GSAPP Portfolio_A+UD_2016-17 by Jesfae John

JESFAE JOHN

ARCHITECTURE | URBAN DESIGN MSAUD 2016 - 17 GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND PRESERVATION COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Chapter Chapter Chapter Summer Fall Spring Studio Studio Studio June '16 - August '16

Sept '16 - Dec'16

January'17 - May'17

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The Five Borough Urban Design Studio I

THE LIVE-WORK COLLECTIVE MASKING INJUSTICE GIFT IN THE MAKING MARCUS GARVEY PARK

Reading New York Urbanisms

Urban Theory & Design - Post Industrial Age

Digital Techniques - Assembling the Commons

[

[ Duration ]

I month

[ Core Studio Faculty ]

[ Design Team ]

The Live Work Collective

[3]

Our design project is a LIVE - WORK neighborhood starting from Stapleton in Staten Island. It is an initiative primarily geared towards entrepreneurs and startup businesses. Our aim is to create a new type of mixed use development using a n c h o r s w h i c h a r e ex i s t i n g i n n o v a t i v e p r o g r a m s l i k e M a k e r s p a c e a n d Te c h b ox i n S t a p l e t o n a s s t a r t i n g p o i n t s t o b u i l d u p a n d e n e r g i z e t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d ’s i d e n t i t y. We i d e n t i f i e d p r o b l e m s o f l ow a v e r a g e h o u s e h o l d i n c o m e a n d d e c r e a s i n g n u m b e r of people moving to Stapleton over the course of the past 20 years in Stapleton. Stapleton has the potential to grow as there are rezoning proposals whic h are already in discussion and the relatively low cost of living index here. This is envisioned to be a platform for potential communication and cooperation among like-minded professionals for recreating the vibrant community of Stapleton. F o r t h e p a s t 5 0 y e a r s , S t a t e n I s l a n d h a s s a t q u i e t l y i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d a s t h e f o r g o t t e n b o r o u g h , wa t c h i n g o t h e r N e w Yo r k n e i g h b o r h o o d s s k y r o c k e t i n p o s s i b i l i t y a n d r e a l e s t a t e va l u e . F i n a l l y, d u e t o c i t y i n ve s t m e n t , c o m m i t t e d d e ve l o p e r s, t h e r i g h t m i x o f u r b a n g r ow t h i n g r e d i e n t s a n d o n e o f t h e p r e t t i e s t s t r e e t s i n N e w Yo r k , this Staten Island neighborhood is making a bid to become the next great place to live in the five boroughs.

Tappen Park Ambient public space Potentiality for upgrade

BUILT YEAR Before 1912 1913 -1931 1932 - 1947 1948 - 1961 1962 - 1972

1973 - 1982 1983 - 1991 1992 - 1999 2000 - 2014

t Seaman’s ’s Retrea anRetreat Seam

Built in 1831 Currently abandoned Potentiality for renovation

Section A

INCOME PER CAPITA 220611

Makerspace Newly renovated space Potentiality for being the anchor

BARRIER

Sec

Tappen Park

11.5’

22.5’

13.5’

Chase Bank

11.5’

A. Bay Street 01

50.8’

11.1’

12.5’

5.2’ 10.8’

10.8’

5.2’

12.5’

Urby Building

D. Front Street 8.8’

31’

C. Prospect Street

9.8’

Acme Industrial Inc.

Probation Dept.

Built in 1930 Currently under restoration Function alternation

B. Bay Street 02

27.4’

13.5’

32’

7.4’

32’

8.3’

65’

E x istin g street sections and urban fabric of S tapleton Ambient public space Potentiality for upgrade

Paramount Inc.

Tompkinsville Park Section B

PROSPEC STREET

ET BAY STRE

REET

FRONT ST

5050 Skatepark Section C

Newly renovated space Potentiality for being the anchor

ction D

BOUNDARIES

CONTRAST A nalysis of S tapleton W aterfront and D owntown area

The Live Work Collective

[5]

STATEN ISLAND RAPID TRANSIT OPERATING AUTHORITY MAINTENANCE OF WAY SHOP AND CREW QUARTERS

Apartment under-construction

FAMILY DOLLAR STORE with the First Illuminate Stapleton project highlights the past - “Window to the Past”

BAY STREET - WEST SIDE (existing) The Paramount Theatre, opened its doors in 1930, but stopped film shows in 1977. Through the end of the 1980’s, It was used as a night club, a multipurpose venue, as well as a rock music venue. Typical paid parking lot found along the main street.

BAY STREET - EAST SIDE (existing)

urby staten island, a rental community developed by Ironstate Development that is part of the larger community known as the New Stapleton Waterfront

sir, formerly known as Staten Island Rapid Transit, was begun by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1851. By 1860, the line was extended to Eltingville, and finally to Tottenville.

The largest residential building in Prospect Street.

PROSPECT STREET - SOUTH SIDE (existing) Stapleton, a sleepy North Shore waterfront hamlet with small-town roots and big-city feel, has all it takes to attract a r t i s t s, d ow n t ow n t y p e s w h o l i ke t h e wa t e r, a n d yo u n g l o c a l s t a k i n g a d va n t a ge o f t h e p rox i m i t y t o l owe r M a n h a t t a n . T h e c i t y ’s c u r r e n t p l a n i s fo r S t a t e n I s l a n d ’s B ay S t r e e t c o r r i d o r, o n e o f t h e s e ve n n e i g h b o r h o o d s t a r ge t e d fo r a r e z o n ing under the mayor’s plan whic h includes development proposals for multiple public parcels outside of the rezoning area as well. The plan involves transforming Bay Street, currently zoned for manufacturing, and Canal Street, now zoned for low-density apartments, into thriving mid-rise residential and commercial corridors. With the lack of work spaces and fewer people relocating to Stapleton, we are proposing to develop a framework fo r m i xe d - u s e d b u i l d i n g p ro g r a m s a n d s h a r e d s p a c e s t o a t t r a c t s t a r t u p b u s i n e s s e s, i n o r d e r t o r e v i t a l i z e t h e e c o n o my, encourage innovation and raise investment opportunities.

Typical mixed use development commonly found along Bay Street

Edgewater Hall, built in 1876, is located at 691 Bay Street. It was built as the original location of Staten Island Savings Bank and was later used as a speakeasy frequented by the Vanderbilts and Barrymores during the Prohibition Era.

Parking lot for buses

E X I S T I N G I N N O VAT I V E P RO G R A M S A S T H E RO O T O F T H E P RO P O S A L I N T H E R E G I O N

The Live Work Collective

[7]

SHORTAGE

POTENTIAL

ABUNDANCE

IDEA TO ANCHOR

PLOT LIMIT LINE

OFFICE

WORK COWORK SPACE

SHARED SPACE

LOW RENT SPACE

STUDIO CE MAKER SPA ACE ING SP LEARN

POCKET PA

STARTUP BUSINESSES

COURTYARD

ROOFDECK

TECHBOX SKAT

PUBLIC PLAZA Leased space for public events

E RSPAC MAKE

EPAR K

STREET

UNDERUTILIZED SPACE

TER ACTIVITY CEN PRIVATE OPEN SPACE Shared between occupants

PLOT LIMIT LINE

C O N C E P T O F T H E D E S I G N S T R AT E G Y

STREET PRIVATE COURTYARDS WITH A SEMI PUBLIC COURTYARD Shared between occupants

PLOT LIMIT LINE

SEMI PUBLIC COURTYARD In house functions and events shared between occupants

STREET

PLOT LIMIT LINE

STREET

PUBLIC PLAZA leased space for public events

PRIVATE OPEN SPACE Shared between occupants

PUBLIC PLAZA AMONG BUILDINGS

SEMI PUBLIC PLAZA WITHIN A BUILDING

SEMI PUBLIC OPEN SPACE Leased space for public events

PLOT LIMIT LINE

STREET

S ite I nteraction I nstallation

H I E R A RC H Y O F S H A R E D O P E N S PAC E S

T ypical L ive - W ork N ei g h bor h ood

The Live Work Collective

[9]

EXISTING SCENARIO

RESIDENTIAL UNITS RETAIL SPACE PARAMOUNT THEATRE

RESIDENTIAL UNITS RETAIL SPACE

RESIDENTIAL UNITS RETAIL SPACE LOFT STUDIOS WORK SPACE RETAIL SPACE WORK SPACE RETAIL SPACE RESIDENTIAL UNITS

RESIDENTIAL UNITS RETAIL SPACE ROOFDECK

YOUTH CENTER

OFFICE SPACE RETAIL SPACE

YOUTH ACTIVITY STUDIO GYM

OUTDOOR SKATE PARK

5050 SKATE PARK

OUTDOOR SKATE PARK

R E C O N F I G U R E D S PAC E S N E A R T H E S K AT E PA R K

B ay street A rea surroundin g t h e S katepark

The Live Work Collective

[ 11 ]

