Achieving community economic development in New York City : lessons from the Kingsbridge Armory

Abstract

New York City spends over two billion dollars each year in the name of economic development. Much of this money goes to subsidize private developers in order to create jobs. However, these projects often fail to produce economic or social benefits for local residents, and sometimes impact residents negatively instead. Though community groups and advocacy organizations have made several attempts to hold the City and developers accountable to community needs, these have been mostly unsuccessful in New York. This thesis examines one case-the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory in the Northwest Bronx-in which community groups and labor unions were able to secure significant community benefits and achieve meaningful participation in the development process. Drawing on key lessons from this case, this thesis proposes a framework to achieve more equitable and democratic economic development in New York City in the future.