info.tbnc@gmail.com
April 23, 2009 -- Two Bridges Neighborhood Council
Location: 80 Rutgers Slip, New York, NY
Richard Bass was a panelist at the premiere screening of "The Lower East Side—An Endangered Place," a documentary about how gentrification has impacted the lives of people who live and work in the Lower East Side. The filmmakers interviewed a broad spectrum of local people, from longtime residents to boutique owners, from artists to developers, in an attempt to understand how these complex social and economic processes play out in the lives of ordinary people. Not surprising, there were conflicting ideas and perceptions about what is now taking place. The film allows people, who are on different sides of this social and economic transformation, to speak their mind.
Topics Discussed:
How can public policies and private investment foster economic development that creates new opportunities for existing and even future residents while preserving social and economic diversity?
What are the benefits of a diverse community and city
What is the future of small, locally owned businesses in gentrifying neighborhoods?
What can be done to bridge the gap between long-term residents and newcomers?
How will changing demographics impact the future growth of the Lower East Side?
Does gentrification stifle the arts and creativity?
What is "affordable housing" in today's market in Manhattan?
Can community groups use the current recession to shape future growth?
Keynote Speaker:
Sheldon Silver, Speaker of the New York State Assembly
Panelists:
Warren Shaw, Commercial and Real Estate Litigation Attorney, Division of the New York City Corporation Counsel
Damaris Reyes, Executive Director, Good Old Lower East Side
Thomas Yu, Director of Housing Development, Downtown Manhattan Community Development Corp.
Sion Misrahi, Real Estate Developer, Misrahi Realty
Richard Bass, Senior Real Estate Analyst, Herrick, Feinstein LLP
Moderated by Allen Zerkin, Adjunct Professor of Public Administration, NYU’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service
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