Southside of Williamsburg Existing Conditions Report Pratt Institute Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment Fundamentals of Planning Studio Spring 2017 Acknowledgements

Southside of Williamsburg Existing Conditions Report

Prepared by: Fundamentals of Planning Studio, Spring 2017 City and Regional Planning Graduate Program Pratt Institute, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment

Prepared for: El Puente

Authors: Michael Bourque Anthony Budiman Jenady Garshofsky Haiyin Guo Sophiya Khan Collin Lee Yotam Melman Heba Nady-Mohamed Rohan Narang Nitisha Raje Kim Robledo Jay Skardis

Faculty: Mercedes Narciso Juan Camilo Osorio Ayse Yonder Table of Contents

Introduction 1 Executive Summary 2

1. Physical Environment 7 1.1 History of the Area 8 1.2 Urban Design 11 1.3 Land Use 13 1.4 Zoning 21 1.5 Existing Plans & Developments 24 1.6 S.W.O.T. Analysis 26 1.7 Sources 27

2. Socio-economic Environment 28 2.1 Demographics 29 2.2 Socio-economic Characteristics 34 2.3 Housing Trends 38 2.4 Economic Conditions 42 2.5 Social Infrastructure 46 2.6 S.W.O.T. Analysis 49 2.7 Sources 50

3. Natural Environment 52 3.1 Open Space System 53 3.2 Transportation & Public Transit Infrastructure 60 3.3 Former Industrial Activities 65 3.4 Former Industrial Pollution 69 3.5 Wastewater Management 73 3.6 Energy 78 3.7 S.W.O.T. Analysis 85 3.8 Sources 86

General S.W.O.T. Analysis 90 Appendices 93 Introduction

The Client Project Goal

El Puente is a grassroots community-based Explore existing conditions in the Southside with developmental organization with a focus on a focus on the open space system, including four community/youth education and development priority parks (Marcy Park, Rodney Park, LaGuardia with environmental justice and culturally sensitive Playground, Continental Army Plaza), in order to community-based planning. El Puente seeks to develop recommendations to promote the overall empower Latinos “to build 21st century community” goals of El Puente’s Green Light District initiative. sustainability plans that integrate climate change strategies in the context of culture, education, equity, and social justice.

Figure 0-1: CADRE event, Latino Community Artists Network, Figure 0-2: El Puente Mural, Grand St El Puente. Source: www.elpuente.us Source: www.elpuente.us

The Southside - Strengths and Assets

History reflected in urban fabric Cultural, ethnic, racial, income diversity Young population Strong CBO’s Political representatives / elected officials Incoming new businesses BQ Green proposal 1 Geographic Context

The Southside of Williamsburg is located in This report will also examine the Green Light Brooklyn’s Community District 01 (CD BK-01), along District (GLD). The GLD is a strategic ten-year with North and East Williamsburg and Greenpoint initiative to sustain, grow, green, and celebrate neighborhoods. This community district is bound the Southside of Williamsburg. The GLD is bounded by the East River to the West, Newtown Creek to by Metropolitan Avenue to the North, Division the North and East, and Flushing Avenue to the Avenue to the South, Union Avenue to the East, South. This report will focus on census tracts: 513, and the East River to the West. It was developed 519, 523, 525, 527, 529, 535, 547, 549, 551, 553, by El Puente in collaboration with a former Pratt and 555. graduate fundamentals of planning studio.

Figure 0-3: Community District 1, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Figure 0-4: Study Area, GLD, Southside of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016

2 Executive Summary

This report is part of a semester long project in the Fundamentals of Planning studio course at the Pratt Institute Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment. The objective of this report, as understood by the students and prepared for El Puente, is to examine existing conditions of the built, physical, and natural environment in the Southside of Williamsburg.

Findings

• There is a lack of open space and greenery in the Southside of Williamsburg. An existing open space inventory translates open space into 0.3 acres per 1,000 residents, in comparison to the optimal benchmark of 2.5 acres of total open space per 1,000 residents. • There has been a large decrease in the Hispanic/Latino population over the last two decades, and an increase in socio-economic inequality. Population in the study area has 28% under the NYC poverty level. The total population is 55,556, of which the Hispanic/Latino population decreased by 50% in 2000 and 32% in 2015. • Vulnerable populations are located in census tracts 525, 527, 535, on the basis of low household median income, unemployment rate, low educational attainment. • Gentrification is a real threat, which can continue to displace largely Hispanic/Latino populations and erase the cultural history of the Southside along with it. The potential lack of development, specifically MX-8 uses, could threaten the local economy within the Southside. • Environmental injustice. Industrial activities that once provided jobs to residents are a source of pollution. There is an insufficient amount of open space to offset the worsening air quality created by pollution and frequent truck traffic from the BQE.

The Southside can potentially benefit from zoning amendments, which bring vibrant mixed-uses and new commercial retail, potentially livening the local economy and creating employment opportunities. Additionally, the incoming younger population can also bring about new businesses and new opportunities that, if inclusive, can benefit everyone. Environmental remediation initiatives in the Southside can create employment opportunities, bring about new development, and improve air, water, and soil conditions. Figure 0-5: Southside Connex Community Street Festival Source: www.elpuente.us

3 The Built Environment

There is strong history of manufacturing throughout the study area and along the waterfront. Due to the Greenpoint-Williamsburg 2005 Zoning Amendment, heavy manufacturing areas (MX- 8) now allow for a mixed-use of properties with residential, commercial, and manufacturing potential.

The Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and an elevated subway cut through the neighborhood, dividing the built environment. There is a lack of open space and greenery, with existing open spaces located along the BQE, where pollution from truck traffic contributes towards Figure 0-6: Domino Sugar Factory, Study Area pocketed concentrations of poor air quality. In addition, heavy manufacturing sites are located in close proximity to residential properties.

Possibilities of improving and increasing the open space in the area include a new park to be built along the waterfront, accessible to all, and the potential decking over of the BQE with the BQ Green plan, a proposal from DLAND studio to cover South 3rd Street to South 5th Street over Rodney Street.

Figure 0-7: Williamsburg Bridge, Study Area

4 The Socio-Economic Environment

The Southside is ethnically and culturally diverse with a strong presence of community based organizations and a young population, which serve as a source of strength for future possibilities. Incoming new small businesses, along with traditional manufacturing, are a testament to a diversifying economy.

However, gentrification, a volatile and speculative housing market, and the sharp decrease in the Hispanic/Latino population over the past 15 years are a source of concern for the neighborhood’s Figure 0-8: El Puente Community Garden, Study Area Source: www.elpuente.us identity. Data analysis indicates the existence of many disparities, including unequal median income, increasing rental prices, high poverty levels, and varying levels of educational attainment. The community within the Green Light District (GLD) is exposed to these disparities in particular, being located between the wealthier, gentrified census tracts to the North and the Jewish Hasidic community to the South. In a sense, the community is an isolated pocket effected by rapid change.

The Natural Environment Figure 0-9: Grand St, Study Area Within the Southside, there are six established community gardens, accessible transportation infrastructure, and elevated land that strengthen the area’s natural environment. There is also the opportunity to add more space to the existing open space inventory through conversion of land use.

The BQE and Williamsburg Bridge bring pollution, as well as heavy truck traffic throughout the study area. Trucks are driving to industrial facilities, which are located in an area vulnerable to storm surge. Climate change can spread toxins and chemicals Figure 0-10: Members of El Puente group LCAN Source: www.elpuente.us 5 Next Steps

This report analyzes existing conditions in the Southside of Williamsburg. The analysis will assist in crafting recommendations for the second half of this project, which focuses on recommendations for improving existing conditions and expanding limited open space for El Puente’s consideration.

NEIGHBORHOOD & EXISTING CONDITIONS CASE STUDY SITE SURVEY ANALYSIS RESEARCH

STAKEHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS INTERVIEWS

Figure 0-11: Planning Process

6 1. Physical Environment

Figure 1-1: Domino Sugar Factory Source: ny.curbed.com 7 1.1 History of the Area

Williamsburg is often considered the gentrification capital of New York City. The Southside of Williamsburg has a controversial history due to demographic changes, infrastructure development, land use planning, and effects on the natural environment.1 “In 1792, a real estate speculator named Richard M. Woodhull acquired land from North 2nd Street to Grand Street and named the area ‘Williamsburg’. Eventually, the area connected to the coast and became a place of commute.1

Figure 1-2: Timeline

Figure 1-2: Timeline The diversity within the Southside of Williamsburg In 1851, the Williamsburg Savings Bank, the can be traced through the history of immigration Williamsburg Dispensary, the Division Avenue patterns and population. From 1820 to the 1830s, Ferry, and three new churches were established. Williamsburg was incorporated as a village and Construction of the Williamsburg Bridge began attracted many immigrant groups. Irish, German, in 1903. Once completed in December of 1903, and Austrian capitalists developed their businesses thousands of Jews from the Lower East Side and homes in the area. Some of the nation’s largest moved into the area. By 1917, the Southside of industrial companies started in Williamsburg. This Williamsburg held the most densely populated includes Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Astral Oil (later blocks in New York City, and housed over 5,000 Standard Oil), Brooklyn Flint Glass (later Corning people. Ware), Elder Sugar Refinery (later Amstar and Domino), along with breweries and factories that opened along the waterfront.

8 Figure 1-3: Timeline, cont.

Between 1900 and 1920, Williamsburg’s In the 1980s, an average of one adolescent was population doubled and immigrants arrived shot every week and the media referred to this from Eastern Europe: Lithuania, Poland, and area as the “teenage gang capital of New York Russia. In the 1930s, large numbers of European City.” In 1982, El Puente was founded by Luis Jews escaping Nazism fled to Williamsburg and Garden Acosta.2 “In the 1990s, the decline in developed Hasidic communities. From the mid- manufacturing left thousands of Hispanic/Latinos 1930s to the 1960s, public housing projects unemployed, which intensified poverty and poor replaced thousands of decaying buildings. In 1957, healthcare. The historical context of the industrial the building of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway waterfront provides an understanding of the (BQE) cut through Williamsburg and destroyed abandoned factories. The urbanization of the thousands of low-income family homes and their Southside first occurred along the waterfront and respective communities. By the 1960s, Puerto became industrialized by factories, glassmakers, Ricans came to Williamsburg to work in factory oil refineries, sugar refineries, and other industrial jobs. Through the 1980s, the Hispanic/Latino establishments. This resulted in the growth of community grew, with the arrival of Dominicans multi-ethnic residential communities on streets and other Latino/American populations. Currently, close to the waterfront. Homes and factories Hasidic communities continue to grow, while were integrated, setting a pattern of mixed-use Hispanic/Latino populations are clustered together development that still shapes the neighborhoods alongside the BQE”.1 today. Facilities on the waterfront in this area declared bankruptcy and operations stopped.”

9 Figure 1-3a: Timeline, cont.

The waterfront is now dominated by empty lots, terrible conditions, and is often inaccessible to the public.3 These deep-rooted urban issues created the need for community organizations that aim help areas such as Williamsburg. In 1991, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance was founded. Their mission is to help low-income communities with environmental and social justice. El Puente has collaborated with NYC EJA to create positive changes in Williamsburg through arts and culture, campaigns, and economic development.4 “In the last 20 years, there has been rapid construction of high-rise buildings and renovation of abandoned factories. This is changing the fabric of the neighborhood because galleries, restaurants, and shops are opening to cater to new residents: artists and people of higher income.”5 This is an example of physical infrastructure changes involved in the gentrification process. Gentrification can be defined as the influx of wealthier residents, which increases housing prices, creates rent burdens and displaces the original residents. The area transitioned from a diverse working class neighborhood to a gentrified one. The Southside of Williamsburg became a hub of gentrification. Williamsburg’s history is shaped by waves of immigration, unfortunate land use decisions, industrialization, and gentrification.

10 1.2 Urban Design

Building Characteristics and Typology

The Southside of Williamsburg is a waterfront neighborhood with a long history reflected in its urban fabric. The neighborhood is characterized by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, an elevated subway line, and the Williamsburg Bridge, which run through various open spaces throughout the study area, and divides the Southside physically, as well socially and economically. In addition, large waterfront lots prevent views and access to the waterfront from most areas in the neighborhood. The Southside features diverse building types and architectural styles, from skyscrapers to industrial buildings to new constructions and row houses. Moving closer to the waterfront and away from the center of the neighborhood, building heights greatly increase due to new high-rise Figure 1-4: High-rise Development, Kent Ave, Study Area developments.

Figure 1-5: Mixed-Use Buildings, Grand St., Study Area. Figure 1-6: Mixed-Use Buildings, Grand St., Study Area.

11 Landmark Buildings and Districts

The Southside consists of one landmark district and several landmarked buildings elsewhere throughout the neighborhood.6 These include the Fillmore Place Historic District, a series of row houses located along Fillmore Place between Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street in the northern part of the study area,7 as well as:

• 103 Broadway, the Smith, Gray & Company Building • 135 Broadway, the Kings County Savings Bank (now the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center) • 143 South 8th Street, the Long Island Business College • 177 South 5th Street, the Williamsburg Trust Company Building 8 • 179 South 9th Street, the New England Congregational Church • 183-195 Broadway9 • 240 Division Ave (The Brooklyn Public Library - Williamsburg Branch) • 334 South 5th Street, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sunday School and Parsonage • 834 Driggs Ave, the Williamsburg Savings Bank (exterior landmark and first floor interior landmark) • Domino Sugar Refinery • 184 Kent Avenue is a building that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. A former warehouse for Austin, Nichols and Company, it is now a condominium building.10

Figure 1-7: Location of Landmarks, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Landmarks GLD 12 1.3 Land Use

Overview

The Southside of Williamsburg is characterized by its mixed-uses of residential, manufacturing, and commercial spaces. It is predominantly residential, with multi-family homes, and high rises that are continuing to be developed along the waterfront. There is a commercial presence along mixed-use corridors, and its distinctive history of industry and manufacturing can still be seen in the neighborhood’s built environment today. Vacant land, while limited in comparison to that of New York City as whole, could hold potential for development. Open space, at a fraction of what is available to the rest of the city, accounts for the smallest portion of land use in the Southside.

Land Use Comparisons

57% of the land in the Southside is used for residential purposes, in comparison to 36% residential land use in New York City. There isa predominance of multi-family walk-up buildings throughout the Southside, and mixed commercial/ residential buildings along commercial corridors. This constitutes 21%, about twice as much as the city overall. Multi-family elevator buildings comprise 13% of residential land use. Commercial office space in the Southside accounts for 5%of land use, comparable to that of the city. Industrial/ manufacturing land use in the Southside is at 7%, which is over twice the amount for the city, reflecting the distinctive character of Figure 1-8: Mixed Use Buildings, Grand St, Study Area. the neighborhood. Transportation spaces are comparable, at 5% and 6%, between the Southside and the city. While there is a similar percentage of public facilities/institutions between the Southside and the city (8%) there are no hospitals and only one medical facility in the Southside. Available vacant land in the Southside is 10%, but almost 40% of that is currently being developed, and only 28% is publically owned, leaving a small percentage for potential conversion to open space, which compares to 32% of vacant land for the city. Open space is limited, as mentioned, and accounts for only 3% of total land use in the neighborhood. This, compared to 28% for the city, presents a challenge Figure 1-9: Future High-Rise Development, Grand St, Study Area. to the Southside.11

13 Figure 1-10: Land Use, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 One & Two Family Mixed: Commercial/Residential Transportation/ Utility Parking Facilities Multifamily Walk Up Commercial/ Office Public Facilities & Institutions Vacant Land Multifamily Elevator Industrial/ Manufacturing Open Space GLD

14 Residential Use

Residential land uses are evenly scattered throughout the Southside. A small amount of 1-2 family homes are interspersed amongst evenly distributed multi-family walk-ups. Multi-family elevator land uses are distributed throughout and clustered in the North, and in the Southeast, where there is New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing, and along the waterfront where high rises and newer development is increasing.

