Spring 2003 Art History C3982y
The Shape of New York: Reconstructing Lower Manhattan
Thursday 9-10:50 a.m.
934 Schermerhorn

Hilary Ballon
Professor and Chair
Department of Art History & Archaeology

826 Schermerhorn; 854-8940
E-mail: hmb3@columbia.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 9-11 & by appt.

Our subject is the process of city building; our focus is Lower Manhattan. At this extraordinary moment in the life of New York City, a ground swell of interest in Ground Zero has moved urban planning and design from the domain of experts into the glare of public scrutiny and headline news. The public, or rather a variety of publics, has claimed a role in the planning process and insisted on its stake in Ground Zero, although what role New Yorkers will be able to play going forward remains unclear. Our primary tasks this semester are to understand the multiple factors that shape the rebuilding process, study the historical context of redevelopent in New York City, and evaluate the impact of urban planning and design on city life. Along the way, I hope your judgment of the competing visions of Lower Manhattan grows sharper and your appreciation of the complexity of urban life and design is substantially enriched.