A year has passed since our country entered what many are calling the “Great Recession”. Banks are failing, and unemployment is at record highs, yet from walking down many streets in New York City, people can’t easily make that distinction. For example, just this summer, there were at least five construction jobs on the 136th St and 71st Rd, a block in my neighborhood, alone. This seems odd, because if construction is a telltale sign of a revival in the economy, than why is it occurring now?
For this article I would see if there is a negative correlation between construction and the economy. For example, maybe the reason that so many people were renovating is because they can’t afford to moveto larger properties and they opted for expansion instead. I would gather quotes from some of my neighbors to cover this trend. I also know that there is an elderly couple that chose to extend an outdoor patio, instead of investing in a retirement option in Florida because of the price gap. I would also like to record if residents think that these decisions are wise for the future, or they are just making hard choices because of hard times.