Figure 1-11: Residential Building, Study Area. Figure 1-12: Residential Uses, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 One & Two Family Multifamily Walk Up Multifamily Elevator GLD

Figure 1-13: Commercial & Residential Uses, Grand St, Study Area Figure 1-14: Commercial & Residential Uses, Grand St, Study Area

15 Commercial & Mixed Uses

The mixed use character of the neighborhood can still be seen today. There are large and small commercial land use lots distributed throughout the Southside and along commercial corridors. Mixed-commercial/ residential land uses account for 21% of total land use. Ground level commercial uses flank the commercial corridors along major avenues and streets, including Bedford Avenue, Grand Street, Broadway, Driggs Avenue, and Metropolitan Avenue, and are incorporated in newer developments along the waterfront.

Figure 1-16: Commercial Uses, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Mixed Commercial/ Residential Commercial/ Office GLD Figure 1-15: Mixed Land Use, Grand St, Study Area Commercial Corridor

Figure 1-17: Mixed Land Use, Grand St, Study Area Figure 1-18: Mixed Land Use, Grand St, Study Area

16 Industrial/Manufacturing & Transportation Uses

As with commercial use, industrial/ manufacturing uses continue to maintain the character of the Southside, despite changes to the neighborhood over time. These are clustered along Wythe Avenue and Berry Street, scattered throughout, and along the waterfront (see section 3 for discussion of other uses).

There are three main transportation corridors that disrupt the neighborhood: the Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn- Queens Expressway, and the elevated subway on Broadway.

Figure 1-20: Industrial/Manufacturing Uses, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016

Figure 1-19: Industry, Grand St, Study Area Industrial/ Manufacturing Transportation Corridor GLD

Figure 1-21: Open Space for Transportation, Borinquen Pl. Figure 1-22: Open Space for Transportation, BQE, Study Area Source: Google Street View.

17 Public Facilities & Institutions

Public facilities and institutions in the Southside include schools (preschools to high schools), a library, a fire station, and senior housing. There are medical facilities, but no hospital. Public facilities seem scattered throughout the study area exception.

Figure 1-23: Success Academy, Study Area Figure 1-24: Public Use Facilities & Institutions, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Public Facilities & Institutions GLD

Figure 1-25: El Puente HQ, Hooper St, Study Area Figure 1-26: Public School 84 Jose de Diego, Berry St, Study Area

18 Vacant Land

Ten percent of land in the Southside is currently listed as vacant. But almost 40% of that consists of a single parcel on the waterfront, the site of the Domino Sugar Factory, which is currently being developed. Only 28%, of the 10% listed as vacant, is publically owned. This leaves a small percentage, less than 2.5% for potential conversion to open space, which compares to 32% of vacant land for the city overall.

Figure 1-27: Vacant Lot, Study Area Figure 1-28: Vacant Lots, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Vacant Land GLD

Figure 1-30: Vacant Lots By Owner, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016

Figure 1-29: Vacant Lot, Study Area

19 Open Space & Parks

There is very little open space or parks in the Southside, accounting for 3% compared to 28% for New York City. This leaves few options for outdoor recreation. Most of these small spaces are located alongside the Brooklyn- Queens Expressway, where the noise and air pollution are at high levels. Of existing open spaces and parks, there is little greenery, as spaces have blacktop or concrete.

Figure 1-31: Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, Study Area Figure 1-32: Open Spaces & Parks, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Open Space GLD

Figure 1-33: Marcy Park, Study Area Figure 1-34: Continental Army Plaza, Study Area

20 1.4 Zoning

Overview

Zoning is the regulation of land use, mandated by the City. Zoning laws determine what size and type of building can be built, on any lot of land. Within the Southside, there is a wide variety of zoning classifications, which include residential (R), commercial (C), manufacturing (M), a special mixed use district (MX-8), and commercial overlays that allow for commercial use at the ground level.

Figure 1-35: Zoning, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Residential Commercial MX-8 Open Space GLD 21 Zoning Designations in the Study Area

Residential, or R6 designations, make up the Manufacturing (M1-2) accounts for 26% of the majority 38% of the Southside. Residential study area. Light industry, storage, and repair buildings are medium density, without height limits shops are typical usages for this designation. and often, even with new construction, are of the M1 (and M2) were typically placed between M3 scale of apartment buildings from before 1961 and residential zones. As a result of the 2005 (up to 13 stories).12 R6A accounts for 1% of land rezoning, with the exception of one lot under the use, and is contextual13 with new construction to Williamsburg Bridge, M1-2 designations have been complement existing six to seven story buildings at combined with R6, R6A, and R6B designations for the street line. R6, which accounts for 11%, is often mixed-use. These zones are designated MX-8, as comprised of traditional row houses of attached part of a Special Mixed-Use District,15 and allow for buildings of four stories with stoops or front yards. manufacturing designations on the lower floors of These are centrally located in the Southside. There buildings and residential use on higher floors. This is an isolated 2% R7-3 zone along the Southern allows greater availability of residential space in the waterfront. Contextual R7A accounts for 3% of areas previously restricted to manufacturing only, land use, has high lot coverage, and buildings of with the potential for continued manufacturing seven to eight stories that blend with surrounding and residential uses side by side. M3-1, which building styles, located near the waterfront and to accounts for 3% of land use, is for heavy industries the Eastern edge of the Southside. There are two that generate noise, traffic or pollutants. There are R8 zones, which accounts for 2% of land use, both three in the Southside alongside the waterfront. located along the waterfront, consisting of new Whereas M3 are usually buffered by M1 and M2 construction of high rise buildings, much taller than zones, the M3 zones are located next to residential other buildings in the Southside. This is the result zones. of a 2005 rezoning14 to develop the waterfront from manufacturing to residential purposes.

Commercial (C4-3), accounts for 8%, located alongside the Williamsburg Bridge and Broadway, is zoned for regional commercial centers, generating more traffic for ‘continuous retail frontage’.12 C6- 2, which accounts for 1%, designated only in two places adjacent to the Domino A, LLC development on the waterfront, are for ‘high-bulk commercial’12 uses, with mixed-use buildings, corporate offices, hotels, and entertainment. A C8 zone, which accounts for 2% of land use, is located at the Southeast corner of the Southside. This is used for heavier commercial and automotive services such as repair shops, gas stations, and warehouses. No residential usage is allowed.

22 Commercial Overlays

Commercial overlays allow for commercial use at the ground level of residential districts. There are four kinds of commercial overlays. C1-3 and C1-4 allow for commercial usage at the ground level for businesses such as restaurants, beauty parlors, bodegas, laundromats, and grocery stores. C2-3 and C2-4 overlays allow a greater range of uses including repair shops and funeral homes. These overlays allow commercial development, creating the commercial corridors seen in the land use map (Fig. 1-36).

FAR and Building Development in the Study Area

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is the regulation that controls the size to which a building can Figure 1-36: Commercial Overlays be built in any zoned lot. Each district has Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 C1-3 C1-4 C2-3 C2-4 GLD a designated FAR. Multiplying the FAR and the lot area results in the maximum square footage allowed to be built on the given lot. Not all lots are built to their maximum FAR, and the remaining available FAR creates potential for future development. The 2005 rezoning of the waterfront from manufacturing to mixed-use/residential districts provided large residential FAR allowance. This high FAR could yield residential towers up to 350 feet high. Limits were imposed from the waterfront inland to result in buildings graduated in height from the tallest at the waterfront edge. As a result of the rezoning, the largest concentrations of available FAR are at the waterfront.

Figure 1-37: Available FAR Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 876K - +3M 172K - 876K 100K - 172K 0.01 - 100K 23 100% Built GLD Note: Units in sq ft 1.5 Existing Plans & Developments

The existing and projected plans for Williamsburg are comprehensive and aim to fix the physical infrastructure, increase economic development, and benefit public health. The plans include the waterfront redevelopment from the 2005 Rezoning and Vision 2020, the Domino site development, the “green” future of the BQE, and broadband expansion in IBZ.16 These plans incorporate affordable housing, green space, business activity, waterfront accessibility, and increased technological connectivity.

Waterfront Plan: 2005 Rezoning and Vision 2020 Domino sugar refinery Site Redevelopment

The NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) The Domino Sugar Refinery site redevelopment developed a plan for Greenpoint-Williamsburg in Williamsburg is projected to open up the area Zoning, which was approved in May 2005. for a high amount of affordable housing units, Current initiatives still being implemented include through a lottery application of 104 affordable accessibility to the waterfront. The proposed apartments. The housing lottery began accepting actions include the establishment of a new 27.8- applications in November 2016. The Domino site acre waterfront park (Bushwick Inlet Park) in redevelopment is an example of how Williamsburg collaboration with the Department of Parks and can be more inclusionary for marginalized groups Recreation. This plan recognizes the original of people and improve the infrastructure of the mixed-use character that has defined these area.18 This is an attempt towards lessening the neighborhoods; it permits some industrial and effects of gentrification. commercial uses to coexist in specified areas. The proposal offers a blueprint for a continuous publicly The Green Plans for the BQE accessible esplanade and new public open spaces along the waterfront, which links the water’s edge The Brooklyn Queens Expresswav (BQE) has a and the established Greenpoint and Williamsburg “green” plan for redevelopment to improve the communities. This plan allows for a “publicly impact on surrounding areas and public health. accessible jewel to New York City’s waterfront”.14 The plan includes reducing noise and pollution, increasing neighborhood connectivity, bike The Vision 2020: Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and pedestrian safety, and an overall greener identifies key opportunities for improving the streetscape. The various stakeholders in this plan waterfront and outlines an 18-year span. Vision include the New York City Economic Development 2020 includes public outreach with thousands of Corporation (NYCEDC), NYC Department of community and waterfront stakeholders. The eight Transportation, Starr Whitehouse Landscape main goals of the plan are: expand public access, Architects, the public and community organizations include a range of attractive through programs, such as El Puente. El Puente supports this plan support economic development activity, improve and has created three possible scenarios for a water quality through measures that benefit natural green BQE. The three proposed designs focus habitats, restore degraded natural waterfront on construction and financial feasibility, but itis areas and protect wetlands, enhance the public undetermined which one will be implemented.19 experience, improve governmental regulation, and improve the city’s resilience to climate change and rising sea levels.17

24 The “Maximum Green” Plan improves the NYC EDC/Council’s Engines of Opportunity Report: streetscape with widened sidewalks, landscaped Broadband Expansion in IBZ bump-outs, and curvy chicanes. At a cost of $10.7 to $18.7 million, it keeps the existing chain-link NYC EDC and Council’s Engines of Opportunity have fence surrounding the highway and incorporates developed a plan that will enhance the connectivity trees and vegetation, including a vine-covered between business and technology. This involves the metal screen with built in acoustic panels.19 The accessibility to high speed internet and developing “Connections” Plan retains the basic improvements technological networks in Williamsburg. “New of the “Maximum Green” design and adds five new York City Economic Development Corporation pedestrian and bike bridges across the highway, (NYCEDC) announced the launch of Connect and replaces one existing bridge to allow handicap Industrial Business Zone (IBZ): Broadband accessibility and help restore the original street Expansion in Industrial Business Zones (Connect grid. Options include flanking the bridges with IBZ), a $5.3 million public-private partnership vine-covered panels and adding LED lighting to that will construct access to high-speed Internet create playful interest at night.19 Extra features in IBZs in New York City by expanding broadband mean inflated cost, and the “Connections” plan infrastructure in underserved areas. The program would cost an estimated $30.1 - $41.3 Million. The will create high-speed commercial broadband Dream Scheme builds on the massively landscaped networks in the Southwest Brooklyn, Long Island streetscape and pedestrian bridges of the previous City, North Brooklyn, and Greenpoint-Williamsburg two proposals. A “Green Canopy” concept would IBZs, which are among the City’s ‘digital deserts.’ attempt to mask out the BQE. It offers a massive Fast and reliable broadband access has become $28 Million steel angle-and-beam structure increasingly critical for businesses of all types designed by Kiss+Cathcart Architects, creating a in New York City. Connect IBZ will help increase pseudo-cap over the BQE trench. Acoustic panels access to broadband connectivity for hundreds of built into the span mitigate noise, while a central businesses.”20 This plan connects technology and mesh of steel precludes the need for an active business together in areas of weak infrastructure ventilation system. The iconic structure is then and will ultimately increase economic opportunity covered in vines and solar cells. The estimated and development. cost of this plan is $78.8 - $82.7 Million.19 These three proposals portray the intuitive thinking of incorporating green space, accessibility, and public health benefits to offset the negative impacts of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.

25 1.6 S.W.O.T. Analysis

1. Historic landmarks Strengths 2. Industrial/working class waterfront neighborhood 3. MX-8 rezoning: mixed-use neighborhood, more residences, potential for affordable housing. 4. El Puente instrumental in environmental justice movement.

1. MX-8: potential for small industry Weaknesses 2. BQE and elevated subway divide neighborhood 3. Inaccessible waterfront 4. Unused manufacturing land 5. Lack of open space 6. Large footprint lots, tall buildings, and high density near waterfront.

1. BQE Green Plans to add areas of green space Opportunities 2. 2005 Zoning Amendment implements public accessibility to waterfront 3. 22% vacant lots which have potential to be developed into parks 4. Underused spaces under the highway

Threats 1. Proximity of M3 to R districts 2. Potential lack of industrial/commercial development due to MX-8 3. Many lots and older complexes can be developed as condos

26 1.7 Sources

1. “Williamsburg.” Our Brooklyn, Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection. 2005. http://www. bklynlibrary.org/ourbrooklyn/williamsburg/ 2. “History.” El Puente. 2017. http://elpuente.us/content/history 3. “Chapter 2: Land Use, Zoning, & Public Policy.” Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning EIS. The Official Website of the City of New York. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/ greenpoint-williamsburg/gw_feis_ch_02.pdf 4. New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. http://www.nyc-eja.org/?page_id=80 5. “Williamsburg.” Our Brooklyn, Brooklyn Public Library – Brooklyn Collection. 2005. http://www. bklynlibrary.org/ourbrooklyn/williamsburg/ 6. “Brooklyn-Landmarks.” Historic Districts Council. http://hdc.org/hdc-across-nyc/brooklyn/ brooklyn-landmarked 7. Croghan, Lore. “Which way to the Fillmore Place Historic District?” Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 14 Sept. 2016. http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2016/9/14/which-way-fillmore-place-historic-district 8. Croghan, Lore. “The Williamsburg Trust Company Building Gets Landmarked.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 9 Aug. 2016. http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2016/8/9/williamsburgh-trust-company- building-gets-landmarked 9. “183-195 Broadway, Brooklyn.” Historic Districts Council’s Six to Celebrate. http://6tocelebrate.org/ site/183-195-broadway/ 10. 1“Austin, Nichols and Company Warehouse.” National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places, Digital Archive. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=2d110374-b1af-4692- bfc0-77929dfd0c49 11. NYC MapPLUTO 16v2, September 2016 12. NYC Department of City Planning Zoning Handbook, 2011 13. In Contextual Districts, there are controls for building heights and setbacks, to maintain the architectural qualities of the designated area. 14. “Greenpoint-Williamsburg”. Projects and Proposals. Brooklyn. 2 March 2006. Retrieved from http:// www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/greenpoint-williamsburg/greenpointwill.pdf See appendix for a discussion of this and other rezonings. 15. see appendix for a more detailed description 16. NYC Council’s Engines of Opportunity 17. “Waterfront Vision and Enhancement Strategy.” NYCEDC. 2017. https://www.nycedc.com/project/ waterfront-vision-and-enhancement-strategy 18. Walker, Ameena. “Williamsburg’s Domino Sugar Megaproject Will Launch Lottery for 104 Rental Apartments.” Curbed. 26, November 2016. http://ny.curbed.com/2016/11/26/13753242/domino- williamsburg-rental-affordable-apartments 19. Klayko, Branden. “Envisioning a Green Future for the BQE.” The Architects Newspaper. 18, November 2010. https://archpaper.com/2010/11/envisioning-a-green-future-for-the-bqe/ 20. https://www.nycedc.com/press-release/nycedc-announces-launch-connect-ibz-broadband- expansion-industrial-business-zones

27 2. Socio-Economic Environment

Figure 2-1: Mural, Study Area

28 2.1 Demographics

This section discusses the demographic context, socio-economic characteristics, and community facilities in the Southside. The Southside has experienced significant changes since 2000, leading to inequalities in several aspects: median household income, educational attainment, unemployment and poverty levels. According to existing conditions research and findings, the most economically and socially vulnerable populations live within census tracts 525, 527, 529, and 535.

