NYC Tours Look at the Planning of Lower Manhattan from LGBT Perspective

The American Planning Association Gays & Lesbians in Planning (GALIP) Division presents a series of five tours in Lower Manhattan looking at city planning and history from the perspective of the gay and lesbian and minority perspective. Tours are given by Rick Landman, a native New Yorker, urban planner for over 30 years and adjunct Professor of Planning at NYU’s Wagner School and New York Law School.

See below for the tours in September and October:

Tour #1: New Amsterdam Tour
The early origins of New York City’s land use patterns and social fabric; including life of the minorities (gay, Jewish, African, Native American)and how religious freedoms came to New Amsterdam. The tour will also review the street patterns, tax lots and influence on today’s physical structures.September 28, 2013 (Saturday) – Noon – 1:30 pm
Rain date: September 29, 2013 (Sunday)
Start Location: U.S. Customs House, 1 Bowling Green (on steps out front)
Register: https://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=54vqasdab&oeidk=a07e81w49559e2df4e6

Tour #2: Origins of Zoning in America Tour
The tour will encompass the planning and political roots of zoning’s bulk and use regulations and setbacks and sky exposure planes, showing the pre-1916 and post-1961 zoning changes on the development of NYC’s skyscrapers.

September 28, 2013 (Saturday) – 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Rain date: September 29, 2013 (Sunday)
Start Location: Trinity Church, Bdwy & Wall St (out front)
Register: https://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=54vqasdab&oeidk=a07e824f0276aae3d4d

For the above tours there will be a pay-as-you-go post-tour happy hour at 4pm at Bailey Pub and Brasserie (www.thebaileynyc.com).

Tour #3: World Trade Center Area Tour
The tour reflects on the former plan and the current plan for the World Trade Center area, given by a long term resident, planner, and member of Community Board #1. The impact of the changes and how the local community and community board was involved will be part of the discussion.

October 5, 2013 (Saturday) – Noon – 1:30pm
Rain date: October 6, 2013 (Sunday)
Start Location: Liberty Park (Bdwy & Liberty)
Register: https://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=54vqasdab&oeidk=a07e824g2431b2289c7

Tour #4: Greenwich Village Urban Renewal Tour
The Urban Renewal Plan for Greenwich Village and how it has played out over the past 40 years. The tour will include many of NYU’s projects and how the town and gown relationship has evolved over the decades. The creation of the Greenwich Village Historic District will also be discussed.

October 5, 2013 (Saturday) – 2:30pm – 4:00pm
Rain date: October 6, 2013 (Sunday)
Start Location: Washington Square Park (under the arch)
Register: https://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=54vqasdab&oeidk=a07e824i11m70a848a4

Tour #5: LGBT History and Adult Use Zoning Tour
The commonly held belief is that the adult use industry destroys neighborhoods. This tour will discuss how this industry along with an economic downturn and urban flight created a gay neighborhood in the West Village even when the zoning prohibited residential uses in much of the area. Discussions will be conducted by former officials from the Department of City Planning and the Division of Real Property from the 1979.

October 4, 2013 (Friday) – 5:45pm – 7:15pm
Rain date: October 11, 2013 (Friday)
Start Location: Christopher Street Park (next to Segal Statue inside park)
Register: https://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=54vqasdab&oeidk=a07e824jty4f2faad9c

After this tour, there will be drinks at 7:30pm at Backbar on Christopher Street (pay-as-you-go), followed by a (pay-as-you-go) APA dinner at Manatus Restaurant on Bleecker at Christopher at 8:30pm (rsvp to Michael E. Levine: mlevine1@nyc.rr.com).