HB HIGH BRIDGE TEAM: Stephen Kennedy Laura Manville Dominick Tribone
HIGH BRIDGE & DEPOT PLACE MASTER PLAN THE DRAMATIC TOPOGRAPHY OF THIS SITE IS A CHALLENGE, BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE UNIQUE SPACES FOR BRONX RESIDENTS AT THE HARLEM RIVER.
These boards present infrastructural, ecological, and culturally-based ideas and plans for reclaiming the water edge in the High Bridge neighborhood. In particular, the site focuses on interventions around Depot Place, the High Bridge Plaza, and several of streets that connect the site into the neighborhood.
Graphics and design concepts by Stephen Kennedy, Laura Manville, and Dominick Tribone, along with the members of the MIT Bronx Site & Systems Planning Studio in Spring 2011.
SECTION HIGH BRIDGE & DEPOT PLACE INTERVENTIONS 0’
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TRANSECT Currently, there are significant physical barriers for residents wishing to access the water at this part of the Harlem River. The dramatic elevation changes, the Major Deegan expressway, and several rail lines currently stand between the neighborhoods and the river. But this area is also fortunate to host existing infrastructure that can be adapted for pedestrians. These include Depot Place, a vehicular access route over the Major Deegan and Metro North tracks, and the stone steps of the High Bridge. The diagram at left shows the complexity of this site.
HB
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
SITE & SYSTEMS PLANNING PRACTICUM
A HISTORIC RESOURCE High Bridge is the oldest standing bridge in New York City. The bridge is a beautiful and important neighborhood asset that connects Manhattan and the Bronx. Its tall masonry arches create majestic spaces beneath and an unparalleled view of the Harlem River from up top.
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
HARLEM RIVER PROMENADE Our ideas fit into a larger vision for this part of the Bronx waterfront. The Harlem River Promenade will create a dramatic park under the High Bridge,
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HTTP://BRONX.MIT.EDU
featuring a boathouse, greenhouse, and space for active recreation. Our ideas respond to resident feedback on these planned waterfront improvements, and focus on connecting the proposed new recreational spaces to the community.
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HB HIGH BRIDGE TEAM: Stephen Kennedy Laura Manville Dominick Tribone
HIGH BRIDGE & PLAZA SITE DETAILS HIGH BRIDGE STONE STEPS LANDSCAPE REDESIGN
CURRENT VIEW OF THE STONE STEPS Currently, you could pass by the steps and hardly know they were there! Overgrown trees and vegetation have obscured this important path and historic asset.
STONE STEPS RENOVATION The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is planning to restore the High Bridge steps. The steps are crumbling and damaged from years of foot traffic. With planned investment along the Harlem River, and with the renovation of this historic resource, the steps will undoubtably see more use as people travel from the neighborhood to the water.
The rendering at the top of this poster was inspired by the historic image of the steps at right. The high visibility of the redesigned steps responds to neighborhood residents who want to see the steps become a safer and more convenient access point. Our idea is to prune the vegetation around the stairs and to install rain gardens to prevent erosion and control some of the stormwater run-off from this steep slope. A dramatic vision of the steps from the new Harlem River promende, and from Manhattan, will highlight that the Bronx side of the bridge is a destination.
HIGH BRIDGE PLAZA ENTRANCE DESIGN Currently, High Bridge Park in the Bronx is situated below street level. When visitors to the renovated High Bridge approach the park from the north or east, they won’t see the bridge or the plaza until they get all the way to University Avenue. Additionally, the ramped park entrance is currently off-set more than a block from the bridge’s actual entrance. The site plan at left shows the plaza featuring a new entrance that steps down to the park from University Avenue at 170th Street. The rendering below shows the view as one approaches this new gate.
TEMPORARY ACTIVATIONS OF PUBLIC SPACE: CHAIR DAY! As part of our design process, we brainstormed ideas to bring new visitors and current residents together in the first stages of the bridge’s re-opening. One idea was “Bring Your Chair Day,” where neighborhood residents could bring their own lawn chairs or other furniture to the High Bridge to enjoy the sun and the views. This is a low barrier, low cost event idea that has potential to transform the bridge for an afternoon, and bring people together from both sides of the river.
