Since the mid-1980s historians have known that the Home Insurance Building in Chicago was not the first skyscraper. Yet the public didn't get the message. Why is there such a big disconnect? The answer is revealed my latest pub. in the J. of Urban History. doi.org/10.1177/0096... @sasn.rutgers.edu

This is really good read abt how new ideas and broad thinking (or in this case reviving a 19th century idea) can offer alternative solutions to present dilemmas. In this case, they look to a 19th century version of taxation to incentivize housing construction & create more affordable housing.

Gotham’s current real estate tax system is widely considered unfair and inefficient. Can the City switch to a Land Value Tax to increase fairness and to stimulate economic growth? Check out my latest #Skynomics Blog post with @ronanlyons.bsky.social buildingtheskyline.org/lvt-nyc/

Check out my latest #Skynomics Blog post: A review of recent writings and scholarship on America's 20th century experiment with Public Housing. buildingtheskyline.org/public-housi...

Check out my latest #Skynomics blog post, "Is Decay Contagious? Building Code Violations across New York City" Gotham's low-income housing stock is decaying. In this post, I look at how much of it being driven by a possible "contagion effect" buildingtheskyline.org/contagious-d...

From the #Skynomics Blog archives (1 year ago). My thoughts on Robert Caro's "The Power Broker" at 50 and #RobertMoses. buildingtheskyline.org/caro-and-mos...

More action at the #birdfeeder.

Why has Gotham been in a housing emergency for 80 years? Read my #Skynomics Blog post (from Jan.) buildingtheskyline.org/nyc-housing-...

#Housefinches at the feeder.

@jasonbarr.bsky.social published an entire book that (among other things) disproves the bedrock thesis, I really do recommend it academic.oup.com/book/2269

I took this pic of two catbirds squawking at each other. Seems like it would be good for a meme. What you got?

This has been showing up in the financials from the outerborough rent stabilized units (particularly in The Bronx, if memory serves) for a couple of years now.

Check out my latest #Skynomics Blog post. The 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) was supposed to help #NYC tenants. But it's causing the decline of Gotham’s low-income housing. #unintendedconsequences buildingtheskyline.org/hstpa-mainta...

#Skyscrapers remain controversial, yet the continue to be built world over? Why do we build #cities in the sky? buildingtheskyline.org/cities-in-th...

Most know the builders of the #EmpireStateBuilding were former NY Gov Al Smith & bus. guru, John Raskob. But few know the pivotal banker who made it happen. My latest #Gotham Center post w. Ann Berman on the secret man behind the world’s most visible building. www.gothamcenter.org/blog/secretm...

The #EmpireStateBuilding is so shrouded in myth and legends, it's hard to separate truth from fiction. During my many years of research on #skyscrapers, I have come to see that there are many myths that need to be busted. buildingtheskyline.org/busting-skys...

More broadly, why hasn't #NYC built the world's tallest building since 1972? Here's the reason: buildingtheskyline.org/nyc-record-b...

I wrote this piece five years ago, but sadly little has changed. buildingtheskyline.org/star-trek-an... #StarTrek

Small joys of summer. #Hummingbird at the feeder.

My Crain’s piece from 2019. Still relevant. www.crainsnewyork.com/op-ed/solvin...

#HummingBird coming to the feeder.

I wrote this piece five years ago, but sadly little has changed. buildingtheskyline.org/star-trek-an... #StarTrek

I'm happy to report that the goodreads score for my book #CitiesintheSkyBook is better than some of the most important books ever written.😂

Interested in the history of the #EmpireStateBuilding? Here's a list of some of my writings and talks on the topic, which aims to bring to light new information and busts myths....

Most know the builders of the #EmpireStateBuilding were former NY Gov Al Smith & bus. guru, John Raskob. But few know the pivotal banker who made it happen. My latest #Gotham Center post w. Ann Berman on the secret man behind the world’s most visible building. www.gothamcenter.org/blog/secretm...

