthew D. Viggiano

Sanggyun Kang

Jungsoo KimYihong Song

Jose E. Melara

Itir B. Sonuparlak Christina Huan Dory Kornfeld

Paul James

Feasibility Study of a Resident LEC at the James Weldon Johnson Houses

Instructor: Gretchen Susi TA: Eileen Leung

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

THE STUDIO QUESTION

Can we recommend limited equity cooperative ownership for the JWJ residents as an appropriate option to address the social, economic, political and structural issues that they face in their community?

PRESENTATION ROADMAP

1. The Studio Project

2. Recap of models

3. Research design

4. Findings

5. Recommendations

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

OUR STUDIO PROJECT5

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JAMES WELDONJOHNSON HOUSES

THE LAND USE OF EAST HARLEM

SOURCE: PLUTO MAP 07, THE NEW YORK CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

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Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

ISSUES AFFECTING PUBLIC HOUSING

DAY-TO-DAY LIFE ISSUES:

Funding shortfalls & management backlog

Security

NYCHA bureaucracy

POLITICAL /STRUCTURAL ISSUES:

Leadership & political engagement

Stigma surrounding public housing

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

SOCIOECONOMICS

Residents of JWJ are disproportionately

Minority Lower-income

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

Limited Equity Co-operative•Public Housing•Asset Accumulation•Ownership•

MIDTERM RECAP

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

RESEARCH DESIGN

Background research•Financial analysis•Interviews with experts on co-operatives•Focus groups•Interviews•Casual conversations•

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

PREVIOUS STUDIES

Rohe & Stegman (1992) Conversion of public housing to ownership

Sazama (2000) “Third sector” low income housing

Fuerst (1988) Tenant management of public housing

All stress technical assistance

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

C• alculating operating costs is difficult

Operating costs not covered•

There are• ways to bridge the gap

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

FOCUS GROUPS Our questions:

Do you think of JWJ as your home or is it •temporary?

What are the biggest incentives to owning your •apartment?

If residents were able to become owners, what •would change?

Would you be willing to actively participate in •the operation of your building?

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

FINDINGS

Focus group demographics•JWJ as home•Mixed feelings about NYCHA•Residents could be responsible•Incentives for financial and physical security•Upsetting rumor•Current conditions need change•Overall optimism•

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

SPECTRUM OF LIFE AT JWJ

•Optimismforownershipvs. Lack of interest•Communityvs. Isolation•Oldervs. Younger respondents

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

RESIDENT OBSTACLES TO OWNERSHIP

Change attitudes•Low rates of •participationLong duration of •processAging population•

Language barriers•Lack of unity•Fear•NYCHA support•Physical condition•Disenfranchisement•

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

POLITICAL OBSTACLES TO OWNERSHIP

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

RECOMMENDATIONS Build capacity gradually•Education, organization, empowerment•Small-scale, achievable projects•Statement of principles•Technical assistance•Improve the quality of life•Longer term: resident management•

Our Project Recap Research Findings Recommendations

REALIzING THERECOMMENDATIONS

Create system to support increased resident involvement•Identify sources of outside support•

POTENTIAL SOURCES OF SUCH SUPPORT:Elected officials•Universities and research centers like UTAP and CURP•Nonprofit organizations like Urban Homesteading •Assistance Board and Community Voices Heard

THANK YOU!