HISTORIC IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY (www.nypl.org)
HIGH BRIDGE PLAZA GATEWAY DESIGN
TEMPORARY ACTIVATIONS OF PUBLIC SPACE: HIGH BRIDGE SALSA NIGHT
EXAMPLE GATE, AS VIEWED FROM 170TH
SALSA ON THE HIGH BRIDGE
This gate, modeled on the arches of the High Bridge, is just one design idea for the plaza gateway.
Salsa night on the High Bridge, sponsored by one of the performance or cultural institutions on either side of the Harlem River, would be a low cost and interesting use of the space during evening hours.
A visible gate for the High Bridge park would make the entrance easier to see and exciting to reach. On 170th Street, we envision banners, or even changes in paving, indicating a clear path to the High Bridge. Visitors coming from the Grand Concourse or MTA stations should be able to see and celebrate the approach to the park.
HB
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
SITE & SYSTEMS PLANNING PRACTICUM
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HTTP://BRONX.MIT.EDU
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Improve sidewalk and bicycle paths along Depot Place ramp and Exterior Street
Raise intersection at Depot Place and Sedgwick Avenue
DEPOT PLACE & SEDGWICK AVE ACCESS DETAILS Our access plan for the High Bridge plaza, steps, and Harlem River Promenade is centered on making paths to the river friendly to pedestrians of all ages and abilities. Below are some ideas for how to connect to existing and future bicycle
infrastructure. We also thought about how to accomodate current transportation uses at the site, and how to reconcile the current MTA and CSX tracks with a more active waterfront space.
Greenway South along Harlem River edge
IMPROVING PEDESTRIAN ACCESS Sedgwick Avenue, which runs alongside the expressway, is unfriendly to pedestrians to say the least. There are no places to cross safely and no sidewalk. The stairs from the High Bridge lead down to Sedgwick, only a few hundred feet from the Depot Place bridge, which is the only street for a mile in either direction that crosses both the Major Deegan and the Metro North tracks, providing access directly to the waterfront. However, the street was designed as an access road for the highway, with pedestrian sidewalks as an afterthought. With the reinvestment in the High Bridge and historic stone steps, Sedgwick Avenue needs to be a more inviting and safe street for the pedestrians who will make use of these assets. Our proposal is to add a visible and enforced crosswalk to aid future visitors to the promenade. The Depot Place crossing over thwe Deegan has more car lanes than is really needed. We propose removing parking and giving almost a full lane over to a pedestrian sidewalk and green space. This will also create a single visible path from the Bronx end of the High Bridge straight down to the water. Specific improvements include: • wider sidewalks • highly visible and marked intersection at Sedgwick and Depot Place • narrowing Depot Place to one lane in each direction and devoting additional space to pedestrian and bike path
SOUTHBOUND CONNECTION This bicycle and pedestrian path along the river’s edge would run from Roberto Clemente State Park at W. Tremont Avenue in Morris Heights down to the new Mill Pond Park at 149th Street, providing connections between the Gateway Center, Morris Heights, High Bridge, and Melrose neighborhoods.
PEDESTRIAN RAMP ACCESS TO THE HARLEM RIVER PROMENADE
The diagrams below show how a pedestrian path along the river could be created while maintaining important existing access to the MTA’s yards. The main parking lot would be moved to the area between the Marjor Deegan and the tracks. Employees would use the existing overpass at the yards station. Truck access would be maintained to the western side of the yards, but the additional space along the water’s edge would be redeveloped as a pedestrian path, separated from the yards by a fence or living wall.
A new pedestrian ramp will provide a quick, easy way to access the Harlem River Promenade north of the High Bridge. Adding decking as the primary landing from Depot Place will also provide a the perfect spot to view the High Bridge and watch waterfront events.
