Debate: YIMBY vs. Preservation in New York City

Justin Davidson introduces a debate pitched as "Preservationist vs. Pro-Development":

"Although the Landmarks Law has protected 1,400 buildings and created more than 100 historic districts, it doesn’t have anything to say about how those buildings are used, or about the lives lived in and around them. It also doesn’t cover much of what’s under threat today: small businesses, neighborhood character, architecturally unremarkable buildings and blocks, views, culture, community glue, and so on."

On the preservationist side of the debate is Jeremiah Moss, author of the Vanishing New York blog. On the pro-development side is Nikolai Fedak, who runs the New York YIMBY blog. The goal of the debate, according to Davidson, is to seek "common ground where they can both live."

From the beginning, the debaters agree that the cost of housing in New York is threatening the city's exceptionalism and diversity—they just don't agree on how to address the threat.

Fedak's pro-development stance goes on to support new zoning that allows for more residential cross the board. In lieu of updated zoning, according to Fedak, New York is repeatedly stuck with shoddy hotel developments and land zoned for obsolete industrial uses.

Moss's argument supports the notion of New York as "unpredictable and unfamiliar, with a kind of chaos that feeds creativity." He argues that the contemporary people coming to New York and shaping it are making New York into something bland and boring.

Davidson endeavors to reconcile the dueling points of view, but doesn't get very far. The entire debate is well worth reading to hear two well-informed and passionate advocates make their case for everyone to consider.