Robert M. Fogelson Book order

The first cooperative housing in the U.S. was designed to address the needs of low- and moderate-income Americans, contrasting with the market-driven co-ops and condominiums of today. Built in the 1960s, Co-op City in the Bronx is one of the largest housing cooperatives globally, developed by the United Housing Foundation after years of managing smaller cooperatives in New York City. This massive "city" was intended for 55,000 to 60,000 residents. The narrative explores Co-op City and the broader cooperative housing movement in New York from the 1920s to the 1970s, highlighting the financial struggles between the UHF and residents that marked the decline of non-profit cooperative housing in the U.S. While Co-op City and similar cooperatives continued to serve many, they ceased to be seen as viable solutions for housing working-class Americans. Through this historical examination, the author sheds light on the rise and fall of a once-promising concept, offering valuable insights into the persistent housing challenges faced by cities across the nation.