SOLIDARITY ECONOMY SYSTEM

SES aims to address the long-term affordability and development of the neighborhood in a holistic and sustainable way. 

Inspired by an ongoing project by UHAB and Ridgewood Senior Council where a Community Land Trust was implemented in Bushwick, the DUE cohort identified specific design opportunities to strengthen  the non-profits work through a CLT model, a mechanism to take land out of the market and assure it remains affordable. 

CLT SYSTEMATIC ADQUISITION OF PROPERTIES 

Through a spatial analyzing we identified potential underutilized structures that could be used for our project. The 17 buildings that are currently being transformed into a community co-op by RBSCC and UHAB form the basis or core of our project. Second, we want to incorporate existing co-ops that are currently at risk (16 small, 22 in total ). Third, we identified vacant and distressed buildings that, are underutilized and available for housing. Finally, we saw an opportunity in the many 1 floor garages, that are often vacant or being used as storage. Since 70% of Bushwick households do not own a car, they can be used for the SES.

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The CLT would lease the properties to limited equity housing co-op, comprised by shareholders, that own and manage. In this proposal, the community becomes connected by shared capacities for living, working, and playing.

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We explored ways to increase communities capacities to re-claim their right to housing. 

These includes tactics to renovate and infill existing plots though public grants, loans, and sweat equity; and the creation of a pedagogic booklet to support community organizing that communicates what home-sharing is and how it can be achieved. 

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Affordable housing is complemented by other uses and services, such as a food co-op, a daycare, and co-working spaces. The Solidarity Economy System enhances the currant urban setting, both the social and built environment.

This proposals promote community participation, ownership, and management as part of a long term strategy to generate local development without displacement in this district.