HB
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
SITE & SYSTEMS PLANNING PRACTICUM
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HTTP://BRONX.MIT.EDU
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MD Judy (Zheng) Jia Daniel Tien Simon Lizzie Woods KEY New Pedestrian Path Gabions Porous Pavement Constructed Wetland Activity Space
MACOMBS DAM PARK-IT PLACE
PARK-IT PLACE
MASTER PLAN
Part-time market, part-time parking, part-time park. This site plan takes advantage of this large, underutilized space along the waterfront by transforming the site that currently serves as surface parking for Yankee Stadium into flexible, open space for recreation and commerce. By including green space along
the edges, the waterfront becomes more visible. Small inlets abut the land without the interference of the highway or CSX line and could be an opportunity for outdoor seating, park areas, and environmental remediation. The addition of active and park space next to adjacent Mill Pond Park creates a more seamless connection between the two sites.
CREATING ACTIVE SPACES
GREEN SOLUTIONS
ENHANCING CONNECTIONS
Imagine taking a piece of the surface parking lots and dedicating it as flexible activity space. Off the Grid is a food truck gathering, where food trucks station themselves at different parking lots at different times all over the city. It presents an innovative and flexible way to reuse a parking lot. The space can also be used for other activities, like a day market, perhaps reminiscent of the Bronx Terminal Market, or a flea market.
In some areas, there would be no parking at all and the space can be used as landscaped green edges along the waterfront. In other areas, it can be an open flexible space for part-time parking as well as recreation, sport, or play. By enhancing the area’s physical environment through green paving or planting trees, it can serve as an open space on off-game days.
Pedestrian spaces and connecting pathways can be visually enhanced through art and improved lighting. Not only does this create a safer environment but evokes visual interest throughout transition spaces. Designing more visible spaces makes movement through these pathways easier, and clearly and legibly identifying destinations enchances wayfinding.
Off the Grid (San Francisco, CA)
Vision of Bronx Harlem River Waterfront Edge
Fort Greene Flea Market (Brooklyn, New York)
MACOMBS DAM PARK-IT PLACE SECTION DIAGRAMS A
Exterior Street Section 1” : 10’
Orange Bowl (Miami, FL)
Race Street Connector (Philadelphia, PA)
A This design proposes a safer pedestrian crossing at Exterior Street, a dangerous and confusing intersection that comes at a particularly important transitional space between the waterfront parks and key upland destinations. A simple raised crosswalk identifies a safer pedestrian route.
Brooklyn Bridge Lighting (Brooklyn, New York)
B The addition of green space along the waterfront of the existing parking lot offers more direct access to the water. Transforming the lots into part-time parking through green paving and landscaping creates an open space for recreation.
C Through landscaping, lighting, and other small scale design improvements, the path from 161st St. to Macombs Dam Bridge becomes safer and more pleasant.
Parking Lot Section 1” : 17’
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Waterfront Green Space
Flexible Open Space with Porous Pavement
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Streetfront Green Space
Pedestrian Path Section 1” : 4’
A C B Mill Pond Park / Macombs Dam Park-It Place
MetroNorth Station / Macombs Dam Park Exterior Street Raised Crosswalk
10’ Paved Path 2’ Clearance
2’ Clearance
Selective Clearing and Landscaping
MD
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
SITE & SYSTEMS PLANNING PRACTICUM
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HTTP://BRONX.MIT.EDU
SPRING 2011
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MD
FLEXIBLE ACTIVITY SPACE
MACOMBS DAM PARK-IT PLACE
How would a flexible activity space look like on this site? Food trucks, for example, could complement the tailgating activities happening nearby on game days while bringing in commerce at the same time. It can also serve the local community by offering cheap and simple food options on off-game days. This proposal seeks to take advantage of the activity already occuring in this space while also making use of an underutilized space.
SITE DESIGNS
MD
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
MACOMBS DAM PEDESTRIAN PATH
ART AND CULTURE ON EXTERIOR STREET
Creating safe, attractive spaces for pedestrians doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By mimicking the style of path and lighting used in the nearby Mill Pond Park, residents and visitors will experience a coherent, continuous path along the water that is separate from automobile traffic.
Exterior Street transforms from an empty throughway into a vibrant transitional space by engaging local artists to draw on the site’s history through painting, signs, and new colorful new netting underneath the Major Deegan.
SITE & SYSTEMS PLANNING PRACTICUM
MACOMBS DAM BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN RAMP
TRANSITIONAL SPACE TO METRO-NORTH
The construction of a pedestrian ramp provides a safe, direct, and highly visable method for residents and visitors to access the activated parking lots and the improved waterfront edges. Taking advantage of an existing but incomplete sidewalk, the ramp allows pedestrians to avoid the complicated and dangerous intersection on Macombs Dam Bridge.
