Revisiting Shared Ownership in Sunset Park
📍 Sunset Park, Brooklyn
SUNSET PARK ORGANIZER BUILDING TOOLKIT
Director, Project Coordination and Development
Gabriela Rendón, Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Community Development
Online Platform and Toolkit Development
2024 Fall Studio, MS Design and Urban Ecologies Program, Parsons School of Design
Delaney Connor, Shivani Dave, Arooj Fatima, Zola Haber, Molly Meng, Gant Roberson, Antonia Simon, Ruth Wondemu
Community Discussion with Local Organizers
Designing a Toolkit to Grow the Next Generation of Housing Justice Organizers
Sunset Park, Brooklyn faces accelerating displacement due to rising rents, tenant harassment, and speculative development. While grassroots organizations actively respond to housing crises, there is limited capacity to focus on long-term structural solutions like cooperative housing and Community Land Trusts.
This project developed a multi-platform organizing toolkit to support emerging housing justice leaders and lay groundwork for shared ownership models in Sunset Park.
My Contributions
Structural
Led Website UX & Information Architecture on Wordpress
Structured the Organizer Building Toolkit
Strategy
Developed the Engagement Funnel Strategy
Identified Concept Landing Opportunities for community activation
Design
Developed the VR Local Justice Tour for community empowerment
Contributed to VR site capture and scene design for neighborhood walking tour
Research Phase
Sunset Park
Neighborhood Demographic
Local Housing History
Neighborhood Stakeholders
Community Engagement
Co-operative Housing Solutions
Public Faculty
Residents Survey
Oral history
Co-operative Housing Movements
Sunset Park Housing Justice History
Sunset Park Vacant Lot Research
SUNSET PARK ORGANIZER BUILDING TOOLKIT
This project was created based on the interest that different local entities have shown over the last five years to expand housing cooperative models in Sunset Park, in a context of increasing rents and decreasing housing affordability. It also responds to AM Marcela Mitaynes’ sponsorship of the Tenant Opportunity of Purchase Act (TOPA) bill, which along other bills part of the Community Land Act (CLA) law package, could give housing cooperatives, community land trusts, and other nonprofit organizations the tools to develop and preserve community controlled and permanent affordable housing.
Honoring the cooperative legacy of Sunset Park, this project facilitates organizing efforts to build knowledge and power and, in turn, establish a neighborhood coalition for shared ownership housing development and rehabilitation opportunities. Through different pedagogical and organizing tools, the project seeks to spark dialogue and bring together neighbors, tenant associations, tenant organizers, emergent and seasoned leaders, civic and nonprofit organizations, and elected officials.
ONLINE REPOSITORY
The open source tools designed as part of this project include informative short videos, a participatory property mapping guide, a housing walking tour, and a number of toolkits for short-term and long-term building organizing.
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PEDAGOGICAL VIDEO
Through concise videos shared on social media platforms, residents of Sunset Park are introduced to tenants' rights, local history, and shared ownership models. This initiative aims to provide historical context, highlight relevant policies, and inspire collective action for equitable and stable housing solutions.
NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOUR
Through walking tours guided by VR and printed maps, Sunset Park residents are invited to engage with the neighborhood’s history and envision its future possibilities. By exploring underutilized spaces, cooperative housing models, and key community landmarks, this initiative fosters a deeper connection to local resources and promotes collective action for sustainable development.
SHORT-TERM ORGANIZING
Short-term organizing equips Sunset Park residents with actionable resources to kickstart immediate community-driven efforts. Through accessible toolkits, including guidance on the Community Land Act, event planning, tenant association creation, and printable materials like postcards, this initiative lays the groundwork for collective action and stronger community networks.
LONG-TERM PUBLIC ACTIONS
By fostering collaborative envisioning spaces and empowering emerging leaders, this initiative equips Sunset Park residents with tools and strategies to advocate for housing solutions and community land ownership. Through participatory workshops, planning guides, and public events, it facilitates collective action, leadership development, and sustainable community-driven change.
Design Phase
NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOUR
Through walking tours guided by VR and printed maps, Sunset Park residents are invited to engage with the neighborhood’s history and envision its future possibilities. By exploring underutilized spaces, cooperative housing models, and key community landmarks, this initiative fosters a deeper connection to local resources and promotes collective action for sustainable development.
FOR ORGANIZERS WHO
Want to physically or virtually connect with Sunset Park’s housing justice history.
DESCRIPTION
Through walking tours guided by VR and printed maps, Sunset Park residents are invited to engage with the neighborhood’s history and envision its future possibilities. By exploring underutilized spaces, cooperative housing models, and key community sites of housing struggle, these resources foster a deeper connection to local resources and promote collective action for sustainable development.
