Category Archives: Urbanism

Separated at Birth?

by John Massengale Posted on June 1, 2026

AS CHAIR OF CNU NYC, I was part of the Empire Station Coalition’s long opposition to the efforts of Governor Cuomo and then Governor Hochul to turn the area around Penn Station into a towering Vornadoville (Vornado calls it “The … Continue reading →

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Notes on Beyond Architecture: The New New York

by John Massengale Posted on December 19, 2024

I haven’t read Beyond Architecture: The New New York yet. I will. For the moment I wanted to record some notes. References Paul Goldberger, “The Limits of Urban Growth,” New York Times, November 14, 1982, https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/14/magazine/the-limits-of-urban-growth.html. But if there is … Continue reading →

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My Comments at the Midtown South Social Equity and Music Festival

by John Massengale Posted on September 15, 2024

FIFTY-ONE YEARS AGO, the Pennsylvania Railroad tragically tore down Pennsylvania Station. Not only is it the best building ever torn down in New York, but in the combined Penn Station and Madison Square Garden, we got the worst building in … Continue reading →

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A Short Discussion of Residential Building Heights in New York City

by John Massengale Posted on March 23, 2023

NOTE: The following was written for the Tenth Anniversary Edition of Street Design, The Secret To Great Cities and Towns, where it will appear in a shorter version. This version still needs some editing for its new context. A related … Continue reading →

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Location, Location, Location: Affordable Housing and Urban Form in Manhattan

by John Massengale Posted on March 23, 2023

NOTE: The following was written for the Tenth Anniversary Edition of Street Design, The Secret To Great Cities and Towns, where it will appear in a shorter version. This version still needs a little editing for its new context. Part … Continue reading →

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What’s good for General Motors is good for America

by John Massengale Posted on March 15, 2023

On March 15 I tweeted, “If America hadn’t decided to create a new national transportation system based on individuals in private cars driving everywhere for everything, climate change would be a very different—and smaller—problem than it is.” I posted the … Continue reading →

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Traffic Flow and the Status Quo: There are better ways to spend $10 billion than rebuilding the BQE

by John Massengale Posted on February 12, 2023

New York City plans to spend more than $10 billion on a project that will speed up climate change and increase the number of New Yorkers killed by traffic and pollution. The good news is that the city will hold … Continue reading →

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Downloadable PDFs / “African-American Classicism of Charleston”

by John Massengale Posted on November 17, 2022

Download Progressive Preservation Article: AfricanAmericanClassicismChas Download Expanded Article: Classicism in the African American Community These downloads were made available for download with the author’s permission.

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Car Free Brooklyn Bridge – photos and drawings

by John Massengale Posted on June 1, 2022

A Car-Free Brooklyn Bridge Is Possible Images and Illustratons AFTER: Aerial view looking east towards a car-free Brooklyn Bridge. Centre Street and Park Row next to the Brooklyn Bridge are reimagined as an extension of City Hall Park. © 2020 … Continue reading →

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“Big Real Estate’s Continuing Stranglehold Over New York City”

by John Massengale Posted on March 30, 2022

Recently, the Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman wrote in the New York Times about the causes of unaffordable housing in New York City. He blamed the crisis on a few things, including a powerful financial “monoculture” in the city, NIMBYs, … Continue reading →

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“My Open Letter to NYC DOT Commissioner Rodriquez”

by John Massengale Posted on March 30, 2022

Dear Commissioner Rodriquez, I’m writing to you because I just signed up for a workshop to improve Canal Street that your department is running tonight. I met you when you were a Councilman. I know you care deeply about making … Continue reading →

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