The Mix: Adapting to Gentrification Through Community Place-Making

Ananya Vijayendra //  Sarah Lippman

The Mix: Adapting to Gentrification Through Community Place-Making

This thesis project focuses on addressing socio-economic disparities in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City through strategic design interventions. Unlike typical gentrification that causes physical displacement, Chelsea is experiencing "emotional displacement," where long-term residents feel out of place amid rapid development. The project creates "third spaces"—community-oriented areas separate from home and work that facilitate social interaction. Key components include learning spaces like communal bookstores and tech labs, nourishment spaces such as an international food hall and community kitchen, and a laundromat café. These shared spaces are designed to foster interaction between different socio-economic groups, aiding in place-making to embrace the new neighborhood. This project aims to build community, address income inequality, and provide a sense of belonging for all residents, thereby turning the challenges of gentrification into opportunities for social cohesion.