Cities at Risk 2. The Making of a Green District for the West Side of Manhattan by CitiesatRisk

CITIES AT RISK 2

The Making of a “Green District” for the West Side of Manhattan

Cities At Risk The Making of a “Green District” for the West Side of Manhattan

Spring 2022 Syracuse University School of Architecture

AUTHORS Jeanelle Cho Laura Duke Katie Eveleth Kyle Kalmar Justin Leung Lauren Li Xiluva Mbungela Ronan McCabe Karl Pietsch Grace Rankin Maya Simms Runhe (April) Song Sierra Taylor Runqing (Jasmine) Xi Yeh Yeh Instructors: Amy Chester Jeannette Sordi

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work is the result of the Cities at Risk seminar. Jeanelle Cho, Laura Duke, Katie Eveleth, Kyle Kalmar, Justin Leung, Lauren Li, Xiluva Mbungela, Ronan McCabe, Karl Pietsch, Grace Rankin, Maya Simms, Runhe (April) Song, Sierra Taylor, Runqing (Jasmine) Xi, Yeh Yeh are the authors of the research projects, the maps, and strategies compiled in this report and presented to the West Side Community members and stakeholders. The course was taught by Amy Chester and Jeannette Sordi at Syracuse University’s School of Architecture NYC Program in the Spring of 2022. We are all extremely grateful to Alice Blank, Community Board 1, William Benesh and Joseph Gallagher, Community Board 2, Jesse Bodine, Janine Pretente, and Jean Daniel Noland, Community Board 4, Maarisa Mack, Community Board 5, Tom Harris, Time Square Alliance, Maia Berlow and Jacob Priley, Senator Brad Hoylman’s Office, as well as all the Community Board members and representatives who shared their time and insights to support us throughout the process. We would like to extend our thank you to all the guest speakers and reviewers that inspired the research and proposals, Adriana Chavez, Mat Staudt, Eric Klinenberg, Johanna Lawton, Daphne Lundi, Mathilde Marengo, Clelia Pozzi, Alexandros Tsamis, and Charles Waldheim. Finally, this could not have been done without the support and collaboration of Angela Co, the Director of the NYC architecture program, Ester Flaim, academic Program Manager at Syracuse NYC Architecture, and Michael Speaks, Dean of the School of Architecture at Syracuse University.

CONTENTS Introduction

The Site

Glossary of Terms

Tools Index

Big Stakeholders

5 Districts

Tribeca

Greenwich Village + Meatpacking

121

Chelsea

146

Hudson Yards + Hell’s Kitchen

172

Central Business District

194

Acknowledgement

218

INTRODUCTION

The BIG Team / Rebuild by Design

Climate change will make New York City hotter, colder, and wetter with increased extreme climate events. Our waterfront City will experience 3-6 feet of Sea Level Rise

Cities at Risk:

Strategies for Tribeca, Greenwhich Village, Chelsea, Hudson Yards and Hell’s Kitchen, and Central Business District As the world gets hotter, cooler, wetter, and dryer, storms like Superstorm Sandy will become more frequent in urban environments such as New York City which will wreak havoc on the lives of millions. Records show that maximum daily summer temperatures have been rising at rates of 0.5°F per decade at JFK Airport and 0.7°F per decade at LaGuardia Airport since 1970. Sea level recorded at The Battery in lower Manhattan has continued to rise at a rate of 0.11 inches per year since 1850, according to the NYC Panel on Climate Change. This is already affecting many New Yorkers, as downpours and nuisance flooding have become more regular, costing the city millions to mitigate. Last fall, Tropical Storm Ida flooded NYC subways, leaving behind multiple feet of water, causing some New York residents to wade through thigh-high floodwater, and others to miss work and other economic opportunities. Extreme temperatures and heat waves are exacerbated in densely populated areas by urban heat island effect which can lead to a series of effects on human health, including dehydration, heat stroke, cardiovascular and renal complications, and death. Increase in temperatures can lead to more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme climate events, affecting the quality and availability of water, and putting human lives and resources at risk. Sea level rise is predicted to increase by three to six feet, which will cause more devastating flood events and displacement of waterfront communities. It is estimated that by the turn of the century, countries worldwide will face up to six natural disasters1 at the same time, affecting millions of human lives, particularly those who are the most socially vulnerable, damaging ecosystems, and accelerating the loss of biodiversity. Cities around the world are standing up to this challenge. Coastal cities such as New York, Miami, Boston, and many other precedents globally, are investing billions of dollars in protecting

The BIG Team / Rebuild by Design

their waterfronts from increasingly impactful climate events and relentless sea level rise. This new urban infrastructure is also an opportunity to improve the availability and quality of green public spaces, increase land value, rethink mobility, and generate new economies. If our cities are to adapt to climate change, it is increasingly important to embrace structural changes that will anticipate future environmental risks by promoting new forms of urban and economic development. “Green districts,” a universal term for a geographical area which has formed specific policies or practices to address a range of environmental vulnerabilities, have formed around the world to address cities’ challenges of immediate and future environmental risk on the community-level. Examples such as Portland, Detroit, Toronto, and Paris have demonstrated that localized planning can strive to address the communities’ most pressing physical challenges while building social resilience by creating spaces which enhance a community’s experience every day, not just during extreme climate moments. In 2012, Superstorm Sandy barreled through the East Coast exposing the underlying vulnerabilities embedded in many communities in the New York region. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Rebuild by Design, a design challenge created by President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Task Force, was formed to create large-scale community-driven infrastructure to address future climate uncertainties. One of the winning designs, the BIG U, led by Bjorke Ingles Group and One Architecture, is a 10 mile stretch of physical and social infrastructure to protect Lower Manhattan from floodwater, storms, and other climate change impacts. The vision was to create seamless flood protection for the Lower Manhattan flood zone from West 57th Street down to The Battery, and up to East 42nd Street, which is home to approximately 220,000 residents and is the core of a $500 billion business sector that influences the world’s economy. The BIG U’s vision was created through dozens of meetings with local government and community stakeholders and was conceived as 10 continuous miles of protection tailored to respond to individual neighborhood topography as well as community-desired amenities. The proposal breaks the area into districts, provid-

If our cities are to adapt to climate change, it is increasingly important to embrace structural changes that will anticipate future environmental risks by promoting new forms of urban and economic development.

ing separate opportunities for integrated social and community planning processes for each. Each district comprises a physically separate flood-protection zone, isolated from flooding in the other zones, and provides opportunities for strengthened social resilience. The districts work in concert to protect and enhance the city, but each compartment’s proposal is designed to stand on its own. The design was awarded $335 million in federal disaster recovery funds in 2014 through the Rebuild by Design competition and another $171 million through the National Disaster Resilience Competition in 2015. The collaboration and innovation that began with the Rebuild by Design competition gave way to the planning, design, and implementation of various sections of this continuous flood infrastructure spanning multiple community boards at a budget of almost $2 billion. The City’s current plans span from East 25th Street on the East Side to Chambers Street on the West Side, for which sections have been named: East Side Coastal Resilience (ESCR), Brooklyn Bridge Montgomery Coastal Resilience (BMCR), Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience (LMCR), the Fidi Seaport Master Plan, and Battery Park City Resilience Projects. There are no current plans for permanent flood protection above Chambers Street. Cities at Risk II (the publication preceding Cities at Risk I) builds on knowledge developed in the Fall semester 2021 with Syracuse University School of Architecture students to inform the development of a plan to create a “green district” for the West Side of Manhattan. The Study Area encompasses Chambers Street to West 59th Street, from the Hudson River to Sixth Avenue to “complete” the flood district of the BIG U. While a green district will not solve a community’s full exposure to climate change, it can reduce risk by creating integrated solutions that focus on addressing existing needs and future climate predictions. These solutions may include storm surge barriers, expanding green space to absorb rainwater and reduce urban heat island effect, contribute to the global reduction of carbon by incentivizing greener building construction and rehabilitation, as well as create additional benefits of increased public health and mental health, neighborhood beautification, walkability and enjoyment. It can also build social resilience by enhancing spaces where neighbors meet one another and invest in programs that can be activated every day, and when communities are most in need.

The BIG Team / Rebuild by Design

Through desktop and on-the-ground research, students co-created a guide for Community members to address the West Side of Manhattan’s specific climate and social vulnerabilities. The student’s work has been informed by local stakeholders through community meetings, fieldwork, workshops, and lectures that will ensure that the work is informed by real-life challenges, and to develop students’ own research and professional agendas in planning and design. Cities at Risk II illustrates the climate-related and social resilience issues experienced across the west side of Manhattan and highlights the intersection and interdependency of different issues and systems of the city. The issues identified will be analyzed spatially to inform the development of strategic planning for sub-green district development specific to the neighborhoods on the west side. The full study area represents the portion of the BIG U project that was never completed, which extends from Chambers Street to West 59th Street, and from the Hudson River to Sixth Avenue. A green district cannot solve the all problems of the City, though the making of a green district presents the opportunity to holistically approach addressing climate-related and social resilience issues simultaneously. A green district plan for the West Side could mediate current flood risk, anticipate and prepare for increasing risk of flooding for the future. Green infrastructure would also be dramatically impactful on reducing heat island effect, reducing carbon, improving air quality, and improving the overall health, safety, and wellbeing of residents. The making of a green district would depend upon active input from communities to develop a district that responds to the needs of residents and to give individuals more ownership of their communities. Cities at Risk II offers insights as to how community engagement and collecting feedback would be incorporated and integral to planning a green district. The research, analysis, and proposed strategies for intervention were formed in the Spring semester 2022 by Syracuse University School of Architecture students, building off the work of previously published by the student contributors to Cities at Risk I. The West Side was organized into five areas of study: Tribeca, Greenwich Village and the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, and the

A “green” district is an urban area that prioritizes carbon reduction, nature-based solutions, and sustainable technologies. The district may use design elements, policies, and programs to increase climate resilience, build community, and improve the quality of life.

Central Business District. Each study area was investigated by a different team of three students that worked collectively to form analyses and strategies for interventions. Additional research and data collection was gathered from various climate change science resources and reports produced by NYC governmental agencies and authorities. The students participated in numerous lectures and workshops facilitated by experts in architectural and urban planning research, professionals involved in Rebuild by Design, and governmental officials, which was critical to forming innovative and holistic strategies for each study area. The students attended Community Board meetings for their respective study areas, culminating in a presentation to the Community Boards to share their research findings and proposed strategies. Members of the community provided critical feedback and first-hand experiences of their neighborhood to the students to inform and improve their final proposals. Direct involvement with the community was critical to ensure each study area was addressed locally and strategies for intervention were customized to the needs of each community. The proposals presented in Cities at Risk II are not intended to be fixed plans for each neighborhood, rather, they are comprehensive investigations into how the combination of different systems have the capability to address the complex network of intersecting climate-related and social resilience issues. The goal of Cities at Risk II is to reimagine how professionals and communities think about urban planning and to inspire improved collaborative design thinking that sufficiently addresses the current and future challenges New York City faces. Our ambition is that this publication is an informative and powerful guide for communities to advocate for change in their neighborhoods.

THE SITE

Tribeca and Hudson Square Community Board 1 N to S: Chambers St. to Canal St. E to W: 6th Avenue to Waterfront

Greenwich Village and Meatpacking Community Board 2 N to S: 14th St. to Canal St. E to W: 6th Avenue to Waterfront

Chelsea Community Board 4 N to S: 34th St. to 15th St. E to W: 6th Avenue to Waterfront

Hudson Yards and Hell’s Kitchen Community Board 4 N to S: Central Park to 34th St . E to W: 8th Avenue to Waterfront

Central Business District Community Board 5 N to S: 59th St. to 34th St . E to W: 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue

This map is an overall view of five study areas. It helps to understand the basic information of West Side of Manhanttan, which includes green space, flood lines, transportation lines, and hotspots that each group located as places to improve. In the TriBeCa area, the group focus on the streets that are severely impacted by flooding, which are West Street, Canal Street and Broadway. Both Greenwich Village and Chelsea areas focus on the river side to tackle the issues of heavy rainfall and storm surge. By redesigning the street scape and adding a green water plaza along the 6th Avenue, the rate of carbon emission is expected to decrease. For the Chelsea area, the group is also suggesting a change on the east side of the community to reduce the energy consumption in the commercial area. Since Hudson Yards is a commercial district, the group wants to add green space along the street within the community to help revive the “greenery” of the area and to improve the communitys mental health. The Central Business District group is focusing on areas like Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Herald Square. Toolkits that address the issues toward small areas are applied, like community park in the Herald Sqaure.

Flood Projection (Mapped from Hurrican Sandy) More Severe

Less Severe

Study Area

Green Space Green Roof Flood Projection Extreme Rainfall Condition

SOURCES: WORST CASE SCENARIO OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. (29 MAY 2014). HURRICANE INUNDATION ZONES - WORST CASE. HTTPS://DATA.CITYOFNEWYORK.US/PUBLIC-SAFETY/HURRICANE-INUNDATION-ZONES-WORST-CASE/ H3KE-X25Q DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES. (10 SEPT. 2018). SANDY INUNDATION ZONES. HTTPS://DATA. CITYOFNEWYORK.US/ENVIRONMENT/SANDY-INUNDATION-ZONE/UYJ8-7RV5

Subway Line (2 pt)

Flooding > 1’ 1’ > Flooding > 4”

Hotspots

GLOSSARY

Key Concepts (In order of significance) Green District

A universal term for a geographical area which has formed specific polciies or practicies to adress a range of environmental vulnerabilities. They are formed to adress cities’ challenges of immediate and future environmental risk on the commmunity level, and they utilize localized lanning to address the communities’ most pressing physical challenges while building social resilience by creating spaces which enhance a community’s experience every day, not just during extreme climate moments.

Mitigation (Climate Change Mitigation)

Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energies, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behavior. It can be as complex as a plan for a new city, or as a simple as improvements to a cook stove design.

Social resilience

The ability of human communities to withstand and recover from stresses, such as environmental change or social, economic or political upheaval. Resilience in societies and their life-supporting ecosystems is crucial in maintaining options for future human development.

