NYCxDESIGN Salon - The Housing Crisis: Real Solutions from Real People
INC Architecture & Design + Living City Project host a panel on NYC’s urgent housing affordability crisis with leaders in policy & academia.
INC Architecture & Design, in collaboration with the Living City Project, presents a panel discussion bringing together leading policymakers, civic leaders, and academic voices to address one of the most urgent challenges facing New York City today: the housing crisis.
With a new mayoral administration for whom affordability is a central priority, the city finds itself at a consequential inflection point. The decisions made now across policy, planning, development, and civic engagement will shape not only the availability of housing but the social and economic fabric of the city for decades to come. This conversation is intended to move beyond abstraction and into the realm of real proposals, real constraints, and real opportunities.
The panel will include individuals working at the forefront of housing policy and urban governance alongside leaders from government agencies and academic institutions. They will examine the range of ideas currently being advanced, from zoning reform and public-private partnerships to new models of housing production and preservation, and consider how these strategies might be implemented in a city as complex and dynamic as New York.
The discussion will be moderated by Drue Kendall, an alumnus of the Living City Project who is currently studying urban politics at Fordham University. His recent policy work on housing reflects both analytical rigor and a deep engagement with the lived realities of the city, positioning him to guide a conversation that is both grounded and forward-looking.
Reception to follow.
About the Organizers
INC Architecture & Design is a New York-based interdisciplinary studio working across architecture, interiors, and object design. The practice approaches design as a relational and cultural act, combining research, material intelligence, and social awareness to shape environments that support human connection and civic life.
The Living City Project is an educational initiative that uses New York City as an immersive classroom. It brings together young people from diverse backgrounds to engage directly with the urgent challenges facing cities today, fostering a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and civic participation.
Panelists
Moses Gates VP for Housing and Neighborhood Planning at the Regional Plan Association. Moses leads research and advocacy for regional affordability and is a visiting professor at Pratt Institute.
Thomas Yu Executive Director of Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE). Thomas oversees the development of affordable housing and social services for over 35,000 New Yorkers annually.
Carol E. Rosenthal Senior Counsel at Fried Frank. Carol is a land-use specialist with extensive experience in rezonings, public-private partnerships, and large-scale urban development.
Cassim Shepard Author and Distinguished Lecturer at the Spitzer School of Architecture (CCNY). Cassim is the founding editor of Urban Omnibus and his work focuses on the craft of practical urbanism.
Location
150 Varick Street 5th Floor
Agenda
Doors Open: 4:45pm
Panel Discussion: 5:00pm
Reception: 6:00pm
Be sure to explore the other Open Studio Salons in this series.
Discover the full lineup of NYCxDESIGN events at nycxdesign.org.
INC Architecture & Design + Living City Project host a panel on NYC’s urgent housing affordability crisis with leaders in policy & academia.
INC Architecture & Design, in collaboration with the Living City Project, presents a panel discussion bringing together leading policymakers, civic leaders, and academic voices to address one of the most urgent challenges facing New York City today: the housing crisis.
With a new mayoral administration for whom affordability is a central priority, the city finds itself at a consequential inflection point. The decisions made now across policy, planning, development, and civic engagement will shape not only the availability of housing but the social and economic fabric of the city for decades to come. This conversation is intended to move beyond abstraction and into the realm of real proposals, real constraints, and real opportunities.
The panel will include individuals working at the forefront of housing policy and urban governance alongside leaders from government agencies and academic institutions. They will examine the range of ideas currently being advanced, from zoning reform and public-private partnerships to new models of housing production and preservation, and consider how these strategies might be implemented in a city as complex and dynamic as New York.
The discussion will be moderated by Drue Kendall, an alumnus of the Living City Project who is currently studying urban politics at Fordham University. His recent policy work on housing reflects both analytical rigor and a deep engagement with the lived realities of the city, positioning him to guide a conversation that is both grounded and forward-looking.
Reception to follow.
About the Organizers
INC Architecture & Design is a New York-based interdisciplinary studio working across architecture, interiors, and object design. The practice approaches design as a relational and cultural act, combining research, material intelligence, and social awareness to shape environments that support human connection and civic life.
The Living City Project is an educational initiative that uses New York City as an immersive classroom. It brings together young people from diverse backgrounds to engage directly with the urgent challenges facing cities today, fostering a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and civic participation.
Panelists
Moses Gates VP for Housing and Neighborhood Planning at the Regional Plan Association. Moses leads research and advocacy for regional affordability and is a visiting professor at Pratt Institute.
Thomas Yu Executive Director of Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE). Thomas oversees the development of affordable housing and social services for over 35,000 New Yorkers annually.
Carol E. Rosenthal Senior Counsel at Fried Frank. Carol is a land-use specialist with extensive experience in rezonings, public-private partnerships, and large-scale urban development.
Cassim Shepard Author and Distinguished Lecturer at the Spitzer School of Architecture (CCNY). Cassim is the founding editor of Urban Omnibus and his work focuses on the craft of practical urbanism.
Location
150 Varick Street 5th Floor
Agenda
Doors Open: 4:45pm
Panel Discussion: 5:00pm
Reception: 6:00pm
Be sure to explore the other Open Studio Salons in this series.
Discover the full lineup of NYCxDESIGN events at nycxdesign.org.
Good to know
Highlights
- 2 hours
- under 18 with parent or legal guardian
- In person
- Doors at 4:45 PM
Refund Policy
Location
150 Varick St
150 Varick Street
New York, NY 10013
How do you want to get there?