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RETAIL RETAIL

RETAIL

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RETAIL

EXHIBITION / EVENT SPACE LIGHT MANUFACTURING MAKERSPACE

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE CO WORKING WORKSPACE CO WORKING WORKSPACE

EXHIBITION / EVENT SPACE

RETAIL

MAKERSPACE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RETAIL RETAIL

RETAIL

GARAGE

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RETAIL

MAKERSPACE MAKERSPACE

VACANT LAND

EXHIBITION / EVENT SPACE

EXISTING SCENARIO

OFFICE SPACE STUDIO COWORKING SPACE COURTYARD RESIDENTIAL UNITS RETAIL SPACE CO OP HOUSING

RETAIL STORE

ARTIST STUDIO ART RETAIL STORE EXHIBITION

LIGHT MANUFACTURING

MAKERSPACE EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION COURTYARD COURTYARD

MAKERSPACE

R E C O N F I G U R E D S PAC E S N E A R M A K E R S PAC E

A rea on B ay S treet near M akerspace

The Live Work Collective

[ 13 ]

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RETAIL RETAIL RETAIL RETAIL RESIDENCE RESIDENCE PARAMOUNT RESIDENCE RESIDENCE THEATRE RETAIL RETAIL

PARAMOUNT THEATRE

RETAIL RETAIL

CO OP HOUSING CO OP HOUSING CO OP HOUSING

CO WORKING OFFICE TRAINING WORKSHOPS

RETAIL

CO OP HOUSING CO OP HOUSING CO OP HOUSING

RETAIL

RETAIL & EXHIBITION HALLS

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RETAIL RETAIL

OFFICE

RETAIL

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RETAIL

OFFICE OFFICE

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE CO WORKING WORKSPACE CO WORKING WORKSPACE

RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE RESIDENCE OFFICE OFFICE

COURTYARD / PUBLIC PLAZA

EXISTING SCENARIO

COURTYARD / PUBLIC PLAZA

A3 A2

CO OP HOUSING UNITS COWORKING OFFICE

A1 B2 B1

PARAMOUNT THEATRE

BALCONY

B4 PUBLIC PLAZA TRAINING WORKSHOP RESTAURANT / CAFE EXHIBITION HALL RETAIL

RETAIL

COURTYARD

OFFICE

R E C O N F I G U R E D S PAC E S N E A R PA R A M O U N T T H E AT R E HOUSING UNITS

A rea on B ay S treet near P aramount T h eatre

The Live Work Collective

[ 15 ]

The Five Borough Urban Design Studio I

]

THE LIVE-WORK COLLECTIVE MASKING INJUSTICE GIFT IN THE MAKING MARCUS GARVEY PARK

Reading New York Urbanisms

Urban Theory & Design - Post Industrial Age

Digital Techniques - Assembling the Commons

[

CLICK HERE

for the complete video 'Masking Injustice'.

[ Core Faculty ]

| C a s s i m . C . S h e p h a r d | N a n s Vo r o n | G r a c e M i l l s ( TA ) |

[ Project Deliverable ]

| Movie (3-4 min duration) |

[ Team ]

| Marwah Garib | Mayra Mahmood | Jesfae John | T h e R i v e r b a n k S t a t e Pa r k i s N e w Yo r k ’ s o n l y p u b l i c p a r k b u i l t o n t o p o f a wastewater treatment plant. Inspired by urban rooftop designs in Japan, this 28-acre multi-level landscaped recreational facility is a park facility rising 6 9 f e e t a b o v e t h e H u d s o n R i v e r l o c a t e d i n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d o f We s t H a r l e m in Upper Manhattan. It was created after a decade-long community struggle l e d by W E AC T, a l o c a l n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n , a f t e r t h e r e s i d e n t s n o t i c e d t h e n e g a t i v e e f f e c t s t h e p l a n t h a d o n t h e i r h e a l t h . . “ T h e r e ’s a t h i n g c a l l e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l r a c i s m ,” S e n a t o r Pe r k i n s s a i d . “ Po l i t i c a l l y s p e a k i n g, c o m m u n i t i e s o f c o l o r became dumping grounds despite their resistance.” This project became our medium to tell the story following our attempt to investigate up to what extent environmental justice has been ac hieved.

Masking Injustice

[ 17 ]

The Five Borough Urban Design Studio I

THE LIVE-WORK COLLECTIVE MASKING INJUSTICE GIFT IN THE MAKING MARCUS GARVEY PARK

Reading New York Urbanisms

]

Urban Theory & Design - Post Industrial Age

Digital Techniques - Assembling the Commons

[

Re n d e r i n g o f G I F T C i t y. C o u r t e s y o f G u j a r a t I n t e r n a t i o n a l F i n a n c e Te c - C i t y C o . L t d

[ Core Faculty ]

| Noah Chasin | Anthony Acciavatti |

[ Abstract ]

This paper explores India’s first Smart City Project –Gujarat International Fin a n c e Te c - C i t y i n t h e r o l e o f b e i n g a n I n d i a n S m a r t C i t y p r o t o t y p e t h a t i s ex pected to be em ulated by the proposed 99 smar t cities to follow as par t of the 100 smart cities’ vision of present Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas M o d i fo r U r b a n I n d i a . T h ro u g h t h i s p a p e r, I wa n t t o b r i n g t o t h e fo r e f ro n t t h e role of socio-economic factors causing a disparity by building cities like (GIFT) a l l o ve r t h e c o u n t r y. T h ro u g h o n l i n e a n d o f f l i n e r e s e a r c h ( a s c i t e d i n t h e r e f e rences), I contend whether investing in the application of ‘smartness’ in cities of India is necessarily going to be a more positive outcome rather than negative to alleviate the pressing problems like limited job prospects for the unskilled workers, limited or no access to power and water supply that the country needs t o a d d r e s s i n t h e p r e s e n t d ay. I n t h e b a c k s t a ge o f I n d i a ’s u r b a n c h a l l e n ge s, this paper examines some critical issues associated with the development of smart cities like GIFT to question if this is actually a solution to India’s rapid urbanization or purely a hyped up term intended to catch the attention of overseas investors and the elite class in India.

GIFT in the making

[ 19 ]

U r b a n i z a t i o n i s a m a j o r c h a l l e n ge o f t h e 2 1 s t c e n t u r y. I n d i a i s u r b a n i z i n g a t a n unprecedented rate, where estimates suggest nearly 814 million Indians will be living in cities by 2050, up from 290 million as repor ted in the 2001 census. (Shah, 2015). Within months of assuming office in May 2014 as the Prime Minister of Ind i a , M r. N a r e n d r a M o d i a n d t h e C e n t r a l g o ve r n m e n t l a u n c h e d a n i n i t i a t i ve t o build 100 smart cities across India along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Modi’s confidence in his vision was ec hoed in his speec h in June 2014 quoted,

[ Introduction ]

“ C i t i e s i n t h e p a s t we r e b u i l t o n r i ve r b a n k s. T h ey a r e n ow built along highways. But in the future, they will be built based on availability of optical fiber networks and next-generation infrastructure.” (Tolan, 2014). The 100 smart cities are planned to be satellite towns of bigger cities in India and will comprise of cutting edge framework, which will be added to the current metro cities. As outlined in the Smart City Mission statement and guidelines (2015), the Indian government’s understanding is that cities are basically the engines of growth for the economy of every nation, including India. Nearly 31% of India’s current population lives in urban areas and contributes to 63% of India’s GDP (Census, 2011). With increasing urbanization, urban areas are expected to house 40% of India’s population and contribute to 75% of India’s GDP by 2030. This requires comprehensive development of physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure. Development of smart cities is a step in that direction. (Smart City Mission statement and guidelines, 2015, p.5) The strategies for the mission is said to be four folded in approach which is retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield development and pan-city development and whose duration is planned to be five years (2015 – 2020). On the financial front, this mammoth vision will be operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and the Central Government proposed to give financial support to the Mission to the extent of Rs. 48,000 crores over five years i.e. on an average R s . 1 0 0 c ro r e s p e r c i t y p e r ye a r. ( S m a r t C i t y M i s s i o n s t a t e m e n t a n d g u i d e l i n e s, 2015, p.13) A dream project of current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceptualized d u r i n g h i s d ay s a s G u j a r a t ’s c h i e f m i n i s t e r, G I F T i s o n t h e t r a c k t o b e c o m i n g I n d i a ’s f i r s t g r e e n f i e l d s m a r t c i t y. D u b b e d a s I n d i a ’s ve r y f i r s t s m a r t c i t y, t h i s project is massive in both scale and ambition. Master planned over 886 acres of land, GIFT city is being built just out of Gandhinagar in the state of Gujarat. Over a 12-year period, GIFT city is planned to be executed in three phases. It aims to compete with India’s own financial capital of Mumbai as well as overseas rivals like Dubai and Singapore. With the image of an international financial hub, this Greenfield city has planned to provide solutions to a lot of existing problems by solving it through means of latest tec hnologies.