Circular Economy

Refers to an economy that uses a systems-focused approach and involves industrial processes and economic activities that are restorative or regenerative by design, enable resources used in such processes and activities to maintain their highest value for as long as possible, and aim for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, and systems (including business models).

Community stakeholders

Defined as people, groups, organizations or businesses that have interest or concern in the community. Stakeholders can affect or be affected by the community’s actions, objectives and policies.

Revitalization

Revitalization is defined as a many-sided effort including revalorization, restoration, reconstruction, modernization, and actions aimed at revival of a building, district or a town devastated in various aspects, also economic and social, moreover, determines the factors, such as society, local and state authorities, and other institutions, that can initiate and shape the developmental processes of a given area.

Gentrification

A process in which a poor area (as of a city) experiences an influx of middle-class or wealthy people who renovate and rebuild homes and businesses, and which often results in an increase in property values and the displacement of earlier, usually poorer residents.

Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life. This can be a temporary situation for a household or can last a long time. Food insecurity is one way we can measure how many people cannot afford food.

Food Desert

Food deserts can be described as geographic areas where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance.

Walkability

Walkability is a measure of how friendly an area is to walking. Walkability has many health, environmental, and economic benefits. Factors influencing walkability include the presence or absence and quality of footpaths, sidewalks or other pedestrian rights-of-way, traffic and road conditions, land use patterns, building accessibility, and safety, among others. Walkability is an important concept in sustainable urban design.

Urban heat island effect

This occurs when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. This effect increases energy costs (e.g., for air conditioning), air pollution levels, and heat-related illness and mortality.

Permeable/Impermeable Surfaces

Permeable surfaces (also known as porous or pervious surfaces) allow water to percolate into the soil to filter out pollutants and recharge the water table. Impermeable/impervious surfaces are solid surfaces that don’t allow water to penetrate, forcing it to run off.

Streetscapes

Streetscape is a term “that refers to is used to describe the natural and built fabric of the street, and defined as the design quality of the street and its visual effect.” The concept recognizes that a street is a public place where people are ableto engage in various activities. Streetscapes and their visual experience largely influences public places where people interact, and it ultimately helps define a community’s aesthetic quality, economic activity, health, and sustainability.

Noise Pollution

Unwanted or excessive sound that can have deleterious effects on human health, wildlife, and environmental quality. Noise pollution is commonly generated inside many industrial facilities and some other workplaces, but it also comes from highway, railway, and airplane traffic and from outdoor construction activities.

Green Corridor

This refers to a strip with a significant presence of vegetation that links outstanding natural areas of the city. In addition, they bring numerous advantages: increasing and protecting biodiversity, mitigating the heat island effect, reducing air and noise pollution, etc.

PM 2.5

The term fine particles, or particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are two and one half microns or less in width. Like inches, meters and miles, a micron is a unit of measurement for distance. There are about 25,000 microns in an inch. The widths of the larger particles in the PM2.5 size range would be about thirty times smaller than that of a human hair. The smaller particles are so small that several thousand of them could fit on the period at the end of this sentence.

TOOLS INDEX

INDEX BUILDING SYSTEMS Cool Roofs Green Facade Green Roof Rooftop Gardens

INSTALLATIONS

Container Trees Direct Air Capture Flood Gates Living Sea Wall Multi-Function Shelter Raised Subway Grate Street Shading

PARKS

Community Park Pocket Park Water Plaza

PLANNING & POLICY

Efficient Energy Use Historical Building Maintenance Preserve Housing Policy Program Empty Storefronts Relocation Traffic Regulations

STREET MODIFICATION Berm Elevate the Waterfront Friendly Bus Hub Green Canal Green Corridor Pedestrian Street Pervious Asphalt Protected Bike Lane Rain Gardens

WATER STORAGE

Underground Basin Underground Tank

BUILDING SYSTEMS

COOL ROOF

PATTERSON PARK NORTH TOWNHOMES Baltimore, MD Source: Charm City Roofing https://www.charmcityroofing.com/uncategorized/flat-roofs-of-baltimore/

DESCRIPTION Cool roofs combat heat absorption on sunny days. They reflect the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them like normal roofs do. This in turn lowers a building’s interior temperature when it is hot outside. A cool roof can be made from highly-reflective paints or by covering rooftops with reflective materials such as tiles, sheets, or shingles. Using light-colored materials to cool buildings can be compared to wearing light-colored clothing on a hot day to stay cool.

APPLICATION Cool roofs can be placed on any type and size of building. They can be integrated alongside green roofs.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Standard or darker rooftops can reach up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, or higher, in the summer sun; cool roofs lower this temperature significantly

Cool roofs stay around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than standard roofs, which reduces energy costs and maintenance costs for buildings

This system increases the life span of roofs, as well as help to reduce urban heat islands by lowering local temperatures

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 110) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/112

BUILDING SYSTEMS

GREEN FACADE

BOSCO VERTICALE Milan, Italy Source: Stefano Boeri Architetti https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/vertical-forest/

DESCRIPTION Green facades are made by planting selected greenery into a growth medium that consists of soil, stone, or water. And because these walls feature living plants, they are also equppied with irrigation systems. Incorporating greenery onto a building’s exterior not only improves its approachability, but also comes with several environmental and social benefits.

APPLICATION A green facade can be placed on the facade of any building. They can also be used on interior surfaces as well.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Green facades provide a visual break from concrete and brick materials that are often swallowing dense, urban areas

Incorporating green facades can provide buildings with thermal benefits, while also reducing urban heat island effects

A green wall helps to absrob rain water and decrease its wear on building materials, in addition to helping block street noise

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 100) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/102

BUILDING SYSTEMS

GREEN ROOF

JAVITS CENTER New York, NY Source: Adaptive Green https://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/news/2022/portfolio-of-alumnus-led-green-roof-company-includes-top-nycprojects/

DESCRIPTION Green roof systems allow for the cultivation of healthy ecosystems at a wide variety of scales, enabling individual buildings to reduce their own emissions while creating more attractive spaces. Vegetation coverage at high elevations reduces the amount of pollution in the air, and can be expanded across a network that is not interrupted by vehicle traffic.

APPLICATION

Accessible roof spaces also promote healthier lifestyles and less crowded streets. Modular green wall and roof designs can be modified and fixed to specific environments, allowing for a wide variety of customization and specification.

This tool can be applied to existing structures to improve their environmental impact, and can also be integrated into new designs to maximize their potential. It can take any shape depending on where it is being applied. Green roofs are needed most in dense urban areas, and are most effective in places with high levels of emissions.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Capable of reducing the urban heat island effect and emissions produced by buildings and cars

Operable at multiple scales and across a variety of dimensions, fluid and modular method of creating green space

Creates community spaces that can sequester carbon and facilitate social interaction

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 112) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/114

BUILDING SYSTEMS

ROOFTOP GARDEN

BROOKLYN GRANCE @ BROOKLYN NAVY YARD New York, NY Source: Rooflite https://www.greenroofs.com/projects/brooklyn-grange-rooftop-farm-2-at-brooklyn-navy-yard-building-no-3/

UNDERGROUND TANK

DESCRIPTION Gardening is a great way to create connections and has shown benefit mental and physical wellness. Sustainable gardening can slow future warming by reducing carbon emmission and increasing carbon storage in the soil. Green roofs can significantly reduce the amount of rain water that would otherwise run off an impervious roof surface.

APPLICATION As Manhattan is always working with empty lots being bought up for development, rather than taking over the ground floor, community gardens can be implemented onto rooftops. This can be an opportunity for public buildings such as publicly owned schools to start actively promoting a greenrooftop for educational purposes, aiding youth and parents while building social resilience for everyone in the community.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Maximizes the use of space by using the rooftops

Rooftop Gardens reduce and slows stormwater runoff into the urban environment by providing soil which can absorb rainwater

Gardening as a whole benefits one’s mental and physical wellness

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 102) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/104

INSTALLATIONS

CONTAINER TREE

N/A UK Source: IOTA https://www.iotagarden.com/bespoke-planters/steel-planters-with-cladding/

DESCRIPTION Container trees are street trees planted within a raised container instead of being planted directly into the ground. They provide environmental and social benefits. Trees in general help to reduce storm water runoff, which then reduces pollution in waterways. They also help to improve the overall air quality and provide shade for pedestrians in the warmer months. The species most effective for improving air quality, according to BBC, are: Silver Birch, Yew, and Elder trees.

APPLICATION Container trees can be placed along the streets of New York City similarly to the in-ground trees that are currently planted. They can also be placed on top of surfaces that are not plant-friendly. Some examples would be on top of subway grates, interior plazas, and indoor public gathering spaces. A container tree is a perfect addition to smaller, tighter spaces that can often be found around New York City (such as alleyways between buildings and entryways to buildings).

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Trees absorb the carbon dioxide and release fresh oxygen back into the air, especially while they are growing

While improving the overall air quality, trees also provide shade and add to cities’ biodiversity

Container trees can be placed anywhere, even in surfaces where trees normally cannot be planted (i.e on subway grates)

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 86) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/88

INSTALLATIONS

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

unknown Glasgow, Scotland UK Source: Wikimedia Commons https://www.intelligentliving.co/citytree-mossy-wall-same-air-purifying-effect-250-trees/

DESCRIPTION Direct air capture technologies are a hightech/high-power version of natural green wall sequestration systems. Capable of cleansing the air of particulate matter, filtration technologies come in a variety of forms and can be applied to high-risk areas to mitigate pollutants. Certain technologies can filter hundreds of trees worth of air per unit, and can be modified to fit into the urban pedestrian landscape.

APPLICATION

More powerful CCS (Carbon Capture and Sequestration) technologies utilize large intake fans and store captured carbon deep underground to prevent it from emerging into the atmosphere.

This tool can be applied to urban, suburban, and rural environments depending on the type of capture unit. Technologies like the City Tree can be placed within the urban fabric due to their compact nature and efficient functions. Larger wind and solar powered units require more land area to account for intake fans and mechanical requirements, but integrating these systems into buildings could allow this method to transition from rural to urban.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Improves air quality in urban areas, reducing harmful effects of polluted air

Inexpensive compared to adding the equivalent number of trees in terms of air filtration

Can be entirely solar powered or wind powered depending on the location of the capture system

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 88) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/90

INSTALLATIONS

FLOOD GATES

WATERFIELD FLOOD DEFENCE Wakefield Waterfront, UK Source: Flood Control International https://floodcontrolinternational.com/case-studies/wakefield/

DESCRIPTION Flood gates help contain flooding and keep critical areas dry. There are flip-up gates and roller-gates. Flip-up gates are embedded into the ground, and remain discreet until they flip up for deployment. Roller gates consist of movable components which roll out from fixed structures and are entirely above ground. Gates can be activated via a switch or triggered by sensors.

APPLICATION Flip-up gates can be embedded along any strip of land that is sufficiently wide, as long as these areas are free of underground infrastructure since flip-up grades have mechanisms below-grade. Roller gates can be placed in most locations as long as their physical presence is tolerable.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Both gates can be deployed in flooding events to contain and keep out flooding

Roller gates can be installed over areas with underground utilities and infrastructure

Flip-up gates remain discreet until deployed, which preserves aesthetics and views

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 126) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/128

INSTALLATIONS

LIVING SEA WALL

LIVING SEAWALL Sydney, Australia Source: Living Seawalls https://www.livingseawalls.com.au

DESCRIPTION Living seawalls, are an extension of living infrastructure, they reimagine the shorefront infrastructure by mitigating storm surge and bring back biodiversity to the coastline-which helps to facilitate the natural wave action. They are made of habitat panels that are 3D printed to mimic natural reef environments. Traditional living shorelines (i.e., wetland restoration) are challenging for NYC’s waterways due to wave energy, water depths for boat access, erosion control, and permitting constraints.

APPLICATION Living seawalls can be placed along the exisiting seawalls and piers. Their replicability allows them to be applied in a diverse array of options.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Promotes the return of biodiversity to the city’s waterfronts without interfering with existing waterway functions

By returning marine life to the seawalls, natural functions that prevent flooding can occur, such as controlling wave action and rebuilding shorelines

It is a fairly cost-effective and easily replicable tool that provides benefits in a multitude of ways

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 120) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/122

INSTALLATIONS

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

EMERGENCY SHELTER BY KENGO KUMA Portland, OR Source: Genevieve Middleton https://thefield.asla.org/2020/12/08/landscape-architecture-tackles-homelessness-and-shelter-in-the-pandemic/

DESCRIPTION Prephubs are a new kind of infastructure that are designed to aid in disaster preparedness. Created by MIT’s Urban Risk Lab, they are adaptable and changing structures depending on where they are placed, so that the larger the space, the more accessories and people they can accomodate. They are useful not only for emergencies but in everyday life as recognizable structures that one can go to when in need of aid.

APPLICATION These structures are kits of parts designed to fit in a variety of spaces. For example, the Urban Risk Lab has created structures small enough to fit within a parking space, and large enough for a plaza.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Creates meeting points for day to day life as well as functioning for emergencies

Can be implimented into multiple different scales around the area

People of all ages can use some part of the structure from seating to charging ones phone

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 128) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/130

INSTALLATIONS

RAISED SUBWAY GRATE

N/A New York, NY Source: Rogers Partners https://www.rogersarchitects.com/mta-flood-mitigation-street-furniture/

DESCRIPTION Not only does heavy rain lead to flooded streets, but the subway system can become inundated through its air vents, which are at ground level. By raising the grates and creating a barrier along the sides, both street and sidewalk runoff will avoid the subway system with greater ease.

APPLICATION These are located atop subway vents on sidewalks throughout New York City.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Prevents stormwater flooding from seeping into subway grates, minimizing direct flooding

Provides new places to sit or stop along sidewalks

Protects longevity of infrastructure system below

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 90) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/92

INSTALLATIONS

STREET SHADING

UMBRELLA STREET Getafe, Spain Source: Schirm Oertel https://www.european-umbrellas.com/blog/umbrellas-provide-shade-in-summer.html

DESCRIPTION A street shading can keep sidewalks cooler by providing shade for pedestrians in high temperatures. They offer protection from harsh sun rays, intercept precipitation, and provide shelter from unpredictable weather conditions. These structures can be made completely of greenery or be designed as more architectural/artistic systems. They are usually installed as a more formal structure, or by hanging them from certain points on neighboring buildings.