The demographics of the Southside have shifted. Figure 2-2: People’s Climate March, Southside of Williamsburg What used to be a predominantly Hispanic/Latino Source: www.elpuente.us neighborhood, and home to a large Hasidic Jewish community (mostly in the South part of the study area), is changing with large numbers of newcomers to the area. Although still diverse and multicultural, the Hispanic/Latino population has decreased by approximately 40% between 2000 and 2016. 1 There are high disparities in levels of household median income and educational attainment among the residents. In addition, gentrification has led to rising housing prices, which increases rent burdens for low income households and poses a challenge to the community. These findings and a number of other indicators will be evaluated and discussed in Figure 2-3: ¡WEPA! Fest 2017 the following section. Source: www.elpuente.us

29 Population

The population in 2015 was 55,556 people, The 12-census tract study area comprise 31% of accounting for a 21.5% increase from 2000.1 This Community District 1’s population of 181,421 represents significant growth compared to the people. According to 2015 ACS data, the most rest of Brooklyn and New York City, which both populated census tracts (551, 523, 527) are experienced only a 5% population increase. Figure within the Green Light District, containing 33% 17 shows the population growth rate.2 of the population within the entire study area. As compared to the rest of CD 1, these census tracts are significantly dense. Figure 2-5 and Figure 2-6 show the population distribution of CD1 and the study area respectively.

Figure 2-4: Population increase (2000-2015), Study Area Source: Total Population American Community Survey 2000, 2015 (5-Year Estimates)(SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau.

Figure 2-5: 2015 Total Population CD1 Figure 2-6: 2015 Total Population Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Under 2K 2K-3K 4K-6K 3K-4K Under 3K 3K-4K 4K-5K 5K-6K + 8K GLD + 6K GLD

30 Ethnicity and Race

Important changes to the neighborhood’s ethnic characteristics took place during the 15-year period observed. In 2000, more than half of the area’s population was Hispanic/Latino (50.5%), while the White/Non-Hispanic population constituted 40%.2 However, by 2015, the Hispanic/Latino population decreased to 32.2%, and the White/Non-Hispanic population increased to 57.3%. 3 Figure 2-7: Hispanic Or Latino By Race Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates)(SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau Figures 2-7 and 2-9 show this shift and show the percentages of each race and ethnicity changed over time.

Figure 2-9: Hispanic Or Latino By Race Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

Figure 2-8: Green Light District Community Source: www.elpuente.us Figure 2-11 shows that the study area is ethnically diverse. The highest populated census tracts (551, 523, 527) are also predominantly Hispanic/ Latino. It should also be noted that both the Hispanic/Latino and Jewish Hasidic populations within the study area tend to cluster together. The Hispanic/Latino population is concentrated mostly within the GLD, and the Jewish Hasidic (Satmar) population South of Division Street and below the Williamsburg Bridge.

Figure 2-11: Hispanic Or Latino By Race Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Figure 2-10: Reimagine Laguardia Playground Source: www.gogreenbk.org Predominantly Hispanic Predominantly White GLD 31 Age

The total population of CD1 and the study area has become younger since 2000. The largest age group is 25 to 34 years old: 29% of males and 30% of females in the study area.4 There was a decrease in population over 65 years old, from 12.5% in 2006 to 8% in 2014.5 As of 2015, the male population was slightly larger than the female population: 51% and 49% respectively, a small change from the 52% female population in 2000.6 Figure 2-12 shows the age distribution by sex within the study area. Figure 2-12: Age Cohorts Source: American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

Population Under 18 Years of Age and Open Spaces

There is a higher concentration of children under the age of 18 in the southern part of the study area: census tracts 529, 535, and 547. This part of the Southside is predominantly Hasidic (Satmar) Jewish, and there are a few open spaces located within these tracts. The northeastern tracts, 513, 519, and 553, have fewer children and less access to open spaces. However, they are located much closer to McCarren Park and the East River waterfront. As shown in Figure 2-13, the center of the study area and the GLD also have a significant population under the age of 18 years old with better access to open space. However, most of these open spaces are located on the edges of the BQE and the Williamsburg Bridge, directly exposed to pollution from these thoroughfares.

Figure 2-13: Population Under 18 Years of Age Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Over 2K Under 300 Parks & Playgrounds GLD

32 Languages

The number of languages spoken in area are a testament to its cultural diversity. The three primary languages spoken are English, Spanish and Yiddish.7 Amongst languages spoken, 42% speak English only, 30% speak Spanish and 17% speak Yiddish (see Fig. 2-14). Other common languages present in the Southside include: Chinese, Russian, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Greek. 13,208 people constituting 28% of the population in the study area are foreign born. 7

Figure 2-14: Languages Spoken Source: American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

Figure 2-15: Hassidic Jew families Figure 2-16: Hispanic - Latino Source: www.wordpress.com Source: www.cloudfront.net

33 2.2 Socio-economic Characteristics

Income

Annual median household income both in Community District 1 is and within the 12 census tracts is unequal. The Northside, and northern part of the study area, have a high median household income (in particular, census tract 555 $108,190 and census tract 519 $87,087) compared to the Southside of Williamsburg (tracts 525, 527, 529, 535) where median household income was between $20,000-$32,000 in 2015.8 This income disparity between the North and the South of the study area is very high. Half of the study area’s households have a median income equal to or greater than NYC and Brooklyn’s Median Household of $53,654 and $48,201, respectively (See figure 2-18).8

Figure 2-17: Median Household Income Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Less than 2K 25K-40K 40K-53K 53K-80K + 80K GLD

34 Poverty

Examination of poverty levels further illustrates the disparity between the northern and southern tracts. In 2015, 28% of the people in the study area lived below the poverty level, compared to 21% of New Yorkers.9 Four census tracts (525, 527, 547, 529 and 535) experienced significantly high rates of poverty of over 38%, with two reaching poverty levels of 51% and 62%.9 Coincidentally, the poorest areas border the BQE and the Williamsburg Bridge.

Figure 2-18: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) 0%-15% 15%-30% 30%-45% 45% - over GLD

Figure 2-19: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

35 Educational Attainment

Educational attainment is defined as the level of The same disparity that exists in median household education for members of the population over income and levels of poverty between the northern 25 years of age. These levels have risen between census tracts and the Southside is also noticeable 2000 and 2015. In 2000 only 18% of the study in educational attainment levels. In census tracts area’s population had a college degree or higher 525, 527 (GLD), and 535, more than 30% do not - compared to 27.5% in NYC. 10 By 2015 this had have a high school diploma, compared to the increased to 48%, showing considerably higher NYC average, which is only 20%.11 These census levels of educational attainment than NYC, where tracts also suffer from relatively high levels of 35.5% of the population had at least a college poverty, and are situated close to the BQE and its degree. 11 intersection with the Williamsburg Bridge. In the northern census tracts, 519, 553 and 555, more than 60% of the population had at least a college degree, have higher levels of median household income, and are located close to McCarren Park. 11

Figure 2-20: Population with Less than High School Degree Figure 2-21: Population with College Degree or Above Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

36 Unemployment

The area has seen a decrease in unemployment rate; however, there are two outliers. In 2000 the unemployment rate was higher than New York City average (11.8% compared to 9.6%), by 2015 this decreased to 6.7%, as opposed to 8.3% in NYC.12 However, two census tracts, 527 and 551, both predominantly Hispanic/Latino population and located within the GLD, still had higher rates of unemployment (14.1% and 10.7%) than the city.13 (See Fig. 2-22 and Fig. 2-23)

Figure 2-22: Unemployment Rate, Population 16 Yeals and Over Figure 2-23: Unemployment Rate in Study Area Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

37 2.3 Housing Trends

Housing

Since 2000, the Southside has seen a wave of people moving into the neighborhood. In fact, between 2010 and 2015, more people moved in (19,802) than during the entire preceding decade (19,269 between 2000-2009). This is more than double the number of people who moved in during the 1990s (9,241). Combined with the aforementioned socioeconomic changes, it stands as another strong indicator of gentrification and evidence to the swift change the area has undergone. 14

Figure 2-24: Households by Household Type Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

Household Types

86% of housing units in the neighborhood are renter occupied, compared to 68% for NYC overall.15 50% of households in the study area are non-family households, compared to 37% in Brooklyn, a 6.5% increase from 2010.16 In 2015, 30% of family households were single parent families, compared to 19% in Brooklyn.17 The majority of single parent families were female headed. Yet the proportion of female headed single family households declined from 31% of total family households in 2010 to 23% in 2015.18 In contrast, married couple households Figure 2-25: Households by Household Type increased from 60% in 2010 to 70% of all family Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) households in 2015.18

38 Rent and Rent Burden

Rent is a concern both in Community District 1 and within the study area. In 2015 median rent was $1,335, higher than NYC’s median rent of $1,255.19 This signifies a 30% increase from 2010, in comparison to a 10% increase citywide. The Furman Center lists CD1 as the area with the highest growing average rental prices in Brooklyn since 1990, with rent nearly doubling during this period (79% increase). Such growth is 50% higher than any other community districts in Kings Figure 2-26: Median Gross Rent in NYC Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) County, and due to this, in 2015 CD1 was ranked one of the most expensive rental areas in the city.20 However, a disparity in rent within the study area is also evident. Median rent in the Northern and waterfront census tracts is substantially higher, with median monthly rent at around $2,000 or more. In contrast, census tract 525 at the intersection of the BQE and Williamsburg Bridge, had the lowest median rent within the study area consisting of $719. 21

Increase in rent also corresponds with a high incidence of rent burden. Both New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Furman Center consider rent burden to be when households spend over 30% of their gross income on rent.22 Rent burdens do not affect one particular area within the Southside, but rather impacts all parts of the neighborhood. Census tract 553 in the North and within the GLD and census tracts 523 and 529 in the South all suffer from severe rent burdens, impacting more 23 than 30% of households. Figure 2-27: Median Gross Rent in Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) 0%-15% 15%-20% 20%-30% 30% - over GLD

39 Average Household Size

In 2015, the average household size in the study area was 2.70 persons,24 whereas in 2000, the average household size was 3.05 persons.25 This decrease could be caused by gentrification or the influx of new residential high rise buildings versus single-family homes. According to Figure 3-21, the census tract with the largest household size is 529 (4.10)24 due to its high population of Hasidic Jewish households. This area also has high rates of poverty. The census tract with the lowest household size is 519 (1.90)24, located in the north and wealthier side of the study area. In 2015 it had an annual household median income of over 100K.

Figure 2-28: Average Household Size Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

40 Public Housing Complexes

The study area contains six public housing developments, in and around the GLD. Additionally, two other public housing developments, Cooper Park Housing, and Borenquin Plaza Houses, lying in proximity to the GLD, could be of interest to El Puente, according to Founder and President, Luis Garden Acosta. 26

Public housing is established by the City and its designated housing authority, NYCHA, to provide decent and safe rental housing for senior citizens, low- income families, and persons with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. HUD furnishes technical and professional assistance in planning, developing, and managing these developments.

The most prominent public housing in and around the study area are:

1. Los Sures Senior Housing 145 S 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

2. Berry Street South 9th Housing 440 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

3. Jonathan Williams Housing 325 Roebling St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

4. Southside United Housing 366 Hewes St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

5. Taylor Wythe Houses 80 Clymer St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

6. NYCHA Independence Towers 1 114 Taylor St, Brooklyn, NY 11249 2 3 4

6 5

Figure 2-29: Public Housing in and Around Study Area Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

41 2.4 Economic Conditions

Commercial Corridors

Commerce and community facilities come together These commercial corridors have a wide range along commercial corridors to unify the cultural, of businesses including pharmacies, bodegas, social, and economic aspects of a community. cafés, retail, and art galleries. Three of these There are five main commercial corridors in corridors seem to have naturally formed in a the study area (Fig. 2-30). These run along the pattern that flows towards the East River, such as following streets, with smaller satellites along Metropolitan Avenue, Grand Street and Broadway, other intersections and side streets: while the other two corridors, Bedford Avenue and Driggs Avenue, run parallel to the BQE. All of 1. Metropolitan Avenue the commercial corridors in the area run through 2. Grand Street or along the census tracts with a predominantly 3. Broadway high Hispanic/Latino population, including the 4. Bedford Avenue Green Light District. The Grand Street and Bedford 5. Driggs Avenue Avenue corridors are on the eastern edge of the second largest census tract 551 that suffers from a high unemployment rate.

Figure 2-30: Commercial Corridors in Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 GLD Commercial Corridors 42 Size and Type of Businesses

The US Economic Census compiles economic data at the zip code geography level. Of the three different zip codes analyzed, in 2011 the US Postal Service divided zip code 11211 and designated an additional zip code, 11249, to serve CD1, in part due to population growth.

Analysis of US Economic Census data shows that micro and small businesses (1-10 employees)27 have grown by 56% between 2004-2014, from 1,785 to 2,784 establishments.27 On site observations show that many of these small establishments include small boutiques, workshops, art galleries, health and fitness studios, cafes, bars and restaurants, and other retail.

Figure 2-31: Zip Codes, Economic Data Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016

Figure 2-32: Number of Businesses Source: US Economic Census 2014

43 A different trend was noted for large businesses employing over 100 people. This category included 64 establishments in 2004, and decreased to 62 by 2014. Of the primary industry categories, as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), large manufacturing related industries had declined significantly by 2014, from 27 manufacturing businesses employing over 100 employees in 2004, to 12 in 2014. This does not necessarily indicate the disappearance of the manufacturing industry, but rather points to a shift in the employment patterns of the Southside, due in part to the rise in real estate prices and the rezoning of areas near the waterfront to move large scale manufacturing industries. In comparison, the Accommodation and Food Services sector, which was non-existent as a big employer in 2004, had four big establishments in 2014. The Educational Services sector was also a large employer in 2014.28 Figure 2-32 illustrates the location of establishments with over 100 employees in the study area.

