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Williamsburg has been at the center of conversations around gentrification for decades. This event will explore this history through a 60-90 minute in-person walking tour of Williamsburg's waterfront/downtown. We'll explore the history of the neighborhood from the second half of the 20th century to today, and explore the ways in which local community groups, organizers, the city, and even real estate developers have tried to preserve the "character of the community". While, for organizers and community groups, this preservation work often feels like self-defense, developers and the real estate industry have often co-opted the industrial character of Williamsburg's waterfront. Together, we'll ponder some big questions: what makes Williamsburg feel authentic? Who gets to decide if it is authentic? (Led by Katelin Penner, an MUP student).