[ Gujarat International Finance Tec-City - GIFT City ]

GIFT Location Plan, Master Plan: Predominant Land use. (Phadke,2015) Proper segregation of zones, their connectivity and their behavior are already formulated within the given parameters of development, allowing GIFT to be f l a u n t e d a s a m o d u l e fo r f u t u r e d e ve l o p m e n t i n t h e c o u n t r y. Situated strategically between Gandhinagar and Ahmadabad, on the bank of river Sabarmati, GIFT city is the new emerging concept of introducing a wellp l a n n e d Te c h - C i t y f o r t h e a d v e n t o f m o r e s e r v i c e - b a s e d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e . The key features laid out by the Planners of this city are primarily as following: • Globally benchmarked International Finance Centre • Central business hub - 0.5 Million direct & 0.5 Million indirect jobs • Financial Services & IT sectors • State-of-the-art infrastructure • Gujarat’s tallest towers, GIFT One and GIFT Two are built in GIFT City From the above case study and images, it is evident that the project is bold with its towering and dominating skyline, unlike the present urban scene. It is visible that the democratic module of the country is very different from what GIFT is trying to impose as the type of society existing in the social fabric of India which does not come with the guarantee of adapting to such a futuristic p l a t fo r m . H owe ve r, t h e r e a r e t h o s e s l i g h t fo r c e f u l a t t e m p t s t o e m b e d t h e m o rphology and arc hitectural traits within the Indian context where the 54-story Naga (snake) towers, is designed as a modern Indian arc hitectural interpretation but being a structure with glass facade as a whole, its credibility with respect to its ‘smartness’ can be called into question.

GIFT in the making

[ 21 ]

Present scene of Gujarat urban landscape. Courtesy of newindianexpress.

Re n d e r i n g o f N AG A Tow e r s, G I F T C i t y. Courtesy of artunapoli.blogspot.com

Re n d e r i n g o f G I F T C i t y. C o u r t e s y o f G u j a r a t I n t e r n a t i o n a l F i n a n c e Te c - C i t y C o . L t d These buildings as depicted in the renderings clearly have not been designed being sensitive to the surrounding context. It is meant to inspire and set an example both for within the city and for other cities to follow suit (Smart City Mission statement and guidelines,2015, p.5) but instead, this is on the verge of b e c o m i n g a n i n t i m i d a t i n g b u bb l e o f d e ve l o p m e n t a t t h e e d ge o f t h e c i t y. T h i s very same design could be replicated in any part of the world, set in any context. This doesn’t claim to be an extension to the ric h community already living in the region as the mission statement implies Smart City Mission statement and guidelines (2015) states one of its key features being: “ v i i ) G i v i n g a n i d e n t i t y t o t h e c i t y — b a s e d o n i t s m a i n e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y, s u c h a s l o c a l c u i s i n e, h e a l t h , e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e, f u r n i t u r e, t ex t i l e, d a i r y, e t c . “ ( p. 7 ) . Is GIFT projecting the image of the city and providing a sense of place and identity to the citizens of the region? These cities are viable only to the people who are upgraded to suc h a scenario where they are aware of exactly how

such metropolitans work, making the residents very specific for the time being. The smart/creative city can become not only more economically polarized, but a l s o s o c i a l l y, c u l t u r a l l y a n d s p a t i a l l y d i v i d e d by t h e g row i n g c o n t r a s t b e t we e n incoming knowledge and creative workers, and the unskilled and IT illiterate s e c t i o n s o f t h e l o c a l p o o r e r p o p u l a t i o n ( Pe c k , 2 0 0 5 ; S m i t h , 1 9 9 6 ; H o l l a n d s, 2008, p. 312).

“ T h e s m a r t c i t y c o n c e p t i m p l i e s a n ove r s i m p l i f i e d v i s i o n o f technology. It is based on the belief tha t technology can s o l ve a n y p r o b l e m w i t h o u t f u n d a m e n t a l l y c h a n g i n g l i f e s t y l e s. H oweve r, c a n I n d i a ’s p r o b l e m s a c t u a l l y b e s i m p l i f i e d t o t h e point that they can be controlled by a large set of data points? Does this mean that the current problems are not soc i a l , b u t t e c h n o l o g i c a l ? G i ve n a c o u n t r y a s d i ve r s e a s I n d i a , can the heterogeneity of its cities be accommodated in a linear vision backed by technology?” (Kajaria, 2014) Hollands’ (2008) discusses about the difficulties of defining and identifying smart cities in the true sense of the word as they may have been borrowed on another’s assumptions or they may have been hyped up for place marketing purposes as opposed to referring to actual infrastructural change or evidence of workable and effective IT policies. The city could simply be lauding a smart l a b e l . “A f t e r a l l , w h i c h c i t y wo u l d n’ t wa n t t o b e c a l l e d s m a r t , c r e a t i ve a n d cultural?” (Hollands, 2008, p.305) T h e D M I C w i l l c o n n e c t w i t h t h e M u m b a i - B a n ga l o r e e c o n o m i c c o r r i d o r, w h i c h i s ex p e c t e d t o ge n e r a t e a n i n ve s t m e n t o f o ve r $ 2 . 5 b i l l i o n . I n t h i s m a n n e r, t h e nation’s capital will link with the commercial capital and onwards to the IT and manufacturing hubs of Bengaluru and Chennai. F ro m n o n - a va i l a b i l i t y t o l a c k o f i n f r a s t r u c t u r e t o c o n c e n t r a t e d p o ve r t y, m e g acities meaning urban areas of 10 million or more people, present significant c hallenges for any local government. As in many instances of huge industrial p ro j e c t s t h ro u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y, a n o t h e r o n e o f t h e b i g ge s t c o n c e r n i s t h e l a n d that will be earmarked for this unprecedented scheme. In a nation where mill i o n s a r e a t t e m p t i n g t o m e r e l y ge t by d a i l y, t h i s i n i t i a t i ve d o e s r a i s e q u e s t i o n s as to how individuals will have the capacity to manage the cost of the extravagant housing and living expenses of smart cities. Concerns over social inequality have also long been a topic of discourse around megacities, especially in India where there are six suc h metropolitan areas amid a culture defined by the hierarc hies of the caste system. The issue of urban division in India is now gaining momentum around the nation’s burgeoning smart city movement. Does India need more reasons to be the site of riots and political unrest; be it on the social, cultural or economic front amidst the diverse population it caters to?

GIFT in the making

[ 23 ]

I n d i a i s l a r ge l y a n a g ra r i a n s o c i e t y. T h e a g r i c u l t u ra l s e c t o r e m p l oy s a b o u t h a l f of the national workforce, provides a livelihood for about two-thirds of the population, and contributes about 14% to national economic output. Land is a key source of income, status, wealth, and security for most rural families in India. Land rights do not just allow families to own a permanent asset, but encourages them to make better investments in their land, gives them to access to credit, housing and other social welfare schemes. When women in particular own land, they feel empowered, are able to better invest in their c h i l d r e n’s f u t u r e a n d h a ve i n c r e a s e d d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g p owe r. L a n d r i g h t s h e l p r u ra l f a m i l i e s a c h i e ve i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d b r e a k o u t o f t h e c yc l e o f p o ve r t y. T h ey a l s o e ve n t u a l l y e n h a n c e a g r i c u l t u r a l p ro d u c t i o n . C o n ve r s e l y, t h e l a c k o f land ownership can limit livelihood options and push the rural poor deeper i n t o p o ve r t y. A s i t h a s b e e n o b s e r ve d i n t h e l a n d u s e m a p o f G I F T a n d s i m i l a r s m a r t c i t i e s t o fo l l ow t h ro u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y, t h e r e a r i s e s t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e method of land acquisition devised by the gover nment and its agencies for this unprecedented scheme. In Goldman’s (2011), he describes the present day scenario where a large number of cities have been brought to existence by using the instr ument of eminent domain by the state. Under the law of eminent domain, based on the British Colonial Land Acquisition Act of 1894, government can acquire land from farmers if it is for a project that is for the ‘good of the nation’, but it must offer a fair market price. But where is the justice in offering farmers a low price relative to land’s new urban value which will be earned ten times fold from future investment companies? Different processes have been made instrumental in acquiring land although all acquisitions have taken place under a single act, Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The construction of hastily designed laws and urbanization policies passed by the Gover nment to suit its sc heme has resulted in increased incidents of land dispossession at the behest of its rural population. Land acquired, identified as unoccupied has resulted in the legitimization of dispossessing land. But Greenfield (2013) asks,

‘ a f t e r a l l t h e f a r m e r s a n d f i s h e r m e n h a ve b e e n c h a s e d f r o m the land, the digital infrastructure laid down, and the golf club opened for business, what of day-to-day life in this environment?’ The percentage of rural population in India is 68 while percentage of urban population is 32 (data.worldbank.org). Rural percentage is higher than the urban because India is an agrarian country and majority of its people are into farming practices. However hard the government might be trying to execute its ambitious plan, this project seems to be turning into an elitist concept, margina l i z i n g t h e u n d e r p r i v i l e ge d s e c t i o n o f s o c i e t y. Pe a s a n t s m ay h a ve u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y b e c o m e t h e f i n a l f ro n t i e r s o f c i t y - m a k i n g (Goldman, 2011) in India as the grounds for capital accumulation are snatched from its original owners to give shape to new urban utopian models.

