The Social Connections Co-op City

 

Co-op City New York

Discussion of the social aspects of Co-op development.

Coop City was developed and opened in 1968.  There are over 15,000 residential units in the development of 35 high rise buildings and 7 townhouse clusters.  These buildings cover only 20% of the landmass at 320 acres.  So, there is ample room for green space, park space, and recreation opportunities which all create great social space for the more than 50,000 residents.

The Mission Statement as stated by their website is “The mission of the board of directors of the Riverbay Corporation is to preserve affordable housing while maintaining an environment that provides and sustains a high quality of life standard for all cooperators.”

Also, they said “The Board of Directors will apply special focus on fostering an environment of cooperative living that supports a sense of community and that encourages shareholder participation in the overall governance of the residency.”

In the development there are 3 shopping centers, 3 community centers, 8 parking garages, professional offices, and an education park with elementary through high school.  There is a large shopping complex adjacent to the property.  There are multiple types of public transportation.

The community has many features within walking distance and there are 8 parking garages with 10,000 parking spaces.  There are amenities for all ages from senior activities to playgrounds for families.  The buildings are connected by bike and walking paths and have access to community centers that provide lunch, activities and programs, trips, and other activities especially for seniors.  Other amenities the walks connected to are outdoor exercise equipment, basketball and tennis courts, little league field, and a community garden.  There are churches on the property.

The community centers also have rooms for rent for meeting parties and family events.  There are shopping centers, grocery, convenience stores, restaurants, dry cleaners, and medical offices and a post office.  There are additional options at the nearby large shopping district.

All this discussion about the development depicts what is at the development.  Reviewing the development, you see that the people have opportunity to get to know each other and have personal ownership of the community.  There could be many reasons for this including the coop nature of the development and that there is no subleasing of the buildings.  But I think the main reasons step around the fact that the development is an actual town and a community of residents with all aspects of a town.  The mixed-use aspect of the development provides all parts of life for the people including space for people to meet and visit socially.  Making points of connection is one of the hallmarks of creating a social development.  Places to casually meet and things to casually do as you live your life daily.  This development has all that and more.  And it has a long history of success.

I have only begun to review the fine points of this project for social connection.  There is much here to review!

https://www.coopcity.com/