NYC is an amazing place, but yesterday I was stuck in traffic bc of NJ transit strike & I missed my movie in Greenwich Village (about the 1975 Fiscal Crisis!) bc downtown B & C trains were not stopping at my stop bc of some problem. NYC is both joyful and infuriating! www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ic...

#Skyscrapers remain controversial, yet the continue to be built world over? Why do we build #cities in the sky? buildingtheskyline.org/cities-in-th...

From the #Skynomics blog archives buildingtheskyline.org/moses-jacobs...

Love the #StarTrek museum in Ticonderoga, NY.

Check out my latest #Skynomics Blog post: "Why Has #Gotham Been in a " #Housing Emergency” for 80 Years? (Part II)"--I do a deep dive into the data to answer the question.... buildingtheskyline.org/nyc-housing-...

Avg #NYC zip code vacancy rates (2015-19) vs median HH income and max allowable FAR. The #Bronx is squeezed on both ends--low income and low FAR mean major affordability problems.

Why has #Gotham been in a “Housing Emergency” for 80 years? The short answer: Lack of building new #housing. More housing increases vacancy rates, which lowers costs and will get #NYC out of its housing crisis. Check out my blog post: buildingtheskyline.org/nyc-housing-...

If you look at housing construction rates in #NewYorkCity over the last 125 years, one thing is clear: more supply keeps prices and check. But #housing has to be built at a fast enough clip and across the entire city. buildingtheskyline.org/housing-twen...

Currently, 33% of #NYC land (exclusive of parks, cemeteries & airports) is used for one- and two-family homes. (It goes up to 42% with 1- & 2- fam. + vacant land). Such use of land, esp. near subways, is what makes housing so scarce and unaffordable.

My #Skynomics Blog post on the #economics of #skyscrapers (from 6/23) buildingtheskyline.org/long-live-th...

Report on #NYC housing. Guess the decade? @ronanlyons.bsky.social

Currently, 33% of #NYC land (exclusive of parks, cemeteries & airports) is used for one- and two-family homes. (It goes up to 42% with 1- & 2- fam. + vacant land). Such use of land, esp. near subways, is what makes housing so scarce and unaffordable.

If you look at housing construction rates in #NewYorkCity over the last 125 years, one thing is clear: more supply keeps prices and check. But #housing has to be built at a fast enough clip and across the entire city. buildingtheskyline.org/housing-twen...

Trump admin attacks on higher ed are not just attacks on the schools, administrators & faculty grant recipients. They're attacks on students too. There will be fewer labs and research opps & a lower quality of education will arrive with each and every funding cut. Trump is attacking our kids.

Why has #Gotham been in a “Housing Emergency” for 80 years? The short answer: Lack of building new #housing. More housing increases vacancy rates, which lowers costs and will get #NYC out of its housing crisis. Check out my blog post: buildingtheskyline.org/nyc-housing-...

Hate to borrow a phrasing from you-know-who but "build baby build" would do a lot for creating an affordable housing situation for many people in NYC.

It's the inequality, stupid! If US had the same income distribution as 1975, each worker in the bottom 90% could earn an extra $23,000! From 2018-2023 they could have earned an extra $195,000. Rising costs for homes & medical care are easier to take if our income distribution is more fair.

Avg #NYC zip code vacancy rates (2015-19) vs median HH income and max allowable FAR. The #Bronx is squeezed on both ends--low income and low FAR mean major affordability problems.

Check out my latest #Skynomics Blog post: "Why Has #Gotham Been in a " #Housing Emergency” for 80 Years? (Part II)"--I do a deep dive into the data to answer the question.... buildingtheskyline.org/nyc-housing-...

Love the #StarTrek museum in Ticonderoga, NY.

Chicago, Feb. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) today released its 2025 Trends

Glad to see that my #CitiesintheSkyBook has a higher goodreads score than a few of world's most important books. 🤣

#NYC law defines a "housing emergency" if citywide rental vacancy remains less than 5%. So why has the vacancy rate been less than 5% for over 80 years? buildingtheskyline.org/nyc-housing-...