The Domino Effect

The Domino Effect examines gentrification in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, which was rezoned in the early 2000s in line with then–New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's vision for attracting high-end construction and wealthy consumers to the area. Filmmakers Megan Sperry, Daniel Phelps, and Brian Paul gather input from longtime residents, business owners, politicians, and community organizers, who describe how the area was transformed when landlords evicted small businesses, and buildings were razed or converted to luxury housing. The landmark Domino Sugar refinery ceased production after nearly 150 years in business, as developers touted the building's eventual conversion to luxury apartments. The Domino project was financed by the Community Preservation Corporation (CPCR)—the villain of this piece—which underwrites high-end real estate development while claiming to support lower-income housing. CPCR found favor with churches and other local organizations but wound up eliminating working-class jobs and residences (the Domino redo claimed to provide “affordable” housing—but about one-third of the proposed apartments would be priced for the upper-middle-class). Most of Williamsburg's small manufacturers had employed locals for generations in well-paying jobs, but these became supplanted by low-wage work in restaurants and retail, eroding the underpinnings of the community's working families. The film makes clear that the losses go beyond economics to encompass the sense of community and shared diverse culture that have disappeared in the wake of glitzy new projects—many of which remain ironically unfinished nearly 10 years after rezoning. Offering a sad look at a controversial trend, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)