Currently an afterthought, the space between the Metro-North Station and the waterfront parks could become an attractive means of directing people towards the river through artwork that celebrates rather than ignores the surrounding infrastructure
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HTTP://BRONX.MIT.EDU
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COMMUNITY INTERSECTION REPAIR
JESSICA FAIN FRANNY RITCHIE ALBERT CHING
Successfully trialed in Portland, OR and Brooklyn, NY, a community intersection repair engages youth to remake a part of the community that is often overlooked: intersections. Along with becoming a community-building and arts activity for locals, the projects also aim to calm traffic along some of the busier thoroughfares in a neighborhood, which in this gateway intersection to the Harlem River waterfront, would be most welcome.
PIER 5 WATER PARK master plan PIER 5 WATER PARK is an attempt to be the place on the Harlem River waterfront where nature and people meet. Low-cost, natural ecological treatments can be used for environmental remediation and to create “eco-islands” under the bridges. While the CSX rail line directly cuts off access to the river itself, a spray park on Pier 5, a pocket wetland, and a walkable water’s edge bring a new water experience to park visitors Spaces like Pier 5 are also designed to be adaptable for medium-scale cultural events, something that is largely absent on the Harlem River waterfront. For special events, the 149th St bridge, a lower cartraffic bridge in the area, may also be temporarily reclaimed for pedestrian use.
ECO-ISLAND There are 6 bridges with metal support structures that float in the middle of the Harlem River. The structure under the 149th Street bridge can be transformed into an “ecoIsland,” where floating plant beds and oyster substrates filter the water biologically and fit within the existing metal grid structure.
POP-UP FOOD ON THE 149TH ST BRIDGE
With wide lanes and relativelylow car traffic, the 149th St bridge which connects with Harlem may be the perfect bridge for pedestrians to reclaim on a summer Sunday to bring the neighboring communities together around perhaps ... the world’s largest paella.
WETLAND PARK Red-tailed hawk, spotted in High Bridge Park
Downy woodpecker, spotted in Inwood Hill
AN URBAN Bird-WATCHING WILDeRNeSS Perhaps the only one of its kind in all of NYC, a 5-acre pocket wetland near a dense urban setting and strong transport connections could be a powerful investment in bringing back native habitat and wildlife to the Harlem River waterfront.
OUTDOOR ECOLOGICAL CLASSROOM Learning about the environment has become an increasingly important part of the curriculum for many schools in the Bronx and to groups like the Harlem River Rangers. Hands-on activities like bird-tracking, water-testing, and wild nature observation may be possible in specially-designed outdoor classrooms within the natural wetland.
Native birds like the robin, red-tailed hawk, and downy woodpecker could call this new waterfront environment home along with a plethora of other native plants and animals. For locals unable to access the more distant, wild nature preserves, this could be a unique and powerful way to experience nature and its beauty. Robin, spotted near Mill Pond Park
TAKING CARE OF THE WATER STormwATER mAnAGEMENT As storms become more frequent, a big concern for quality of the Harlem River water is Combined Sewer Overflows, or CSOs. Stormwater often flows through the same systems as untreated sewage, and in the event of a big storm can lead to direct spills into the Harlem River. A CSO spot is located under the 149th St bridge.
WETLAND PARK section
One strategy to limit these events, which are quite frequent along the Harlem River, is to divert some of the stormwater from flowing directly into the sewer system. A pocket wetland proposed on the site currently occupied by the Bronx Recycling Center is designed to divert stormwater from a signficant section of the Major Deegan into a wetland environment where it can not only be stored but also naturally filtered before it reaches the Harlem River.
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Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
Site & Systems Planning Practicum
Department of Urban Studies & Planning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
http://bronx.mit.edu
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PIER 5 SPRAY PARK Imagine Pier 5 as a celebration of water. River water quality improves with new, soft edges, highway runoff gets recycled through giant rain barrels, and a unique, intimate experience with nature is just south of the 149th Street Bridge. We think this certainly deserves a monument...and a splash. A seasonal spray feature will allow people to cool off and have fun.
