Walking 10,000 Miles of NYC Streets
Plus Elizabeth Street Garden, European superiority, LA, Hurricane Helene...
Local News
Elizabeth Street Garden is finally becoming very-much-still-a-garden plus affordable housing. The long, contentious fight seemingly ended this week, with appeals exhausted and the owner served an eviction notice. That will clear the way for construction to begin on the new structure with its new landscaping: a 16,000 sq ft public garden and 123 “affordable” apartments including 37 designated for older, homeless New Yorkers. Here’s what I’ll say: while I understand there will always be disagreements about how best to utilize space, celebrities who do not even use the garden making a case for the garden were not compelling and I don’t get why they were involved. (Gothamist)
Vanderbilt University just signed a 99 year lease to take over the struggling General Theological Seminary: a 13 building, pre-1900s, nearly full block campus between 9th and 10th Ave in Chelsea. While the Seminary will keep a small portion of the space for itself, this deal provides it with much needed funding while giving Vandy an opportunity to recruit talent in one of the greatest talent cities in the world. If you’re against this (some NIMBY’s gonna NIMBY) but have no problem with NYU and Columbia manifest-destiny-ing up property that they do not pay real estate taxes on, I must question your judgement. (Curbed)
Matt Green has been walking NYC blocks since 2011, when he began his project to walk down every single street and pedestrian path in all Five Boroughs. He finished September 22nd in (on?) Staten Island. I remember reading about this when I first moved here in 2012, and it’s amazing to see that not only did he do it, but it involved walking 10,000 miles. This city feels so small sometimes, because you get into your bubbles, but it’s such an expanse. (HellGate)
Rent Stabilized/Loft Apartment increases kicked in yesterday for all new renewals before 10/1/25. You can read my writeup about it or, if you’re more of an auditory learner, here’s the video. But you should definitely read the writeup because it has sooooo much more info. And hot takes. The hottest takes. I’m actually proud of that one. I think Dwelling Right is finding its voice. (Yours Truly)
Domestic
Hurricane Helene
North Carolina: The hurricane damage has been catastrophic in Western NC, especially Asheville and remote parts of Appalachia. If you have the ability to help (although I understand how many things need our help right now), I can point you to places to donate. Not only did I visit and fall in love with Asheville this summer, but I’m from Appalachia-adjacent VA where the Shenandoah does regularly overflow, and a lot of these videos could be of my hometown. Like Asheville, we’ve felt a little too comfortable in our designation as a “climate haven” This was a wake up call, and drives me to get more involved in community preparedness. I don’t think I’m alone here.
Post-flood cleaning in Marshall, NC — from Associated Press Georgia/Florida: Hurricane damage, even in areas that are more prepared to expect it, is reigniting the conversations around flood insurance, FEMA funding, and what to do when it comes to rebuilding structures in places increasingly underwater. And while losing a vacation home is one thing, many of the coastal communities most vulnerable to climate change are low income, less likely to have insurance, and also less likely to have other places available to them for relocation.
Los Angeles, like NYC (and a lot of well established fancy blue cities) has a housing crisis they’ve been trying to address. They took a step forward last week, moving ahead with a plan to build exclusively non-single-family housing across many neighborhoods to increase supply. I don’t know as much about LA as NYC, so read the articles for more information, but I’m comparing it loosely to our “City of Yes.” I also think the below statement about what it actually takes to change laws and make progress is universally applicable. I can vouch that FARE has taken so, so much work from many people over many years. Challenging the status quo, especially given the amount of money involved in real estate, takes a village and a while.
“We found locations in all opportunity zones, near transit, and along commercial corridors to add housing. Over the past two years, hundreds of communities held meetings, drew maps of their neighborhoods worked with their council members, and created a 165-page report for the Planning Department. The report confirmed there were more than enough locations to meet the state-mandated RHNA (Regional Housing Needs Assessment) and to ensure and affirm, furthering fair housing – AFFH across Los Angeles – without destroying single-family-zoned neighborhoods, historic districts, rent-stabilized multi-family neighborhoods and environmentally sensitive areas.”
It also talks about the power of getting people out to testify, which Chi Osse absolutely excelled at and is a huge part of making FARE happen.
The Commission allowed nearly five hours for in-person public comment, including staff presentations. Many volunteer neighborhood activists participated online, instead of in person, but the commission only allowed 30 minutes for public comment for those online.
“The turnout of people against single-family left an impression on the Commission,” said Chvatal-Keane.
International
In the least-shocking reveal ever, The Guardian reported this week that Europe beats the US in livable, walkable cities. Labeled “15 minute cities” in the US, these are places where you can easily get to everything you need (hospital, grocery store, post office, etc) within 15 minutes. We…don’t have them. And some people are vehemently against them, for reasons I file more under “partisan misunderstanding” than a real stance. No one is trying to merge my farm in VA into a city. Rural America is safe from walkability; it’s ok.
Speaking of 15 minute cities, I just watched this YouTube video about the current-ish status of Saudi Arabia’s The Line - Neom project, the ambitious city-within-a-building where you can (theoretically, in the future) take high speed transit from one side to the other, and do all your day-to-day activities within a five minute walk of your home. If it sounds familiar, it’s probably because you saw the original renderings and were like “what?” or you saw the recent TikTok videos from some of the people who have moved to Neom while the Line is in progress.
OK, that’s as much news as I can fit into one email. See y’all tomorrow.
xo
Anna