Figure 3-27: US Economic Census, NAICS Classification, 2004, 2014 Source: https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/

44 Travel Time & Commute Method to Work

Commuting patterns and methods of commute to The most common mode of transportation is work reflect the study area’s central location and public transit. 64% of the population in the study relatively good access to transit. However, they also area spent less than 35 minutes to travel to work serve as an additional indicator to understanding in 2015.29 In comparison, 46% of New Yorkers some of the economic disparities. The population spend over 40 minutes commuting to work, with within the identified economically vulnerable tracts 42 minutes being the average commute time in the use either public transit or walking as primary city.29 commuting methods. In census tracts 535 and 529 (predominantly Hasidic Jewish), majority of the population walked to work, implying that they work within the neighborhood. In census tracts 549 and 553, around 12% of the population worked from home.29 These two tracts also have a high median household income.

Figure 3-28: Travel Time to Work for Workers 16 Years and Over Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) 45 2.5 Social Infrastructure

Public Facilities

Social infrastructure assets in the study area include schools, one Brooklyn public library, medical clinics, temples and religious institutions, community centers, open spaces, and first responders.

Of the 27 schools in the Southside, only nine are public schools, while 18 are private, mostly religious institutions. Nine of these religious schools are located in census tract 535, which is predominantly Jewish. It is also important to note that although many schools are located within its boundaries, census tract 535 has low educational attainment levels, since its Jewish population mostly follows a separate private religious educational system.

According to some of the stakeholders interviewed, gentrification also impacted schools. For instance, PS 414 Brooklyn Arbor Elementary, was formerly called Roberto Clemente. It should also be noted that census Figure 3-29: Public Facilities in the Study Area tracts 555, 553, and 519, with a high number Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 of new residents, and with the highest Community Centers Schools Temples Parks & Open Spaces median household income, have relatively Library GLD low access to public facilities compared to those in the south of the study area.

Community Facilities in Study Area:

• 1 Brooklyn Public Library • 27 Community Centers • 27 Public Schools

46 Located at the coast of East River, the study area is prone to storm surge. Figure 2-28 shows first responders, i.e., the NYPD, FDNY, and medical facilities for the study area. Although seven medical clinics are located within the study area, currently there is no hospital.

Figure 3-30: Emergency First Responders Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 FDNY NYPD H Medical Facilities GLD

47 Political Representatives and Community Based Organizations Active in the Area

Besides public facilities, the study area has a strong network of community-based organizations and political representatives.

Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and Nydia Velazquez are the representatives for the study area in Congress, along with City Council members Antonio Reynoso and Stephen P. H. Levin.

A strong network of community based organizations, including El Puente, along with Brooklyn Community Foundation, Churches United for Fair Housing, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG), St. Nicks Alliance and Evergreen, work together on various challenges to bring constructive changes to the neighborhood.

Figure 3-31: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney Figure 3-32: Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez Source: www.congressional-district.insidegov.com Source: www.congressional-district.insidegov.com

Figure 3-33: Council Member Antonio Reynoso Figure 3-34: Council Member Stephen P. H. Levin Source: https://voicesofny.org/ Source: brooklyneagle.com 48 2.6 S.W.O.T. Analysis

Strengths 1. Cultural and ethnic diversity 2. High educational attainment 3. Strong social infrastructure and community based organizations

Weaknesses 1. Decrease in Hispanic/Latino population 2. Families moving out/displacement 3. Income inequality 4. Departure of large manufacturing industries

Opportunities 1. Relatively young population 2. Incoming of new micro businesses 3. More people with college degrees 4. Diverse businesses

Threats 1. Gentrification 2. Poverty in southern census tracts 3. Volatile housing market 4. Socioeconomic inequality

49 2.7 Sources

1. Total Population American Community Survey 2000, 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 2. Hispanic Or Latino By Race Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau and Social Explorer 3. Hispanic Or Latino By Race American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5- Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 4. Age American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 5. BK01 Greenpoint/Williamsburg. NYU Furman Center. http://furmancenter.org/files/sotc/ NYUFurmanCenter_SOCin_2015_4MAY2016_(Greenpoint_Williamsburg)88.pdf 6. Age Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau and Social Explorer, American Community Survey 2015 (5- Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 7. Languages American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 8. Median Household Income American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5- Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 9. Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 10. Educational Attainment for Population 25 Years and Over Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau and Social Explorer, American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 11. Educational Attainment for Population 25 Years and Over American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 12. United States Census Bureau 2000, 2015, Employment Rates Apply to All Residents 16 Years of Age or Older in the Civilian Labor Force. 13. United States Census Bureau 2015, Employment Rates Apply to All Residents 16 Years of Age or Older in the Civilian Labor Force. 14. Period Moved into Unit American Community Survey 2010 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2010 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau) 15. Tenure American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 16. Households by Household Type American Community Survey 2010 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2010 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 17. Households by Household Type American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 18. Households by Household Type American Community Survey 2010, 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2010, 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 19. Median Gross Rent American Community Survey 2010, 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2010, 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 20. BK01 Greenpoint/Williamsburg. NYU Furman Center. http://furmancenter.org/files/sotc/ NYUFurmanCenter_SOCin_2015_4MAY2016_(Greenpoint_Williamsburg)88.pdf 21. Median Gross Rent American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau

50 22. 2014 New York City Affordable Rental Housing Landscape:http://furmancenter.org/ 23. Median Gross Rent American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 24. Average Household Size American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates) (SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 25. Average Household Size Census 2000, U.S. Census Bureau and Social Explorer 26. Interview held on March 1, 2017 27. 2014 US Economic Census; data was compiled from 11211 and 11249 zip codes, 2004 there existed only zip code 11211 http://www.census.gov/econ/ 28. US Economic Census, NAICS Classification, 2004, 2014.http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/ 29. Travel Time to Work for Workers 16 Years and Over American Community Survey 2015 (5-Year Estimates)(SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau

51 3. Natural Environment

Figure 3-1: Marcy Green South Park

52 3.1 Open Space System

Existing open space is limited in the Southside. The lack of open space means limited recreational opportunities, as well as little natural protections to offset pollution. However, there is an opportunity for development to build upon the inventory through parkland reclamation and environmental remediation. This section will take a look at the established open space systems in the Southside.

Existing Open Space Inventory

The open space system within the Southside includes parks, playgrounds, active fields, community gardens, courts, plazas, and sidewalks (see Fig. 3-2). There are approximately 14.9 acres of open space, which translates to 0.3 acres per 1,000 residents.1 This is lower than the median of New York City’s community district, which is 1.5 acres of open space per 1,000 residents, and even much lower than the City’s optimal benchmark of 2.5 acres of total open space per 1,000 residents, indicating a lack of provision in open spaces as compared to the other community districts in New York City. 2

A few of the more prominent open spaces are Continental Plaza, and La Guardia Playground, which are intersected by the Williamsburg Bridge, as well as Marcy and Rodney parks that surround the BQE as shown in figure 3-2. Figure 3-2: Existing Open Space Inventory, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Parks Playgrounds Sports Field GLD

53 Parks, Courts and Plazas

There are 31 parks, with a total of 14.2 acres within While there is a consistent issue with lack of the study area. Passive open spaces, such as parks, open spaces, the majority of the parks within courts and plazas, offer places to relax, stroll, the study area, such as Continental Army Plaza, socialize, and experience the outdoors. These La Guardia Playground, and Marcy and Rodney spaces provide respite from bustling city life and Parks, are located alongside the BQE, as well as give residents a chance to connect with nature. the Williamsburg Bridge. This consists of 37% of Parks provide a place for people to enjoy leisure or the open spaces available within the study area. athletic activities. Poorly located parks can pose some hazards such as dangers for children due to the proximity to fast According to a study conducted by the Centers moving traffic, or health risk due to pollution. In fact, for Disease Control and Prevention, creating, according to the Urban Lab for Open Spaces report improving, and promoting places to be physically by El Puente, the park with the worst air quality active can improve individual and community in the afternoon is La Guardia, followed closely by health. This can result in a 25% increase of residents Rodney, with averages of 16 and 14 atmospheric who exercise at least three times per week.3 particulate matter that have a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5 levels) and peaks of 52 and 56 PM2.5 levels respectively, which are five and six times higher than the standard air quality maximum levels.4 Such hazards will be discussed in more detail later in this section.

In addition, almost all of the parks in the study area, which includes most of the playgrounds and sports fields are thoroughly fenced up. This not only hinders access to recreational open spaces, but creates the perception of security and can make the community feel unwelcome. 5

Figure 3-3: Continental Army Plaza, Study Area

Figure 3-4: Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, Study Area

54 Playgrounds Active Fields

Using the PLUTO 2016, an estimated 19% of parks The majority of the active fields are located in the study area are playgrounds at 2.7 acres. alongside playgrounds, such as those in Roebling Playgrounds are typically intended to create Playground, Bedford Playground and Epiphany recreational activity for children, and are often Park. provided in parks and schools. Studies of the impact of parks and recreation on the physical activity of Overall, active fields represent approximately 7% young children show that a 1% increase in park of parks at 0.9 acres. While playgrounds play an and recreation areas is associated with a 1.2% to important role in supporting physical activity for 1.4% increase in physical activity. 3 However, as younger children, active fields, such as soccer, previously mentioned, the location of playgrounds basketball or baseball fields, provide similar types within the study area pose hazards to children’s of benefits but to a much wider community and health if placed near non- complementary uses. support uses by all age groups. These spaces can benefit younger age groups, as sports and physical activities can enhance children’s learning. 4 Participation in sports and other forms of physical activity can also lead to enhancement of cognitive functioning, memory, concentration, behavior, and academic achievement for children. Furthermore, provision of active spaces can help encourage an active lifestyle amongst the population and boost the health of the overall community. Overall, both playgrounds and active fields represent about 25% of parks within the study area, which suggest a low provision of active space.

Figure 3-5: LaGuardia Playground, Study Area

Figure 3-6: Rodney Park, Study Area

55 Community Gardens

There are six established community gardens in the study area, which translates to 1.1 gardens per 10,000 residents, in comparison to New York City, which has 3.8 gardens per 10,000 residents. This is above the average for cities nationwide, which consists of 2.6 gardens plots per 10,000 residents.6 Community gardens can provide access to fresh produce and nutritionally rich foods for low-income neighborhoods, where nutritious food is less available than in other areas. In addition, multiple studies have shown that community gardens can provide various mental health benefits, such as assist with recovery from mental fatigue, help to cope stress, improve ability to recover from illness and injury, improve concentration, and enhance productivity. 7 Community gardens can also educate people about the importance of preserving nature, as well nurturing fresh produce. 8

Figure 3-7: Community Gardens & Potential Green Space, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Community Gardens Other Green Space Priority Parks GLD

Figure 3-8: Berry St Community Garden, Study Area Figure 3-9: El Puente Community Garden, Study Area

56 Permeable and Impermeable Surfaced & Vegetation

Apart from the parks and community gardens, there are nine smaller green spaces in total accounting for 0.7 acres that are permeable surfaces. This consists mostly of smaller areas with an average size of 0.05 acres and located in a triangular street junction, such as Cohn Triangle and Lithuania Square. Since the majority of parks are used in conjunction with playgrounds and active fields, they are typically thoroughly paved and used as blacktop surfaces, with minimal vegetation provided at the site boundaries.

Overall only 13% of surfaces within the study area are considered permeable. Permeable surfaces Figure 3-10: Green Open Space, Study Area allow water to percolate into the soil to filter out pollutants and refill the water table. Impermeable surfaces are solid surfaces that don’t allow water to penetrate, forcing it to run off.9 Analysis also indicates that permeable surface is lacking towards the waterfront areas, and this will have major implications which will be discussed further in the later sections of the study.

57 Sidewalks Waterfront Access

The majority of the streets within the study area The main waterfront access within the study are well-populated with trees, yet further analysis areas, are Grand Ferry Park, North 6th Street/ shows that sidewalks in areas closer to the BQE, North Williamsburg and Schaefer’s Landing/South railways, and the waterfront seem to have lower Williamsburg Terminals - East River Ferry (see Fig. densities of trees. This is significant, as trees can act 3-12) Both ferry terminals also contain a small as a natural buffer against noise and air pollution, park, as well as small stretches of pathways with as well as flooding since they are also generally benches. While these three areas are relatively far permeable surfaces. apart from one another, they are connected by a bike lane, which connects to the greenway as part In addition, sidewalk width has significant of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative.12 In addition implications for streetscape design and the quality to bikes, people also use the lane as a jogging of the pedestrian environment. A well-designed track. According to the Greenpoint - Williamsburg sidewalk encourages more walkability in the Waterfront Open Space Masterplan, the North 6th neighborhood, and when people walk more, they Street Pier will potentially be part of the bigger are more physically fit and can decrease health Bushwick Inlet Park, which collectively will bring problems, complementary with the provision of large waterfront space to the community. 13 playgrounds and active spaces.10 Walking more and driving less also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and other polluting emissions. Good pedestrian design also brings economic benefits, as several case studies have indicated that higher levels of retail activity occur in shopping areas and tourism districts that have been designed to be pedestrian-friendly.11 Coupled with provision of other open spaces, neighborhoods with inviting sidewalks could foster a more active and vibrant community.

Figure 3-12: View of Manhattan from Grand Ferry Park, Study Area

Figure 3-11: Lack of Vegetation in Sidewalks, Study Area

58 Potential Open Spaces

Previous sections discussed a very low provision of public housing within the study area, however several opportunities have also been identified in the process. One example is related to Parkland Alienation, as an analysis was done in relation to the existing land use map as shown in the built environment section, in an attempt to verify any parkland sites that have not been utilized as public open space. One site located on South 5th Street, Wythe Avenue and Berry Street, right under the Williamsburg Bridge, is currently used as Department of Transportation storage facility. Other sites are represented in figure 3-13.

Norteast Corner of Metropolitan Ave.

S5th - Wythe Ave - Berry St Keap St. btw S5th and Broadway

Figure 3-13: Potential Open Spaces, Study Area Keap St. - Bedford Ave - Williamsburg St Source: NYC ZoLa, Google Maps, PLUTO 16v2 Priority Parks Green Space GLD

Jonathan Williams Plaza identified in the socio- economic section also provides open spaces, including parks, playgrounds and active space, which are not tabulated into the overall open space for the study area. This can provide an opportunity to add towards the existing open space inventory, as well as become a potential blueprint for future residential developments to also provide some open spaces to the public.

Figure 3-14: Jonathan Williams Plaza, Study Area

59 3.2 Transportation & Public Transit Infrastructure

Transportation Infrastructure

The Southside is well connected. Trains, buses, Citi Bike stations, a sustainable bike-share ferry, and shared bikes offer ample connectivity for transportation system (See Fig. 3-16), are mainly local residents. The Williamsburg Bridge, Brooklyn located to the west of the BQE. There are nine Citi Queens Expressway (BQE), subway, and bike lanes bike stations in-use within the study area, with five serve as connectors to other neighborhoods and in the GLD. Additionally, there are 17 tentative Citi opportunities. This section will take a detailed bike locations currently in measurement within the look at transit infrastructure in the Southside, and study area, and nine are located in the GLD. Bike highlight safety concerns that come with it. lanes are provided to bicyclists West of the BQE, in addition to the Brooklyn Greenway within the study The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge area located on Kent Avenue. Census tracts 525 that crosses the East River in New York City.14 It and 535 have more serious track traffic issues than connects the East Side of Manhattan to the other census tracts, while census tracts 525 and Southside of Williamsburg, and is situated near the 527 have more bus stops in comparison to other Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE). The BQE is the census tracts. Truck routes (See Fig. 3-15) in the main highway that cuts through the study area, and study area are located on major streets, avenues, also divides parks in the study area as previously and highways. These locations are Grand Street, mentioned. While the BQE offers connections to Rodney Street, Meeker Avenue, Flushing Avenue, many places, it also creates traffic problems and Metropolitan Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue, Morgan environmental issues that negatively impact the Avenue, Union Avenue, Kent Avenue, McGuinness study area. However, parks can calm the traffic Blvd, Broadway, the BQE, and the Williamsburg from the BQE, and reduce some environmental Bridge. The economically vulnerable populations degradation associated with traffic. in census tracts 535 and 525, as identified in the socio-economic section, are adversely affected by truck routes.