JESSICA FAIN FRANNY RITCHIE ALBERT CHING
OUTDOOR EVENTS ON PIER 5
Bronx Gateway Sign and stage
Pier 5 Flexible Programming
Flexible, open space is integrated into the design scheme to accomodate a variety of outdoor events. Revenue-generating or open to the public, the idea is to get people to the space...and get to know their waterfront.
PIER 5 section
SUPER BARREL RAINWATER FILTERS ON PIER 5
WALKABLE GABION WATER EDGE A system using recycled rubble and gabions allows both people and animals to enjoy the river’s edge. The gabions slow down the water, allowing for new riparian growth. A boardwalk provides resting spots and unique views.
When it rains, water that lands on the Major Deegan Expressway is goes directly into the Harlem River. While not highly toxic, this water contains contaminants that add pollutants to the river. Redirecting the water into giant rain barrels for later reuse would help address this issue. Brightly colored barrels create iconic entrances to the park.
P5
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
Site & Systems Planning Practicum
Department of Urban Studies & Planning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
http://bronx.mit.edu
spring 2011
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Lincoln Avenue in the South Bronx is one of the few remaining streets that ends directly at the waterfront. As a result, it is a prime location for developing waterfront access, public open space, and boat access. Lincoln Avenue is located in a historic area that contains several major industries, alongside an ethnically diverse community, a thriving arts community, and several schools. Additionally, the end of Lincoln Avenue at the Harlem River is the site of one of many combined sewer outfalls which empty contaminated water from Bronx’s streets directly into the river during heavy rainfall. While providing waterfront open space for the community, Lincoln Avenue could also play a role in improving the water quality of the Harlem River. Thus, Lincoln Avenue is a site which offers many opportunities to bring together recreational, cultural, and environmental goals into one project.
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The proposals for Lincoln Avenue explore the potential of developing waterfront access at the Harlem River. Alongside this, it was recognized that additional projects around Lincoln Avenue would be important to ensure the viability and connectivity of the waterfront proposals. First, it was important to strengthen the connection between the residential neighborhood north of the Major Deegan Expressway and the waterfront. Thus, it is envisaged that this connection could be strengthened by improving the streetscape along Lincoln Avenue from
PROJECTS: 1. LINCOLN AVENUE WATERFRONT 2. RAIN GARDEN AT 3RD/ 138TH 3. BRUCKNER BOULEVARD
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Bruckner Boulevard is the nearest eastwest cross street to the Lincoln Avenue Waterfront proposals. Bruckner has the potential to become a vibrant main street with residential and retail uses, to further activate the water’s edge. Within the last few years, Bruckner has already begun to transform. This former antiques and manufacturing corridor is now home to many artists and arts organizations and a new moderateincome residential building with ground floor retail space (at the intersection with Willis Avenue). Bruckner’s western end is under the 3rd Avenue Bridge. The space underneath the bridge does not function well for drivers, pedestrians or cyclists. An outdoor gallery makes use of this underutilized space, capitalizing on the artist community and highlighting the transportation infrastructure in the South Bronx.
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As one of the few streets extending directly to the waterfront, Lincoln Avenue is an obvious site for waterfront access and public open space. However, the available area for waterfront access is small. Nonetheless, there is an opportunity to create space by expanding the pedestrian sidewalks at Lincoln Avenue given the generous width of the street. Also, if the road leading to the waste transfer station was realigned it could create additional space at the waterfront. Given these changes, there can be enough space at the waterfront for waterfront access, public open space, and boat access. Given the number of schools nearby (which amount to over 8,000 school children), there could also be space for a playground at the waterfront.
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Lastly, Lincoln Avenue is a good opportunity to incorporate environmental goals into public open space. Along the expanded sidewalk there could be a series of swales which capture stormwater running down the street curb. These swales would be planted, improving the quality of the street. This system of swales would In the short-term, it is likely that the run along the block at Lincoln Avenue, adjacent parcels will remain as they are. ending as a water channel which Although in the long-term it is possible empties into the Harlem River. This that they will be redeveloped. The South channel could be a water feature for Bronx Overall Economic Development the public, allowing people to see and Corporation has already undertaken a possibly interact with the water. planning study for one of the adjacent parcels. In the short-term, there is an
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opportunity to use walls and fencing to demarcate the public space and to ensure that these adjacent parcels do not detract from the waterfront experience. Walls could be surfaces for murals or artwork by local artists. There are also numerous examples of decorative fencing. In this way, walls or fencing could be used to add to public space by becoming public art themselves.