APPLICATION Street shading systems can be placed on narrower streets between two blocks of tightly packed buildings, which are common in Manhattan. They can be hung from certain points of the building and secured in place, or be a more structural installation on the ground. A street shade can exist at all scales: they can be placed over roads, installed over seating areas in parks, or placed over city infrastructure (such as subway stops, bus stops, or sidewalks).

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Green street canopies reduce high temperatures during peak summer days and help to improve air quality

Street canopies in very dense, urban cities can protect people’s eyes from highly reflective building materials, which also contribute to making warm days feel even warmer

Artistic street shading installations bring a new aesthetic quality to a neighborhood that is both refreshing and interesting

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 116) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/118

PARKS

COMMUNITY PARK

ELK RIDGE PARK Louisville, CO SOurce: City of Castle Pines https://www.castlepinesco.gov/city-services/city-departments/parks-recreation/elk-ridge-park/

DESCRIPTION A community park is a space where people can gather and socialize. A park can range from a green space with fields and trees, to playgrounds to a street with seating and food trucks.

APPLICATION A community park can be implemented in many places. In New York City where empty lots are rare, community parks may be created on rooftops, on closed streets or in open space.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Community parks build social resilience

The soft ground of green community parks can help with flooding

The plants in community parks improve air quality

PARKS

POCKET PARK

XINHUA ROAD POCKET PARK Shanghai, China Source: Shuishi https://www.archdaily.com/954115/pocket-park-on-xinhua-road-shanghai-shuishi

DESCRIPTION Pocket parks are a small park (between 1 and 3 lots) that is accessible to the public and can collect excess rainwater, usually through depressions in the landscape.

APPLICATION Pocket parks can be placed in existing park areas throughout Chelsea by digging down slightly to create a space that can be utilized as a small reservoir.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Acts as small reservoirs throughout the neighborhood and provides more permeable ground space

Collects water from nuisance flooding and slowly releases it back into stormwater drains

When not flooded, provides a nice park area for residents

PARKS

WATER PLAZA

BENTHEMPLEIN WATER SQUARE Rotterdam, Netherlands Source: Regenerative Design World https://regenerativedesign.world/benthemplein/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=benthemplein

DESCRIPTION Water Plazas serve as large scale water catchment systems. These plazas double as basins during high rainfall situations, creating a passive infrastructure. They are generally dry and not full for most parts of the year. This means that the design can prioritize a large public space beneficial to community members just as much as it functions in managing water. They can incorporate additional amenities and uses into the passive design of the intervention.

APPLICATION Water Plazas can be located anywhere in an urban setting where space permits. They are best suited for existing open spaces that lack programming (parking lots, soft sites, etc.). When designed to alter programs with different levels of inundation, the site can become re-oriented in previously unseen ways.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Mixes green infrastructure with high use, high visibility areas

Large scale storage of water in emergency situation reduces immediate impact on drainage system

Space can be designed to fit new and beneficial programs

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 106) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/108

PLANNING & POLICY

EFFICIENT ENERGY USE

GREEN BLOCK CONCEPT DRAWING New York, NY Source: WATG https://www.watg.com/project/green-block/

DESCRIPTION Efficient energy use is a planning and policy element that can employ a number of different strategies to better energy use in an area.

kWh

These strategies may range from restrictions on motor vehicle use, regulations on energy efficient high performance fixtures and guidelines that encourage installation of benign furnishings and finishes, amongst others. Multiple efficient energy use strategies may be enacted at once, or one strategy may be employed at a given location.

APPLICATION Efficient energy use is not a tool that has a specific location where it could happen-- it is a more general solution to many climate related issues. On a case by case basis energy efficient use can happen within a building scale, or more largely on a neighborhood , city, state, or country scale.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Addresses a number of climate related issues ranging from social resilience to low air quality

Can be evaluated case by case, and is more individual. Policies can be adjusted to suit a location

This is a mitigation strategy as opposed to an adaptation strategy

Sources https://corpora.tika.apache.org/base/docs/govdocs1/773/773776.pdf

PLANNING & POLICY

HISTORICAL BLDG MAINTENANCE

N/A New York, NY Source: Ecclesiastical https://www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/historic-and-listed-building-maintenance/

DESCRIPTION There are several types of purpose-built flood barriers suitable for historic buildings. For example, many historic properties already have masonry walls surrounding their properties. With guidance from a professional, these walls can be fortified to bear the weight of the water pressure during a flood, and the gates can be made watertight with the installation of temporary flood-proof barriers in the openings. The construction of new, appropriately scaled and detailed masonry walls may also be considered for historic properties in flood-prone areas. Strategies include wet floodproofing, dry floodproofing and mechanical equipment maintenance.

APPLICATION Areas including historic building that will be flooded in the storm or heavy rain time frequently.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Wet floodproofing often less costly than other mitigation measures, allows water to freely enter a building during a flood

Dry floodproofing prevents floodwater from entering a building. This approach is most applicable in structures that are not elevated above base flood elevation and have finished interiors that may be impacted by flood water

Mechanical equipment, especially HVAC equipment, should be elevated above the aniticipated level of flooding. Ductwork under the house should be relocated where possible or replaced with flood proof dectwork, such as Blue Duct

PLANNING & POLICY

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

N/A New York, NY Source: NYS Homes and Community Renewal https://hcr.ny.gov/news/nys-homes-and-community-renewal-and-nyc-department-housing-preservation-anddevelopment

DESCRIPTION This policy is meant to preserve the price of housing by keeping existing buildings for existing residents rather than making new developments. This mitigates risks of gentrification and promotes social resilience.

APPLICATION Housing preservation should be focused on older, lower priced residential buildings within Chelsea. This would prevent buildings from being torn down to make way for the steel and glass construction that is gaining popularity along Chelsea’s waterfront. Preserving housing prices across Chelsea would allow for existing residents to stay in their neighborhood.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Addresses income disparity within Chelsea

Promotes adaptive reuse

Reduces future carbon emissions from new housing construction

PLANNING & POLICY

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

N/A New York, NY Source: Schroder and Storm, LLP https://www.nytaxreview.com/news/nyc-storefront-vacancy-registration/

DESCRIPTION Programming empty storefronts would take vacant retail spaces and occupy them with small local businesses, usually fresh grocery stores or community gardens. It is achieved through providing financial incentives to local entrepreneurs and supporting them as they open their new business.

APPLICATION Empty storefronts throughout the neighborhood can be a location for revitalization and new programming. A good starting point would be focusing on areas within residential communities to best impact the lives of residents.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Offers more opportunity for getting groceries locally

Decreases carbon emission from long-distance travel to get/order groceries

Provides job opportunities and has the capability to support local businesses

PLANNING & POLICY

RELOCATION

RELOCATION AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY Houston, TX Source: Brandon Martin https://news.rice.edu/news/2021/flood-relocation-programs-more-disruptive-those-who-dont-live-white-or-affluent

DESCRIPTION Relocation is whe a person or a group of people move to another location to retreat from impending climate disasters. Retreat could mean retreating from lower to higher levels, or it could be retreating to other areas of the city, state or country depending on severity of flooding risks.

APPLICATION Managed retreat is not a tool with a specific location-- it is a more general solution to many climate related issues. Managed retreat can happen within a building scale, or more largely on a neighborhood, city, state, or country scale.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Retreat from exisiting occupied spaces would be one of the safest and most secure options as it would minimize risk for the people most likely to be affected.

Can be evaluated case by case, and is more individual.

Potentially a more cost effective solution to building back against climate-change events

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 104) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/106

PLANNING & POLICY

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

N/A New York, NY Source: NY Traffic Firm https://www.nytrafficfirm.com/nyc-vtl-codes/

DESCRIPTION Traffic regulation is the implementation of laws that restrict and manage vehicle movement on shared streets. This includes signage, creation of non-motor vehicle lanes, restrictions for certain types of vehicles, improving traffic control devices, and physical alterations to the streetscape. These policy interventions adjust vehicle right-of-way, typically with the intention of reducing traffic risks and improving safety for pedestrians. Certain regulations, such as restricting a right-hand turn off a busy highway, help to redistribute congested traffic and lower carbon emissions in neighborhoods.

APPLICATION Traffic regulations can be implemented at any street or intersection controlled by the city. These regulations would have higher impact at intersections that are heavily trafficked by pedestrians and bikers, as well as in areas surrounding public open spaces and parks.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Improve pedestrian safety by prohibiting hazardous vehicular movement and right-ofway, and encourage citizens to walk and utilize green transportation

Reduce vehicle idling and noise caused by high traffic volumes through regulated management of traffic flows

Improve air quality due to lower volumes of vehicle idling and harmful emissions release

Sources New York City Department of Transportation. “Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Traffic Study: Final Report.” April 2014.

STREET MODIFICATION

BERM

BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK New York, NY Source: Landscape Architecture Foundation https://www.landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/brooklyn-bridge-park

DESCRIPTION A berm is a terrace of land, either man-made or natural, that rises above high tides. It acts as a hill between the water and inland. This new hill will prevent rising waters from moving further inland.

APPLICATION The berm can be put by the waterfront in Hudson River Park. By adding a slight elevation to the already-existing park, the flood waters can be held back along the whole West side of Chelsea. The park itself would not have to be lost in favor of a berm. The berm would also extend to go above the highway as well, increasing green space along the waterfront while still preserving current infrastructure

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Can hold back storm surges from entering further into Chelsea

The addition of permeable ground can absorb rainwater and reduce nuisance flooding

Would only require adding on top of existing ground; below-grade infrastructure would not be affected

STREET MODIFICATION

ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT

KANAGAWA RINKO LINE PROMENADE Yokohaman Bay, Japan Source: Japan Travel https://en.japantravel.com/kanagawa/yamashita-rinko-line-promenade/3926

DESCRIPTION Elevating the waterfront is a complex strategy to eliminate the risk of flooding by storm surge or sea level rise. This would require re-engineering major infrastructural systems, including the improvement of existing storm water and waste water management systems. Elevating creates a flood berm, which is a sloped barrier that protects the waterfront from rising water. Most elevating strategies utilize new formed space as public green space to improve citizens’ access to the water. Such a project would require tremendous investment, though it offers the most permanent solution to flooding concerns.

APPLICATION Elevating the waterfront is a strategy for the edge of the city, either by extending the edge or adding on top of the existing one. It would be most impactful at waterfronts that are formed by important highways, as vehicle traffic can be insulated underground and pedestrian/green traffic can be above connected to the water and to green space.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Permanently protect the waterfront and inland from anticipated flood events and sea level rise

Improve access to the waterfront, as well as generate a significantly new amount of green space for citizens

Separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic networks to improve air quality and safety

Sources https://www.cnu.org/highways-boulevards/campaign-cities/nyc-BQE https://www.dezeen.com/2019/04/03/bqp-big-news-bqe-brooklyn-highway-park/

STREET MODIFICATION

FRIENDLY BUS HUB

N/A Utrecht, Netherlands Source: City of Utrecht Council https://www.archdaily.com/921850/utrecht-creates-300-bee-friendly-bus-stops

DESCRIPTION Friendly bus hubs are the safer and more spacious centers for bus-users and pedestrians to board and depart public transit. These hubs consolidate transit stops from several different transit lines at one location with room for amenities, public green space, and maintenance and service for transit vehicles. These hubs are consistent with the scale of the neighborhood, rather than massive facilities like Penn Station, while offering a safer place to wait for public transit or even to gather and interact with neighbors.

APPLICATION Friendly bus hubs require a moderate amount of space (enough for a few buses to be able to easily circulate through), and could strategically utilize existing parking lots around the city. They would be most impactful in areas that are near larger infrastructural facilities, such as bus depots, and they would be positioned conveniently as the first and final stop for a transit route.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Encourage use of public transit, which is has a positive green impact on neighborhoods

Improve safety and access to public transit, while making the general experience more enjoyable for citizens

Create more public space for community use and neighbors to interact

Sources https://communityarchitectdaily.blogspot.com/2017/05/new-bus-hub-taking-shape-in-west.html

STREET MODIFICATION

GREEN CANAL

ROYAL C Boyne Valley Meathe, Ireland UK Source: Discover Boyne Valley https://www.discoverboynevalley.ie/plan-your-visit/things-to-do/royal-canal-greenway

DESCRIPTION Water canals manage the flow of water by providing ample space for it to divert. These can exist on multiple scales from gutters, all the way to lanes for watercraft to travel. If properly integrated with a neighborhood’s social and building fabrics, the canal becomes a significant opportunity for daily life to be centered around the proper management of water. Typically, this infrastructure requires significant intervention to create proper foundations and relationships to the surrounding conditions.

APPLICATION

To prevent standing water, these must be designed to flow, mimic streams, and account for tidal action in New York Harbor.

Canals are located where water naturally flows or in areas that demand waterside access for navigation. A network can emerge from dealing with these demands, distributing bodies of water throughout a community. Existing streams that are underground or have been artificially covered may be “daylighted” and returned to an open-air state.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

High flow and output directly connected to navigable waters

Can remediate previously buried streams and reintroduce ecosystems into urban settings

Cools surrounding neighborhoods while poviding a space for water recreation

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 122) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/124

STREET MODIFICATION

GREEN CORRIDOR

PASSEIG DE SANT JOAN Barcelona, Spain Source: Lola Domenech architect, BCN City Council, BIMSA https://oppla.eu/embedded-case-study/18419

DESCRIPTION Green corridors refer to right-of-ways that create a stretch of uninterrupted greenery through its course. They incorporate grass and vegetation in both walking and street surfaces, creating gaps along the ground plane for water and plants. Natural surfaces absorb water flowing through, helping to filter out pollutants that result from traditional hydrophobic street designs.

