Thread by @BuiltJustice

Saturday #JustCity installment and thought it’d be helpful to fact check “poor doors”. Something is wrong about it, just not what you think. Follow me for a sec. #vanpoli #vanre /1

As many point out, poor doors are actually the entry to a separate building. Its a vertical subdivision w 2 air space parcels: one containing a strata condo development, the other a rental bldg. Each bldg has its own separate components & systems to run the building functions /2

And are paid and maintained separately. This is critical because strata fees cover the common area maintenance for the condo bldg, while the NP operator of the rental bldg covers these expenses w the rents being collected. NPs can’t can’t afford to share in condo bldg expenses /3

The fixtures, finishings, & amenities are too expensive for a NP operator to maintain, otherwise they’d have to charge higher rents to ppl which is counter to their goals as an org. So these vertical subdivisions are *completely* separate to help the NP operator keep rents low /3

Therefore separate entrances (bldgs) isnt the issue to rail against. It’s that the provision of affordable housing (in these cases) depends on large scale condo developments. Its that for so long the process has let “highest and best use” be a moral right w/o constraint /4

Rendering rental hsg development a “nice to have” w/o any regulatory or financial incentives developers for years have said “nope” & went on their merry way while your favourite planners stood watch over this whole mess and called it progress. #vanpoli #vanre /5

Do you hate segregation? Great same here! But if y’all dont start interrogating the *system* & demanding better from this whole thing — planners, developers, govt, financial institutions— the results will continue to be inadequate, miss the mark, and deepen urban inequality. /6

In NYC mixed income bldgs can have someone paying 4k in rent next door to someone paying 800 because a) its an entire rental bldg b) operators can provide great amenities accessible to all & cover maintenance w the rents collected, c) an entirely different tax & dev structure /7

The enabling systems in NYC are totally different (for better & for worse). Thats why changing systems has the ability to move the needle towards justice & equity (assuming this is the goal and not just opposing stuff & being shouty). #vanpoli #vanre /8

So dont just get mad at one development functioning exactly as the system intended. Interrogate WHY it is the way it is & get thinking about how to fix it. /9

Start by not relying on (or hiring!) the same minds that got us into this mess in the first damn place but rather start w the ppl who are actively trying to untangle this massive ball of Christmas lights they left for us.

Fin