SUNSET PARK ORGANIZER BUILDING TOOLKIT
This project was created based on the interest that different local entities have shown over the last five years to expand housing cooperative models in Sunset Park, in a context of increasing rents and decreasing housing affordability. It also responds to AM Marcela Mitaynes’ sponsorship of the Tenant Opportunity of Purchase Act (TOPA) bill, which along other bills part of the Community Land Act (CLA) law package, could give housing cooperatives, community land trusts, and other nonprofit organizations the tools to develop and preserve community controlled and permanent affordable housing.
Honoring the cooperative legacy of Sunset Park, this project facilitates organizing efforts to build knowledge and power and, in turn, establish a neighborhood coalition for shared ownership housing development and rehabilitation opportunities. Through different pedagogical and organizing tools, the project seeks to spark dialogue and bring together neighbors, tenant associations, tenant organizers, emergent and seasoned leaders, civic and nonprofit organizations, and elected officials.
ONLINE REPOSITORY
The open source tools designed as part of this project include informative short videos, a participatory property mapping guide, a housing walking tour, and a number of toolkits for short-term and long-term building organizing. To access them, click here.
TEAM
Director, Project Coordination and Development
Gabriela Rendón, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Community Development
Online Platform and Toolkit Development
2024 Fall Studio, MS Design and Urban Ecologies Program, Parsons School of Design
Delaney Connor, Shivani Dave, Arooj Fatima, Zola Haber, Molly Meng, Gant Roberson, Antonia Simon, Ruth Wondemu
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