60 Figure 3-15: Transportation Infrastructure, Study Area Figure 3-16: Bike Network, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Fatalities Subway Routes Truck Routes CitiBike Station Tentative CitiBike Station Bike Racks Subway Station GLD Bus Stops Bike Routes GLD

61 New York City Public Transportation System

There are seven subway stations of which G, L, J, and M trains run directly through the Southside. The G and L trains are the main trains in the area. Additionally, there are four subway stations along the Green Light District boundaries. One ferry station, the East River Ferry, is located near the Williamsburg Bridge, and 87 bus stops exist within the study area, with 48 bus stops within the GLD. Residents of the study area are within walking distance to at least one transport node. The maximum walking distance to bus stops in the study area is 0.3 mile. While there are limited measures available to compare other NYC neighborhoods in terms of transit connectivity by distance, given this statistic, the Southside is well connected. Typically, people can reach a subway station or bus stations within 10 minutes of walking.

In addition to these major modes of transportation, a new state-of-the-art streetcar system, the Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX) is currently in the planning stages (See Fig. 3-17). 15 The BQX will start in Astoria and travel through Williamsburg to the end of the line in Sunset Park. According to the plan, “stops are expected to be approximately ½ mile apart and the line will connect to up tto 10 ferry landings, 30 different bus routes, 15 different subway lines, 116 Citi Bike stations, and 6 LIRR lines.”16 There are many criticisms of the proposed BQX plan such as tax increments to pay for the project, failure to focus on existing priority projects, and the BQX potentially fueling gentrification through parts of Brooklyn.17 However, with this said, the BQX could offer opportunities to connect residents of the Southside to jobs throughout the borough that have not been easy to access in the past. Figure 3-17: Brooklyn-Queens Connector Source: www.bqx.nyc/#bqx

62 Traffic Safety

Vision Zero identified safety problems and established a plan to address issues that local residents face related to transit infrastructure within their communities. The Department of Transportation has received over 10,000 comments relating to traffic issues.18 According to local residents, traffic safety (See Fig. 3-16) concerns within the study area include:

• Not enough time to cross the street at Meeker Avenue and Havemeyer Street • Double parking on Grand Street • Long wait to cross on Metropolitan Avenue • Cars run through red light on Grand Street and Metropolitan Avenue • Jaywalking on Grand Street • Poor visibility, which happens all over the study area, but noteable on Meeker Avenue • Speeding, which happens all over the study area, and noteable on Grand Street and Humboldt Street • Long distance to cross on Meeker Avenue • Failure to yield to pedestrians, which happens Figure 3-18: Vision Zero Community Safety all over the study area, but noteable on Meeker Source: www.openplans.org Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, and Grand Not enough time to cross Poor visibility Street Double parking Speeding • Poor cyclist behavior on Grand Street Long wait to cross Long distance to cross Red light running Failure to yield to pedestrians Jaywalking Cyclist behavior As pointed out on the map (See Fig. 3-18), points A and B are the most dangerous intersections within the study area. (See Figures 3-17 & 3-18). These intersections are Havemeyer Street to South 4th Street, Metropolitan Avenue, and Metropolitan Avenue to North 6th Street, which is also the entrance of the BQE.

18 18 Figure 3-19: Vision Zero Community Safety Figure 3-20: Havemeyer Street - S. 4th Street, Entrance of BQE 63 Most of the fatalities happened around the BQE area as shown in Figure 3-21 due to the high concentration of truck routes located near the BQE. There are 14 out of 17 accidental lots located in the truck routes, and seven of them are located within the identified economically vulnerable census tracts 525, 527, 535.

Three fatalities (as circled in Fig. 3-21) happened in the study area in 2016:

1. Grand Street - Union Avenue in March 2. South 11th Street - Kent Avenue in December 3. North 8th Street - Bedford Avenue in July

Two of the accidents occurred on the truck routes: 1. Grand Street - Union Avenue 2. South 11 Street - Kent Avenue

Figure 3-21: Fatalities 2009-2017, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Fatalities Truck Routes GLD

18 18 Figure 3-22: Metropolitan Avenue - Meeker Figure 3-23: Metropolitan Avenue - Meeker

64 3.3 Former Industrial Activities

Manufacturing and industrial uses, of both current and former sites, exist in close proximity to residential, commercial, and mixed-use locations in the Southside. This in part is due to the 2005 rezonings, as well as deindustrialization. However, many former industrial sites are still contaminated, meaning toxins and chemicals remained in the ground when the industry left. Also, current industrial sites are large polluters in the neighborhood, even if the emissions are regulated. Additionally, the large number of industrial sites within community district 1 are problematic because while they may not directly affect the Southside, access to these facilities requires driving through neighborhoods. Both former and current industrial sites have public health implications as well as environmental implications.

Former Industrial Activities

Many former industrial sites are located near the Former industrial facilities include: waterfront, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, and alongside the perimeter of Community District 1 1. Domino Sugar Factory, which is currently near Newton Creek. According to the New York under-construction for residential and mixed State Department of Environmental Conservation uses, was once a former industrial sugar plant (NYSDEC), there are 10 former industrial facilities 2. Radiac Research Corp is a nuclear waste storage in the study area, and an additional five sites in facility that is very close to local schools and Greenpoint that were formerly industrial sites. directly surrounded by residential buildings 19 These sites may have contaminated the soil 3. Grand Ferry Park is a former ferry terminal when the industries left.95 This is an issue because 4. Austin, Nichols and Co., a former food contaminated soil must be remediated before processing plant redevelopment; a process which is costly and time 5. Pacific Beef Co., a meat packing industry consuming. Also, the spread of dormant toxins that has been rezoned for commercial and and chemicals can worsen existing conditions such residential uses as poor air quality. Climate change, which will be 6. Starbucks on the site of a former “electroplating discussed in the following sections, can also play a and metal finishing firm” 20 role in spreading toxins throughout the Southside. 7. Roebling Oil field, was once a former warehouse and is now rezoned for luxury residential. 8. A. B. Ansbacher & Co. 9. Fred L. Lavanburg company that was a former lead paint factory 10. Hecla Iron Works, a former factory

65 Figure 3-24: Former Industrial Facilities, Study Area Figure 3-25: Environmental Remediation, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Former Industrial Facilities GLD Remediation sites GLD

According to the Department of Environmental Of this total, there are 16 sites within the study area, Conservation’s Environmental Site Database with four sites located inside the boundaries of the search, 19 there are an estimated 76 environmental Green Light District. Most of the sites as shown remediation sites in Community District 1. In in figure 3-25, are located near the waterfront or other words, all 76 sites have been identified North of the study area, and notably near census as containing pollutants, toxins, or chemicals in tract 513. the soil, sediment, or groundwater, and clean-up efforts are underway. One well-documented environmental remediation success is Schaeffer’s Landing, a former brewery that now provides 140 affordable housing units, according to PlaNYC. 21

66 Brownfield Opportunity Areas

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) defines a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) as an identified area which “provides municipalities and community based organizations with assistance, up to 90 percent of the eligible project costs, to complete revitalization plans and implementation strategies for areas or communities affected by the presence of brownfield sites, and site assessments for strategic brownfield sites.” 22 The application process to become a Brownfield Opportunity Area involves three steps:

1. Pre-nomination Study 2. Nomination 3. Implementation Strategy

North Brooklyn Industrial Business Zone is a documented Brownfield Opportunity Area. Included in this site, 9 sites totaling 85 acres for redevelopment, and 3 sites have already been remediated by the NYSDEC. 22 According to Evergreen Exchange, an identified North Brooklyn Business Exchange network, the entire opportunity area consists of 721 acres from the northern tip of Greenpoint to Flushing Avenue, consisting of 200 blocks and 3000 parcels. 23 Project completion was stated as June 2016. While this is not the focus of the study area, the environmental remediation could benefit the Southside because the removal of contaminates from the soil can prevent the spread of toxins into the study area or contamination through water systems.

To date, East Williamsburg Valley Industrial Development Corp and the St. Nick’s Alliance, Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center Newton Creek/Brooklyn and Queens, and Friends of Brooklyn Community Board # 6-Gowanus Canal Corridor are in step two of the Brownfield Opportunity Area process.

Figure: 3-26: Brownfield Opportunity Areas Identified by NYSDEC

67 Within the Green Light District, census tracts 525 Bulk use is also an issue. According to the NYSDEC, and 535 are considered En-zones by the NYSDEC. bulk storage is used to contain chemicals, En-zones are eligible for additional tax credits petroleum, and liquefied natural gas. Bulk storage for Brownfield Clean-up Programs if the census sites can pose a risk to the environment and tract has a poverty rate of 20%, unemployment, population, as well as contaminate water supplies. 1.25 statewide unemployment rate, and at least 27 There are 8,569 sites listed in the Bulk Storage 50 percent of the area of a BCP site is located in Database of the NYSDEC, of which 8,511 are a designated En-Zone.24 Notably, these census located in Kings County, Brooklyn. tracts are located near the BQE and contain economically vulnerable populations, as identified The re-zonings of Williamsburg have contributed in the previous section on socio-economic to the spreading of contaminants through characteristics. In addition to high poverty, and low development, and limited public knowledge employment, populations also suffer from health and information about former industrial sites. risks, potentially from contaminated sites. Brownfields and contaminated sites also make it challenging to get developers interested in Besides brownfield sites, NYSDEC Class 2 superfund redevelopment, as the sites of contamination can sites are also an issue. The NYSDEC defines a class 2 be difficult to track responsibility of the former superfund site as: “the disposal of hazardous waste site owners, environmental assessment costs has been confirmed and the presence of such to determine remediation can be costly, and the hazardous waste or its components or breakdown clean-up process and overall costs can either products represents a significant threat to public delay or be more expensive than the development health or the environment: or “hazardous waste project. 28 With this in mind, this can contribute disposal has not been confirmed, but the site has towards disinvestment in the Southside, and less been listed on the Federal National Priorities List construction of new development projects. (NPL).” 25 Newton Creek and Nuhart Plume have been identified as superfund sites and directly contribute towards air and water pollution within Community District 1.

Similarly, oil spills also contribute to contamination of land. Since last February, the NYSDEC identified 346 chemical and petroleum spill incidents, of which 29 are located in Community District 1. (See Figure 3-27). The ExxonMobil Oil Spill in Greenpoint which was discovered in 1978 also contributes towards pollution in the area. 26

Figure 3-27: Example of SPEED Database listing spills. However, note that oil spill claims are often not verified and this screenshot represents all of Kings County.

68 3.4 Former Industrial Pollution

Water Quality

Water quality is determined not only by safety Additionally, there is one site within the study area for drinking or recreational purposes, but overall that is identified in the Toxic Release Inventory efficiency and functionality of larger infrastructure (TRI). This site is Chromium Plating & Polishing networks comprised of sewage systems, water Corp. It is located near a Combined Sewer Outfall treatment plants, and larger bodies of water. This (CSO) and by the Williamsburg Bridge in census section will specifically focus on the quality of water tract 549. The TRI is used to measure facilities in the Southside, in addition to the supporting with greater industrial impact towards industrial bodies of water such as the East River and Newton pollution. Facilities that report to TRI are typically Creek, and address the quality based off levels of larger facilities involved in manufacturing, metal pollution. Following this section, this report will mining, electric power generation, chemical address the role that watersheds, wastewater manufacturing and hazardous waste treatment. 30 treatment, solid waste facilities, and the larger network operate as a whole and are interconnected through perpetrating environmental burdens.

There are seven sites in the study area that have permits to pollute into the water. These sites are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and must report their pollution on an ongoing basis. There are seven sites that have been identified within the study area that are considered water discharges (PCS/ICIS), meaning the Permit Compliance System (PCS) and Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) databases provide information on companies which have been issued permits to discharge wastewater into rivers. 29

CS/ICIS sites:

1. 164 Kent Avenue 2. Anthony Ready Mix

3. Con Ed-N1st Fuel Oil Terminal Figure 3-28: PCS/ICIS Sites, Study Area 4. American Sugar Refining Inc Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 5. Brooklyn Cane Sugar Refinery Toxic Release - Water Water Discharge Toxic Release - Air 6. Brooklyn Navy Yard Site Air Emissions Truck Routes GLD 7. NYC Economic Development MS4 Storm Sewers

69 Community District 1 in the State of Community The report listed these sites with the description District Needs and Community Board Budget “foul sewer odors emanating from catch basins.”31 Requests for Fiscal Year 2018 stated that the three These sites have been brought to the attention of biggest issues affecting water quality are faulty the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sewer infrastructure, the ExxonMobil Oil spill, and in the 2009 fiscal year, but no action has been taken the Newton Creek Water Pollution Control Plant.31 due to lack of funding in the Department of Design and Construction. 31 In relation to the study area, CD1 sited that the following areas have faulty sewage construction Community Board 1 maintains their commitment to that needs to be replaced, in addition to flooding. clean waters and oversees continued enforcement and regulation of policy to keep pollution and 1. Clymer Street between Wythe and Bedford contamination from sewage, industrial facilities, Avenues and waste out of the East River and Newton Creek. 2. Division Avenue between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue 3. Eckford Street between Norman and Nassau Avenues 4. Grand Street between Humboldt Street and Morgan Avenue 5. Maujer Street between Lorimer Street and Union Avenue 6. Meserole Street between Lorimer Street and Union Avenue 7. Montrose Avenue between Union Avenue and Bushwick Place 8. Moore Street between Humboldt Street and Manhattan Avenue 9. North 6th Street between Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street 10. Rutledge Street between Bedford/Marcy/Lee Avenues 11. Scholes Street between Morgan and Union Avenues 12. Skillman Avenue between Humboldt Street and Graham Avenue 13. Ten Eyck Street at Lorimer Street

70 Air Quality

Each day, New Yorkers breathe an estimated 40- In a report conducted by El Puente for the Greenlight 60% levels of 2.5 particulate matter (PM), which District Initiative called The Urban Lab Report, air often consists of highly dangerous soot and quality measures and surveys were conducted to elemental carbon (EC), ozone (03), volatile organic analysis the air quality in four parks: La Guardia compounds (VOC), nitrogen dioxide (NOx) Sulfur Playground, Jaime Campiz Playground, Rodney Park, Dioxide (S02). 32 and Marcy Green Park. The report concluded that 23% of park users reported suffering from asthma, According to the NYCDEC, refiners, boilers, and that P.M. 2.5 levels indicated that the parks auto-repair shops, diesel generators, landfills, experience above standard recommendations of unregulated shipping and airline industries (which poor air quality. Additionally, the BQE negatively carry pollution from emitters outside the city), impacts air quality, and conditions are worse in the and car infrastructure, contribute to overall air morning due to rush hour, and higher when the quality. Within the study area, air quality issues temperature is warmer. 33 are exacerbated by the extensive transportation infrastructure including the Williamsburg Bridge The Department of Health produced a report to and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, truck traffic analyze air quality in zip codes 11206, 11221, 1237 to solid waste facilities, and contaminates from consisting of Bushwick and Williamsburg found former industrial sites. that childhood asthma, youth and adult asthma, vulnerability, indoor air quality, fine particles (PM2.5), Ozone (03) were worse in comparison to other NYC neighborhoods. 34

According to the NYC Department of Health Community Health Profile in 2015, Brooklyn Community District 1 ranked 8th out of all NYC districts to contain harmful levels of air pollutants, as shown in figure 3-27.35

Figure 3-29: Department of Health Community District Profile 2015

71 The NYSDEC measures air quality through the Air In efforts to improve air quality, the New York City Quality Index, and measures fine particles and Environmental Justice Alliance NYC-EJA is assisting the ozone too.36 According to the Air Quality El Puente, along with other sponsors, to advocate Index report for 2015, Kings County was ranked in for covering parts of the Brooklyn Queens the 56th percentile. Specifically, Greenpoint and Expressway from South 3rd Street to South 5th Williamsburg ranked 8th with 10.1 micrograms of Street over Rodney Street to create a 3-acre park. 40 fine particulate matter per cubic meter. Additionally, NYC-EJA and EL Puente are currently measuring air quality to support the need for more This can create serious implications for public open space to improve air quality and alleviate health because poor air quality adversely affects the repeated burdens facing the area. Council member population. Poor air quality can limit functionality Antonio Reynoso has also been instrumental in and opportunities for residents, create costly advocating for better air quality. medical bills, and weaken immune systems. The Gotham Gazette reported that in 2013 “eight times as many New Yorkers died from air-pollution related health issues as from murders.” 37 According to the Environmental Protection Agency, poor air quality puts human and animal populations at risk, damages ecosystems, and climate change has the possibility of increasing these risks and creating new ones. The EPA estimates that 68 million residents can get emphysema or lung cancer from air toxins in NY, compared with the national average of 41 million. 38 According to OneNYC, “2.5pm contributes to more than 2,000 deaths and over 6,000 emergency visits and hospitalizations for cardiovascular and respiratory disease each year. The rate of emergency room visits due to pm 2.5 attributable asthma is three times higher in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods compared to affluent ones.” 39

72 3.5 Wastewater Management

One crucial aspect of the city’s infrastructure is the wastewater management system. It is essential that these systems work well for the health and wellness of the population.

