Programming Narratives

DUMBO Resident

I have lived in DUMBO for several years and this neighborhood really seems to have come alive with the addition of the sustainable cohousing project on Water Street. On the ground level, they have some really interesting and affordable retail shops that are open to the public. There is an organic food market that carries locally grown produce, organic poultry and pork, grass fed beef, etc. as well as other eco friendly household goods and cleaning products. Some of these products are even grown in their hydroponics gardens. Regardless, all of these goods are used in their community kitchen, which serves dinner to all DUMBO residents outside of the community at least once a month. In the co-op, they also have a goods exchange. It is almost like a library. You can bring old items that you no longer use there for other people to borrow as needed. This allows people to share items that they no longer need or are not frequently used in the city. In exchange, they have reduced their impact on the world by reducing consumption.

Single Water Street Resident

I just recently moved to New York six months ago and am so fortunate to be living here. When I moved to New York, I knew nobody and was far away from my family and friends. Being in New York alone was a scary thought. In this building, I have made new friends and now have an extended family. I live in a small apartment. I have just what I need to sleep, bath, cook an occasional meal for myself, and store my belongings. I do all of my socializing in the common areas. The community living and dining room are where I spend most of my time. There are no televisions here. Watching TV can often be an individual, anti social act. I don’t mind. I often plop down and read a book, share in a friendly card game, or engage in casual conversation with one of my neighbors. In the summer, there are movies in the park just outside our front door. I can even see and hear them from my apartment. When it is not my night to cook community dinner, I often find myself helping anyway. I enjoy being around my neighbors and sharing in their lives. Cooking is not the only thing we do together. Everyone participates in the extensive recycling, composting, and gardening aspects of our home as we are all committed to doing what we can to help make the world a better place. The residents who have kids share in daily daycare responsibilities. I have also made friends outside of our home. Many DUMBO residents shop in the Co-Op and goods exchange as well as come to our open community dinners.

Married with Child Water Street Resident

Tonight is my night to cook dinner. I don’t mind. I only have to cook one day a week. That is not so bad. Prior to getting the meal ready, I will need to stop in at the Co-Op and pick up some ingredients. I think some tomatoes are ready in our gardens as well. Once the meal has been served and cleared, I will also have to help with clean up. We make an effort to compost all that we can on the rooftop. When it is ready, we use the compost in our rooftop vegetable garden. Everything that can be recycled is. Again, I don’t mind the work. Once a week, sure beats seven. Besides, I have other residents helping me with tonight’s meal. We have prepared dinner together so many times before that we have a routine and look forward to our evening away from the kids with each other. My husband is watching the kids in the daycare center this evening. We all have shifts so that we have free time for other things. It is nice knowing that someone responsible is watching your children, not a stranger. In the summer, the kids have a spot on the roof to run and play in. This makes my life easier as I can be working in the garden or line drying my laundry while watching them.