Looking at the skyline of New York City, one might wonder how many more buildings could possibly fit on the island of Manhattan. And yet, new high-rises are completed every few months, and cranes are hard at work all over the city.

Do the many construction sites mean that Manhattan will soon be one big block of concrete? Thankfully there are rules: when developers want to build a super tall building, they have to buy “air rights” from their neighbors so that the new building can be extra tall while the neighbors stay short.

What do you think about all the construction in NYC?

The noise and dirt from building sites are annoying. And the new buildings are expensive and not everyone can afford to work and live in them. Small businesses such as bookstores, flower shops, and diners are often forced to leave their neighborhoods, changing the area’s character forever. For some people it even means they can’t afford housing anymore at all. NYC already has 40,000 people living on the streets.

On the other hand, the new construction shows how popular NYC is. In the last 30 years, the city has become quite safe, and with beautiful green spaces, job opportunities, and an exciting cultural life, who wouldn’t want to live here?

Also, already half of the world’s growing population lives in cities, and experts believe that trend will increase to more than two thirds by 2050. What do you think that means for cities besides the need for more buildings?