NYC primarily uses Combined Sewer Overflow Systems (CSO’s), which combine sewage from toilets and runoff from surface water into pipes that divert wastewater to a water treatment plant to be cleaned.41 The entire study area is comprised of CSO’s, with the exception of the blocks directly adjacent to the east river, where the wastewater drains directly into the river.42 The plant that supplies the entire study area is the Newtown Creek Sewage Treatment Plant in Greenpoint

However, CSOs systems have a distinct flaw. When it rains heavily, all runoff in the area flows into the system and overloads the treatment plants. When this is the case, the operator of the plant open drains that release both runoff and untreated Figure 3-30: CSOs Outfall, Study Area sewage into nearby rivers. 43 This is shown in figure Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 3-30 as the blue emblems. CSOs Outfall GLD This a chronic problem in New York City. For many years the Hudson and East rivers have had spikes in bacteria levels after heavy rainfall.44 Bacteria levels increase sickness in the areas that they contaminate. This has contributed negatively to the water quality of these places.

This is ironic given the fact that NYC’s first plants, Bowery Bay, Coney Island, and 26th Ward Wastewater Treatment Plants were built so water quality was improved enough so people could swim in nearby beaches.41 This is also relevant when heavy storms hit: During Hurricane Sandy 10 out of 14 of the sewage treatment plants released sewage into nearby waterways. 45 It is noteworthy that the Newtown Beach Wastewater facility is the largest in the city, and processes a massive 320 million gallons per day. 41 It is also services a very large area, including eastern areas of Manhattan and large portion of Queens. This essentially pulls the risk of overflow during storms or malfunction into the Greenpoint area where the plant is located.

One reason that this problem is so pronounced in the Southside of Williamsburg and other environmental justice areas is that there is little permeable surface, as mentioned in the open space section. Only a meager 13% of the study area consists of permeable surfaces. 41 In areas with more open and permeable areas there is less water runoff into the sewage system and a smaller chance of overwhelming the treatment system. Williamsburg’s lack of open, permeable space serves more than one purpose.

73 Solid Waste

The organization of solid waste infrastructure These facilities, in addition to the perimeter of and facilities is a crucial component towards an Community District 1 and the location of Newton organized city, however the location of such facilities Creek, exist within the Significant Maritime and are often unfairly placed within certain community Industrial Areas (SMIA). SMIA’s as zones designed jurisdictions that lack political power to fight back. to encourage the clustering/concentration of This section provides an overlook at where the heavy industrial and polluting infrastructure uses. solid waste facilities are located within Community 49 Most SMIA’s exist within environmental justice District 1 and discusses community campaigns to communities, meaning communities of low-income fighting against perceived environmental injustice. and persons of color that are disproportionately Additionally, this section will explore the possibility burdened by environmental injustice activities.49 of rezonings in commercial waste hauling Given the location of the majority of solid waste operations as presented by Transform Don’t Trash facilities, they are also extremely vulnerable to that could provide more equitable solutions for storm surge and climate change events. the future. These facilities are: Allocco Recycling, Rapid A recent article in The Guardian reported that NYC Processing, Point Recycling, New York Oil Recovery generates 14 million tons of trash each year. 46 The Inc, Waste Management NY (BQE), Astoria Carting, Department of Sanitation New York (DSNY) spends Keyspan Energy Delivery (Brooklyn Union Gas), approximately $2 billion annually to pick up and Cooper Tank, Waste Management of NY (232 transport waste to solid waste facilities.47 “In 2014, Garden), Waste Management Ny (1 Varick), BFI the DSNY spent over $330 million on waste export (575 Scholes Street), GADS; Inc, Meserole Street (23% of their budget), sending residential and Recycling Inc/ Filbert Recycling, Hi-Tech Resource institutional waste to landfills and waste-to-energy Recovery, Waste Management NY 123, BFI (105 facilities in NJ, CT, PA, VA, SC, and OH.” 48 Thames Street). The additional eight facilities on the perimeter of Community District 1 are: Simsmetal According to waste.exposed, an interactive East Queens Plant (Hugo Neu Schnitzer East), website exploring trash infrastructure in New York New York Oil Recovery Inc, Waste Management City, four of the city’s community districts handle of NY (Review Avenue), Galas Trucking;Inc, Empire 70% of the total city’s waste, including North State Cardboard Paper Recycling, Pebble Lane Brooklyn.48 The Searchable Property Environmental Associates (Alfredo Lamanna), New Style Recycling, E-Database (SPEED) provided by the NYC Office Commercial Recycling Technology. of Environmental Remediation identifies that majority of the Solid Waste Facilities are located in Brooklyn as shown in Figure 3-31. Of the twenty- four facilities located near Newton Creek, sixteen facilities are located within the jurisdiction of Community Board 1.

74 While these facilities do not exist within the GLD or the study area at large, they are mentioned because diesel trucks drive through the study area to access these facilities. The Williamsburg Bridge and the BQE are essential components in transporting waste to the above mentioned facilities and to other states (including an incinerator in Newark, NJ). This means diesel trucks are driving through residential neighborhoods, which causes air and noise pollution from trucks, potential traffic related incidents/public safety issues, as well as issues concerning smell. Since majority of the solid waste facilities are located in North Brooklyn, specifically within Community District 1, residents feel the burden more than other districts.

The Department of Sanitation transports residential, non- profit and government waste through designated truck routes in the Southside. As of June 2016, The New York City Fleet Daily Service Report50 identified that there are currently Figure 3-31: Solid Waste Facilities in CD1 1,668 city collection trucks, and an additional 248 Source: NYCDEC SPEED private waste hauling companies. The Department Solid Waste Facilities of Sanitation and Business Integrity Commission calculated annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and reported that private truck collections travel more than 23.1 million miles per year to collect commercial waste.51 Under the current system, areas located alongside the BQE and the Bronx experience the highest amount of traffic.

75 Given that commercial waste is not operated or According to the report, “the rate cap has increased handled by the City, a community based campaign, by 55% in the past decade, from a 2007 price of Transform Don’t Trash NYC, has organized over $12.20 per yard to a current price of $18.87.”51 the last decade to raise concerns about privatized The report recommends that: Businesses must waste operations and seek necessary reforms. be able to right-size their waste and recycling The campaign included members such as the services to save money, the existing rate cap needs International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint improvement to be meaningful to business, pricing Council 16 and Locals 813 & 831, NYC Central for recycling and composting services should be Labor Council, and SEIU 32BJ (as well as our set to ensure that small businesses benefit from allies NY Lawyers for the Public Interest, ALIGN, participation in diversion programs, system-wide and American Lung Association of NY. 52 The City reform should create stable prices for customers, adopted ideas from the campaign and eventually NYC should use competitive RFPs to achieve the created the Solid Waste Management Plan lowest possible prices and on-going stability for (SWMP) in 2006. The SWMP objectives include customers, and diversion and efficiency must go recognizing the environmental issues surrounding hand in hand. 51 waste, treating each borough fairly, relying on sound business principles, and continue waste In 2010, Organization United for Trash Reduction prevention programs. 53 & Garbage Equity (OUTRAGE) conducted a truck traffic and air quality report to document waste In July 2016, the Transform Don’t Trash campaign collections effect on infrastructure and the produced a community report in collaboration environment. They surveyed Vandervoort Ave with the New York Laywers for Public Interest & Meeker Street, Metropolitan Ave & Lorimer, (NYLPI) and Alliance of Greater New York. The Metropolitan Ave & Vandevoort Ave, Kingsland report advocates for one single company to handle Ave & Meeker Street, Grand St & Bushwick Ave, all of the commercial trash from an estimated Greenpoint Ave & Mcguiness Blvd, and Grand St 200,000 businesses, as the current system is & Vandervoot Ave and discovered that a 25% - sited as inefficient and lacks transparency, as the 52% of trucks passing through the intersections commercial waste companies can set a maximum were waste trucks. Their findings also documented price for waste removal. that “on average, particle counts increased 355% when truck traffic was present on community streets during weekday hours, and 28.9% to 43.6% of trucks observed in the neighborhood were associated with waste hauling and disposal. 54

76 OneNYC aims to send zero waste to landfills by Similarly, in the Community District Needs and 2030, and created a goal to reduce the volume Community Board Budget Requests for Fiscal Year of DSNY collection by 90% and similarly with a 2018, CD1 expressed opposition to the Organics 90% reduction in commercial waste. In a progress Recycling/ Waste to Energy program at the Newton update in early 2016, 157 million plastic bags were Creek Water Pollution Control Plant because it saved from going to landfill.55 Additionally, Intro will increase truck traffic within the district.57 495 was introduced to cap the number of transfer Other leading community advocacy organizations stations allowed in any one community. However, working to reform the waste industry are NYC-EJA this does not have any effect or changes for current solid waste transfer campaign (Transform Don’t waste sites. Additionally, Local Law 40 creates new Trash), Clean Up North Brooklyn, Organization of operational regulations for transfer stations. But Waterfront Neighborhoods (OWN), Neighbors City plans only represent a small portion to the Against Garbage (NAG). larger picture. Community advocacy demanded accountability and necessary reforms needed for Commercial waste rezoning could be a solution the solid waste infrastructure systems. This helped for overburdened communities. In a private facilitate initiatives and laws advocating for the carting study executive summary issued in august regulation of the solid waste infrastructure in NYC. 2016 by the Department of Sanitation and the Additionally, with the closure of Fresh Kills landfill Business Integrity Commission, they created in 2001 on Staten Island, the Environmental Justice hypothetical zones to reduce truck traffic and to Alliance estimates that “75% of solid waste stream curb greenhouse gas emissions to make air quality is now processed in a handful of communities better.58 The report found that the current system throughout the city.”56 The landfill is now a park, disproportionately burdens certain communities three times central park, and is largely due to such as the South Bronx and North Brooklyn with community opposition and political power. In North large flow of traffic, air pollution and traffic related Brooklyn, community campaigns are advocating incidents. Additionally, the idea of rezoning could for fairer treatment too. help with regulating the commercial waste market. 59

77 3.6 Energy

The energy infrastructure, production, and demand The second issue is energy dissemination and is important in the Southside of Williamsburg, and demand. Consolidated Edison has predicted that New York City. The City demands a massive amount the current infrastructure cannot handle the of energy, and Williamsburg and the study area are increase in electricity usage in a large swathe of no different. Brooklyn and queens comprised of 32 zip codes. This is (Fig. 3-32 shown below) as the red areas on The first issue is energy production. Local energy leftmost map and in figure 4-L7. These areas do not use is mostly produced in NYC, with additional overlap with the study area but cover the eastern energy produced upstate and as far away as Canada, half of CD1 and pass close to the study area. Shown especially during peak demand times.60 This below is the current energy load on the system in energy is by and large made from non-renewable 2014 and predicted load without relief. energy. Approximately 15 percent is renewable.61 Some nuclear power and hydropower are produced upstate, but transporting large amounts of energy from long distances decreases efficiency and strains the infrastructure.60 In addition, fossil fuels are non-renewable, and contribute to climate change, which causes numerous issues that will be discussed in the following sections. Renewable options, such as solar, or wind are options, but comprise a very small portfolio of NYC’s energy usage with less than 2 percent in 2016.62 The study area also has smaller fossil fuel generators that are typically turned off, but turn on during high demand times. These trade efficiency and cost in exchange for quick turn-on times.63

Figure 3-32: Projected Load Growth in Brooklyn and Queens Source: Consolidated Edison 78 The substation that supplies the area, Brownsville 2.0, cannot process enough electricity to meet the demand. 65

A new substation would cost an incredible $1 billion.62 In the summer of 2018 Con ED has predicted that there will be 40-48 hours when electrical usage will exceed the capacity of the grid by 69 Megawatts.66 In response to this finding, Con Ed has established the Brooklyn Queens Demand Management Plan (BQDM) plan to reduce electric demand and delay or get rid of the need to build a new substation.

The BQDM designated area, as shown in Figure 3-33 in black outline. However, since the Southside of Williamsburg is nearly adjacent to the BQDM area, it may be affected if demand62 is not reduced in concerned areas. Figure 3-33 also shows heat vulnerability, which increases energy use in the summer from air conditioner use.

As part of the BQDM, Con-Ed held an auction in Figure 3-33: Composite Heat Vulnerability Index by Census Tract July of 2016 that awarded firms money, which they Source: NYC Environmental Justice Alliance then use in the community to reduce demand. That could be paying people money to reduce demand, or installing/facilitating solar installations or other innovative solutions.65

The Brooklyn Alliance for Sustainable Energy is a community movement to push Con-Ed and promote an equitable and just energy infrastructure. It’s comprised of several local community groups, including El Puente and New York Environmental Justice Alliance. They recognize that this area is disadvantaged and needs a diverse energy market and considerations for environmental justice. Con- Ed’s willingness to discuss solutions and provide independent contracts with funds could help advocacy groups such as the Brooklyn Alliance for Sustainable Energy is a potential opportunity to change the source to more renewable energies, as well as update the electric grid to become more resilient and adaptive to growth and potential future damage. 64 79 Climate Change Impacts

Climate Change is a pertinent issue with impacts The study area is not in as much danger of flooding relevant in the study area. This consists of coastal as other areas in Williamsburg. Greenpoint and inundations (sea level rise, frequency and intensity any area adjacent to Newtown creek in particular of storms), and increase in heat waves. have large areas of low elevation. However, in worst case scenarios, storm surge would cover a The study area has areas of low elevation, majority of the study area. This data is from 2006, particularly near the East River and the northern and climate change could increase the area storm census tracts. This makes these census tracts at surge could hit. The natural shape of New York risk of flooding and sea level rise. Sea level has Harbor and its lack of depth contributes towards already risen a foot in the last century in NYC;67 and the danger of storm surge.69 This was shown most predicted to increase. Figure 3-34 represents areas effectively in Hurricane Sandy, which had a very predicted to be inundated by storm surge, with high storm surge, killed 43 people, and cost the darker colors denoting the areas according to the city an estimated $19 billion.69 Williamsburg was class of hurricane (which run from 1-4). The lower not one of the areas that was particularly hard hit, the zone the more danger the area is from flooding but that was due to the tides more than the natural and sea level rise as well. In the case of a category 4 resistance of the areas to hurricanes in general. storm 1499 buildings would be in the stormsurge, Hurricane Sandy was unusual and devastating, 41 miles would be inundated with water, and but with climate change necessitates preparation 24,700 people would be effected. These are 41% for intense levels of destruction and fatalities of the buildings, and 46% of the population in the in the future. Additionally, large impact storms study area.68 have the potential create more than property damage. Hurricane Sandy left 2 million people without power because the substations were over exposed, and many overhead wires were damaged or destroyed.