[ Impact of Smart cities on the farmers in India ]

[ Conclusion ]

A growing sense of resentment is brewing against the government from amongst the majority of the population who have been alienated and left as the victims of dispossession quite literally with no ground to stand on. While Hollands (2008, p.315) argues that by definition “smar t-er cities” are “wired” cities, he notes that this cannot be the sole defining criterion because: “progressive(ly) smart[er] cities must seriously start with people and the human capital side of the equation, rather than blindly believing that IT itself can automatically transform and improve cities.” (Allwinkle,2011, p.3). There is an impending danger in the way Indian government deals with smart cities. The government sees them as little greenfield enclaves on the edges like GIFT’s siting in Gujarat. This has most likely been done for convenience, however they have the risk of transforming into lavish and selective gated commun i t i e s . Ta k i n g t h e c h a n c e t h a t t h e s t a t e n e g l e c t s t h e c u r r e n t c i t y a n d b e n e f i t s new enclaves, the cities will be parted into two unequal parts where the smart c i t y wo u l d e n d u p b e i n g a c o s t l y l a n d i n t e n d e d t o s e r ve a f ew. A r e S m a r t c i ties beginning to look like today’s interpretation of the medieval fortified city built to keep out a sizeable section of the society? In my opinion,

making a city smart is not an end in itself but a means to an e n d . T h e e n d i s t o m a ke c i t i e s l i ve a b l e a n d i n c l u s i ve f o r a l l its citizens. Smart cities can’t just be about showing innov a t i o n a n d c o n vey i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s ; i n a f a r - r e a c h i n g w a y, t h ey m u s t b e c o m p r e h e n s i ve a n d e q u i t a b l e s p o t s t o l i ve i n . It is problematic to refer to western concepts of smartness in a country with a d e e p d i g i t a l d i v i d e, w h e r e o n e i n fo u r I n d i a n s d o n o t e ve n h a ve e l e c t r i c i t y. No tec hnology can make the system work better if basic ser vices don’t exist. Strategies and poverty alleviation programs that focus on skill development, a n d e m p owe r m e n t o f t h e u r b a n p o o r, e s p e c i a l l y wo m e n s h o u l d b e e n c o u r a ge d with the same vigor as that of India’s Digital Vision. In an era where the term ‘smart’ as in smartphones, smart tablets is associated with compact and small packaged with high tech functions, why is it that Smart cities are planned to be built on a mega scale level? Drawing parallels from Bangalore whose ‘mega - c i t y p ro b l e m s ’ r i f e w i t h r a p i d l y e s c a l a t i n g s o c i a l i n e q u a l i t y, m a s s d i s p l a c e ment and dispossession, proliferation of slum settlements (Goldman, 2011), it is hard to accept that building new cities is the answer to all concerns, however significant, small c hanges in the way we live can be enough to bring about a t r a n s fo r m a t i o n i n t h e u s e o f e n e r gy, r e s u l t i n g i n i n c r e a s e d e f f i c i e n c y, a n d hence smarter cities. India is wrestling with the social and ethical dynamics of the smart city; we need to equally be self-reflective about the ways we seek to improve our own cities. Every policy and plan for urban improvement need to be accompanied by public participation and opinion. And none are as urgent as the one confronting India at this moment: “Who is the smart city for?”

GIFT in the making

[ 25 ]

The Five Borough Urban Design Studio I

THE LIVE-WORK COLLECTIVE MASKING INJUSTICE GIFT IN THE MAKING MARCUS GARVEY PARK

Reading New York Urbanisms

Urban Theory & Design - Post Industrial Age

]

Digital Techniques - Assembling the Commons

[

CLICK HERE

for the complete video 'Marcus Gar vey Park'.

[ Core Faculty ]

[ Project Deliverable ]

| Movie (2 min duration) | M a r c u s G a r v ey Pa r k i s o n e o f t h e o l d e s t p u b l i c s q u a r e s i n M a n h a t t a n , N e w Yo r k . Central to the life of Harlem for more than 150 years, the park is an example o f i n t e g ra t i n g a h i s t o r i c n a t u ra l s e t t i n g i n t o t h e f a b r i c o f t h e m o d e r n c i t y. M a rc u s G a r vey Pa r k , t o t h i s d ay, c o n t i n u e s t o b e a u n i f y i n g e l e m e n t fo r the community who once fought to keep it. History - Inherited Commons - History is the root to the reason of Marcus G a r vey Pa r k r e m a i n i n g u n c h a n ge d i n t h e f a c e o f c h a n g i n g n e i g h b o u r h o o d s, a n d infrastructure built around it. Civic Life - Immaterial Commons - This park is the perfect example of the transition of public space to a civic space everyday as it is an extension to the community surrounding it. Interactions as an urban apparatus is meant to explore the key players in the o p e ra t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e Pa r k . O r ga n i s a t i o n s a t t h e s t a t e, t h e c i t y and the neighbourhood scale who are involved in maintaining the park always leaves an open ended invitation for the community to indulge in the discussion.

Marcus Garvey Park

[ 27 ]

]

American Regions, Cities, Systems Research Project Urban Design Studio II

INFRASTRUCTURE OF LABOR THE FOOD NETWORK RIGHT TO A HOME THE 'MEN' WHO built America

The Hudson Valley Regional Urban Design Studio II - Poughkeepsie

Urban Design Seminar II - New Paradigms and New Practices

Mapping for Architecture, Urbanism and the Humanities

[

[ Duration ]

3 weeks

[ Core Studio Faculty ]

| | | |

[ Design Team ]

The physical manifestations in Alabama, focusing on the city and county o f M o n t g o m e r y, we r e s h a p e d t h ro u g h t h e l e n s o f s l a ve r y, r a c i a l i n e q u a l i t y and legally supported abuse of racial minorities. Montgomery was one of the most highly transited depot for domestic slave trade, whic h translated into the presence of exploited labor since then. The waterways and railway ser ved as the gateway as navigational tools to transport the cotton and disguised domestic slave trade through boats as well as railroads, fueling t h e f l o u r i s h i n g e c o n o my i n M o n t g o m e r y. T h e c h a n g i n g n a t u r e o f ex p l o i t e d labor have carved out a racial landscape the state of Alabama.

Infrastructure of Labor

[ 29 ]

Since the 1900s, dams were created along the river for the distribution of water and e n e r gy t o a n ex p a n d i n g c i t y. T h e p l a c e m e n t of man-made lakes, caused by the creation of the dams, such as the Martin lake and Logan Martin, flooded many towns whic h at the time were mainly lands inhabited by African Americans, as well as some cemeteries, a time where their needs wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deemed as equal. B e fo r e t h e C i v i l Wa r, s l a ve r y c u l t i va t e d t h e p ro s p e r i t y o f c o t t o n . A f t e r t h e wa r, w h i t e and black tenant farmers displaced slave lab o r, a n d l e t d i ve r s i t y o f c ro p s a ro s e . S i n c e then, advanced mechanization and modern industry developing in the southern states shifted the role of laborers: a transformation f ro m a g r i c u l t u r e t o m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n d u s t r y. A definite growth of Alabama industry did not happen until the interference of slaves that came through Alabama river and inters t a t e ra i l ro a d s i n t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y. W i t h a n extraordinary increment of African American population, they were the essential drones that kept the labor cost low and manufacturing industry vigorous. Through the great migrations for several decades, conventional cotton production and allocation of modern industry suc h as automotive, c hemicals and IT from the Northern region embraced Alabama to maintain the basis of its economy until nowadays. Public transportation systems represent important places for confronting racial inequalities in the United States. The history of the civil rights movement shows the import a n c e o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o p e o p l e o f c o l o r. At the time African American activists were walking the streets of Montgomery to protest segregated buses. The federal government was funneling massive amounts of investment into the construction of highways, whic h disproportionately benefited middle class white families being able to move to the suburbs t h ro u g h l ow - i n t e r e s t l o a n s. Pe o p l e o f c o l o r were not only excluded from these types of loans and thereby isolated in the urban core, but also many minority neighborhoods were demolished by the highway constr uction.

Infrastructure of Labor

[ 31 ]

Infrastructure of Labor

[ 33 ]

American Regions, Cities, Systems Research Project Urban Design Studio II

]

INFRASTRUCTURE OF LABOR THE FOOD NETWORK RIGHT TO A HOME THE 'MEN' WHO built America

The Hudson Valley Regional Urban Design Studio II - Poughkeepsie

Urban Design Seminar II - New Paradigms and New Practices

Mapping for Architecture, Urbanism and the Humanities

[

GREENHOUSE

URBAN FARM

CIA RESEARCH AND LEARNING KITCHENS

FAMILY PARTNERSHIP CENTER

ADDED VALUE KITCHEN NEW HRH BUS STOP

RESTAURANT

RETAIL MARKET

PRODUCTIVE & LEARNING GARDENS

SPILLOVER CAFE SPACE

TRAFFIC CALMING INTERSECTION COMMUNITY GARDEN REDEVELOPMENT BAKERY

FALL KILL

[ Duration ]

2 months

[ Core Studio Faculty ]

| | | |

[ Design Team ]

A erial view of t h e F ood Hub in t h e city of P ou g h keepsie

The Poughkeepsie Food Network

[ 35 ]