APPLICATION On any corridor for pedestrians and vehicles. The designs of these can be scaled to work at any length or distance; gravel and stone layers underneath the plant beds and pavers are required to properly filter water and create sturdy foundations. Because of the careful design consideration needed for natural and artificial materials for it to work, a thriving ecological intervention can be introduced into the heart of any urban setting.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Creates a natural landscape along a right-of-way through urban settings

Introduces plants and ecosystems into typically barren streets

Better air quality and lower ambient temperature

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 118) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/120

STREET MODIFICATION

PEDESTRIAN STREET

BROADWAY SEASONAL STREET New York, NY Source: New York City DOT https://www1.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/seasonalstreets

DESCRIPTION Pedestrian streets have less or no area dedicated to vehicular traffic and are designed for more pedestrian interactions.

APPLICATION This can be deployed anywhere depending on local priorities. For example, narrow and underused streets may be more beneficial when converted to pedestrian use.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Reduces air pollution and noise pollution from excess traffic

Discourages motor vehicle travel and encourages walking and biking, making it safer and more accessible

Reduces street crowding and offers more opportunity for permeable ground space

STREET MODIFICATION

PERVIOUS ASPHALT

N/A CT, USA Source: Water Paving Company https://watersconst.com/paving/services/porous-asphalt/

DESCRIPTION Pervious asphalt is a material that absorbs water and keeps it from entering drainage areas. This helps limit the amount of water entering already full stormwater systems.

APPLICATION This material can be introduced onto any existing right-of-way for vehicles, so long as it is paved over the ground directly. The water-channeling properties will only work if there is a direct connection.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Long lasting; material less susceptible to potholes, breaks, and cracks over same lifetime as traditional asphalt

Less contribution to runoff into groundwater table

Lower ambient temperatures

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 98) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/100

STREET MODIFICATION

RAIN GARDEN

N/A New York, NY Source: NYC Department of Environmental Protection https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160601/sunnyside/ city-build-300-rain-gardens-queens-curb-newtown-creek-pollution/

DESCRIPTION Rain gardens collect rainwater at street level and provide a place for it to disperse directly into the ground below. Taking the appearance of gardens, the plants and rocks found here often help control the flow of water, filtering it before it descends into the aquifer.

APPLICATION Rain gardens can be located within existing green-spaces or can be introduced into a tree-bed along sidewalks. It is best that they are placed to limit the chance for contamination from pollutants. So long as there is direct connection to the groundwater table below to allow proper drainage, this intervention will succeed.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Manages stormwater more efficiently

Can be appropriated into existing right-of-ways with ease

Creates plantlife, mitigating heat island effect

Sources Cities at Risk Fall 2021 (Page 96) - https://issuu.com/citiesatrisk/docs/citiesatrisk_booklayout_digital_issuu/98

WATER STORAGE

UNDERGROUND BASIN

HVUSSS Hong Kong Source: Hong Kong Drainage Services Department https://www.dsd.gov.hk/EN/HTML/20515.html

DESCRIPTION Large scale underground basins absorb excess water from flooding and store it underground before slowly releasing the water into the drainage system.

APPLICATION Underground basins can go under large areas of greenspace, sports courts, and parking lots, depending on the existing infrastructure underneath.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Has the opportunity to address large-scale flooding

Can be put under existing green spaces

Slow release of excess water would not overpower drainage system after the fact

WATER STORAGE

UNDERGROUND TANK

N/A Northern California, USA Source: Contech Engineered Solutions https://www.conteches.com/knowledge-center/pdh-articles/ cistern-design-considerations-for-large-rainwater-harvesting-systems

DESCRIPTION Underground water storage tanks are various sized tanks located underground that harvests rainwater to reduce stormwater runoffs while keeping the water onsite in the tanks.

APPLICATION Underground tanks can be implemented in areas with heavy rain flooding and areas where excavation up to 1 meter can occur.

BENEFITS & IMPACT:

Work well in all weather conditions

Reduces Carbon footprint

Increases Health of soil (allows for more plants to thrive in the area)

BIG STAKEHOLDERS

The composite stakeholder diagram displays stakeholders of the entirety of the West side of Manhattan that was researched in this book. The range of stakeholders were taken from the research done for each of the five neighborhoods. The broad overview of stakeholders allows for a better understanding of who has a say in how the city of Manhattan is designed. The stakeholders are divided by their place in either the public or private sector. Each stakeholder is then categorized by what they specialize in. Understanding the goals and strengths of each stakeholder will be pertinent in taking steps towards creating a green district in Manhattan.

ain Stakeholders of West Manhattan

Environmental

Buildings

NY Building Congress NY State Department of Environmental Conservation

Public Sector NYC Landmark Preservation Commission Construction + Manufacturers Flooding Experts

NYC Water Board

Private Sector Local Universities

NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

Environmental Advocates

Department of CIty Planning NY State Department of Transportation

Community Boards Elected Officials

Community

NYCHA

MTA

Infrastructure

5 DISTRICTS

Tribeca Greenwich Village + Meatpacking Chelsea Hudson Yards + Hell’s Kitchen Central Business District 93

TRIBECA

Lauren Li Runhe (April) Song Runqing (Jasmine) Xi

TirBeCa. Photo By: Jens Karlsson

DESCRIPTION

The first area of focus is northern Tribeca, an area of Tribeca which is within Community Board 1. North Tribeca is bounded by Canal Street to the north, Chambers Street to the south, West Broadway to the east, and the Hudson River to the west. Access to the area by public transit includes Franklin St. Station that provides entry to the 1 and 2 subway lines, the 120 and M20 bus lines, as well as the Holland Tunnel to New Jersey. The northern area of Tribeca is predominantly zoned for commercial and industrial land use. The Hudson River Greenway, The Rockefeller and Teardrop parks in Battery Park City, and the Hudson River Park Piers 25 and 26 account for most of the public green space in the area. Due to Tribeca’s proximity to the Hudson River, the area was historically important to the dairy trade, which can be traced in the pre-civil war architecture that characterizes the area. Many historic buildings are protected by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The area’s average household income is above $700,000 per year, which is higher than most other districts in Manhattan and the highest of the areas studied in this book. Additionally, the area is not racially diverse.

Soruce: https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/zip-code/new%20york/tribeca-soho/10013

PRIORITIES

The primary climate-related risks identified in the area are severe flooding by storm surge, heavy rainfall, and sea level rise. In past and projected events of extreme rainfall, the Hudson River Park piers, Battery Park City, and parts of West Street are particularly vulnerable to severe flooding. In the event of a 500-year storm, a significant portion of the northern part of Tribeca would experience moderate flooding, with parts east of Greenwich Street experiencing severe flooding. The streetscape of northern Tribeca is mostly made of impervious surfaces (asphalt, cobblestone, etc.), which increases runoff and amplifies water inundation. In addition, energy consumption in north Tribeca is disproportionately higher than other areas of Manhattan, which contributes to carbon emission and urban heat island effect, and reduces air quality and general safety for residents. Mitigating flood risk is crucial. Northern Tribeca is one of the City’s historic districts, which will be significantly damaged and eventually lost if current projections for flooding occur without intervention. Protecting the historic district from flooding presents the opportunity for holistic interventions that address climate-related and social resilience issues identified in the area. Strategically planning for North Tribeca as a green district will be imperative to protecting historic buildings and improve current methods for building preservation. In addition, strategies for a green district will help to ensure that the area’s many boutiques, restaurants, and residences are protected from climate change, as well as the health, safety, and wellbeing of current and future residents.

HEAVY RAIN + COLD WIND This maps shows that flooding caused by heavy rainfall is mainly concentrated along the west side of the area. West Street, Canal Street and W Broadway are primarily flooded by extreme rainfall. Only West street tends to be flooded by moderate rainfall. In the Manhattan, the wind mostly comes from the West throughout the year. The Tribeca area does not have any larger-scale buildings to block the wind along the Hudson River. The average speed is 9.9 miles per hour in the winter, and 6.2 miles per hour in the summer. People feel uncomfortable when the wind speed is reaching 10 miles per hour. Thus, people will most likely experience cold wind in the winter time.

GENERAL KEY Newtown Creek Sewer Shed 310 MGD

Flood Projection with Moderate Rainfall

MS4 Drainage Sewer Shed 310 MGD

Pervious Area Sewer Shed 310 MGD

HTTPS://WWW.WINDFINDER.COM/WINDSTATISTICS/NEW_YORK_BROOKLYN

Flood Projection with Extreme Rainfall

Semi-Pervious Area

HTTPS://CPPWIND.COM/OUTDOOR-COMFORT-CRITERIA/

Wind Direction

SOURCES: HTTPS://WEATHERSPARK.COM/Y/24600/AVERAGE-WEATHER-IN-MANHATTAN-NEW-YORKUNITED-STATES-YEAR-ROUND

STORM SURGE The projection of storm inundation by using records from hurricane Sandy shows that storm inundation will mainly effect areas along the coast, canal street and 6th Avenue. However, it is important to note that the entire area still faces some degree of flooding. Since the number 20 bus and train 123 are the main form of public transportation, people may have issues to travelling north and south. While bus 22 and train ACE can help people in the Tribeca area, people will still have a hard time by losing accessability to public transportation when facing extreme weather conditions.

GENRERAL KEY SOURCES: WORST CASE SCENARIO OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. (29 MAY 2014). HURRICANE INUNDATION ZONES - WORST CASE. HTTPS://DATA.CITYOFNEWYORK. US/PUBLIC-SAFETY/HURRICANE-INUNDATION-ZONES-WORST-CASE/H3KE-X25Q DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES. (10 SEPT. 2018). SANDY INUNDATION ZONES. HTTPS://DATA.CITYOFNEWYORK.US/ENVIRONMENT/SANDY-INUNDATION-ZONE/UYJ8-7RV5

100

Extreme Inundation (Mapped from Hurrican Sandy) More Severe

Less Severe

300 Year Flood in 2050

Bus Station

Bus Line

Bus Final Station

Subway Line

Subway Station

101

CARBON REDUCTION This map exhibits how the east side of this community has relatively high energy consumption and the amount of green space converage ( which helps capture CO2 gas ) is much less than the rest of the area..

GENERAL KEY High SOURCES: ARCGIS ONLINE CATALOG

Energy Consumption

HTTPS://COUNCIL.NYC.GOV/DATA/HEAT/

Green Space + Tree Cover

HTTPS://NYCDOB.GITHUB.IO/DOB_DASHBOARDS/LAYOUTS/TWO-AND-ONE/ACTIVE_ CONSTRUCTIONTM_WITHGRAPHS

Green Buildings + Roofs

Park

Active Construction Project

102

Low

103

AIR QUALITY Energy data on this map shows that energy consumption within the area varies. More energy was consumed towards inner Manhattan due to more high rise office buildings concentrating in the red area. On the other hand, the west waterfront consumes less energy creating a great starting point for green development. Energy consumption can also be indicative of how efficient the building energy consumption is in a given building. It also could indicate the infrastructure in a given area, as well as the land use of a given community.

GENERAL KEY Temperature Deviation From Mean -3

SOURCES: HTTPS://COUNCIL.NYC.GOV/DATA/HEAT/ HTTPS://NYCDOB.GITHUB.IO/DOB_DASHBOARDS/LAYOUTS/TWO-AND-ONE/ACTIVE_ CONSTRUCTIONTM_WITHGRAPHS

104

-2

-1

Green Space + Tree Cover PM2.5 Particles 10 µg/m³ Commercial Area

Green Buildings + Roofs Active Construction Project Highway 78

105

SOCIAL RESILIENCE This map displays how the west side of Hudson street has a lower depression rate whereas the east side has a higher rate of depression. According to the study linked below, greater competition, inequality, and loneliness are major causes of higher depression rate. The east side may have more problems from the listed categories. Also, west side of Hudson street has more cultural, environmental programs covered. More diversified, greenery space can help to reduce the depression rate.

SOURCES: HTTPS://WWW.NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PMC/ARTICLES/PMC3330161/#:~:TEXT=GREATER%20 COMPETITION%2C%20INEQUALITY%2C%20 AND%20LONELINESS,RATES%20OF%20PSYCHOPATHOLOGY%2C%20INCLUDING%20DEPRESSION.

Civic Associations

HTTPS://EXPERIENCE.ARCGIS.COM/EXPERIENCE/22C7182A162D45788DD52A2362F8ED65

Demographics (White)

HTTPS://EARTHOBSERVATORY.NASA.GOV/ IMAGES/145305/GREEN-SPACE-IS-GOODFOR-MENTAL-HEALTH?SRC=EOA-IOTD#:~:TEXT=GREEN%20SPACE%20MOST%20STRONGLY%20PROTECTS,MECHANISM%20THAT%20 GREEN%20SPACE%20OFFERS.

106

GENERAL KEY

Education + Child Welfare Libraries + Cultural Programs

Depression Prevalence (%) Top 1% (>$700k)

> 24 20.6 < 17

High ($700k-$110k)

107

TOOLS AND STRATEGY

CONTAINER TREES

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

CONCERN

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

STREET SHADING

INTERVENTION

COOL ROOFS POCKET PARKS

HEAVY RAIN FLOOD

COMMUNITY PARKS GREEN FACADE

kWh

STORM SURGE STORM SURGE

SOCIAL RESILIENCE SOCIAL RESILIENCE AIR QUALITY

STORM SURGE SOCIAL RESILIENCE

HISTORICAL PEDESTRIANBUILDING STREET MAINTENANCE

PERFORMANCE RATING WATER PLAZA

CONTAINER TREES PRESERVE HOUSING FLOOD WALLS POLICY

PROGRAM EMPTY DIRECT AIR CAPTURE UNDERGROUND STOREFRONTS TANK

RELOCATION COOL ROOFS

TRAFFIC GREENREGULATIONS FACADE

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES ELEVATE THE GREEN ROOF WATERFRONT

FRIENDLY PUBLIC STREET SHADING ROOFTOP GARDEN TRANSPORTATION

STORM SURGE

UNDERGROUND TANK

kWh

GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN

GREEN CANALS CONTAINER TREES

LIVING SEA WALL

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

RAIN GARDENS RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

AREA

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER WATER PLAZA

CARBON REDUCTION

AIR FLOODING QUALITY CARBON REDUCTION HEAVY RAINRAIN FLOODING AIR QUALITY REDUCTION CARBON REDUCTION CARBON HEAVY FLOODINGHEAVY RAIN

FLOOD WALLS

PEDESTRIAN LIVING SEA STREET WALL

PEDESTRIAN STREET GREENAIR CORRIDORS DIRECT CAPTURE

COOL ROOFS UNDERGROUND BASIN STREET SHADING

WATER HISTORICAL BUILDING PERVIOUS LIVINGPLAZA SEAASPHALT WALL MAINTENANCE

GREEN FACADE RELOCATION POCKET PARKS WATER PUMP

Greenwich Chambers kWh Waterfront St. to 6th St. to Canal Ave. St.