A good portion of NYC is in danger of sea level rise and storm surge as mentioned in Vision 2020. Many buffers have been discussed or implemented, but none of the larger projects are currently being carried out in the Southside or Williamsburg overall. 67

80 Storm surge also creates localized problems, apart from the typical flooding and damage. The industrial pollution discussed in early sections are spread by floodwaters. This could cause serious contamination of the area by heavy metals and other toxins stored in industrial areas, or spreading of contaminants from brownfield sites into residential neighborhoods. In hurricane sandy 18 facilities regulated by the Community Right to Know reported spills, seven which were completely washed out by the storm.70 NYC-EJA’s Waterfront Justice Project aimed to address these issues by studying and promoting cooperation with NYC agencies and advocating for improving resiliency and preventing toxic materials from spilling. Also, as mentioned before, the area also has very little permeable landscape, so less of the storm surge will be absorbed by the ground and water remain there longer, which will add to the extent of the damage by the storm. Figure 3-34: Storm Surge Zones There are potential issues with both evacuating and Source: Federal Emergency Managament Agency rebuilding after large storms. Normally, the NYC Hurricane Cat. 1 Hurricane Cat. 2 Hurricane Cat. 3 Emergency Management (formerly OEM) handles Hurricane Cat. 4 Hurricane Cat. 2 Hurricane Cat. 3 evacuation, but in the event the President declares CSOs Outfall GLD a state of emergency, FEMA handles evacuation While this area is high and in less danger from and rebuilding. FEMA has responsibility for the hurricanes, there is no evacuation plan in case a entire country with 5,000 employees and $10 storm exceeds expectations of storm flow. This Billion in budget as of 2013.71 While this may seem is the case for two out of three of the vulnerable substantial, this is for the entire country over the populations within census tracts 525, 527, 535 course of a year. NYC is in FEMA’s region 2, which and 525 are not in evacuation zones and 527 is in includes NYC, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico significant danger from storm surge. and several tribal territories. Another problem that FEMA has is their NYC evacuation zones are piecemeal and do not accurately reflect the danger that individual areas face. The recovery areas are disjointed, and cover small patches of land; these are hard for laymen to find and follow. FIGURE 3-33 represents the evacuation map. Note that there is a large area where there is no evacuation zone.

81 Both NYC EM and FEMA plans have additional issues. There are no evacuation center within the study area, or in CD1. The closest center is in Clinton Hill, close to Pratt Institute. In case of emergency, and in case there is no transportation, it could take significant time to get to an emergency center. In addition. FEMA also requires and subsidizes flooding insurance, but only in areas that are on the 100-year plain: areas that have 1% chance to flood in the last century.72 This area covers very little space in Williamsburg.73 This makes no sense when those areas will drastically change with climate change.

New York and Williamsburg are also subject to heat waves. Due to the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI), pavement absorbs heat and sunlight and retains it. Simply put, New York City is hotter than surrounding areas. During the summer, it can get fatally hot. New York has designated places to cool down but, there are no such places near the study

area, with the closest spot in Brownsville. Figure 3-35: Evacuation Zones Source: Federal Emergency Managament Agency 1 2 3 4 5 6

82 Broader Environmental Justice Issues

As mentioned throughout the existing conditions In addition to socio-economic characteristics of the research, the built, physical, and natural Southside, the natural environment paints a story environment in the Southside of Williamsburg of the interconnectedness of systems contributing have detrimental environmental and public towards environmental injustice. The Southside health implications. Community District 1 has an extreme lack of open space, with 3% of experiences the effects of interconnected systems the study area identified as such. Open space in at disproportionate rates in comparison to other total translates to 0.3 acres per 1,000 residents, community districts throughout NYC. While the compared to NYC overall with 1.5 acres per 1,000 Southside has many strong assets and strengths residents. Within these open spaces, many parks that contribute towards a dynamic, vibrant and plazas are heavily fenced off, have blacktop or community which creates a unique identity in concrete surfaces, and lack necessary vegetation need of preserving, there exists an economically and greenery. The four priority parks: Marcy vulnerable population with low-incomes, and Park, Rodney Park, La Guardia Playground, and high poverty rates, consisting of racial and ethnic Continental Army Plaza, are alongside the Brooklyn minorities. Queens Expressway, and are heavily polluted, and overall inadequate parks for the Southside. With These characteristics do not reflect the socio- the lack of open space, there are less sustainable economic characteristics of the incoming measures that exist to offset industrial pollution. populations, which are arriving at rapid rates, therefore creating extreme inequality and Given the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and the disproportionate burdens on the existing Williamsburg Bridge are large transit connectors population. The populations identified as socially that cut directly through the Southside, a large and economically vulnerable residing in census concentrates of truck routes are located nearby, tracts 525, 527, 535 are notably located alongside bringing heavy truck traffic into the Southside. The the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Poor air quality diesel trucks are large polluting mechanisms, and and lack of open space affect the quality of life increased traffic also poses harm for pedestrians for residents and present additional challenges and bicyclists. Trucks are driving to the industrial for youth and elderly populations within the facilities, as there are 16 solid waste facilities in Southside. Broader themes of de-industrialization, Community District 1. While the facilities are not displacement/gentrification, rise in unemployment, directly located within the Southside, the trucks and environmental degradation as suggested need to drive through the study area to get to the in this report contribute to the implications of facilities. environmental injustice in the Southside.

83 The solid waste facilities are located in a Significant The existing conditions research analysis confirms Maritime Industrial Area (SMIA), where there is that the Southside of Williamsburg experiences a heavy concentration of industrial and pollution high levels of environmental injustice. In efforts to uses. These facilities are vulnerable to storm surge facilitate the sustainable future of the Southside, and can spread toxins and chemicals to other focus is needed on strengthening policies that locations. Climate change can also cause the spread address a wide array of categories. Solving isolated of chemicals and toxins, as well as exacerbate issues will not address the structural weakness existing health conditions. Many former industrial afflicting residents in the Southside. With the sites have been contaminated and are either in conclusion of this report, Pratt Graduate Students the process of environmental remediation or left in Fundamentals studio will examine the existing untouched. With the looming threat of climate conditions and assess recurring themes and change and past extreme weather events like narratives to suggest recommendations for the Hurricane Sandy, storm surge is a threat. A large consideration by El Puente. portion of Williamsburg and areas within the Southside are susceptible to storm surge, when sea level rises during hurricanes and causes flooding in low-lying areas. Storm surge can affect combined sewer outfalls (CSOs) which release run off water and untreated sewage when treatment plants receive too much runoff to process. This can be impacted and overflow into water systems and lead to contamination too.

84 3.7 S.W.O.T. Analysis

Strengths 1. High elevation in study area to protect from sea-level rise 2. Six established community gardens 3. Transportation Infrastructure

1. Lack of open space to offset industrial pollution Weaknesses 2. Priority parks/open space are fully paved and lack permeable areas throughout 3. High concentration of truck routes near BQE 4. 16 solid waste facilities in CD1 5. No hospitals in study area, GLD, CD1

1. Adding to open space inventory through conversion of Opportunities land use 2. Tax credits for Brownfield Cleanup programs (525, 527, 535) 3. Brooklyn Alliance for Sustainable Energy Campaign

1. Growing energy demand Threats 2. No evacuation centers within CD1 3. Dangers of sewage released from CSOs 4. Toxic chemical storage and polluted sites can pose dangers

85 3.8 Sources

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86 28. “Reusing Brownfields.” Leigh, Nancy Green. The New Green Book. Pages 137 – 140. 29. Envirofacts. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 9 January 2017.https://www3.epa. gov/enviro/facts/pcs-icis/search.html 30. Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program. United States Environmental Protection Agency. 23 March 2017. https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventory-tri-program 31. “Statement of Community District Needs and Community Board Budget Request.” NYC Planning. January 2017. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/community/community- portal/statement_needs/bk01_statement_2018.pdf 32. Mayor’s Office of Recovery & Resiliency. Page 54. 2017.www.nyc.gov 33. 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Web. 19 Mar. 2017. https://www.dnainfo.com/new- york/20110725/harlem/raw-sewage-flow-into-hudson- continuous-problem-experts-say 45. “A Stronger, More Resilient New York.” Plan NYC. 2013. http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/sirr/SIRR_ singles_Lo_res.pdf 46. Galka, Max. “What does New York do with all its trash? One city’s waste – in numbers.” The Guardian. 27 October 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/oct/27/new-york-rubbish- all-that-trash-city-waste-in-numbers 47. Kellermann, Carol. “Cleaning up NY’s garbage disposal.” Crain’s New York Business. 3 June 2012. https://cbcny.org/sites/default/files/OPED_CNYB_06032012.pdf 87 48. Waster.Exposed. http://www.waste.exposed/ 49. “Waterfront Justice Project.” New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. http://www.nyc-eja. org/?page_id=311 50. “New York City Fleet Daily Service Report.” NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations. https://www1.nyc. gov/site/operations/performance/fleet-report.page 51. Wood, Justin, Quiason, Jessica and Transform Don’t Trash NYC coalition. “Reforming for a Better Deal.” Transform Don’t Trash NYC. July 2016. http://transformdonttrashnyc.org/wp-content/ uploads/2016/07/Reforming-for-a-Better-Deal_TDT-business-case-July-2016-final2.pdf 52. “New York City Fleet Daily Service Report.” NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations. https://www1.nyc. gov/site/operations/performance/fleet-report.page 53. “Final Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan.” The City of New York. September 2006. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/docs/about_swmp_exec_summary_0815.pdf 54. Outrage report 55. “The Plan for a Strong and Just City.” One NYC. The City of New York. 2016. http://www.nyc.gov/ html/onenyc/downloads/pdf/publications/OneNYC.pdf 56. NYC – EJA 57. Statement of Community District Needs and Community Board Budget Request.” NYC Planning. January 2017. https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/community/community- portal/statement_needs/bk01_statement_2018.pdf 58. “Private Carting Study.” The Department of Sanitation. The City of New York. 17 August 2016. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/pdf/studies-and-reports/Private_Carting_Study_ Executive_Summary.pdf 59. Young, Leone. “Initial Thoughts on Commercial Waste Zones in NYC.” Waste 360. 6 September 2016. http://www.waste360.com/commercial/initial-thoughts-commercial-waste-zones-nyc 60. Reub, Emily S. “How New York City Gets Its Electricity.” New York Times. N.p., 10 Feb. 2017. Web. 25 Mar. 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/10/nyregion/how-new-york-city-gets-its- electricity-power-grid.html?_r=0 61. “The Plan for a Strong and Just City.” One NYC. The City of New York. 2016. http://www.nyc.gov/ html/onenyc/downloads/pdf/publications/OneNYC.pdf 62. “Con Ed Looks to Batteries, Microgrids and Efficiency to Delay $1B Substation Build.” Gtm. N.p., 17 July 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2017. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/con-ed-looks-to- batteries-microgrids-and-efficiency-to-delay-1b-substation 63. Sioshansi, Fereidoon P. “Competitive Energy Markets” Competitive electricity markets: design, implementation, performance. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2009. Print. 64. Rosenblum, Daniel W. “Petition of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. For Approval of Brooklyn/Queens Demand Management Program” State of New York Public Service Commission. 2014. PDF. 65. “Meeting Brooklyn’s Energy Needs With Community-Owned Clean Power.” N.p., n.d. Web. http:// nyc-eja.org/public/publications/BASE_FactSheet_021016.pdf 66. Elcock, Gregory. Brooklyn Queens Demand Management Program Implementation and Outreach Plan. January 29, 2016. https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2782996/BQDM- Update-1-2016.pdf

88 67. “Increase Climate Resilience.” Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan. NYC Economic Development Corporation. The City of New York. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/ download/pdf/plans-studies/vision-2020-cwp/vision2020/chapter3_goal8.pdf 68. (Pluto Data) 69. “Sandy and It’s Impacts.” A Stronger, More Resilient New York. The City of New York. http://www. nyc.gov/html/sirr/downloads/pdf/final_report/Ch_1_SandyImpacts_FINAL_singles.pdf 70. Proposed Recommendations for Promoting Community Resilience in Environmental Justice Industrial Waterfront Areas. Prepared by Community Resiliency in Environmental Justice Industrial Waterfront Communities Work Group. May 2015. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-08/documents/ communityresilienceinejindustrialwaterfrontcommunities.pdf 71. Federal Emergency Management Agency. 2013. https://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/budget/fema_ fy2013_bib.pdf 72. “100 Year Flood Zone (FEMA).” ArcGIS. 2 March 2017. http://www.arcgis.com/home/item. html?id=e9aa2179f31b4b9cbe5c7f8b1b91cea3 73. 100-Year Flood Zones. WNYC. https://project.wnyc.org/100yr-flood-ny/embed. html#11.00/40.6863/-73.8550

89 General S.W.O.T. Analysis

The Southside of Williamsburg has many Still, the Southside can potentially benefit from strengths. The rich cultural history is greatly zoning amendments, which bring vibrant mixed reflected in the urban fabric of the neighborhood. uses and new commercial retail into spaces which The mix of cultural and ethnic diversity creates can liven local economies and create employment makes the neighborhood unique and builds opportunities. Additionally, the incoming younger character. Additionally, it creates a strong social population can also bring about new businesses infrastructure. The Southside also has a strong and new opportunities that everyone can benefit transit infrastructure that offers economic from if included. Finally, the Southside can see opportunity due to access. Also, the Southside future opportunity in environmental remediation, of Williamsburg has a higher elevation than most which can create employment opportunities, bring areas in overall Williamsburg which contributes to about new development, and improve air, water storm resiliency in the event of flooding. and soil conditions.

However, there is immense socio-economic However, the potential lack of development, inequality, with a large decrease in the Hispanic/ specifically MX-8 uses could potentially threaten the Latino population over the last two decades. local economy within the Southside. Gentrification Among the existing population in the Southside, is also a real threat which can continue to displace the neighborhood is burdened by the BQE, which largely Hispanic/ Latino populations and erase divides through the Southside and exacerbates the cultural history of the Southside along with it. negative conditions for vulnerable populations Finally, as the Southside borders the waterfront, living in census tracts 525,527, and 535. Also, climate change will be a serious threat, in addition the Southside is burdened by existing and former to sewage release and weakening infrastructure industrial activities which have created industrial and the effects it could have on contaminated sites pollution. There is an insufficient amount of open and chemical storage. space to offset the worsening air quality created by pollution and frequent truck traffic from the BQE.