D emo g rap h ics Food waste and food insecurity exist side by s i d e i n D u t c h e s s C o u n t y, ye t i t i s t h e o n l y c o u n t y i n t h e H u d s o n Va l l ey r e g i o n without a gleaning network. Gleaning essentially means to rescue food which would otherwise go to waste. Our project seeks to address the issue of food insecurity by tapping into the gleaning gaps that exist w i t h i n D u t c h e s s c o u n t y. Poughkeepsie is a city where instances of poverty and unemployment are disbedded within the current food systemproportionately concentrated, and a direct consequence is irregular access to nutritious fresh food. The same systems that allow 40% of food that is produced to go to “waste” also allow 20% of Poughkeepsie’s population to remain unemployed and impoverished. The existence of 18 emergency food assistance programs, the highest in the surrounding four counties, is evidence that the issue of food insecurity has been recognized, but n o t r e s o l v e d . We s e e t h e H u d s o n Va l l ey r e gion as a gateway to restoring food justice by proposing a m ulti-scalar sustainable model that leverages untapped assets of both food waste and human potential. For this, we propose to establish a gleaning network in Dutchess County that collects viable food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributes it through a food hub. E X I S T I N G g leanin g network of t h e Hudson V alley R E G I O N

CURRENT FOOD SYSTEM AGRICULTURE

FOOD WASTE

NEW FOOD SYSTEM

POST-HARVEST

CONSUMPTION

DISTRIBUTION

PROCESSING

10%

20%

40%

CONNECT VIA APP

LOCAL GARDENS + GREENHOUSES

80 FARMS

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

ROOTS &TUBERS

CEREALS

30 GROCERY STORES

FISH & SEAFOOD

MEAT

RESTAURANTS/ INSTITUTIONS

OIL SEED & PULSES

PREPARED FOOD

COLLECTION

RESOURCE RECOVERY

FOOD PANTRY AND SOUP KITCHEN PROGRAMS PARTICIPATION AFTER 2013

FOOD HUB: SORTING AND STORAGE

REDISTRIBUTION

FOOD STAMP PARTICIPATION IN NY STATE AFTER 2013

9:00 pm

11:00 pm

8:00 pm

10:00 pm

7:00 pm

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5:00 pm

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5:00 am

4:00 am

3:00 am

2:00 am

1:00 am

12:00 am

EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS SCHEDULE BAKERY

LEARNING KITCHENS

RESTAURANT

RETAIL/ MARKETS

SOUP KITCHENS

EDUCATION RETAIL CONSUMPTION

FOOD SCRAPS

River Haven I.L.S Dutchess Outreach Salvation Army FP Salvation Army Breakfast Program

VALUE ADDED

Dutchess CAP Poughkeepsie Beulah Baptist Church

Reach Out and Touch River Haven I.L.S Dutchess Outreach HVCS Salvation Army FP Salvation Army Breakfast Program

Dutchess CAP Poughkeepsie New Hope FP River Haven I.L.S

Dutchess Outreach Salvation Army FP Salvation Army Breakfast Program St.Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FP Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church

HVCS Dutchess CAP Poughkeepsie

Salvation Army FP Salvation Army Breakfast Program

Dutchess CAP Poughkeepsie

River Haven I.L.S

Glory Oasis FP HLPC Missions Supper Kitchen

This food hub will be located within the center of the city which aims to train and employ local residents to repurpose this food and stimulate e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t y. O u r n e t wo r k s e e k s t o e m p owe r i t s r e s i d e n t s t h ro u g h the collaborative efforts of collection, distribution, preparation, education and resource recovery of food.

11:00 pm

10:00 pm

9:00 pm

8:00 pm

7:00 pm

6:00 pm

5:00 pm

4:00 pm

3:00 pm

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10:00 am

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6:00 am

5:00 am

4:00 am

3:00 am

S S

Harvest Community Outreach Bethel Church of God In Christ Dutchess Outreach

2:00 am

desi g n strate g y embedded wit h in t h e current food system

Dutchess CAP Poughkeepsie

Beulah Baptist Church

1:00 am

RECYCLING

HVCS

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church

12:00 am

COMPOST FACILITY

Trinity Temple S.D.A FP HVCS

Dutchess Outreach Salvation Army FP Salvation Army Breakfast Program

River Haven I.L.S

Catholic Charities Dietary Needs Dutchess Outreach

The Poughkeepsie Food Network

[ 37 ]

EAST - WEST ARTERIAL

S treet view of t - Future site

TRINITY TEMPLE ST. JOSEPHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HLPC MISSIONS

CHANGEPOINT CH

HRH APTS

HRH OFFICE

40 MINS TO FOOD BANK

P reliminary D esi g n sketc h es

SOLAR PANEL SURFACE

t h e P arkin g L ot e for the food hub

CLASSROOM

GALLERY

OFFICE OFFICE CLASSROOM

HRH APTS PANTRY

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BELUAH BAPTIST CHURCH

IL 2 TA E RE ANC TR EN

HRH MAXIMIZE PROGRAM COURTYARD

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH

COLD STORAGE SEASONAL STORAGE

HRH SHELTER FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

NA IO AT R UC NTE ED CE

HURCH

HUDSON RIVER HOUSING

EN RETA TR AN IL CE 1

RETAIL SPACE

FAMILY PARTNERSHIP CENTER

KITCHEN

LOBBY

LOADING SPACE

DINING LEGEND RETAIL

HUDSON RIVER HOUSING BUS STOP

STORAGE EDUCATION

EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH

MAIN CIRCULATION ENTRANCE VISUAL CONNECTION

CAP TOUCH FOOD PANTRY HRH SENIOR HOUSING

SALVATION ARMY

POTTER HOUSE PANTRY

AIL 2 RETANCE TR EN

IAL

TER

HRH MAXIMIZE PROGRAM

UNDERWEAR FACTORY

EN RETA TR AN IL CE 1

RET

A EN IL PA TR AN RKIN CE G

LANDSCAPED AREA FOR PEDESTRIANS, EVENT SPACE

SALVATION ARMY

PIC EN K U TR P / Y TO DR O SITE P O FF

RETAIL PARKING

LOADING DOCK

EN ST TRA OR N AG CE E A TO REA

DIN

GREEN HOUSE

RAIN BARRELS

GREEN HOUSE PRODUCTIVE GARDEN SPACE

COMPOSTING BINS

PARKING

L ocation of t h e food h ub i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y of food pantries and soup kitchens

E x ploded space view of t h e food h ub IN

EET

STR

S ection of t h e central F ood Hub buildin g

The Poughkeepsie Food Network

[ 39 ]

DELI PARTNERSHIP

TEMPORARY MARKET SATELLITE HUB

DELI PARTNERSHIP

C ity - wide distribution network of t h e food h ub

Satellite Hubs

Deli - Par tnership Outlets

Te m p o r a r y Po p - U p M a r k e t

V iew of t h e F ood Hub buildin g

The Poughkeepsie Food Network

[ 41 ]

V iew of t h e P roductive U rban F arms

I nterior view of t h e R etail M arket

CLICK HERE

fo r t h e S i t e I n t e ra c t i o n v i d e o o f ' T h e Po u g h k e e p s i e Fo o d N e t wo r k ' .

fo r t h e E x p e r i m e n t a l D e l i ve ra b l e o f ' T h e Po u g h k e e p s i e Fo o d N e t wo r k ' .

The Poughkeepsie Food Network

[ 43 ]

American Regions, Cities, Systems Research Project Urban Design Studio II

INFRASTRUCTURE OF LABOR THE FOOD NETWORK RIGHT TO A HOME THE 'MEN' WHO built America

The Hudson Valley Regional Urban Design Studio II - Poughkeepsie

]

Urban Design Seminar II - New Paradigms and New Practices

Mapping for Architecture, Urbanism and the Humanities

[

Fo u n d e r o f C o m m u n i t y S o l u t i o n s, Ro s a n n e H a g g e r t y. C o u r t e s y o f C o m m u n i t y S o l u t i o n s We b s i t e

[ Core Faculty ]

| Katherine Orff |

[ Team ]

| E v e l i n a K n o d e l | J e s f a e J o h n |

[ Abstract ]

Homelessness is one of the most pressing problems in many communities, often r e s u l t i n g i n p o o r n u t r i t i o n , d a n ge r, a n d s t r e s s t h a t c a n l e a d t o c h ro n i c i l l n e s s . It is a moral and financial challenge that affects almost every American comm u n i t y. O n a s i n g l e n i g h t i n Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 5 , 5 6 4 , 7 0 8 p e o p l e we r e ex p e r i e n c ing homelessness, as in they were sleeping outside or in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. Housing is difficult to access and maintain for a large swath of the American public due to a lack of affordable housing stock combined with insufficient and stagnant incomes. Many who experience homelessness are able to get back on their feet with very little help from g o v e r n m e n t o r c o m m u n i t y a g e n c i e s . Ye t f o r o t h e r s , h o m e l e s s n e s s b e c o m e s a n e n t r e n c h e d c o n d i t i o n . Ro s a n n e H a g ge r t y, t h e P r e s i d e n t o f C o m m u n i t y S o l u t i o n s has devoted her life to helping those at the greatest risk of or currently facing homelessness, and Community Solutions is a manifestation of the paradigm shift she has developed towards a more collaborative approac h that involves changing the systems that underlie homelessness.

Right to a Home

[ 45 ]

Homelessness is one of the most pressing problems in many communities, often r e s u l t i n g i n p o o r n u t r i t i o n , d a n ge r, a n d s t r e s s t h a t c a n l e a d t o c h ro n i c i l l n e s s . Though the vast majority of the homeless population (391,440 people) lived in some form of shelter or in transitional housing at the time of the point-intime count in 2015, approximately 31%(173,268 people) lived in a place not meant for human habitation, such as the street or an abandoned building. The largest subpopulation experiencing homelessness was individuals, comprising almost 63% of all homeless people (358,422 people) (U. S. Census Bureau, U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)).