5 4 VIEW OF LINCOLN AVENUE TOWARDS THE WATERFRONT SHOWING STORMWATER SWALES
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DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
HTTP://BRONX.MIT.EDU
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THE RAIN GARDEN PLAZA AT LINCOLN, 3RD AVE, & E 138TH
CONNECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE WATERFRONT In order to connect the surrounding neighborhood to the Waterfront at the end of Lincoln Avenue, we propose that the intersection of Lincoln Avenue, 3rd Avenue, and E 138th Street be redesigned as a new Rain Garden Plaza to serve as the symbolic entrance to the Waterfront. By enhancing the Plaza, a more safe, lively and green open space would be created. The Plaza will not only provide a space for community members to sit and gather, but also provide a pleasant walking experience for pedestrian visitors coming to the Waterfront from the nearby subway stop.
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There are several opportunities in enhancing the Rain Garden Plaza and creating a high-quality public space at this location. Historically, this area was one of the first downtown centers in the Bronx. The remnants of this era can be seen in the current Chase Bank building that used to be the old North Side Board of Trade Building. These buildings, along with the Plaza design, add a symbolic character to the southern portion of Lincoln Avenue. Socially, this area is surrounded by public housing buildings that are home to many families living in this neighborhood. As public parks are limited throughout the Bronx, enhancing the quality of the existing space by planting more trees and creating gardens can be a much needed amenity to the community. Environmentally, designing the green spaces with significant stormwater management capacity may be effective in lessening the stormwater management pressure towards the downstream of Lincoln Avenue. By placing low-cost stormwater infiltration tree trenches and planters, the public spaces will not only be greened but also “blued” - piloting new systems to solve drainage issues and potentially improving the water quality of stormwater drainage that is harming the Harlem River.
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3RD AVENUE BRIDGE
Bruckner Boulevard is the nearest east-west cross street to the Lincoln Avenue Waterfront proposals. Bruckner has the potential to become a vibrant main street with residential and retail uses, which would further activate the water’s edge. Within the last few years, Bruckner has already begun to transform. This former antiques and manufacturing corridor is now home to many artists and arts organizations and a new moderate-income residential building with ground floor retail space opened earlier this year at the intersection of Bruckner and Willis Avenue.
AT 3RD AVENUE & BRUCKNER BLVD 3RD AVENUE BRIDGE OUTDOOR GALLERY re
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This area is underutilized and difficult to manuver for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The plaza addition would simplify the paths of movement and would benefit the arts organizations nearby.
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MIX OF RESIDENCES AND INDUSTRIAL USES
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INDUSTRIAL AND AUTO-ORIENTED USES
REDEVELOPMENT: ARTISTS LOFTS LOW INCOME RESIDENCES MIXED USE STAIR TO BRIDGE AT BACK OF SHADOWY AREA
LOOKING SOUTH 3RD AVENUE BRIDGE
UNDER BRIDGE GALLERY PLAZA DESIGN
LINCOLN AVE
SERGIO SEBASTIAN FRANCO-CONFETTI
LA
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
BARCELONA SERGIO SEBASTIAN FRANCO-CONFETTI
SITE & SYSTEMS PLANNING PRACTICUM
MILWAUKEE URBAN PLAZA
BROOKLYN DUMBO ART UNDER THE BRIDGE FESTIVAL
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
The 3rd Avenue Bridge Gallery is at the western end of Bruckner Boulevard. The gallery proposal creates a cobblestone plaza in the underutilized space; cobblestone is the historic paving material on site. Further, we propose the installation of colorful lighting elements to brighten the space. This will add visual interest and improve the feeling of safety in this shadowy spot. Our hope is that this space become a place for the many arts institutions in the Bruckner corridor to display their work, for example stationary art objects, films, or performances. We hope that this space might foster collaboration and community spirit among South Bronx artists and art enthusiasts.
