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HUNTER COLLEGE

MACAULAY HONORS COLLEGE

SEMINAR 4 - MHC 250 - Spring 2012

1SHAPING THE FUTURE OF NEW YORK CITY

Professor Ann ButtenwieserEmail:ann.buttenwieser@gmail.comPhone 212-348-2366

Class hours: 10:10am to 12:40pm

Classroom: Roosevelt House, Room 204Office hours: Mondays 12:45-1:45 or by appointment

Course ITF: Jessica Hammerman

Email:jesshamm@gmail.com

Office hours: TBA

Course Description

As 2012 unfolds, the urban environment is in transition and cities such as New York are faced

with the responsibility of planning for their rapidly changing physical, economic, social, political, and

environmental needs within a complex framework of global and local pressures. The overall goal of

this fourth and final MCH seminar is to develop an understanding of the ongoing interplay of the

forces that have shaped, and continue to shape, the physical form and social dynamics of New York

City.

In this course, we will combine an analysis of the citys historical and contemporary physical

development with an exploration and critical assessments of some of the problems and debates

confronting New York City in the 21st century. By studying the roles of legislation, public policies,

institutional actors and stakeholders government agencies, private sector interests, grassroots

organizations, and the press you will begin to understand the complex processes of urban physical

change. You will also be introduced to some of the innovative solutions being proposed and

developed by government and stakeholders and together we will opine on how these solutions might

affect New York Citys future.

The course will have two major elements: 1) a seminar in which we will discuss noteworthy

books and articles about selected urban topics, as well as relevant current events reported in the mass

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mailto:ann.buttenwieser@gmail.commailto:ann.buttenwieser@gmail.commailto:jesshamm@gmail.commailto:jesshamm@gmail.commailto:ann.buttenwieser@gmail.commailto:jesshamm@gmail.com

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media; and 2) a research workshop in which each of you will conduct a semester-long research

project on a topic of your choice. Project topics can vary depending on your own interests, spanning

(for example, in no particular order) issues in urban planning, urban design, architecture, historic

preservation, economic development, affordable housing, real estate development, open space,gentrification, transportation, sustainability, etc. Based on your investigation into the historical and

present-day context of your topic, you will formulate a forward-looking proposal to improve and

sustain New York City. The culmination of this semesters research projects will be individual

written papers and small-group and individual oral/visual presentations that address issues affecting

the future physical environment of New York City.

The work for this class will vary week-to-week. Some weeks, you will be expected to read

assigned readings and come to class prepared to participate in seminar-style discussion. Other weeks,

you will be occupied by field trips or discussing field work done as homework. And, lastly you will

be working throughout the term on your research project. Some weeks, our class meetings will be

entirely devoted to individual student presentations of their research projects both as works-in-

progress and in final form at the end of the term.

Course Requirements:

1) Seminar participation (45%)- Overall participation, including seminar discussions: 25%- Reading summary/response papers: 10%

- Peer editing: 10%

Please come to every class prepared to participate. Whether we are discussing assigned readings,student research projects, posts on the course website, or field-work observations, you will be

expected to present thoughtful questions, well-reasoned arguments, and constructive suggestions.

The success of this course depends upon the consistent, active, and informed participation by every

member of the class and your grade will be calculated accordingly.

For the weeks when we have assigned readings, to aid you in preparing for seminar discussion, you

must submit (via email), no later than two hours prior to class, a very short writing assignment that

should include:

a) A concise, one-paragraph summary of the author's thesis; and

b) Your reaction to the readings and/or a suggested question for in-class discussion.

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2) Fieldwork and website contributions (10%)

- Individual public space observation, posted on website (5%)

- Field trip observations, posted on website (5%)

3)Research Project (45%) This work will progress on two tracks:

Individual: You will conduct an independent research project based upon original research about a

topic of your choice. This work will progress in two stages: History and Background, and Current

Policy Alternatives. Further details will be explained in class. As soon as possible, you shoulddiscuss potential topics with me.

This work will be ongoing throughout the semester with the following target dates:

- Selection of individual topics, due by Feb 15/16.- Stage 1 (History and Background), due March 12

(paper 5%, presentation 5%)

- Stage 2 (Current Policy Alternatives/Proposal), due April 16

(paper 15%)- Individual and Team presentations, April 30, May 7 and May 14 - (20%)

Team: Throughout the semester, you will also engage in a team research project on a current planning

issue, to understand where the city is going, who will make the decisions, and how fair the outcome is

likely to be.The individual research paper topics will be grouped into a list of four to six substantive topics

depending on the various individual subjects (eg: Environment, Transportation, Design, Open Space,

Real Estate, etc.) These topics will be agreed upon by the class and me in early March. Thereafterthe class will be divided into five teams of roughly five students each. Each group will then

determine how to structure a specific team position and who will argue the various aspects of thatposition.Team presentation: Student teams will be expected to prepare a persuasive, 5 to 8 minute film/video

to be posted on YouTube. The purpose of the film/video is to educate/advertise/sell the teams vision

of NYC.

