Planning for the Next South Bronx
Arielle Hersh (GGFUP, 2017, Location: New York City)
In the context of Southern Boulevard and the CDNA process, there is a compelling parallel to demanding a shared right to the city. Specifically, that right is predicated on the actions of DCP thus far in the area, where they have initiated a “Neighborhood Study” that is well known by community groups to be the predecessor to a rezoning. Because the recent series of DCP rezonings have lead to rent increases, an influx of gentrification, and overall unequitable neighborhood change, as well as the less-than-ideal outcome of DCP’s actions on Jerome Avenue due to community resistance, the process along Southern Boulevard is happening much more slowly and deliberately. However, this has not reassured community members that DCP intends to do anything other than carry on their legacy of unequitable rezoning forward. Thus, the actions by Small Business Services (more covertly), WHEDco, and local community organizations (more overtly) are a resistance against that process.