POCKET PARKS

COMMUNITY PARKS

HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

RELOCATION

CONTAINER TREES PERFORMANCE RATING

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

FLOOD WALLSRATING PROTECTED PERFORMANCE MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER BIKE LANES

UN PR

GREENREGULATIONS ROOFPARKS TRAFFIC COMMUNITY

ROO

West Street to West Broadway

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE GREEN CANALS PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

STREET SHADING RAIN GARDENS ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT

MULTI-F PE

LIVING SEA WALL GREEN CORRIDORS PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

109

POCKET PARKS UNDERGROUND BASIN FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

COM

Holland Tunnel

Ca n

gh wa y

6th Ave

rS t

OFS

TREES

Y GRATES

WALL

UILDING NCE

RKS

GREEN FACADE

STRATEGY MAP & KEY COOL ROOFS

GREEN FACADE

GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN

WATER PLAZA

FLOOD WALLS

UNDERGROUND TANK

ROOF TOP GARDENS DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

LIVING SEA WALL

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

COOL ROOFS

GREEN FACADE

GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN

STREET SHADING

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES CONTAINER TREES MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

kWh

CONTAINER TREES

Container trees are street trees that are planted within a raised container instead of being planted directly into the ground. They provide many environmental benefits, as well as social benefits. Trees in general stormPARKS water runoff, which then COMMUNITY POCKET PARKS help to reduce reduces pollution in waterways. They also help to improve the overall air quality and provide shade for pedestrians in the warmer months. COMMUNITY PARKS POCKET PARKS STREET SHADING DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

LIVING SEA WALL

The construction of new, appropriately scaled and detTailed masonry walls may also be considered for historic properties in flood-prone areas. Strategies used considers wet flood proofing, kWh dry proofing and mechanical equipment maintenance. PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

PERFORMANCE RATING

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY POCKET PARKS

COMMUNITY PARKS

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

HISTORIC BUILDING PRESERVATION

PERFORMANCE RATING

FLOOD WALLS STREET SHADING

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS COMMUNITY PARKS

Flood walls can be either permanent or deployable structures. Heights can vary based on predicted levels of flooding in an area and would becoming a barrier in the case of any flooding, protecting areas that lie beyond it.

kWh ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT UNDERGROUND TANK TRAFFIC REGULATIONS PERFORMANCE RATING

FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

GREEN CORRIDORS

PERVIOUS ASPHALT

GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN

PROTECTED BIKE LANES

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS FLOOD WALLS

ALS

Sustainable gardening can even slow future warming by reducing carbon emmission and increasing carbon storage in the soil. Green roofs can significantly reduce theSHELTER amount of rain water that MULTI-FUNCTION LIVING SEA WALL would otherwise run off an impervious roof surface.

CONTAINER TREES

ADE

ROOFTOP GARDEN

PEDESTRIAN STREET

USING

GREEN ROOF

RELOCATION HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

ELEVATE THE GREEN CORRIDORS PRESERVE HOUSING WATERFRONT

FRIENDLY PUBLIC PROGRAM EMPTY TRANSPORTATION

Green corridors refer to right-of-ways of unSTOREFRONTS POLICY that create a stretch interrupted greenery through its course. They incorporate grass and vegetation in both walking and street surfaces, creating gaps along the ground plane for water and plants. Natural surfaces absorb water flowing through, helping to filter out pollutants that result from traditional hydrophobic street designs.

111

STAKEHOLDERS

North Tribeca is a small area with ample wealth and resources. Because of this, it has the ability to be a starting point for discovering new ways to tackle various problems. This diagram organizes each stakeholder in two different ways: structural organization and subjects of interest. The diagram outlines possible collaborations between several stakeholders, which can offer good starting points of what can eventually become a strong network. The diagram also brings to attention the possible conflicts between certain stakeholders. These conflicting stakeholders may have opposing goals or approaches that can affect the implementation of interventions, so understanding these differences will provide insight on why a network cannot necessarily include everyone.

Chase Bank

Chase Bank Environmental Advocates NY

Upstate Farmers - e.g. West Meadow Farm

Stormwater Resiliency

Waterfront Residents

Climate Action Network

GROW NYC

Waterfront Residents

Upstate Farmers - e.g. West Meadow Farm

Social Workers Flooding Experts

New York University

People

Private

Tile Manufacturers

Social Workers Ownerships Waterfront Residents

Upstate Farmers - e.g. West Meadow Farm

Building Materials Suppliers

Flooding Experts

People Private New York City Landmarks Preservation Waterfront Residents Ownerships Commission

Tile Manufacturers Neighborhood Organizations

Social Workers Government Departments

Flooding Experts

Community Board 1

Tribeca Trust

Building Materials Suppliers

Department of City Planning People

Tile Manufacturers

Manhattan Youth

Social Workers Hudson River Park

Flooding Experts

Community Board 1

Neighborhood Building Materials Suppliers US Army Corps of Engineers Organizations

Government Tile Manufacturers Singapore Government & Development Board Departments

ent ents

Community Board 1

Neighborhood Building Materials Suppliers Organizations

Tribeca TrustManhattan Youth

NYC Department of Agriculture and Markets

Experts

Community Board 1

ood

ions rps of Engineers

Tribeca Trust

Information

Manhattan Youth

Environmental Experts Information

Manhattan Youth Department of Agriculture and Markets

and Markets

Tribeca Trust

Environmental

Finance Produce Others

Experts

Finance

Possible Collaborations

Information

Produce

Possible Conflicts

Environmental

Others

Finance

Possible Collaborations

Produce

Possible Conflicts

113

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Board 1, Tribeca and Hudson Square 04/18/2022 at 6:30p.m.

MEETING OVERVIEW

FEEDBACK

115

April, Jasmine, and Lauren presenting their strategies for intervention.

116

The group presenting their maps for the demographics of the area.

Map showing depression rates in different areas throughout New York City.

117

GREENWICH VILLAGE + MEATPACKING

Jeanelle Cho Justin Leung Yeh Yeh

A view of W. 15th Street, looking east, showing the 3rd floor passage way between the buildings. Photo By: Pml2008

DESCRIPTION The neighborhoods of western Greenwich Village and the Meatpacking District are bounded by 14th Street to the north, Canal Street to the south, 6th Avenue to the east, and the Hudson River to the west. The area is within Community Board 2, which includes Greenwich Village, West Village, South Village, NoHo, SoHo, Little Italy, Gansevoort Market, Hudson Square, and a portion of Chinatown. The community board is known for being one of the first active community planning boards as it was originally formed by residents who advocated for protecting historic buildings and townhouses in the vicinity. The area is split into two zones: residential land use in the upper part and a former manufacturing district in the lower part with commercial zones throughout the area. Landmarks in the area include the Hudson River Greenway, the Whitney Museum of Art, Little Island, and the entrance to the High Line. Also in the area are the Stonewall Inn Bar and the Village Vanguard Jazz Club, which hold particular historical importance for their role in past social movements. Demographically, the area is not racially diverse, is wealthy, and a majority of residents are highly educated. Recently, residents have been vocal about preserving the “live-work merchant and artisan atmosphere of their neighborhoods,” as well as the rich architectural history in this part of the city. The Community Needs statements published by Community Board 2 reports that residents need more public green space and improved pedestrian safety and general wellbeing.

120

PRIORITIES The primary climate-related issues identified in this area are severe flooding (caused by storm surge, extreme rainfall, and sea level rise), poor air quality, and elevated carbon emissions that is caused by high energy consumption in some parts of the area. In the event of a 500-year flood, a vast portion of the area’s waterfront would experience severe flooding caused by storm surge. Flood projections illustrate that flooding will reach as far as 6th Avenue and along Canal Street if no measures for mitigation are implemented, which would have significant impact on residential, manufacturing, and commercial buildings. Transportation nodes are also within projected flood plains, including Holland Tunnel which causes traffic surrounding its entry/exit points, as well as both noise and air pollution. Additionally, the removal of the M6 bus route and changes to the M1, M3, M5 routes makes it difficult for its main users (seniors or disabled residents) to access other parts of the area. Community Board 2 has the lowest ratio of public open space in the city, residing at 0.63 acres of parkland per 1000 residents. The spatial lack of public green space coupled with the community’s advocacy for improving this issue, presents again the benefits of implementing green district strategies and planning. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent flood events, and the impending risks caused by climate change, it is imperative to protect the area’s architectural character, the district’s commercial culture, and the safety of pedestrians and residents.

121

HEAVY RAIN This map depicts parcel permeability, and the flooding that results from the compounded effects of a 10 year storm and a sea level rise of 2.5 feet. Flooding is projected to occur along West Street, on 6th Ave between W 4th St and W 8 St, and at the intersection of 7th Ave and Carmine St/Clarkson St; the latter two of the three overlap with subway lines.

GENRERAL KEY SOURCES: https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Transportation/ Subway-Entrances/drex-xx56 https://data.cityofnewyork.us/City-Government/NYC-Stormwater-Flood-Map-Moderate-Flood/5rzh-cyqd https://data.cityofnewyork.us/City-Government/ DEPs-Citywide-Parcel-Based-Impervious-AreaGIS-St/uex9-rfq8 https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/orr/pdf/publications/stormwater-resiliency-plan.pdf Cities at Risk - The Making of a “Green Distict” for the West Side of Manhattan, pp. 23

122

Subway Stop Entrances

Bus Routes

Subway Lines SURFACE PERMEABILITY Pervious

Semi-Perious

Impersvious FLOODING 4” ≤ Flood < 1’

Flood ≥ 1’

123

STORM SURGE This map overlays zoning information with the 100year floodplains under the 2020s and 2050s 90th percentile (high estimate) sea level rise scenarios. Flooding affects areas along and around West Street and Canal Street, which include both manufacturing and residential districts as well as major traffic throughways and nodes such as West Street and Holland Tunnel.

GENRERAL KEY Subway Stop Entrances

Bus Routes

Subway Lines FLOODPLAINS 2020s 100 Year SOURCES: https://zola.planning.nyc.gov/ about/#9.72/40.7118/-73.7337

2050s 100 Year ZONING

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Environment/SeaLevel-Rise-Maps-2020s-100-year-Floodplain-/ ezfn-5dsb

Residentail

Mixed Res/ Commercial

Commercical & Office

Industrial

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Environment/SeaLevel-Rise-Maps-2050s-100-year-Floodplain-/ hbw8-2bah

Public Facilities

Vacant Land

Cities at Risk - The Making of a “Green Distict” for the West Side of Manhattan, pp. 23

Parks

124

125

CARBON REDUCTION This map layers green coverage, park space, offstreet bike paths, and green roofs with energy consumption intensity. Energy use is more intense along 14th Street and in the area between Houston Street and Canal Street. Areas of high energy use also coincide with low green coverage, although the relationship might not be one of cause and effect.

GENRERAL KEY Subway Stop Entrances

Bus Routes

Subway Lines FEATURED KEY

SOURCES: Cities at Risk - The Making of a “Green Distict” for the West Side of Manhattan, pp. 23, 54-55, 58-61

126

Parks

Off-Street Bike Paths

Tree Coverage

Green Roof

Energy Consumption

127

AIR QUALITY This map shows the air quality throughout District 2 is consistent along with the city. The temperature deviates from East to West. There is a notable -2 degree difference where Hudson and Clarkson Street meet, potentially due to the James J Walker Park and the open space provided. Other cooler areas were found to be parks or vacant lots as well. The area bounded by Houston and Perry St, and the southeast corner of the district sees a rise in COPD and Hypertension rates.

GENRERAL KEY Subway Stop Entrances

Bus Routes

Subway Lines FEATURED KEY Temp. Dev. -2 SOURCES: Cities at Risk - The Making of a “Green Distict” for the West Side of Manhattan, pp. 23, 46-47, 50-51

128

Residents w/ Hypertention/COPD (0.4%-0.6%)

Temp. Dev. 0~2

129

SOCIAL RESILIENCE This map shows the presence of community facilities as well as parks and open spaces to point out areas that may be underserved by parks. Manufacturing zoning districts are shown in gray. Although the study area’s coastline itself is the Hudson River Park, the connection between the neighborhood and the park are also dependent on factors such as accessibility and adjacent building forms. The physical qualities—such as any fencing, barriers, and amenities—of the individual parks also impact how effectively they serve the neighborhood.