One to two team members (per topic) will be expected to present their teams work at theEnd of

Semester Conference. Format and further details will be provided throughout the semester.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION IS MANDATORY.

Instructional Technology Fellow

Jessica Hammerman will be available during regular weekly office hours, occasionally duringclass time, and also via email, to support you in two important ways:

1) To assist you in your use of the course website, and the features designed

specifically for this course; AND

2) To advise and assist you in your use of a wide range of technology- based research

tools and presentation tools.

In late March, prior to April 1, you must formally meet with Jessica to discuss which

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presentation tools and techniques might be appropriate for your project.

Important Course Policies

Deadlines extensions must be requested well ahead of time; they will not be granted on

short notice. All late papers will be penalized one grade (e.g. from an A- reduced to a

B+) for every 72 hours past deadline

Class attendance you must attend each and every class meeting. Please be on time and

stay until the end of the class

Collaboration and academic honesty I encourage you to collaborate with each other,

to share ideas, and to help your classmates. But all work submitted must

be your own and the ideas and words of others must be properly credited, using

footnotes or endnotes. Presenting the ideas or words of another person without proper

credit is plagiarism and constitutes academic dishonesty. Hunter College regards

acts of academic dishonesty (e.g. plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtainingunfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious

offenses. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic

Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter

College Academic Integrity Procedures, which may be found at:

http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/senate/assets/Documents/Hunter%20College%20Policy%20on%

20Academic%20Integrity.pdf

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READING ASSIGNMENTS, DISCUSSION TOPICS, ETC.

Please note: changes to this schedule of assignments may be made via e-mail or announcements in

class, or posting on the course website, and you will be responsible for knowing about any such

changes.

Jan. 30: Course Introduction

http://archleague.org/2012/02/call-for-essays-the-unfinished-grid/

In class exercise: sketch a map of Hunter and environs (Lexington Ave.-Fifth Ave; 69 th St.-67thSt.)

Research project discussion: Overview

Explanation/Demonstration of websiteExplanation of public space observation assignment

Albert La Farge, ed. The Essential William H. Whyte pp.251-9

Observe how people use public space.

Post your findings on the Observations and Musings page

Feb. 6: Past As Future: How Have Planners, Architects, and Dreamers viewed the future of

New York City?

Rem Koolhaas, Delirious New York, A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan, The Double

Life of Utopia: the Skyscraper, pp. 81-94, 105-117

Rebecca Read Shanor, The City That Never Was, pp. 90-103Donna Goodman, A History of the Future, Chapter 3, pp. 91-94; 103-108; 111-119

Research Project Discussion: Finding a topic for your research paper

Feb. 13 LINCOLNS BIRTHDAY,NO CLASS

Feb. 21 TUESDAY Zoning and its Effect on the City

The Landscape of Modernity, David Ward and Oliver Zunz Eds; Keith D. Revell, Regulatingthe Landscape: Real Estate Values, City planning and the 1916 Zoning Ordinance, pp.

20-25

Stern, Robert A. M. et al. Section on the 1961 Zoning Resolution, in New York 1960:

Architecture and Urbanism Between the Second World War and the Bicentennial. New

York: Monacelli Press, 1995, pp. 124-131.Whyte, William. "The Rise and Fall of Incentive Zoning, in City: Rediscovering The Center

pp. 229-255

Deadline: Final Topic for Research Project must be submitted today. (One paragraph)

Research Project Discussion: electronic research tools, finding scholarly research sources; interpreting

primary and secondary sources

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http://archleague.org/2012/02/call-for-essays-the-unfinished-grid/http://archleague.org/2012/02/call-for-essays-the-unfinished-grid/

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Feb. 27 Planning: Why, How, and Has It Worked?