[ Introduction ]

Homelessness Statistics. Source: U. S. Census Bureau, U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Far too many comm unities try to sustain homeless people by helping them rely on an emergency- based rather than a housing-based approach to homelessness. Evidence shows that housing placement, connections to health, and employment assistance most effectively reduces and ends homelessness because these support systems strengthen the ability to stay housed, healthy and productive. Ro s a n n e H a g ge r t y, t h e P r e s i d e n t o f C o m m u n i t y S o l u t i o n s h a s d e vo t e d h e r l i f e to helping those at the greatest risk of or currently facing homelessness, and Community Solutions is a manifestation of the paradigm shift she has developed towards a more collaborative approac h that involves c hanging the systems that underlie homelessness. It was born out of a desire to end homelessness, but has become a new model for design practice that by embracing connections among complex systems, broadens the spectrum of possibility and beneficial c hange. She states that

â&#x20AC;&#x153;housing systems need to be analyzed, redefined and rebuilt a s o p p o s e d t o h o u s i n g d eve l o p m e n t s a l o n e . â&#x20AC;? (Official website). Community Solutions embodies the realization that homelessness is not just a condition, but a result of disjointed systems that lack communication and

collaboration. Through strategic integration and reconnection of these systems and community participation in decision-making processes, design assumes a new role enabling possibilities and opportunities that might once have seemed “impossible.”

Ending homelessness is no longer a distant dream, but an achievable goal made possible by a fundamental restructuring and understanding of system connections within cities. It wouldn’t be justifiable to elaborate on Community Solutions without mentioning its precedent, Breaking Ground (formerly known as Common Ground) whic h was instrumental in molding the mission and goals of Community Solutions as we k n ow o f i t t o d ay.

[ Common Ground as a forerunner of Community Solutions ]

During our conversation, Rosanne said that her interest in how single people with little money lived was piqued by her parents when she was just a gir l. Her p a r e n t s , w h o l i v e d i n t h e s u b u r b s o f H a r t f o r d , C T, b e f r i e n d e d e l d e r l y p e o p l e w h o l i ve d i n “ ro o m i n g h o u s e s ” i n t h e c i t y. A ro o m i n g h o u s e i s a s i n g l e - ro o m occupancy hotel much like the properties that she would later create through Common Ground. Haggerty’s senior year at Tufts University was full of plans for law sc hool—but a thesis paper she was writing on Thomas Merton forced s o m e s e l f - ex a m i n a t i o n . T h e r e s u l t wa s t h a t s h e p o s t p o n e d l a w s c h o o l fo r a ye a r, c h o o s i n g t o v o l u n t e e r a t a s h e l t e r r u n by N e w Yo r k ’ s f a m e d C o v e n a n t H o u s e . Her stint at Covenant House was followed by seven years at Brooklyn Catholic Charities, where she developed housing. Immediately after graduating from Amherst in 1982, her fascination with congregate housing was further stimulated while volunteering for Covenant House. F o r a ye a r, s h e l i ve d w i t h a b o u t s i x t y o t h e r vo l u n t e e r s i n a c o m p l ex i n T i m e s Square whose quarters reminded her of the rooming houses she had seen in her c hildhood. She went onto explain to us that this experience convinced her that shelter was the wrong approac h to homelessness, and that the focus should be on reconnecting homeless people with homes. A major turning point in her life or rather an opportunity came years later when the Times Square Hotel, whic h was located next door to the builwding she used to live in at Covenant House, earned the nickname “Homeless Hell.” The building h a d d e s c e n d e d i n t o c h a o s a n d b a n k r u p t c y, a n d wa s b e i n g u s e d a s a t e m p o r a r y shelter for homeless families. Amidst the physical decay there were more than 1,700 building code violations in the hotel. The building was rife with drug selling and prostitution. She tried to interest existing housing groups in saving the building, but when no existing groups believed Times Square could be transformed and become a solution to homelessness, she decided to leave her own work and to take on the Times Square rescue mission. Haggerty had the idea to save the dilapidated Times Square Hotel by transfor ming it into a new type of housing/community redevelopment initiative for the Times Square neighborhood that would provide permanent housing for the substantial number of people who were then homeless and living on the streets.

Right to a Home

[ 47 ]

I n 1 9 9 0 , Ro s a n n e fo u n d e d C o m m o n G ro u n d C o m m u n i t y, a p i o n e e r i n t h e d e ve l opment of supportive housing and research-based practices that end homelessness. Their mission was to strengthen individuals and comm unities by developing and sustaining exceptional permanent supportive and affordable housing as w e l l a s p r o g r a m s f o r t h e h o m e l e s s a n d o t h e r v u l n e r a b l e N e w Yo r k e r s .

[Common Grounds’ Theory of Change ]

Source: Community Solutions – Bringing Solutions to Homelessness to scale To d a y, t h e T i m e s S q u a r e H o t e l i s t h e l a r g e s t p e r m a n e n t s u p p o r t i v e h o u s i n g project in the United States. This project contributed to the revitalization of the Times Square neighborhood as a whole and demonstrated a new approach to ending long-term urban homelessness. This first project was so successful in turning lives around that it became a national model for an approach that not only saves lives but also saves on the enormous costs of people moving between hospitals, shelters, jails and the streets.

Common Ground concentrates on the places where they can h a ve t h e m o s t i m p a c t o n h o m e l e s s n e s s : o n t h e p e o p l e w i t h t h e most extreme needs who account for the highest public costs, and on the “tipping point” communities where successful new p r a c t i c e s c a n h a ve a w i d e s p r e a d e f f e c t . I n 2 0 1 1 , H a g g e r t y l a u n c h e d C o m m u n i t y S o l u t i o n s i n N e w Yo r k C i t y t o h e l p communities solve the problems that create and sustain homelessness. Rosanne c l e a r l y s t a t e s , “ We ’ r e n o t a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t r u n s p r o g r a m s a s m u c h a s we h e l p c o m m u n i t i e s s o l ve p ro b l e m s.” ( “A b o u t U s ” , C o m m u n i t y S o l u t i o n s, web ) . Their mission is not just about ending homelessness but it goes beyond by helping communities reflect upon themselves once confronted with their problems and enabling them to play an active role in solving their complex problems.

[ Community Solutions ]

Source: Community Solutions Annual Report 2015 Their approach trains communities to organize their resources more efficiently by connecting the disparate effor ts and resources that exist in comm unities and linking these efforts to actual data and systems for driving and sustaining reductions in homelessness. The Community Solutions model stabilizes vulnerable people, enables them to return to health and employment, and lowers the significant public costs associated with homelessness. Over two million people experience homelessness eac h year in the United States, yet a large gap persists between what has been shown to end and prevent homelessness and what most communities actually do. Eac h system of care and support is complex and not designed to meet multiple specific needs. Through focused attention on the highest impact people and situations and connecting those individuals with integrated housing, health, mental health and other assistance, vulnerable people can successfully reintegrate into community life, whic h strengthens the social fabric of the community itself. Community Solutions meets a need that many communities have in coordinating their resources and services in an efficient, t a r ge t e d , a n d c o s t - e f f e c t i ve way.

[ Goals ]

“ Wo r k t o e n d h o m e l e s s n e s s a n d e n s u r e t h a t p ove r t y n eve r f o l lows families beyond a single generation.” “ h e l p c o m m u n i t i e s b e c o m e b e t t e r, m o r e a d a p t i ve p r o b l e m s o l vers so they can tackle complex challenges as they emerge.” - “ h e l p c o m m u n i t i e s s o l ve t h e c o m p l ex p r o b l e m s t h a t t o u c h t h e l i ve s o f t h e i r m o s t v u l n e r a b l e r e s i d e n t s. ” - t o r e d i r e c t t h e m ove f r o m l o c a l i t i e s ’ ‘ S e r v i c e s y s t e m s ’ i n t o ‘ S o l u t i o n s y s t e m s ’ ( “A b o u t U s ” , C o m m u n i t y S o l u t i o n s, web )

Right to a Home

[ 49 ]

Comm unity Solutions is gover ned by a volunteer board of directors and organized around a leadership team comprised of President Rosanne Haggerty and the directors of its operating divisions : Operations; Communications Fundraising: Knowledge Development and Knowledge Sharing.

[ Organizational Structure ]

H o m e l e s s n e s s i s a s o l va b l e p ro b l e m t h a t h a s l o s t i t s s e n s e o f u r ge n c y. Fo r these people, the urgency is to find a home in order to reinforce a sense of control and stability in their lives. Most communities already have what they need to provide homes and support to their most vulnerable homeless neighb o r s . C o m p l ex s o c i a l p ro b l e m s d o nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; t d e m a n d n ew p ro g r a m s . Ra t h e r, C o m m u n i t y Solutions addresses these problems by adopting a flexible, adaptable problem solving process. Community Solutions brings communities together around real-time data in need to tackle the shifting challenges of homelessness and the persistent poverty that drives it.

