In the section Upgrading the City, it is remarked that the city is constantly under development. With each new construction giving a significant boost to the surrounding neighborhood. The Twin Towers, Battery Park City and the New Harlem USA shopping center all helped to improve the image and economic value of the area, made the initial investment into development worth it. For people of lower income, more people did not want to live in the projects, instead preferring to invest their live savings into buying their own homes. By sharing the same goal, the investments of people of lower income were also able to achieve results similar to that of big Manhattan developments, in which the neighborhoods would gradually improve and become a nicer place to live.

This pattern of investment in development can still be seen today. In Flushing, the construction of Skyview Mall seemed a little unstable at first, with only one supermarket really attracting any business. However, over the years, the mall now has multiple chain stores in it and has extending the area of economic growth in Flushing (the mall is located more on the outskirts of Flushing, along the water). While Skyview has definitely achieved success, it can be noted that the only stores at the mall are chain stores; small businesses have tried to rent space in the mall but have not achieved much success. The rezoning plans for Flushing plan to develop a waterfront promenade near Skyview, with smaller retail spaces to encourage small businesses. Even with NYC’s pattern of new developments equaling economic growth, I am a little wary about the feasibility of this plan as new roads will need to be constructed, Flushing Creek is heavily polluted and will have to be treated, and also the waterfront view, won’t be much to look at. Or is the population in Flushing so high that any developments have a significantly higher chance of success, as more people look to escape, if only by a small distance, from the intensity of Main Street?

Discussion question: Is it possible for other cities in the United States to achieve the same level of “success” as NYC?