SDR Coalition is grateful to NYCommons for the chance to collaborate on an important undertaking in NYC. We thank member Wendy Brawer of Green Map System for spearheading our application!

We also welcome Kevin Tobar Pesantez of University Settlements’ Project Home as organizer for the SDR Park Coalition’s Stanton Street Park Building Task Force. You can contact Kevin at ktpesantez@universitysettlement.org for more information.

SDR has been invited to collaorate with NYCommons  on workshops to help New Yorkers learn to protect and expand publicly owned and controlled land and buildings in our neighborhoods. NYCommons is a collaboration between Common Cause/NY, the Community Development Project (CDP) at the Urban Justice Center, and 596 Acres, Inc. The next phase of our work includes focusing on 2-3 neighborhoods to pilot workshops where we spotlight means to participate effectively in current land use processes, as well as challenges shared by many community groups working around local land use struggles.

Background. NYCommons spent a year conducting research through meetings with over 100 organizations and community activists across NYC. Through the initial outreach and research, they identified public assets that present important opportunities for public participation and community input in many communities.

SDR Coalition will join with NYCommons as co-hosts of workshops focused on helping to foster an understanding of what neighbors can do to ensure that public assets continue to be a resource for their communities.

NYCommons will collaborate with us to help local residents learn how decisions about these properties are made and how residents can participate in the process.

NYCommons has developed a deep network of New Yorkers focusing their advocacy on public real estate assets, land use, housing rights, community participation, and neighborhood-based advocacy.