[ Operation Methodology ]

“Know people by name, prioritize the most vulnerable”

because even within a c hallenged state, there are always people in the most difficult situations and struggling the most whose problems are multifaceted. They probably will be involved with many systems (health, education, criminal justice system), known by almost every institution in the comm unity yet claimed by none. Familiarity with people’s problems and individual stories within the community h e l p s t o s t r e a m l i n e a s s i s t a n c e t o t h o s e t h a t n e e d i t i m m e d i a t e l y. Pa r t n e r s h i p s are one of the quintessential elements in implementing and realizing such initiatives. Once the partners are on board, it is important to collaborate with the players from all disciplines in order to collectively realize what is at stake with the community and inform one another of their continuing roles and responsibilities in the project. Community Solutions continues to build their organizational capacity to sponsor innovations in housing, health, and sustainable community to provide support for vulnerable people in order to transform the way government and the public respond to homelessness in the future. They are constantly exploring ways to urge to shift government spending from crisis intervention to housing support.

S e t t i n g c o l l e c t i ve, c l e a r t i m e b o u n d m e a s u r a b l e g o a l s / t a r ge t s s p e c i f i c t o e a c h p r o j e c t – The set deadlines mark the center of

This portion of the paper was written and composed by me. The second half of the paper talks about the Brownsville Project in detail, written by Evelina Knodel.

any transformative c hange without whic h no single organization would be able to ac hieve on its own. The time bound factor forces a new way of working and acts as a glue in holding together a collective activity among all of the different players in the community who have a piece of the solution. C o m m u n i t y E n g a g e m e n t - In addition to directly developing key properties, Community Solutions helps to grow the capacity of communities to end h o m e l e s s n e s s . I n t h i s way, i t m o ve s b eyo n d C o m m o n G ro u n d w h i c h d i r e c t l y d e velops and operates permanent supportive housing and further expands the capacity of other communities to respond effectively to the challenge of ending homelessness. O p t i m i z i n g r e s o u r c e s that are already within the community and enabling the target population gain access to these resources and utilizing those to the m a x i m u m p o t e n t i a l . Ro s a n n e b e l i e ve s t h a t , “A c o m m u n i t y c a n p u t i t s r e s o u r c e s together and unleash the problem-solving capability of the whole community to solve the issues that are eroding the lives of vulnerable citizens.” Federal resources should be targeted to those communities with the highest rates of chronic homelessness, rather than equally distributed to all communities in the spectrum. D a t a - c o l l e c t i o n a n d d e s i g n t o o l s - Continuous process of maintaining a by-name registry of the homeless people in eac h comm unity and infor mation on each individual in order to identify those who are chronically homeless, those in the most vulnerable health situations. This enables effectively allocating potential housing options depending upon eligibility for senior housing, veteran housing etc. They strive to expand use of tec hnology and design tools to investigate and link systems around the needs of vulnerable people and enable collaboration between organizations.

Right to a Home

[ 51 ]

American Regions, Cities, Systems Research Project Urban Design Studio II

INFRASTRUCTURE OF LABOR THE FOOD NETWORK RIGHT TO A HOME THE 'MEN' WHO built America

The Hudson Valley Regional Urban Design Studio II - Poughkeepsie

Urban Design Seminar II - New Paradigms and New Practices

]

Mapping for Architecture, Urbanism and the Humanities

[

CLICK HERE

for the complete video of 'The Men who built America'.

[ Core Faculty ]

| Juan Saldar ria ga Chaux | Emily Fuhr man (TA) |

[ Project Deliverable ]

| Introduction movie (2 min duration) | Interactive website |

[ Team ]

| Mario Ulloa-Leon | Maria C. Vintimilla | Eric Wong | Jesfae John | The project is about four men who sparked a revolution. After the end of the C i v i l Wa r, fo u r m e n wo u l d r i s e t o l e a d a n d c h a n ge A m e r i c a f ro m a n a t i o n s t r u g gling to unite and create a cohesive identity to a strong and bustling Industrial A ge k n ow n a s t h e ‘ G i l d e d E r a ’ . H e n r y F o r d , J o h n D. Ro c ke f e l l e r, A n d r ew C a r n e g i e, a n d “ C o m m o d o r e ” C o r n e l i u s Va n d e r b i l t , a l l e n t e r e d d i f f e r e n t a r e n a s i n t h e business field and became giants in the automobile, oil, shipping and railroad, a n d s t e e l s e c t o r s r e s p e c t i v e l y. We w o r k e d t o ex p l o r e t h e i m p a c t o f t h e s e f i v e m e n t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h o n e a n o t h e r, a n d w i t h t h e r e s t o f t h e wo r l d f ro m their nascent beginnings to the present through mapping. The goal of this project is to create a didactic tool for users to understand the expansion of the businesses and legacies of these four industrialists.

The Men who built America

[ 53 ]

[ Website Structure ]

CLICK HERE

for experiencing the interactive website 'The Men who built America'.

Interactive webpage for Cornelius Vanderbilt

Interactive webpage for Andrew Carnegie

Interactive webpage for John Rockefeller

Interactive webpage for Henry Ford

The Men who built America

[ 55 ]

]

Water Urbanism Global Urban Design Studio III : Kolkata

THE SACRED HORIZON QUESTION OF AFFORDABILITY

Data Visualization for Architecture, Ubanism and the Humanities

[

[ Duration ]

4 months

[ Core Studio Faculty ]

| | | | |

[ Par tners ]

| Columbia Global Center | Studio X Amman | IIT Kharagpur |

[ Design Team ]

| Marwah Garib | Jessica Adiwijaya | Jesfae John |

The Sacred Horizon

[ 57 ]

Sri Sarada Math PAKISTAN

NEPAL

INDIA

Adhyapeeth Kali Temple

West Bengal

BURMA

KOLKATA Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

Rains

5.70

5.72 6m

r be

0.65

5.69

m m

Februa

Diwali

1st Nov

0.52

January

Nov De ember ce mb er

Ritual of Immersing the idol during Kali Puja

KALI PUJA

5.60 m 5.74 m

rch

0.6m

Apr m

0.42

5.59

MS m

0.31

5.39

0.47

Summer

Oct

Autumn 0.76

Belur Math

DUR

0.9m

ber

Octo

5.74

5.72

May

1st-10th

1.0

July

5.62

August

1.0 4m

HOWRAH

1.0

Lal Baba Ashram

hri

rat

Nav

A PUJ

5.25

5.21

Winter

Ist

AS DIW ARU PAT KAL Jan

Lighting Diyas / lamps for Diwali

Believers giving offerings in the river Praying on the Ghats along the edge

Bathing in shallow waters

Sadhus praying on the Ghats

Our project uses the pilgrim as an agent of ecological change and rituals as a process to enhance ecological restoration in Kolkata and the Sunderb a n s . We i n t e n d t o p u t i n p l a c e a f l ex ible strategy that combats pollution o f t h e G a n ge s R i ve r, t h e m o s t r e ve r e d river among Hindus, and replenish the rapidly depleting mangrove cover by working with existing spiritual sites and rituals in the Kolkata area. This is an area facing a looming threat of sea-level rise and the increasing frequency of severe cyclonic storms. Sacred Horizon aims to change percept i o n s a n d i n s p i r e p e o p l e t o r e cÂ a l i b r a t e their relationship with nature.

Sadhu praying in the sea

bay of bengal

Riv

Flying Kites for Makar Sankranthi

hly

Socialising on the Ghats

Extent of Mangrove cover in 2014

Doing Puja on the beach

SUNDERBANS

Rising frequency of Severe Cyclonic Storms 40.00

Summer 5.62m Popu lation baseline 200000 nos.

Rains

Ave

1.00m 0.52m 5.25m

Winter

0.6m

April

0.47m

5.70m 1.06m 5.72m 0.9m 5.72m 0.65m

5.21m 0.31m 5.39m

MSL

5.69m

0.42m 5.59m

Autumn

1.6

March

ion

mill

Running IR Average (Frequency) Temperature in degrees Celsius

0.6m

N December Januar y

June Ma

e ov

5.60m 5.74m

st gu Au September Oct obe r

1.04m

0.76m

July

GAN MA GA SA 13-15 KA R S GAR M th Jan ELA AN KR AN TH I 15t hJ an

Bay of Bengal

ncy

que

e e fr

rag

5.74m

30 KM

35.00

Rising trend of surface air temperature

ere

Sev

onic

Cycl

rms

Sto

Maximum Temp

30.00 Average Temp 25.00 Minimum temp 20.00

15.00

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Increasing Land loss of Sagar Island

SAGAR ISLAND

Beguakhali Gangasagar

Kapil Muni Temple Gangasagar Mela Ground

R e g ional A nalysis

E rosion and accretion of land S a g ar I sland

[ Rising Waters ]

A Wo r l d B a n k r e p o r t h a s ex p r e s s e d a l a r m o v e r r i s i n g s e a l e v e l i n t h e S u n d e rb a n s , t h e w o r l d â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s l a r g e s t m a n g r o v e f o r e s t . T h e m a n g r o v e f o r e s t i n We s t B e n g a l , which is contiguous with the Bangladesh Sundarbans, is an immensely fragile ecosystem and climate-c hange is one of the biggest threats to its existence. Sagar Island is one among the 14 rapidly vanishing islands in the Sundarbans.

