Mapping for Community-Driven Neighbourhood Planning: The Case of the South Bronx Land and Community Resource Trust

Abstract

The South Bronx neighbourhood in New York City has historically been oppressed and left behind by urban planning policies that deliberately created social exclusion in the area. We Stay/Nos Quedamos, a community development organization located in the area, is actively seeking to establish a Community Land Trust, a mechanism designed to provide homeownership affordability to low-income households. This study seeks to identify potential sites suitable for acquisition and for establishing a Community Land Trust in the South Bronx area. Analysis is performed using Geographic Information Systems in combination with official New York City data. Moreover, by leveraging the local knowledge of Nos Quedamos, we propose a critical approach to GIS and official data. The results of this study will help Nos Quedamos and local stakeholders in decision-making, support political efforts and negotiations with local authorities in the establishment of a Community Land Trust, enhance housing affordability, and consolidate community-managed open spaces in the South Bronx. Furthermore, the methodology presented here could serve as a guide for other local organizations seeking to establish similar land trusts in their localities, especially in urban settings with a high demand for land acquisition.