GENRERAL KEY Subway Stop Entrances

Bus Routes

Subway Lines ZONING & PARK M1-5, M1-6, M2-3, M2-4

Park

Open Space

Plaza FACILITIES

Schools K-12

Daycare & Pre-K, Child Services and Welfare

SOURCES: https://capitalplanning.nyc.gov/ map#11.45/40.724/-74.0188

Adult & Youth Services

Higher Education, Vocational and Proprietary Schools

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Transportation/ NYC-Planimetrics/wt4d-p43d

Libraries & Cultural Institutions

Public Safety & Emergency Services

Health Care & Human Services

City Gov. Offices

Cities at Risk - The Making of a “Green Distict” for the West Side of Manhattan, pp. 23

130

131

TOOLS AND STRATEGY

CONCERN

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

HEAVY RAIN FLOODING HEAVY RAIN FLOODING

INTERVENTION

CARBON REDUCTION CARBON REDUCTION

kWh

QUALITY AIRAIR QUALITY

COMMUNITY PARKS

POCKET PARKS

STREET SHADING

CARBON REDUCTION

PERFORMANCE RATING

SOCIAL RESILIENCE SOCIAL RESILIENCE

HEAVY RAIN FLOODING

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

STORM SURGE

RELOCATION

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT

FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

GREEN CANALS

GREEN CORRIDORS

PERVIOUS ASPHALT

PROTECTED BIKE LANES

UNDERGROUND BASIN UNDERGROUND WATER PLAZA WATER PLAZA TANK

WATER PUMP FLOOD WALLS FLOOD WALLS

UNDERGROUND UNDERGROUND TANK TANK

ROOFTOP GARDEN GREEN FACADE GREEN FACADE

GREEN ROOF GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN ROOFTOP GARDEN

STORM SURGE STORM SURGE

WATER PLAZA

RAIN GARDENS PEDESTRIAN STREET FLOOD WALLS PEDESTRIAN STREET

COOL ROOFS

GREEN FACADE

COOL ROOFS GREEN ROOF COOL ROOFS

AREA

PEDESTRIAN STREET

Residential Area

Holland Tunnel

CONTAINER TREES

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

CONTAINER TREES LIVING SEA WALL CONTAINER TREES

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

STREET SHADING

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES POCKET PARKS RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER DIRECT AIR CAPTURE DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

COMMUNITY PARKS STREET SHADING STREET SHADING

West Shorline LIVING SEA WALL LIVING SEA WALL

POCKET PARKS POCKET PARKS

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELT MULTI-FUNCTION SHE

133

COMMUNITY PARKS COMMUNITY PARK

HIGH LIN E WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

14T

CORPORAL JOHN A. SERAVALI PLAYGROUND

TRE

HUDSON RIVER GREE

NWAY

NYC AIDS MEMORIAL PARK

OPHER CHRIST

STREET

6TH

AVE N

WEST STREET

HUDSON ST

REET

PIER 45 AT HUDSON RIVER PARK

JAMES J WALKER PARK

HUDSON RIVER GREENWAY

HOUSTON

HOLLAND

TUNNEL

STREET

STRATEGY MAP & KEY WATER PLAZA

Water Plazas serve as large scale water catchment systems. These plazas double as basins during high rainfall situations, creating a passive infrastructure. Since their capacity is reached in emergency situations, they are generally dry and not full for most parts of the year. This in turn means that the design of this large infrastructure can prioritize a large public space beneficial to community members just as much as it functions in managing water.

TREET

WATER PLAZA

FLOOD WALLS

UNDERGROUND TANK

Underground water storage tanks are various sized tanks located underground that harvests rainwater to reduce stormwater runoffs while keeping the water onsite in the tanks.

UNDERGROUND TANK GREEN FACADE

GREEN ROOF FLOOD WALLS

ROOFTOP GARDEN

FLOOD WALLS

ROOFTOP GARDEN

REES

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

UNDERGROUND TANK

PEDESTRIAN STREET MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER LIVING SEA WALL

Pedestrian streets have less area dedicated managing vehicular traffic and are designed for more pedestrian interactions.

PEDESTRIAN STREET

WATER PLAZA

GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN

WALL

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

GRATES

STREET SHADING

FLOOD WALLS

POCKET PARKS

COMMUNITY PARKS

GREEN FACADE

GREEN ROOF

kWh COOL ROOFS

UNDERGROUND TANK

135

ROOFTOP GARDEN

STAKEHOLDERS

The diagram is meant to show a sort of procedural progression, where one starts at the neighborhood scale, brings attention to districts, collaborates with experts and producers, and then finally brings the interventions to a city and possibly state level. It is also important to outline the experts and producers of the topics researched within this book because their support and collaboration will justify the interventions that were proposed as well as highlight any other possible areas that should be taken into consideration.

NY Building Congress Department of City Planning NYC Water Board

Department of Parks and Recreation

NY State Department of Environmental Conservation

CITY AND STATE

NYC Landmark Preservation Comissions

NYC Economic Development Corporation

NY State Department of Transportation NY State Parks Commissioner

Environmental Advocates NY Flooding Experts Air Pollution Analysts

MTA

Livewall

EXPERTS (Green Walls) AND Wolf Paving (Porous PRODUCERS Asphalt)

Stormwater Experts

Storm Trees (Rain Gardens)

Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

Meatpacking District Board

Homeless

MANY (Museum Association of New York)

Golden Harvest Inc (Flood Barriers)

DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY

Employees

Stuck Industrial (Raised Subway Grates)

Store Owners

NEIGHBORHOOD New York Cares

Neighborhood Residents Students

Community Board 2

The New School New York University

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Board 2, Greenwich Village Land Use Committee 04/04/2022 at 6:30p.m.

MEETING OVERVIEW

FEEDBACK One board member asked how raising the building temperature by one or two degrees would affect energy consumption, which was a good avenue for further exploring the topic. They mentioned Route 9A and its contribution to energy consumption being a point of interest within certain conversations. They encouraged the group to have a greater focus on this. They also urged the group to consider possible funding sources for the suggested interventions as well as the departments whose jurisdictions they

may fall under. The Community Board expressed that the group’s research matched their understandings of the neighborhood. They were excited to see efforts and attention being directed towards these causes. The group received two responses to their online survey, which contained helpful suggestions for where aspects of social resilience could be enhanced. The responses also revealed the priorities of the community members, the highest of which was air quality. 139

Justin, jeanelle, and Yeh presenting the challenges and strategies for the area between Hudson Street and 6th Avenue.

The group discussing their Q&A questions with the board.

140

Results of one of the group’s survey questions regarding prevalent issues in the district.

Results of one of the group’s survey questions regarding social resilience.

141

CHELSEA

Laura Duke Grace Rankin Maya Simms

Chelsea Market. Photo By: Charles16e

DESCRIPTION The third area of study is Chelsea, which is within Community Board 4. The study area is bounded by 34th Street to the north, 14th street to the south, 6th Avenue to the east, and the Hudson River to the west. Chelsea is home to a variety of residents, particularly in terms of wealth. Chelsea’s rich history embodies the successes and downfalls of urban development and revitalization. Chelsea began as an upscale residential vision by its first landowner, Clement Clarke Moore, and with the development of the Hudson River Railroad in 1847 the neighborhood underwent its first major transformation. Warehouses, lumberyards, and other industrial sites piled into Chelsea, and in 1869 an elevated train was built along 9th Avenue. Manufacturing sites divided the pedestrian from the waterfront, and up until the 1970s, Chelsea would become predominantly known for industrialization and affordable housing. Beginning in 1969, members of the LGBTQ+ community moved from the rising rental rates in SoHo to the vast warehouses within Chelsea. This movement of the LGBTQ+ community into Chelsea began revitalizing the area, thus launching the neighborhood into subsequent waves of gentrification. In 2009, the elevated train track along 9th Avenue was transformed into a public greenway, the High Line, sparking an unprecedented rate of growth and gentrification in New York City. Chelsea’s history of industrialization, queer culture, and gentrification have formed its current eclectic, upscale, and artsy character, and wide variety of residential, commercial, and public institution types.

Soruce: https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/ocejospring14chelsea/history/#:~:text=Chelsea%20is%20one%20of%20the,near%20London%E2%80%9D%20(Williams https://www.thehighline.org/blog/2019/11/12/a-brief-history-of-chelsea-with-a-long-timeresident/

144

PRIORITIES Modern Chelsea’s challenges include extreme flood vulnerability (caused by storm surge, extreme rainfall, and rising sea level), poor air quality, high energy consumption and carbon emission, and social inequity across the neighborhood. In the event of a 500-year flood, nearly half of Chelsea would be inundated by water levels as high as eight feet, reaching as far as 8th Avenue. In a heavy rainfall event, many streets would be moderately to extremely inundated. In particular, the A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, B, D, F, and M subway lines would be vulnerable to flooding capable of halting their operation altogether. After the introduction of the High Line, disparities were created in energy consumption and carbon emission across the neighborhood, with the highest levels being produced by new development of highrise, luxury apartments. In addition, the new development popularity that the High Line attracted has caused great concern in the community, particularly low- and middle-income residents, for causing great wealth disparity and gentrification. Members of Community Board 4 have shared the need for preserving housing affordability and protection from displacement for NYCHA public-housing and low- and middle-income residents. The High Line is certainly an asset to Chelsea (and New York City at large), as a brilliant re-use of abandoned infrastructure for the creation of public green space, though it alone does not address the many challenges Chelsea will face as climate events and stresses continue to ensue. Chelsea’s unique history, growing economy, rare architecture, major intersections of public transit, and hubs for economically limited residents are all at risk of being interrupted, damaged, and even lost if steps toward forming a green district are not taken. The creation of a green district in Chelsea will ensure to protect the neighborhood from increasing flood risk and dangerous carbon emissions, form more public green space, and empower the community to sustain living in their neighborhood.

145

HEAVY RAIN This map examines the relationship between extreme projected rainfall, the subway system, and the current sewer system and sewer depositories. Flooding remains prominent along 8th Avenue and 7th Avenue which poses a major disaster for subway flooding. From 22nd St to 34th St, there are no sewer lines along 7th Avenue or any cross streets, and this leads to an increase in likelihood of subways flooding in this zone.

GENERAL KEY

SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

146

A C E Subways

Sewer Lines

1 2 3 Subways

Combined MS4 and CSO

B D F M Subways

CSO

147

STORM SURGE Visualizing the topography of Chelsea is crucial to understanding the way water and flooding affect the area. Higher or lower elevations determine how severely an area will experience flooding and flood damage. The permeability also plays a big role. Much of Chelsea is made of impermeable materials such as concrete and pavement. This results in the ground being unable to absorb any floodwaters, increasing the duration and severity of flooding conditions. The 500 year floodplain is superimposed to show what Chelsea might look like in the event of a severe flood in relation with the topography and permeability.

ELEVATION EVERY 5 FEET

500 YEAR FLOOD

PERVIOUS SURFACES

SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

148

Impervious

Pervious

Semi-Pervious

MS4 Drainage Area

149

CARBON REDUCTION Looking

greenhouse

gas

emissions,

this

map depicts the relationships between vegetation and greenhouse gas emissions. A higher density of both green roofs and greenhouse gasses are found along the Highline and the Inner Manhattan portion of Chelsea ( where there exists a larger density of high-rise buildings). In contrast, a majority of tree canopy coverage is found between 10th and 8th Avenues where there are a greater portion of mediumrise buildings.

GENERAL KEY Greenhouse Gas Intensity (KGCO2/FT^2) <1

Green Roof SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

150

12+

Tree Canopies

151

AIR QUALITY CO2 emission rates often correspond with land use. The CO2 emission gradient is overlaid with the land use in Chelsea to show the relationship between the amount of air pollution and different types of spaces. The goal is to see the important areas of intersection, such as high concentrations of CO2 emissions and the land uses that correspond to them. Currently in Chelsea, rates of CO2 emissions are highest in residential areas framed by commercial areas.

CO2 POUNDS Low

High

LAND USE 1 & 2 Family Multi-Family Walkup

SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

152

Multi-Family Elevator Mixed Commercial/ Residential Commercial/Office Industrial/Manufacturing

Transportation/Utility Public Facilities & Institutions Open Spaces Parking Facilities Vacant Land All Others or No Data

153

SOCIAL RESILIENCE Facing risks of raising rental rates and gentrification, Chelsea has communities facing hardships just blocks away from some of the wealthiest residents in NYC. By layering income, food insecurity, and food access, one can get a better idea of the duplicity of Chelsea. In order to promote social resilience and economic resilience, actions need to be taken to help keep a range of income levels among Chelsea residents.

INCOME LEVELS Top 1% (>$700k)

Average ($110k-$31k)

High ($700k-$110k)

Low (<$31k)

FOOD INSECURITY 54% Food Insecure

0% Food Insecure

FOOD ACCESS

SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

154

Food Pantry

Greenmarket

Grocery Store

155

TOOLS AND STRATEGY

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

STREET SHADING

POCKET PARKS RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

COMMUNITY PARKS STREET SHADING

CONCERN

kWh

PEDESTRIAN STREET

FLOODING

AIR QUALITY CARBON REDUCTION

INTERVENTION

COOL ROOFS

HISTORICAL BUILDING FLOOD WALLS MAINTENANCE

SOCIAL RESILIENCE HEAVY RAIN FLOODING

GREEN FACADE

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

AREA

HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

RELOCATION

GREEN CANALS

UNDERGROUND PERFORMANCE RATING TANK

AIR QUALITY CARBON REDUCTION

RELOCATION GREEN ROOF

STORM SURGE

CONTAINER TREES

kWh CARBON REDUCTION

WATER PLAZA

PRESERVE HOUSING HISTORICAL BUILDING POLICY MAINTENANCE

SOCIAL HEAVYRESILIENCE RAIN FLOODING

ROOFTOP GARDEN TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

HEAVY RAIN FLOOD

PROGRAM EMPTY PERFORMANCE RATING STOREFRONTS

AIRSTORM QUALITY SURGE

SOCIAL RESILIENCE

ELEVATE THE RELOCATION WATERFRONT

FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRAFFIC REGULATIONS TRANSPORTATION

STORM SURGE

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

PEDESTRIAN STREET STREET SHADING

GREENSEA CANALS LIVING WALL

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER GREEN CORRIDORS

PERVIOUS ASPHALT GREEN CANALS

PROTECTED GREEN CORRIDORS BIKE LANES

RAIN GARDENS POCKET PARKS WATER PLAZA

FLOOD WALLS COMMUNITY PARKS UNDERGROUND BASIN PEDESTRIAN STREET

UNDERGROUND RAIN GARDENS WATER PUMP WATER PLAZA TANK

FLOOD WALLSBASIN UNDERGROUND

PRESERVE HOUSING GREEN FACADE POLICY

GREEN ROOF PROGRAM EMPTY COOL ROOFS STOREFRONTS

ROOFTOP GARDEN GREEN FACADE

kWh

COOL ROOFS PERFORMANCE RATING

6th, 7th, 8th Ave

NYCHA Housing

GREEN ROOF

Shoreline

CONTAINER TREES TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

ELEVATE THE DIRECT AIR CAPTURE WATERFRONT

LIVING SEA WALL FRIENDLY PUBLIC CONTAINER TREES TRANSPORTATION

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

LIVING SEA WALL

RAISED GRATES GREENSUBWAY CORRIDORS

PERVIOUS ASPHALT STREET SHADING

PARKS PROTECTED RAISEDPOCKET SUBWAY GRATES BIKE LANES

COMMUNITY PARKS STREET SHADING

POCKET PARKS

MULTI-

157

COM

SSttreet

o ud s

e tre S n

PTURE

ING

STRATEGY MAP & KEY GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN

PEDESTRIAN STREETS

Pedestrian streets have less area dedicated managing vehicular traffic and are designed for more pedestrian interactions.

