Co-Op City

The largest single residential development in the United States with a population of approximately 50,000 residents, Co-op City is located in New York northeast of the Bronx. The housing development consists of 35 high rise buildings and seven townhouse clusters that consist of garden and duplex apartments. The development was built on 320 acres of land with only 20 percent being developed due to the driving force of not touching the community’s natural environment. With a prime location of being accessible to all points of the city by public transportation, Co-op City is its own functioning city with a board of directors that sets a policy for the community’s standards. 

Although Co-op City seems like a great option for affordable housing and close conveniences, not everyone is primed to this way of living. In the 1970’s, when the development was fully occupied demographics were three quarters white and relatively more Jewish that any other neighborhood. Even though the race was not diverse to the development this was a direct reflection of the city’s existing demographics. Moving into Co-op City seemed to be a challenge for some potential residents, with future residents applying to the governing corporation that governs the development. After applying with the governing corporation, future residents would be put on a waitlist and eventually being on a first come first served status for an apartment. Although this seemed like an accurate perception, in reality the board of directors sought twice to manipulate the waitlist by “preserving the racial balance.” Precedingly, the waitlist for Co-op City became majority waitlist of black and Latino.

 

The Co-op City seems like a great place to stay that is convenient and inexpensive for residents. Although when first being constructed, white people were favored to stay, eventually the development became progressive and racially equal among residents.