Explain what elements of each perspective you consider most helpful for understanding your city.

PART I

1. Based on the course lectures and readings, compare the human ecology’s perspective (The Chicago School) with the urban political economy’s perspective for urban phenomena analysis. To do this, describe the social context they appeared in, their main concepts and ideas, their subjects of study, and their theoretical assumptions. Finally, give arguments to explain what elements of each perspective you consider most helpful for understanding your city.

Part II

3. Check the presentation for the SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan and read the two articles provided below (you are free to read more about this issue). Then, choose one of the authors or theories from the class (you can also use specific concepts that you find helpful) and discuss what is at stake in the SoHo/NoHo and Chinatown rezoning plan. To answer this question, first, summarize the rezoning proposal. Second, explain what actors are involved in the discussion, their different interests, and main arguments in favor or against the plan. Third, identify what dimensions of sociological analysis are relevant for studying this conflict (e.g., housing affordability, class, gender, age, race, etc.). Finally, briefly present your own position on this topic.

Links:

C.B. 2 rejects mayor’s Soho/Noho rezoning, calling it ‘falsely presented’ as expanding affordable housing

Soho/Noho rezoning incentivizes demolition and displacement: And landlords know it

I uploaded files of lectures on both “The Chicago School ” and ” “Urban Political Economy” to help with the expectations of the Professor and feel free to use other resources for Part 1.

For Part 2 I also uploaded the presentation.

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