Week of Sep 20th
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Saving Stuyvesant Town Book Talk
Saving Stuyvesant Town Book Talk
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Sep 21, 2021Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
From city streets to City Hall and to Midtown corporate offices, Saving Stuyvesant Town is the incredible true story of how one middle class community defeated the largest residential real estate deal in American history. Lifetime Stuy Town resident and former City Councilman Dan Garodnick recounts how his neighbors stood up to mammoth real estate interests and successfully fought to save their homes, delivering New York City's biggest-ever affordable housing preservation win.
In 2006, Garodnick found himself engaged in an unexpected battle. Stuyvesant Town was built for World War II veterans by MetLife, in partnership with the City. Two generations removed, MetLife announced that it would sell Stuy Town to the highest bidder. Garodnick and his neighbors sprang into action. Battle lines formed with real estate titans like Tishman Speyer and BlackRock facing an organized coalition of residents, who made a competing bid to buy the property themselves. Tripped-up by an over-leveraged deal, the collapse of the American housing market, and a novel lawsuit brought by tenants, the real estate interests collapsed, and the tenants stood ready to take charge and shape the future of their community. The result was a once-in-a-generation win for tenants and an extraordinary outcome for middle-class New Yorkers.
Garodnick's colorful and heartfelt account of this crucial moment in New York City history shows how creative problem solving, determination, and brute force politics can be marshalled for the public good. The nine-year struggle to save Stuyvesant Town by these residents is an inspiration to everyone who is committed to ensuring that New York remains a livable, affordable, and economically diverse city.
Free, registration required
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On and off Atlantic Avenue before the Antic
On and off Atlantic Avenue before the Antic
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Sep 26, 2021Sunday, September 26, 2021
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
This is an in-person walking tour
The Atlantic Antic, one of New York largest street fairs, returns on Oct. 3rd. Hear about the diverse commercial, social, civic and architectural merits of this great old Brooklyn thoroughfare. From Atlantic Center to Court Street, Atlantic Avenue is the commercial spine of the Boerum Hill neighborhood. It has two distinct Arabic shopping centers, an array of specialty shops, old and new residences, civic and social service facilities. Also view various mosques and churches that reflect the diverse ethnic history of the area. Walk parallel streets in the landmark districts that contain some of New York’s finest rows of pre Civil War houses and preview various eating establishments. See a former newspaper printing plant, remnants of a brewery, sights connected to Native American ironworkers and lots more before the festivities begin.
$25/$30