LIVING SEA WALL PEDESTRIAN STREET

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER WATER PLAZA

POCKET PARKS

FLOOD WALLS

UNDERGROUND TANK

Pocket parks are a small park (between 1 and 3 lots) that is accessible to the public and can collect excess rainwater, usually through depressions in the landscape.

POCKET PARKS COOL ROOFS

COMMUNITY PARKS

GREEN FACADE WATER BASIN

GREEN ROOF

ROOFTOP GARDEN

Large scale underground basins absorb excess water from flooding and store it underground before slowly releasing the water into the drainage system.

RATING

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY CONTAINER TREES

PROGRAM EMPTY RAIN GARDEN STOREFRONTS

MULTI-FUNCTION SEA WALL DIRECT AIR CAPTURE Rain gardens collect rainwaterLIVING at street level when there is excess SHELTER and provide a place for it to disperse directly into the ground below. Taking the appearance of gardens, the plants and rocks found here often help control the flow of water, filtering it before it descends into the aquifer.

FLOOD WALL/BERM RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

FLOOD WALLS

Flood walls can be either permanent or deployable structures. Heights vary based on predicted levels of floodingCOMMUNITY in an areaPARKS POCKET PARKS STREETcan SHADING and would becoming a barrier in the case of any flooding, protecting areas that lie beyond it.

UNDERGROUND kWh TANK

159

STAKEHOLDERS

Chelsea has gone through extensive change in the past twenty years, which has created a wide variety of people, businesses, and organizations that have a stake in the neighborhood’s future. It is important to show which stakeholders will be affected most by the issues identified in Chelsea. The interventions will hopefully affect these stakeholders for the better, so it is important to reach out and understand what will work best for them. By showing which stakeholders have the connections or resources to implement interventions, one can begin to take concrete steps by contacting organizations that can create real change.

By Ide nt ifi

Affected

es u s Is

Biking/Jogging Groups Residents and Workers

Home Owner Associations

Tesla Apple Google

Commuters through Chelsea

Delivery Drivers (Freelance and Commercial)

Tourists

Local Businesses Chelsea Piers Chelsea Market + Vendors

Hudson River Park

Schools NYC Housing Authority

NYC Food Stamp Office

NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation

Pandemic Food Reserve Emergency Distribution Program

Re so urc es

Dept of City Planning

ti o ns

a ns tio nec Has Con

Community Board 4

en v r e t In to Implement Sanitation Department

161

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Board 4, Chelsea Land Use Committee 04/26/2022 at 6:30p.m. The goal of this presentation was to propose interventions that address water management, social resilience, and air quality in Chelsea, and to hear the feedback of Community Board members and residents of Chelsea. It was well-received, with several members encouraging the group to take the next steps necessary to implement the proposed interventions as soon as possible.

MEETING OVERVIEW

FEEDBACK The Community Board’s primary feedback included further inquiries about the logistics of some of the proposed interventions. There were questions about the implementation of rain gardens, the feasibility of underground basins, accessibility to the waterfront around the proposed berm, and the technicalities surrounding pervious asphalt and direct air capture. A couple of Community Board members brought up good points about separating the storm drainage 163

Grace Rankin explaining the group’s strategy diagram for the proposed interventions.

164

Laura Duke presenting the group’s Future Synthesis Map, showing what a network of interventions would look like throughout Chelsea to create a green district.

The group leading a Q&A discussion after the presentation.

165

HUDSON YARDS + HELL’S KITCHEN

Kyle Kalmar Ronan McCabe Sierra Taylor

Hudson Yards. Photo By: Domenico Convertini

DESCRIPTION

Hell’s Kitchen is bounded by 34th Street to the south, 59th Street to the north, 8th Avenue to the east, and by the Hudson River to the west. Hell’s Kitchen is part of Community Board 4. The neighborhood has historically been left behind by developers and real estate moguls for its ill-perceived reputation, which is the result of it being home to low- and middle-income families. Hell’s Kitchen is a robust and highly diverse neighborhood and has become known for its affordable host of multiethnic restaurants and small businesses. Notably, the neighborhood serves as a transportation and infrastructural core to all of New York City, containing major transit hubs and facilities used by the entire city. The greatest climate challenges facing Hell’s Kitchen are moderate to severe flood vulnerability (caused by storm surge, extreme rainfall, and sea level rise), poor air quality, high energy consumption and high carbon emissions, and hazardous pedestrian safety conditions. Additionally, the Hudson River has been identified to be heavily polluted caused by overwhelmed combined sewer overflow (CSO) systems in the neighborhood. The three areas identified most at risk are the Michael J. Quill Bus Depot and the UPS Customer Center, Pier 90 Cruise Terminal and adjacent docks and waterfront, and the Lincoln Tunnel entrance and exit vicinity and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Each is a central conduit for movement across the city to both residents and non-residents, and they are also at the most severe risk of incapacitating climate events and stresses. Strategies for intervention are necessary to protect major infrastructural facilities and services from moderate and extreme flood events and transform their adjacent streetways into safe and easily traversable public spaces and green corridors.

168

PRIORITIES

Priorities for intervention fall under four interdependent categories: public safety and access, water management, protected infrastructure, and air quality and carbon reduction. Public safety and access concerns are regarding the hazardous streetscape in the neighborhood that inhibits pedestrians and bicyclists from moving around the neighborhood safely, particularly at intersections near the Lincoln Tunnel exit vicinity. Water management concerns the inadequate systems for effectively transporting water in an extreme flood event, particularly at the waterfront and near the Lincoln Tunnel. Protecting infrastructure from climate events is critical as Hell’s Kitchens contains important bus hubs that service a significant portion of the entire city. Hell’s Kitchen’s many infrastructural centers, new development of high-rise residential buildings, and heavily trafficked vehicle networks are the cause for the highest energy consumption, carbon emission, and poor air quality in the neighborhood. Hell’s Kitchen is unique for its powerful sense of community to actively engage in the development of their neighborhood, a quality that would complement the making of a green district. Though Hudson River Park along the waterfront is a great asset, it does not protect residents from the variety of impending stresses and shocks climate change will cause. Addressing dangerous vehicle traffic, limited pedestrian mobility, poor water management, and the lack of public green space in the neighborhood through the strategies of a green district presents a great opportunity to connect the waterfront, greenspace, the public realm, businesses, and the community all at the same time, while ensuring each is protected from climate change.

169

HEAVY RAIN + STORM SURGE During periods of heavy storm surge, the current CSO outfall system serves as the primary drainage system for the outline areas. However, this CSO outfall system becomes backed up and unable to function by too much water.. This map aims to emphasize the need for passive drainage. Additionaly, this maps displays areas of heavy water collection during extreme inundation events as well as the coastal areas located within the special floodzone. The poor water quality becomes a risk during flooding events as contaminated water enters homes and businesses, consequently violating the Federal Clean Air and Water Act.

GENERAL KEY

Storm Surge

SOURCE: https://njcso.hdrgateway.com/

170

Moderate Flooding

Extreme Flooding

Major Sewage Line

CSO Outfall

Poor Water Quality

CSO Area

171

CARBON REDUCTION This

map

highlights

the

areas

energy

consumption, tree canopies, and green roofs in Hell’s Kitchen. The energy data on this map shows that energy consumption in Hell’s Kitchen varies, but it’s particularly higher along 8th Avenue which is away from the major highways and tunnels. This indicates that there are more high-rise offices in the red area along 8th Avenue. In contrast, there is a high density of tree canopies in this area. The variation of green roofs within this location is minimal as green roofs and tree canopies are in separate areas in Hell’s Kitchen.

GENERAL KEY Energy Consumption High

Low

SOURCE: ArcGIS Online Catalog

172

Green Canopy

Green Roofs

173

TRAFFIC INTENSITY This map shows air quality as a particular concern in Hell’s Kitchen due to Lincoln Tunnel regularly offloading high volumes of traffic, which results in high levels of stalling and harmful emissions. The NYCDOT has identified a variety of problematic intersections that cause high amounts of pedestrian crashes, which are the result of high traffic congestion from Lincoln Tunner and frequent violations of traffic regulations meant to mitigate congestion.

TRAFFIC VOLUME (Weekday PM Peak Hour) 0-149

SOURCE: “Clint/Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood Traffic Study,” NYC DOT

174

150-599

600-999

1,000+

Problematic Intersection

Shared Lane

Conventional Bike Lane

Protected Bike Lane

175

TOOLS AND STRATEGY

CONTAINER TREES

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES LIVING SEA WALL

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

STREET SHADING MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

COMMUNITY PARKS

POCKET PARKS

CONCERN

kWh

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

CARBON REDUCTION

HISTORICAL BUILDING POCKET PARKS MAINTENANCE

STREET SHADING

PERFORMANCE RATING COMMUNITY PARKS

INTERVENTION

PERFORMANCE RATING

STORM SURGE STORM SURGE

SOCIAL RESILIENCE SOCIAL RESILIENCE AIR QUALITY

RELOCATION PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS PROGRAM EMPTY PEDESTRIAN STREET STOREFRONTS

GREEN CANALS ELEVATE THE UNDERGROUND WATERFRONT TANK

GREEN FRIENDLY PUBLIC COOLCORRIDORS ROOFS TRANSPORTATION

SOCIAL RESILIENCE STORM SURGE

ELEVATE THE WATER PLAZA WATERFRONT

PERVIOUS ASPHALT GREEN FACADE

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS FLOOD WALLS

GREEN GREEN CANALS FACADE

GREEN CORRIDORS GREEN ROOF

RAIN GARDENS PEDESTRIAN STREET PERVIOUS ASPHALT ROOFTOP GARDEN

UNDERGROUND BASIN WATER PLAZA PROTECTED CONTAINER TREES BIKE LANES

FLOOD WALLS WATER PUMP DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

RAINAIR GARDENS DIRECT CAPTURE

UNDERGROUND BASIN LIVING SEA WALL

COOLPUMP ROOFS WATER MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

FACADE RAISEDGREEN SUBWAY GRATES

GREEN ROOF STREET SHADING

AREA

FRIENDLY PUBLIC FLOOD WALLS TRANSPORTATION

STORM SURGE

RELOCATION WATER PLAZA

STREET SHADING

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

kWh

AIR FLOODING QUALITY CARBON REDUCTION HEAVY RAIN RAIN FLOODING AIR QUALITY CARBON REDUCTION CARBON HEAVY FLOODINGHEAVY RAIN REDUCTION

HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

HEAVY RAIN FLOOD

Michael J Quill Bus Depot POCKET PARKS

Port Authority CONTAINERPARKS TREES COMMUNITY

Lincoln Tunnel

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

PROTECTED GREEN ROOF BIKE LANES

UNDERGROUND LIVING SEA WALL TANK

MULTI-

ROOFTOP GARDEN POCKET PARKS

COM

PIERS 88-94

kWh

LIVING SEA WALL PERFORMANCE RATING

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

POCKET PARKS TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

COMMUNITY ELEVATE THEPARKS WATERFRONT

PR S

kWh

PERFORMANCE RATING

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

STREET SHADING RELOCATION

177

FR TRA

Pier 90

Clin ton

Par k

UPS Building Michael J. Quil Bus Depot

The

Javits Center

Int

rep i

d W

Lin

col n

Pie

H Kit ell’s che n

Tun

50t

tre

nel

6P ark wa y tre

Port Authority

Ave 8th

Ave

tre

9th

10t hA ve

34t

11t

42n

hA ve

59t

tre

DING

RKS

ILDING NCE DE

POCKET PARKS

STRATEGY MAP & KEY PERFORMANCE RATING GREEN ROOF

RATING

PTURE

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS TRAFFIC REGULATIONS LIVING SEA WALL

HE NT ALS

ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GREEN CORRIDORS

DING

POCKET PARKS

ATIONS

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY ROOFTOP GARDEN

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

LIVING SEA WALL

USING

COMMUNITY PARKS

Traditional living shorelines (i.e., wetland restoration) are challenging for NYC’s waterways due to wave energy, water depths for boat access, erosion control, and permitting constraints. Living seawalls, are an extension of living infrastructure, they reimagine the PROGRAM EMPTY shorefront infrastructure by mitigating storm surge and bring back STOREFRONTS biodiversity to the coastline--which helps to facilitate the natural waveELEVATE action. FRIENDLY PUBLIC THE

WATERFRONT MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

TRANSPORTATION

GREEN CORRIDOR

Green corridors refer to right-of-ways that create a stretch of uninterrupted greenery through its course. They incorporate grass and vegetation in both walking and street surfaces, creating gaps along the ground plane for water and plants. Natural surfaces absorb water flowing through, helping to filter out pollutants that result from traditional hydrophobic street designs. FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

PERVIOUS ASPHALT

PROTECTED BIKE LANES

PROTECTED BIKE LANE COMMUNITY PARKS

Protected bike lanes are lanes that are designated lanes for biking with a protective barrier of some sort between the car and bike lanes. The purpose of this tool is to encourage the health and safety of a carbon-less method of travel.

DORS

HALT

ENS

RATING

ZA BASIN

PERVIOUS ASPHALT PROTECTED BIKE LANES UNDERGROUND BASIN PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

FLOOD WALLS WATER PUMP

ATIONS

ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT

GREEN ROOF

PROTECTED BIKE LANES WATER PUMP WATER PUMPS PROGRAM EMPTY

Water pumps are pumps that allows the citizens of New York to STOREFRONTS gain access from an underground water source.

UNDERGROUND TANK

GREEN ROOFS

Green roof systems allow for the cultivation of healthy ecosystems PUBLIC of scales, enabling individual buildings to reduce at FRIENDLY a wide variety TRANSPORTATION their own emissions while creating more attractive spaces. Vegetation coverage at high elevations reduces the amount of pollution in the air, and can be expanded across a network that is not interrupted by vehicle traffic. ROOFTOP GARDEN

179

STAKEHOLDERS

The community of Hell’s Kitchen is historically very active in the development of their neighborhood. It is important to get support from local stakeholders because nothing gets done without community approval. This diagram organizes the stakeholders into broader categories that range from government to private ownership to individuals. The service and facilities stakeholders are in the center of the diagram since because they are central players in Hell’s Kitchen. The remaining categorizes branch off of services and facilities due to their dependency on and support of those stakeholders.

