When Affordability Fails: New York’s Black Exodus and the City It Leaves Behind

Abstract

A growing body of literature examines the increasing unaffordability of New York City and its effects on black residents in a pattern known as “black flight.” One major contributor is the cost of housing, which has risen dramatically in recent years. This article draws a connection between this phenomenon and the history of affordable housing and the demographic shifts that led to it. Starting with a chronology of New York’s public housing including regulatory, policy, and design setbacks, the article then focuses on the racial migration patterns of the last half century and the contributions of gentrification to neighborhood change, examining how these factors gave rise to today’s challenges. Finally, other avenues for affordable housing are weighed as potential approaches for addressing New York’s affordability crisis and retaining longtime residents. Drawing parallels between black flight and the destruction of Seneca Village, this article raises questions about the implications of New York City’s black exodus.