The Urban Designer Who Shapes the City
Christian Chand interviews Talia Clarick, a zoning urban designer at New York City’s Department of City Planning, whose architecture background informs her work bridging design and policy.
“The stuff I’m working on feels like it could make a difference — like it could actually make things more equitable in the city.”
By Christian Chand
Every building in New York City, from the tallest skyscraper to the smallest storefront, is shaped by zoning laws, the rules that determine what can be built, where, and how land is used. In this episode, Christian Chand interviews Talia Clarick, a zoning urban designer at the New York City Department of City Planning, about how those laws influence daily life.
Clarick discusses her work on the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative, which aims to expand housing options by allowing office-to-residential conversions and easing building limits. She also describes her role illustrating the city’s new Zoning Handbook and reflects on her path from architecture school to public service — seeing design not just as a way to create buildings, but as a way to build a more equitable city.
Christian Chand is a freshman at Hunter College in Manhattan, where he plans to double major in computer science and theater. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games like Elden Ring, playing basketball, and spending time with friends.
The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.