181

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Board 4, Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Land Use Committee 04/13/2022 at 6:30p.m.

MEETING OVERVIEW

FEEDBACK

183

Kyle Kalmar explaining the team’s priorities and strategies to address issues in the community.

184

Ronan McCabe presenting the group’s second hotspot, Cruise Terminal.

185

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Katie Eveleth Xiluva Mbungela Karl Pietsch

Time Sqaure. Photo By: Fred PO

DESCRIPTION

The Central Business District is part of Community Board 5 and bounded by 59th Street to the north, 34th Street to the south, 6th Avenue to the east, and 8th Avenue to the west. Land use in The Central Business District fluctuates between commercial and residential uses, with a portion of the area zoned for industrial use. The neighborhood is characterized by its high density and high-rise buildings. The neighborhood is known for Times Square, one of the most vibrant and heavily trafficked areas in New York City by both vehicles and pedestrians. Broadway runs diagonally through the neighborhood, with many of the city’s most popular historic theaters, stores, and attractions. The Central Business District’s real estate is largely occupied by global corporations and wealthy residents. The greatest challenges facing the study area are flood vulnerability (caused by extreme rainfall), poor air quality, high energy consumption and high carbon emission, and social infrastructure vulnerability caused by significant urban heat island effect. Being that this study area does not touch the waterfront, extreme rainfall is the only climate event capable of causing flood inundation, which is a concern mostly for 8th Avenue and part of 7th Avenue. Given the high density, nearly every building in the neighborhood consumes enormous amounts of energy and consequently emits very high levels of carbon. Public green space is significantly lacking in the neighborhood, which coupled with high carbon emissions, majorly reduces air quality in the area. Urban heat island effect is an additional consequence of the neighborhood’s high density and lack of green infrastructure, which weakens social resilience and increases the risk of fatality for residents during extreme heat events.

188

PRIORITIES

The Central Business District is unique in that many of the high-rise buildings in the neighborhood are over 100 years old and operate using aging HVAC systems. Additionally, the many theatres on Broadway use similar systems and consume energy disproportionately compared to other buildings of their size. The density and outdatedness of the neighborhood’s architecture poses greater challenges for intervention given the lack of open space. Risk mitigation in the neighborhood will require concerted and more complex efforts to resolve the consequences of the building fabric that was not designed to perform efficiently nor environmentally. Though better protected from flood events, the Central Business District, as one of the most visited and occupied neighborhoods in the city, risks becoming uninhabitable as climate change causes extreme temperatures to rise and become more frequent. Implementation of green district strategies would ensure carbon reduction and improve air quality for residents. The implementation of more green public space would be crucial to improving air quality, and even has the potential to transform the area’s tourism economy. Public green space would also strengthen the neighborhood’s social infrastructure to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of residents both during and in between climate events.

189

HEAVY RAIN This map aims to show the relation between impervious, semi-pervious, and pervious surfaces across the site as well as the flooding experienced due to various types of rainfall. Additionally, the map calls out areas that would be at risk of having their subway stations flooded by showing the subway lines and their various entrances within the larger site juxtaposed with areas of high flooding. The areas all along 8th ave, Times Square, 47-50th Street, Rockefeller Center Station, and Penn Station are all highly vulnerable to flooding due to heavy rainfall.

GENERAL KEY

SOURCE: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7c260f80c5d44d948d45051d7a2d6d77/ page/page_0/?views=view_2

190

Flooding > 12”

Impervious

1” < Flooding < 12”

Semi-Pervious

Subway Entrances and Vents

Pervious

191

CARBON EMISSIONS This map juxtaposes tree coverage, green roofs and facades in order to show the issues of carbon emission by the built typologies. The one area that is on the lower end of energy consumption is the result of there being less building per square foot. These buildings are set back roughly 40 feet from the street edge and these make up the Rockefeller Group.

GENERAL KEY Energy Consumption (kWH) 1-50

SOURCE: https://qsel.columbia.edu/nycenergy/about.html

192

Green Canopy

1750-2500

Green Roofs and Facades

193

AIR QUALITY The map aims to overlay the asthma rates, increasing temperature deviation from the mean, and the large amount of pollution in the area (above 2.5 particles per million). It also positions the ideas of poor air quality with the lack of green coverage and green infrastructure.

TEMPERATURE DEVIATION FROM MEAN -3

ASTHMA POPULATION % <11.3%

<8.7%

SOURCE: https://www.data2go.nyc/map/

194

Green Coverage

High Level of PM2.5 Particles (14)

195

SOCIAL RESILIENCE This map shows where tourist attractions and community spaces overlap as well as the average income in the area. The map shows which types of zoning there is and where it is located.

GENERAL KEY Public Facilities and Institutions Mixed Tourist Attractions

Multi-family Elevator Commercial and Office Community Spaces and Parks INCOME LEVELS

SOURCE: https://www.data2go.nyc/map/

196

Top 1% (>$700k)

Average ($110k-$31k)

High ($700k-$110k)

Low (<$31k)

197

TOOLS AND STRATEGY

CONCERN INTERVENTION

PEDESTRIAN STREET CONTAINER TREES

WATER DIRECT AIRPLAZA CAPTURE

FLOOD WALLS LIVING SEA WALL

UNDERGROUND MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER CONTAINER TREES TANK

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

COOL ROOFS RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

GREENSHADING FACADE PEDESTRIAN STREET STREET

GREEN ROOF POCKET PARKS WATER PLAZA

ROOFTOP GARDEN COMMUNITY PARKS FLOOD WALLS RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

UNDERGROUND STREET SHADING TANK

kWh

LIVING SEA WALL PRESERVE HOUSING FLOOD WALLS GREEN FACADE POLICY

SOCIAL SOCIAL RESILIENCE SOCIAL RESILIENCE SOCIAL RESILIENCE RESILIENCE

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER PROGRAM EMPTY GREEN ROOF UNDERGROUND HISTORICAL BUILDING STOREFRONTS TANK MAINTENANCE

ROOFTOP GARDEN PERFORMANCE RATING

COMMUNITY PARKS FRIENDLY LIVING SEAPUBLIC WALL ROOFTOP GARDEN RELOCATION TRANSPORTATION

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

PROGRAM EMPTY PROTECTED POCKET PARKS MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER GREEN CANALS STOREFRONTS BIKE LANES

COMMUNITY PARKS GREEN CORRIDORS

PRE

STORM STORM SURGE STORM SURGE STORM SURGE SURGE

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES RELOCATION COOL ROOFS

STREET SHADING CONTAINER TREES TRAFFIC REGULATIONS GREEN FACADE

POCKET PARKS ELEVATE THE GREEN ROOF DIRECT AIR CAPTURE WATERFRONT

kWh

HISTORICAL BUILDING GREEN CANALS CONTAINER TREES MAINTENANCE

PERFORMANCE RATING RAISED SUBWAY GRATES GREEN CORRIDORS DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

PRESERVE HOUSING PERVIOUS ASPHALT LIVINGSHADING SEA WALL STREET POLICY

PER

kWh

RELOCATION RAIN GARDENS RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

AREA

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE COOL ROOFS PERFORMANCE RATING WATER PLAZA

kWh

AIR QUALITY AIR QUALITY AIR QUALITY CARBON CARBON CARBON REDUCTION CARBON REDUCTION REDUCTION REDUCTION HEAVY HEAVY RAIN HEAVY RAIN HEAVY FLOODING RAIN FLOODING RAIN FLOODING FLOODING AIR QUALITY

CONTAINER TREES HISTORICAL BUILDING PEDESTRIAN STREET MAINTENANCE

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS HISTORICAL BUILDING UNDERGROUND BASIN STREET SHADING MAINTENANCE

Times Square

ELEVATE THE POCKET PARKS WATER PUMP PERFORMANCE RATING WATERFRONT

kWh 8th-6th Ave

FRIENDLY PUBLIC PRESERVE HOUSING COMMUNITY PARKS RAIN GARDENS TRANSPORTATION POLICY

Herald Square

GREEN CANALS HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

GREEN CORRIDORS RELOCATION PERFORMANCE RATING

PERVIOUS ASPHALT PRESERVE HOUSING TRAFFIC REGULATIONS POLICY

RAIN GARDENS RELOCATION

UNDERGROUND BASIN GREENREGULATIONS CANALS TRAFFIC

WATER PUMP ELEVATE THE GREEN CORRIDORS WATERFRONT

PROGRAM EMPTY UNDERGROUND BASIN STOREFRONTS

Rockefeller Group

PROTECTED ELEVATE THE PROGRAM EMPTY BIKE LANES WATERFRONT STOREFRONTS

PERVIOUS ASPHALT FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

PROTECTED BIKE LANES

199

Str e

Tim

uar e 50

Str e

PTURE

LIVING SEA WALL

STRATEGY MAP & KEY FLOOD WALLS

PEDESTRIAN STREET

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

UNDERGROUND TANK WATER PLAZA

FLOOD WALLS

ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT

FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

UNDERGROUND TANK

GREEN CORRIDORS

TREET ING

WATER PLAZA POCKET PARKS GREEN ROOF COOL ROOFS

ALS

GREEN CORRIDORS

FS RATING

PTURE

GREEN FACADE PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY LIVING SEA WALL CONTAINER TREES

ENS

UNDERGROUDN BASIN

Green corridors refer to right-of-ways that create a stretch of uninterrupted greenery through its course. They incorporate grass and vegetation in both walking and street surfaces, creating gaps UNDERGROUND FLOOD WALLS along the ground and plants. Natural surfaces abCOMMUNITY PARKS plane for water TANK sorb water flowing through, helping to filter out pollutants that result from traditional hydrophobic street designs. ROOFTOP GARDEN GREEN FACADE

GREEN ROOF

PERVIOUS ASPHALT

PROTECTED BIKE LANES

ROOFTOP GARDEN

CONTAINER TREES

Container trees are street trees that are planted within a raised container instead of being planted directly into the ground. They provide many environmental benefits, as well as social benefits. Trees in general help to reduce storm water runoff, which then ROOFTOP GARDEN GREENpollution ROOF reduces in waterways. They also help to improve the PROGRAM EMPTY overall air quality and provide shade for pedestrians in the warmer STOREFRONTS months. MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

LIVING SEA WALL

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

POCKET PARKS

Pocket parks are a small park (between 1 and 3 lots) that is accessible to the public and can collect excess rainwater, usually through depressions in the landscape.

TREES

ATIONS

DING

DIRECT AIR CAPTURE

LIVING SEA WALL

ELEVATE THE WATERFRONT POCKET PARKS

FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY PARKS

RAISED SUBWAY GRATES

MULTI-FUNCTION SHELTER

POCKET PARKS STREET SHADING PERVIOUS ASPHALT

COMMUNITY PARKS

Pervious asphalt is a material that absorbs water instead of the water running off into drainage areas. This helps limit the amount of water entering already full stormwater systems.

Wh GRATES

DORS

RATING

ILDING NCE BASIN

kWh STREET SHADING

POCKET PARKS

PERVIOUS ASPHALT

PROTECTED BIKE LANES PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS PERFORMANCE RATING

PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY HISTORICAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE

kWh

PERFORMANCE RATING

COMMUNITY PARKS

PERFORMANCEPRESERVE RATING HOUSING

PROGRAM EMPTY

Efficient energy use is a planning POLICY and policy element thatSTOREFRONTS can employ a number of different strategies to better energy use in an area. These strategies may range from restrictions on motor vehicle use, regulations on energy efficient high performance fixtures and guidelines that encourage installation of bening furnishings and finishes, amongst others. PRESERVE HOUSING POLICY

PROGRAM EMPTY STOREFRONTS

201

STAKEHOLDERS

Due to the density and complexity of the central business district, this site houses multiple community boards as well as a variety of organizations and groups that have a say in the decisions made from street to street. The diagram shows levels of increasing power among the stakeholders, which can be interpreted as money, range or official government connections. These increases in power will have the authority and ability to invest in the interventions outlined in this book, yet before one can get to the stakeholders in the outermost circle, they must first garner support with the stakeholders within the smaller circles. The diagram organizes the stakeholders by what kind of influence they hold, whether that be infrastructure, government departments, the commercial sector, or individuals.

Garmet District Alliance NYC Dept of City Planning

g sin ea r c In

34th Street Partnership

NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation

er w Po

Universities & Research Centers

Small Business Owners

Broadway

Developers

Tourists

NYC Dept of Social Services

Key Stakeholders

Residents

Large Companies in Times Square

Times Square Alliance

Homeless Advocacy Groups Hotels

Local Environmental NGO’s MTA

Rockefeller Group

Broadway Green Alliance

NYC Dept of Transportation

Sign Operators

Infrastructure Department Commercial Individual

203

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Board 5, Central Business District 04/19/2022 at 5:00p.m. This presentation proposed community-wide green solutions/interventions in the Central Business District, which includes Times Square. Group members heard the input of the Community Board, and it was generally well-received. The Community Board wished to implement the proposed interventions, but were apprehensive about cost and stakeholder support.

MEETING OVERVIEW

FEEDBACK The Community Board seemed to be very well aware of the issues presented and some of the potential solutions to them, so they were really able to follow and expand on the research. They seemed to like some solutions such as permeable surfaces and additional green spaces. They also enjoyed the “before and after” shots of Herald Square. They did not seem to be worried about heavy rain, as they have more pressing issues such as social aspects and energy consumptions issues. 205

Karl Pietsch explaining the climate concerns of the overall site.

The group presenting the building typologies of the site.

206

The Board discussing the proposed interventions and needs of the area after the presentation.

Karl Pietsch presenting the group’s priorities for Hudson Square.

207

Looking at Lower Manhattan. Photo By: Lucius Kwok

Syracuse University School of Architecture Fisher Center NYC Spring 2022