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cdavidg4 t1_j65cf9y wrote

Reply to comment by ChrisFromLongIsland in Hamilton Ave in Red Hook, before and after the construction of the Gowanus Expressway and BQE in the 1940s-50s by TheSandPeople

Most of that was part of "slum clearance" and not greenfield developments. So he tore down housing to put up public housing. I doubt in the end it was that much new housing.

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ChrisFromLongIsland t1_j65olwm wrote

So now we are onto a value juadgement between slums and public housing.

When the public housing was built the housing that was destroyed was old, small and antiquated. The public housing was bigger apartments modern and in a park like setting. Today the poor depend on the public housing that was built then.

Which would you rather have? Would you knock down the public housing today and give it back to private landlords at market prices?

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cdavidg4 t1_j65p6l4 wrote

I put the slum part in quotes for a reason since it was his term, not mine.

I'm not judging, simply pointing out that he built homes while also tearing them down, so in my opinion it doesn't make him one of the biggest buildings of housing.

And I also want to note that the "towers in the park" model of low income housing has also been found to not be very successful.

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ChrisFromLongIsland t1_j68oek2 wrote

I agree the housing in a park did not necessarily work. I would agree it was probably a net even. Though I do think Moses was trying to make life better for people overall. Many if the things he did have had great benefits to society even today. There are good things he did and bad.

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