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POTENTIAL PARTNERS PARTNERS CURRENTLY ACTIVE ON SITE
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
BUSINESS PARTNERS
SOUTH BRONX OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BRONX COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS MOTT HAVEN HERALD
HARLEM RIVER YARD (WASTE TRANSFER STATION) NEW YORK POST FEDEX
BRONX COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FRIENDS OF BROOK PARK SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BRONX BRONX RIVER ALLIANCE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
NEW YORK CITY WATER WORKS
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND AREA PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS SCHOOLS
GHETTO FILM SCHOOL HARLEM RIVER RANGERS ROCKING THE BOAT THE BRONX DEFENDERS
HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ST. JEROME SCHOOL BRONX CHARTER SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN ST. PLUS V SCHOOL ST. LUKE SCHOOL
PROGRAMMING PARTNERS NYC DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
BRONX CULTURE TROLLEY LDR STUDIO GALLERY LONGWOOD ART GALLERY @ HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE PREGONES THEATER
BRUCKNER BAR & GALLERY
FINANCING PARTNERS NYC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NYC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS NYC HOUSING AUTHORITY MAYOR’S FUND TO ADVANCE NEW YORK CITY NYC CENTER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS EPA URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP
GREENER, GREATER COMMUNITIES NYC ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NY STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
NYC DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NYC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WORKFORCE 1
IMPLEMENTATION LINCOLN AVENUE WATERFRONT VE PARK
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BOARD OF EDUCATION
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PARK
In the long term, we believe that zoning will be one of the most influential tools for expanding waterfront access along the southern edge of the Bronx. The recent Waterfront Rezoning Map is shown at far left. While most of our proposals are in publicly owned spaces, each proposal would benefit greatly from working with area partners for maintenance and programming.
PLAYGROUND NYC BOARD OF POLICE NYC EDUCATION TRANSIT
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NEW YORK CITY HOUSING
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NEW YORK CITY HOUSING
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At the upland plaza at 3rd Ave and 138th St. we suggest looking into the NYCHA’s Greening Program. The parcels east of Lincoln Avenue are owned by NYCHA. The rain garden and linear swale proposals would be a great opportunity to involve NYCHA residents in building and maintaining green infrastructure.
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NEW YORK CITY HOUSING
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ONE & TWO FAMILY BLDGS MULTI-FAMILY WALK UP BLDGS
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BRUCKNER BY THE BRIDGE PUBLIC HOUSING
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It is also important to consider HUD’s Section 3 Resident Training/Employment Program. This program’s goal is to foster local economic development and to bring HUD contracts to the very people who rely on HUD financing. The Section 3 program requires that “recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent feasible, provide job training, employment, and contracting opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.”
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION
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HEALTH PARK NEW YORK CITY HOUSING
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ZONING & LAND OWNERSHIP
NEW YORK CITY HOUSING
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One goal of the Lincoln Avenue proposals is to bring the diverse Mott Haven community together. Each proposal involves a variety of partners from government agencies, to community groups, and the business community. Each green infrastructure and construction project is an opportunity for workforce development and education and each proposal includes space for local artists to exhibit their work.
COMMERCIAL & OFFICE INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT
TRANSPORTATION & UTILITY PUBLIC FACILTTIES & INSTITUTIONS
PUBLIC AUTHORITY, STATE, OR FEDERAL
DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT
CITY OWNED
OPEN SPACE & OUTDOOR REC. PARKING FACILITIES
TAX EXEMPED
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES
VACANT LAND
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES
UNKNOWN
ZONING MAP
OWNERSHIP MAP
PHASING The Lincoln Avenue proposals would evolve through at least four phases. The first would be the investment at the water’s edge, The second would be streetscaping improvements along Lincoln and Bruckner and the Rain Garden at Lincoln and 138th St. Third would be the gallery under the 3rd Avenue Bridge. Finally in the long term, there is potential in redeveloping the waterfront parcels.
PHASE 1
LA
Bronx, Meet Your Waterfront Plan
PHASE 2
SITE & SYSTEMS PLANNING PRACTICUM
PHASE 3
DEPARTMENT OF URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
PHASE 4
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