Part and Parcel
Learn how zoning—an omnipresent and oft-misunderstood tool for shaping the city—has created the New York we see today, and how new changes to the Zoning Resolution are reshaping the five boroughs.
From roads and subways to parks and libraries, many of the systems that make daily life in the city possible are easy to see. One of the most profound systems (literally) shaping the world around us, however, is completely invisible to the naked eye—but you can see its impact, if you know where to look. Zoning, an oft-overlooked system of rules and regulations that determine the shape and placement of buildings in communities across the city, is an essential tool in contemporary urban planning. New York pioneered the very first comprehensive zoning resolution in American way back in 1916, giving rise to the “wedding cake” setback skyscrapers of the Jazz Age. Today, much has changed—and understanding these changes is fundamental to grasping why the city around us looks the way it does.
As part of Part & Parcel, Open House New York’s year-long series exploring zoning, you can tour a collection of different sites that highlight various aspects of zoning at work, from the early days to the most recent revisions aimed at preparing the city for a changing climate and economy.