F uture S ea level rise projections s h ow S U B M E R G E D R E A L I T Y O F K O L K A T A & T H E S U N D E R B A N S India has a population of 1.3 billion people and is projected to surpass China [ Rising by 2030 by the UN. Local events generate massive congestion in walled temple Po p u l a t i o n ] complexes in the event of a festival. Extreme crowding is a major factor that makes the spiritual experience of approac hing and participating in the related ceremonies, particularly during festivals an entirely unpleasant one.

The Sacred Horizon

[ 59 ]

E co - spiritual g radient of t h e T i r tha - P il g rims as active infrastructure As the pilgrim route from Kolkata is considered holy by millions, we propose introducing an agenda to enhance vetiver & miscanthus cultivation along the River Hooghly(in the city) and mangrove cultivation around Sagar Island by hac king r i t u a l s u s i n g p i l g r i m s a s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e . We b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s i n i t i a t i v e w i l l l a y the ground for a resilient â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;GangaSagar Mela City of the futureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, one that is a d a p t a b l e t o t h e e v e r iÂ n c r e a s i n g p i l g r i m p o p u l a t i o n .

' T h e Gan g es P arado x ' rectified alon g t h e ed g es - M icro level W ater filtration

The Sacred Horizon

[ 61 ]

Boardwalks

+ Mangrove afforestation

+ Solid waste collection

+ Floating markets / village

Ghats

+ Floating plazas

+ Floating pools

+ Floating farms

P lu g - in typolo g ies to e x istin g infrastructure

We s t r a t e g i c a l l y p l u g - i n f l ex i b l e s t r e e t d e s i g n strategies for the purpose of wayfinding from w i t h i n t h e c i t y t o t h e wa t e r. We a i m t o i n c r e a s e visual connectivity so that the presence of water is felt by the pilgrims as they approac h the edge.

At Dakshineshwar and Belur Math, we are proposing to redesign the riverfront edge and the existing ghats to allow for public spaces and amenities engineered to treat the polluted wat e r. T h e wa t e r i s f i l t e r e d a l o n g the edge by plugging in elements like floating pools, plazas and solid waste collecting systems to the existing physical infrastructures such as the Ghats and boardwalks. These plug-in elements are temporary by nature and deployed in accordance with seasons and festivals that attract large populations.

city of K olkata 2 0 5 0

The Sacred Horizon

[ 63 ]

R i ve r p l u g - i n s a l o n g t h e e d g e o n a d r y d a y. . .

during monsoon..

during festivals..

The Sacred Horizon

[ 65 ]

for mangrove Area forArea mangrove planting planting

Concrete pole are filled with sand / water for stability against strong waves

1 m c/c 1 m c/c

Bamboo stumps Bamboo stumps

The bamboo breakwater 1 m c/c 1 m c/c

Localreed Hogla reed bound Local Hogla bound as the first layer togethertogether as the first layer for sediment pass throu for sediment to pass to through

1 m c/c 1 m c/c

Bamboo turbines for each pole enables rotation in opposite directions tapping into the wave energy

The permeable dams mimic The permeable dams mimic Mangroves with an ability Mangroves with an ability to waves weakenand waves trap sediments to weaken trapand sediments

Concrete pole as the core around which the bamboo stumps are arranged.

The bamboo breakwaters act as ENERGY GENERATORS

Bamboo water turbine arranged in accordance with the sea bed height

1/3 H

2/3 H

P TO

/ / ED BED AB SEA1/3 H SE

Local Hogla reed

0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c

P TO

2/3 H

pipes transporting water, sewage and electricity to houseboats.

Area for mangrove planting

1 m c/c

Bamboo stumps

1 m c/c

Local Hogla reed bound together as the first layer for sediment to pass through

1 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c

Local Hogla reed

O PS

The permeable dams mimic Mangroves with an ability to weaken waves and trap sediments

1/3 H

SEA

BED

O /T

pipes transporting water, sewage and electricity to houseboats.

Concrete pole as the core around which the bamboo stumps are arranged.

2/3 H

pipes transporting water, sewage and electricity to houseboats.

Energy generating breakwaters

Mangrove afforestation

The bamboo breakwater

1 m c/c

Bamboo stumps

1 m c/c

Local Hogla reed bound Bamboo turbines for each together as the first layerpole enables rotation in opposite directions tapping for sediment to pass through into the wave energy

1 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c 0.3 m c/c

Local Hogla reed

O PS

ediments

Bamboo boardwalk

Area for mangrove planting

Concrete pole are filled with sand / water for stability against strong waves

1/3 H

O /T BED SEA

VISION 2050 in Sagar Island

Concrete pole as the core around which the bamboo stumps are arranged.

Bamboo water turbine arranged accordance with the sea bed height

2/3 in H

The bamboo breakwaters act as ENERGY GENERATORS

Conc arou

elevated bund

constructed mangrove habitat

elevated road

Concrete pole are filled with sand / water for stability against strong waves

The bamboo breakwater

tio

Sec

Bamboo turbines for e pole enables rotation opposite directions tap into the wave energy

ctio

bamboo Key plan boardwalk

constructed constructed constructed mangrove habitat backwater creek mangrove habitat Se ctio n

tio

r ugh

Section A

Se c

bamboo boardwalk

elevatedelevatedfresh water elevated village bund bund collection sysem bund

village

farmland

farmland S ection A

Concrete pole as the core around which the bamboo stumps are arranged.

Bamboo water turbine arranged in accordance with the sea bed height

The bamboo breakwaters as ENERGY GENERATORS

pipes transporting water, sewage and electricity to houseboats.

bamboo boardwalk

bay of bengal

bamboo boardwalk

constructed

elevated constructed +bamboo backwater mangrove habitatconstructed bund mangrove +habitat mangrove habitat boardwalk

bamboo constructed boardwalk creek gangasagar bamboo raised boardwalk beach ground

backwater constructed creek

energy-waste elevated elevated bund elevated elevated plant S ection b road bund road

elevated bund backwater

fresh water elevated fresh water collection sysem kapil muni bund collectiontemple sysem S ection E

Beach

Backwaters

bamboo boardwalk

Elevated bunds (bunds meaning walkways)

bamboo boardwalk

constructed constructed backwater mangrove habitat mangrove habitat

backwater

elevated energy-waste elevated energy bund S ection plant C&D bund plant

We p r o p o s e a m u l t i l a y e r e d d e f e n s e s t r a t e g y a l o n g t h e i s l a n d â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s e d g e t h a t w o u l d not only aid to protect both the tourist and local population but also becomes a carrier of infrastructure itself.These defenses are tailored to anc hor a floating infrastr ucture of amenities for pilgrims coming to the Island by house-boats. M ultilayerin g flood protection strate g y at S a g ar I sland

The Sacred Horizon

[ 67 ]

Kapil Muni Temple Ganga Sagar Mela ground

S a g ar I sland 2 0 5 0

5-10 years

0-5 years Pilgrims act as active infrastructure.

1.6 million pilgrims attend Gangasagar Mela annually

S ta g es of replenis h ment - buildin g S a g ar I sland s h oreline wit h t h e aid of pil g rim participation .

CLICK HERE

for the complete introductory video 'Sacred Horizon'.

10-15 years

The Sacred Horizon

[ 69 ]

Water Urbanism Global Urban Design Studio III : Kolkata

]

THE SACRED HORIZON QUESTION OF AFFORDABILITY

Data Visualization for Architecture, Ubanism and the Humanities

[

CLICK HERE

for the interactive website of

' A f f o r d a b l e H o u s i n g i n N e w Yo r k C i t y ' .

[ Core Faculty ]

| Juan Saldar ria ga Chaux | Buck Wanner (TA) | Mark Madera (TA) |

[ Project Deliverable ]

| Interactive website |

[ Team ]

Data source: ACS 3-year estimates 2007 - 2009, HPD Fund Element, HPD Project Building Element, HPD Project Element, HPD Rent Affordability Element, The Primar y Land Use Tax Lot Output (PLUTO)

In this project we aim to explore the existing patterns of siting of affordable housing projects boroughwise and neighborhoodwise. Where did these units hit the ground? How did the distribution of the affordable units interact with prior demographic c haracteristics, e.g. education, income, and race. For example, do most of the units go to low-income locations? Based on case-studies or sugggestive evidence found in news sources, we investigate causes in spike or decline o f a f f o r d a b l e h o u s i n g i n v a r i o u s n e i g h b o r h o o d s . We ex p l o r e h ow g o v e r n m e n t â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s effor ts to provide affordable housing vary by neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demographics. Our audiences are general public interested in affordable housing and government agencies, on a borough basis in order to raise awareness for future a f fo r d a b l e h o u s i n g u n i t s t o p ro m o t e b e t t e r i n t e g ra t i o n a m o n g t h e s o c i e t y.

Question of Affordability

[ 71 ]

â&#x20AC;&#x153;[Cities] are not like suburbs, only denser. They differ from towns and suburbs in basic ways, and one of these is that cities are, by definition, full of strangers.â&#x20AC;? - Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Summer 2016

Skyline, Manhattan Summer 2016

MOMA, Manhattan Fall 2016