Robert Fishman, The Regional Plan and the Transformation of the Industrial Metropolis,pp. 106-123

Olympic Plan for 2012 www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MquWONpfAIMitchell Moss, NYU Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management, How NewYork City Won The Olympics

/rudincenter/publications/Olympics_in_NYC 2012_REPORT_110711.pdf

Plan 2020http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/cwp/index.shtml

http://www.nycedc.com/ProjectsOpportunities/CurrentProjects/Citywide/WaterfrontVisionAnd

EnhancementStrategy/Documents/WAVESActionAgenda.pdfResearch project discussion: Presentation strategies and techniques, part 1

Field Trip: Museum of the City of New York exhibits: The Greatest Grid and The Unfinished Grid

Post your finding on the Observations and Musings, page

Start reading Robert Caro and Jane Jacobs (March 19th readings)

Mar. 5 Historic Preservation: Tear Down The City or Cast In Concrete?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/about/about.shtml

Norman Tyler, Historic Preservation An Introduction To Its History, Principles and Practice,Introduction, pp.11-32; Penn Central and St. Bartholomews 84-91

Henry J. Stern, Remembering Penn StationSpeaker: Jennifer RaabResearch Project Discussion: Writing about history; Research ethics, plagiarism, and use of footnotes;

Mar. 12 Stage 1 Research Presentations

Peers receive Stage 1 to review

Mar. 19 Development: Do We Need A Czar?

Robert Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

pp. 1-21, 172-177, 368-401, 499-566, 615-636, 850-894

Paul Goldberger, Eminent Dominion, Rethinking the Legacy of Robert Moses, (from The

New Yorker)

Jane Jacobs, Death and Life of Great American Cities, Introduction

Lewis Mumford, review of Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American

Cities, (from The New Yorker) in The Lewis Mumford Reader(1986)Speaker: Gifford Miller, Partner, Signature Urban Properties

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20111025/REAL_ESTATE/111029935Research project discussion: Presentation tools and techniques, part 2

March 26 Actors and Stakeholders

Brooklyn Bridge Parks committee on alternatives to housing public hearing

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http://wagner.nyu.edu/rudincenter/publications/Olympics_in_NYC%202012_REPORT_110711.pdfhttp://www.nycedc.com/ProjectsOpportunities/CurrentProjects/Citywide/WaterfrontVisionAndEnhancementStrategy/Documents/WAVESActionAgenda.pdfhttp://www.nycedc.com/ProjectsOpportunities/CurrentProjects/Citywide/WaterfrontVisionAndEnhancementStrategy/Documents/WAVESActionAgenda.pdfhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/about/about.shtmlhttp://wagner.nyu.edu/rudincenter/publications/Olympics_in_NYC%202012_REPORT_110711.pdfhttp://www.nycedc.com/ProjectsOpportunities/CurrentProjects/Citywide/WaterfrontVisionAndEnhancementStrategy/Documents/WAVESActionAgenda.pdfhttp://www.nycedc.com/ProjectsOpportunities/CurrentProjects/Citywide/WaterfrontVisionAndEnhancementStrategy/Documents/WAVESActionAgenda.pdfhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/about/about.shtml

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March 31, 2011 pdf

Floating Pool video

Research project discussion: Writing about debates, making a policy/action proposal

Apr. 2 New Urban Form: Parks

http://www.govislandpark.com/http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/the-park/design

In class Hearing on the Cross Bronx Expressway Robert Moses and Friends vs Jane Jacobs andFriends

Apr. 9 No Class Spring Break

Apr. 16 Visions Of The Future ReduxPlaNYC (April 2011)

http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/theplan/the-plan.shtmlhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/nycmg/nyctvod/html/home/planyc_2011.html

Speaker: Adam Fried, Mayors Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability

Deadline: Research Project Stage #2 due

Peers receive Stage 2 to review

Apr. 23 http://www.skyscraper.org/EXHIBITIONS/SUPERTALL/intro.htmField Trip: Visit Lower Manhattan/ Battery Park City (Meet on the steps of Federal Hall)

Apr. 30 Team and Independent Project Presentations and Discussion

Deadline: Peer editing of Stage #1 and Stage #2 is due

May 7 Team and Independent Project Presentations and Discussion

May 14 Team and Independent Project Presentations and Discussion

Suggested topics for projects

The influence of zoning on the shape of the future of NYC

Sustainability, climate change, water level rise, energy efficiency, etcDensity: high rise or sprawl

The equitable city: housing, transportation, etcThe 5th borough

Public open spaces on private property POPs

Streets, biking, parking lots, traffic control, etc.How to pay for parks maintenance

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http://www.govislandpark.com/http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/the-park/designhttp://www.govislandpark.com/http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/the-park/design

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Museum urbanism

Big Box retailing

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