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Special Project

Mapping the Future

Mapping the Future investigates and explains the history, economics, politics and policies that shape the way land is used in the city of New York and beyond. It is supported by the Ford Foundation and the Neighborhoods First Fund.

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Must Reads

City Hall Maps Steps to Deal With Impact of Decades of Racist Housing Policies

Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.The mayor picked up on a self-examination that President Obama wanted to occur across the country, but President Trump halted.
By Sadef Ali Kully
Thousands of NYC’s Homeless Parents were Recently Kids Themselves

Adi TalwarMaria (pseudonym), mother of two, secured an apartment at a supportive housing site in the Bronx.
By David Brand
Key City Housing Policies at Stake This Year in Courthouses, Campaign and Council

Adi TalwarIntersection of Myrtle, Central and DeKalb Avenues.
By Sadef Ali Kully and Jarrett Murphy
A Walk With Mayor de Blasio’s Street Homelessness Outreach Workers

Ahmed JallowOutreach workers on the move: From left to right: Maribeth Gayle, senior housing outreach specialist, Goddard Riverside; Lauren Taylor, deputy director, Center for Urban Consortium; Woody Dismukes, housing outreach specialist, Goddard Riverside.
By Ahmed Jallow
What Does the Inwood Rezoning Ruling Mean for Other NYC Neighborhood Plans?

Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.Mayor de Blasio at a recent town hall meeting.
By Sadef Ali Kully
How Environmental Concerns, Property Activism and Density Fears Halted a Bid to Change NYC Zoning Rules

Adi TalwarA property inside the Riverdale Special Natural Area District.
By Olivia Schwob
Judge Annuls Inwood Rezoning, Citing Flaws in City’s Review

Sadef KullyCommunity groups rallied outside civil court in August, following oral arguments in a lawsuit challenging the city's rezoning of Inwood.
By Sadef Ali Kully
Bushwick Stakeholders Demand City Assess Their Rezoning Plan

Councilmembers Rafael Espinal (left) and Antonio Reynoso helped to create the Bushwick Community Plan and are pushing for it to remain in active consideration as formal review of the administration's rezoning proposal looms. Bushwick elected officials, community groups and residents sent a joint letter this week urging the de Blasio administration to include the community zoning framework outlined in the Bushwick Community Plan within the scope of the city’s environmental review process for City Hall’s planned rezoning.
By Sadef Ali Kully

Mapping the Future: Opinion

Opinion: If Council Passes Homeless Set-Aside Law, De Blasio Should Veto It

'It's counterproductive to tie the hands of the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), an agency already stretched to the limit as they attempt to deal with an affordable housing crisis.'
By Rafael Cestero
Opinion: Queens Councilmember on the Glendale Shelter Debate

'Why should we roll over and accept the mayor's plan without putting up a fight?'
By Robert Holden
Opinion: Murders Demand a Deeper Look at How We Treat the Homeless

'An honest examination of what happened must consider larger contextual factors at play, which include a marked lack of truly affordable housing, useful mental health services, and easily accessible and appropriate shelter options.'
By Kiana Davis, Craig Hughes and Helen Strom
Opinion: Why We Disrupted a Public Hearing About the Homeless

'Often, hearings on proposed rules are dry and the rooms fairly empty. But Wednesday’s hearing had dozens of individuals ready to testify – most of them individuals who had intimate experiences with DHS and social services in New York City.'
By Helen Strom and Brenda Riley
Opinion: Success of Mayor’s Housing Plan Proves We Can Do More for Homeless NYers

Mayor de Blasio recently announced producing record numbers of units for homeless New Yorkers as part of his affordable housing plan. But critics say it is still not enough. Both are right.
By Ted Houghton and Brendan Cheney