Episode 7: How a Mature City Manages Growth

Built Environment

Apr 25

Viviana talks with Former Chief Economist at the NYC controller’s office about his insight on how a mature city like New York City manages growth. He is an expert and super star in this arena, and has written several publications on this topic. As well as on the effects of gentrification and displacement due to city growth and other factors. Mr. Braconi shares his views on how New York mitigates the negative effects from city growth, how to use data to analyze urban growth, and about the future of affordable housing as a way to grow a city sustainably. Frank’s commitment to the growth of the capital of the world is evident in his work as Executive Director for over 12 years for the Citizens Housing & Planning Council of New York. Where he collaborated with other built environment intellectuals who envision a greater future for this growing city. See more of this work on BigCityeconomics.com

Guest Bio:

Citizens Housing & Planning Council of New York | Executive Director

Research Director (4 years)

Contributed to the design of the Dinkins/Giuliani/Bloomberg program to rebuild NYC communities devastated by the abandonment & arson wave of the 1960s & 1970s
Worked closely with the Community Preservation Corporation, the Enterprise Foundation, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation and various community-based organizations to design & refine City community development programs
Worked closely with some of the earliest homeless housing providers to devise housing models (such as Supportive Housing) to addresses the challenge of housing the homeless
Contributed to the creation of a City & State laws & regulations affecting the built environment and RE development, including the City’s Fair Share Rules, 197a Community Planning Rules, 421a tax abatement laws, & environmental review procedures
Was involved in the strategy & implementation of numerous planning & zoning programs in NYC, including the rezoning of many industrial areas to mixed use areas, recovery & rebuilding of Downtown Manhattan post-9/11, planning for the Hudson Yards development, & adoption of Inclusionary Housing zoning rules
Wrote numerous reports and articles on the relationship of affordable housing, urban environmental protection, and community development
With Lance Freeman of Columbia University, co-authored one of the most influential and frequently-cited studies of gentrification in urban neighborhoods

New York City Comptroller’s Office | Chief Economist | 2006-2016

Responsible for analyzing & forecasting the City’s economy and tax revenue and budget policies
Advised Comptrollers Bill Thompson, John Liu & Scott Stringer on economic issues affecting the economy of the City, & its tax and budget policies
Helped steer the city’s budget policies through the Financial Crisis (2007-2010) and Great Recession
Advised Deputy Comptrollers for Budget, Public Finance & Asset Management on economic issues
Worked on various special projects for those Comptrollers (for example: Bill Thompson’s alternative to Bloomberg’s “congestion pricing’)

Teaching