ABSTRACT
The reproduction of social property today requires hybrid models of ownership and long-term alliances across different sectors, disciplines, and government levels. The collapse of Lehmann Brothers in September of 2008 gave us the final nudge, making us realize that a different kind of urban practice was urgently needed. Cohabitation Strategies began operating then, as a cooperative for socio-spatial design and development. The Cooperative Housing Trust Program is envisioned as a pilot program using existing instruments for land management and housing development, while considering the social, spatial, and political complexities of New York City. The ownership model intends to offer tenants and neighbours a voice and ownership in the processes of producing their own living, working, and learning environments. The majority of the capital cost of each Cooperative Housing Trust, about 90 percent, is sponsored by the local government, while the planning and management costs, about 10 percent, are provided by the Mutual Housing Association.