90 Strengths 1. Historic, mixed use urban fabric 2. Cultural and ethnic diversity 3. Strong CBO’s and political representation 4. Transit infrastructure

Weaknesses 1. Socioeconomic inequality 2. Decline in Hispanic/Latino population 3. Neighborhood divided by BQE; pollution from BQE 4. Impervious and polluted parks, open spaces 5. Limited waterfront access

Opportunities 1. Young population 2. Incoming new businesses for new opportunities 3. Undeveloped and underutilized space 4. BQ Green plans for greening neighborhood

Threats 1. Gentrification and displacement 2. Lack of open space 3. Pollution 4. High unemployment in GLD 5. Waterfront luxury redevelopment

91 Conclusion

The objective of this report has been to analyze existing conditions to get a better understanding of how the built, physical, and natural environment, are all contributing towards environmental injustice in the identified study area. Existing conditions have been documented to build on the findings for the second part of this studio. The information contained within this report will be used towards suggesting recommendations on how to create potential improvements. Additionally, the report to follow will also advocate for existing campaigns put forth by El Puente to improve environmental conditions within the natural, physical, and built environment.

92 Appendices

Appendix 1: Rezoning in Greenpoint - Williamsburg

1.1. Greenpoint-Williamsburg Land Use and Waterfront Plan (2005)

The 2005 rezoning of Greenpoint-Williamsburg Height limits were imposed where the waterfront changed the fabric of the area. Where residential, met existing neighborhoods, graduating from commercial and manufacturing purposes were the tallest at the waterfront edge. R6 remained generally zoned separately, the Special MX-8 District at 150 feet, R8 at 250 feet. Where towers would introduced mixed use applications. Commercial be permitted in R8 districts, the maximum height and manufacturing uses became permissible in allowance became 350 feet.1 Building setbacks residential areas, and residential uses became were imposed “below the uppermost 40 feet of permissible in zones which were previously the building.”1 Street tree plantings and streetwall restricted to commercial and manufacturing uses; continuity was required “along the upland end of increasing potential for greater development waterfront blocks, so that development cannot in the area. The MX-8 rezoning extended to the turn its back to the adjoining neighborhood.”1 waterfront. The rezoning also included a plan for a Commercial overlays were included in the rezoning public waterfront park of almost 28 acres. 1 along the waterfront.

The intention of the rezoning was to increase potential for residential real estate development in the manufacturing zones that lined the waterfront, which were no longer in use.1 To increase the building potential on the waterfront2, R6 and R8 zoning districts were mapped to increase the FAR, or building allowance, for lot parcels on the waterfront. These “Zoning text modifications would allow greater flexibility in transferring floor area across district boundaries within parcels, to provide for better site planning.”3

93 Figure 4-1: “City Planning Commission City of New York Zoning Change.” 11 May 2005. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/ download/pdf/zoning/zoning-maps/sketchmaps/skz050111azmk.pdf

94 Appendix 1.2

The 2005 rezoning implied a rise in real estate values, which would potentially alienate previous residents of varying incomes. To ameliorate this outcome, an amendment was added to the rezoning to provide bonuses for incorporating inclusionary housing in development of rental and condominium buildings and existing affordable apartments. On the waterfront specifically, a 20% inclusion of affordable housing in a building increased the FAR by 0.4. As a penalty, a 20 foot deduction in height was applied to buildings in R8 districts that do not use the bonus.1

Figure 4-2: “Greenpoint-Williamsburg Inclusionary Housing Pro- gram.” Rezoning Area Map. Page 2. The City of New York. November 2005. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/ greenpoint-williamsburg/incl_housing_web.pdf

Figure 4-3: “Greenpoint-Williamsburg Inclusionary Housing Program.” Inclusionary Housing Bonus on a Blend- ed R6/R8 Waterfront Parcel. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/greenpoint-williams- burg/incl_housing_web.pdf

95 1.3 Grand Street Rezoning (2008)

A rezoning over a 13 block area in Williamsburg, including the edge of the study area, was implemented “to preserve neighborhood character”4 and reflect the area’s “presence as a local retail corridor while protecting the residential character of lots adjacent to retail corridors.”4 Commercial overlays were included. This new rezoning overlaps with the rezoning in 2005.

Figure 4-4: “City Planning Commission City of New York Dia- gram Showing Zoning Change.” 26 March 2008. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/zon- ing/zoning-maps/sketchmaps/skz080213zmk.pdf

96 1.4 Greenpoint-Williamsburg Contextual Rezoning (2009)

After the 2005 rezoning, Community Board 1 and local officials proposed a contextual rezoning of 175 blocks in Greenpoint-Williamsburg. This was done “to protect the existing character of residential areas east of the 2005 rezoning area.”5 To deter the encroachment of new development in this direction, this rezoning was specifically to “preserve neighborhood character and scale by limiting the height of new development, to create opportunities and incentives for affordable housing through inclusionary zoning, and to support local retail corridors while protecting the residential character of nearby side streets.”5

The results of the rezoning replaced the R6 designation with one of contextual zoning. This limited building heights to preserve the scale of the neighborhood, provided bonuses for inclusionary housing on some streets, and maintained the commercial uses as part of the fabric of the neighborhood, in addition to “protecting the residential character of the lots adjacent to retail corridors by adjusting commercial zoning districts.”5

Figure 4-5: “City Planning Commission City of New York Dia- gram Showing Zoning Change.” 29 June 2009. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/zon- ing/zoning-maps/sketchmaps/skz090334zmk.pdf

97 Appendix 1.5 Methodology and Sources

The 12 tracts forming the study are located within the Southside of Williamsburg. The analysis for this section of the report was conducted based on US Census Bureau and American Community Survey (ACS) data, professional and academic reviews and reports, and multiple site visits. Demographic and social findings are based on 2000 and 2010 US Decennial Census (2000,6 2010) and 2005-2009 and 2011-2015 ACS 5 year estimates data,7unless otherwise noted. All references to current conditions, are based on 2015 ACS data.8 Additional information was retrieved from the New York University Furman Center’s 2015 State of New York City Housing and Neighborhood Report,9 and Pratt Center’s Data Portal.10 For economic and business analysis, 2004 and 2014 US Economic Census Data was used,11 with additional information obtained through Reference USA.12 Previous studies pertaining to socioeconomic, demographic and housing conditions in Williamsburg and CD 1 served as background and basis to this research, in particular El Puente’s own reports.13 Other data sources included NYC Open Data14 and NYC Department of City Planning – Bytes of the Big Apple and Pluto. 15

98 Appendix 1.6 Open Space Inventory

Figure 4-6: Open Space Inventory by NYC

99 Appendix 1.7 Brownfields

The New York City Office of Environmental Remediation (mOER) was created to address these stages of identification and cleanup of these sites. Some initiatives include the New York City Voluntary Cleanup Program (NYC-VCP), Community Brownfield Planning Grant Program which supports over 30 community based planning organizations, New York City Brownfield Incentive Grant Program (BIG), New York City Green Property Certification which provides proper certification to cleaned up sites, New YorkCity Clean Soil Bank which allows free transfer of fresh soil to sites in need, a Searchable Property Electronic Environmental Database (SPEED), Brownfield Works for on the job training, New York City Brownfield Partnership, and Partnership of Brownfield Practitioners which provides information to the public on brownfields. Of these initiatives, PlaNyc and later OneNYC have created objectives towards prosperous development of brownfields. PlanNYC identifies that “as many as 7,600 acres across the city may suffer from contamination,”16 However, it has been identified that roughly “5,700 of 7600 acres haveno guarantee of ever getting cleaned up.”16 In a progres report of OneNYC issued in 2016, it has been identified that there has been a clean-up of 236 tax lots since 2014, a projected “31% of OneNYC’s goal.”17 Some federal legislation includes the Environmental Protection Agency with CERCLA, the Comprehensive Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the 1995 Brownfields Action Agenda, Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act in 2002, Brownfield Revitalization and Restoration Act of 2001.

There are many community campaigns and initiatives to locally address the issue of brownfields. The Pratt Center collaborated with communities to form the Brownfields Coalition to help propose legislation and encourage clean-up standards, sponsored a conference in 2000 titled “Beyond Brownfields: Visions of Equitable and Sustainable Development”, and continue to support local communities through advocacy and technical assistance.18 NYC-EJA has also worked on various campaigns, in addition to Uprose, the Environmental Defense Fund, and Environmental Advocates of New York.

Brownfields pose risks to the community before - during - after redevelopment. The Pratt Center suggests that brownfields contribute to negative public health effects, can weaken local economic development, pose threats to sustainable open space, and the general livelihood of a given area.18 Some of the many negative implications associated with living near brownfields, or former industrial sites that contribute to soil contamination. First, fleeting industrial activity from Williamsburg has resulted in the loss of many jobs and leads to poverty. Similarly, due to contaminations in the ground, residents living near Brownfields are experiencing higher rates of asthma and health problems.

100 However there are many criticisms about the role NY and the federal government play in brownfield development. Mark McIntyre reports in “How PlaNYC will facilitate brownfield redevelopment” that “$11 Million budget towards incentives - “of the city’s contaminated sites by 2030 strikes many in the field as an unattainable goal. But PlaNYC relies heavily on the private market to induce developers to undertake cleanups, and existing state institutions— particularly DEC—to oversee remediation of the most contaminated sites.”19 He also mentions that “The full extent of city brownfields is not known because most of the city’s 206,000 acres have not been characterized.”19 Similarly, it is noted that developers are mostly attracted to areas that have already been cleaned up, due to the lengthy process and costly expenses associated with brownfield redevelopment.19 In an article written by City Limits in 2012, concern was raised that many of the tax credits associated with redevelopment were set to expire in 2015, posing risks of loss of funds and assistance for redevelopment. 20

101 Sources

1. “Greenpoint-Williamsburg Contextual Rezoning.” Page 1. The City of New York. 29 July 2009. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/greenpoint-williamsburg-contextual/ greenpointwill_con.pdf 2. “Greenpoint-Williamsburg Contextual Rezoning.” Page 5. The City of New York. 29 July 2009. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/greenpoint-williamsburg-contextual/ greenpointwill_con.pdf 3. “Greenpoint-Williamsburg Land Use and Waterfront Plan.” The City of New York. 2 March 2006. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/greenpoint-williamsburg/ greenpointwill.pdf 4. “Grand Street Rezoning.” Page 1. The City of New York. 26 March 2008. PDF. http://www1.nyc.gov/ assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/grand-street/grand_street.pdf 5. “Greenpoint-Williamsburg Contextual Rezoning.” The City of New York. 29 July 2009. http://www1. nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/plans/greenpoint-williamsburg-contextual/greenpointwill_ con.pdf 6. US Census Bureau 2000, 2010 7. American Community Survey 2005-2009, 2011-2015 8. American Community Survey 2015 9. New York University Furman Center’s 2015 State of New York City Housing and Neighborhood Report. http://furmancenter.org/research/sonychan 10. Pratt Center’s Data Portal. http://prattcenter.net/neighborhood-data-portal-0 11. 2004 & 2014 US Economic Census Data. https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/ searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t) 12. Reference USA. http://resource.referenceusa.com/ 13. El Puente. http://elpuente.us/content/overview 14. NYC Open Data. http://opendata.cityofnewyork.us 15. NYC Department of City Planning – Bytes of the Big Apple and Pluto. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ planning/data-maps/open-data.page 16. “PlaNYC 2030.” (Page 41), PlaNYC - Home. NYC Gov, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. 17. “The Plan for a Strong and Just City.” Page 132. One NYC. The City of New York. 2016. http://www. nyc.gov/html/onenyc/downloads/pdf/publications/OneNYC.pdf 18. “Brownfield redevelopment Planning.” Pratt Center Project. 2017. http://prattcenter.net/projects/ sustainable-community-development/brownfield-redevelopment-planning 19. McIntyre, Mark. “How PlaNYC Will Facilitate Brownfield Redevelopment.” Volume 54. New York Law School Law Review. October 2009. http://www.nylslawreview.com/wp-content/uploads/ sites/16/2013/11/54-2.McIntyre.pdf 20. Mooney, Jake. “A Tale of Two Brownfields.” City Limits. 2 August 2012. http://citylimits. org/2012/08/02/a-tale-of-two-brownfields/

102 Southside of Williamsburg Recommendations Report Opportunities to Strengthen and Expand Open Space & Sustainable Economic Development

Pratt Institute Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment Fundamentals of Planning Studio Spring 2017 Acknowledgements

Southside of Williamsburg Recommendations Report

Prepared by: Fundamentals of Planning Studio, Spring 2017 City and Regional Planning Graduate Program Pratt Institute, Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment

Prepared for: El Puente

Authors: Michael Bourque Anthony Budiman Jenady Garshofsky Haiyin Guo Sophiya Khan Collin Lee Yotam Melman Heba Nady-Mohamed Rohan Narang Nitisha Raje Kim Robledo Jay Skardis

Faculty: Mercedes Narciso Juan Camilo Osorio Ayse Yonder Table of Contents

Introduction 1 Existing Conditions and Context 6 Inventory and Analysis 13

Objective 1 16 Recommendations: 1.1 Advocate for reclamation of open space lost through parkland alienation 17 1.2 Create a Greenpath to connect the neighborhood 19 1.3 Advocate for the creation of pedestrian plazas to improve existing open spaces 21 1.4 Promote the creation of Southside Pedestrian Superblocks for reducing pollution and traffic 4 2 1.5 Enhance safety and connectivity in Continental Army Plaza through protected bike lanes 26 1.6 Partner with the DOT to reduce truck delivery on congested routes and advocate for zero-emission buses at the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal 29 1.7 Advocate for greening the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal 31 1.8 Advocate for enclosing designated but unused space under the Williamsburg Bridge to create a multipurpose space 33 1.9 Enclose the BQE and ramp to the Williamsburg Bridge to stop noise and air pollution 34 1.10 Propose a water storage project through the creation of a sunken plaza 36 Neighborhood Vision 38 Sources 39

Objective 2 41 Recommendations: 2.1 Promote the creation of worker cooperatives to foster local economy 42 2.2 Create workshops and social activities in open spaces to promote active social recreation 43 2.3 Support economic development opportunities through local food businesses, and weekend flea markets in underused parks and open spaces 45 2.4 Encourage green programs in public schools through education and training 47 2.5 Partner with local companies to create high school internships for Southside students 48 2.6 Create a compost collection service in the Southside for youth employment and environmental awareness 50 2.7 Develop a program for a youth-led Environmental Justice Walking Tour to promote public interest and local culture 52 2.8 Advocate for a more inclusive Green Jobs Green New York Program 54 Neighborhood Vision 57 Sources 58

Conclusion 60 Appendices 62 Sources 64 Introduction

The Client Project goal

This project was prepared for El Puente, a human El Puente has asked the studio to explore rights organization that promotes environmental existing conditions in the Southside with a focus awareness and justice in the Southside. It was on the open space system and climate justice founded by Luis Garden Acosta in the early opportunities. The recommendations in this 1980’s. El Puente is a human rights community report propose innovative solutions to address based organization that promotes leadership air pollution, climate change, and additional for peace and justice. The community based threats from existing conditions research. Specific organization seeks to “empower Latinos to build attention was given to priority parks identified by 21st Century community sustainability through El Puente: Marcy Park, Rodney Park, La Guardia climate resiliency plans that integrate change Playground North, and Continental Army Plaza. strategies in the context of culture, education, The recommendations in this report promote the equity, and social justice.”1 El Puente organizes overall goals of the Green Light District (GLD), a diverse events and promotes community solidarity strategic ten-year initiative by El Puente that was through the Center for Arts and Culture, the Green developed in collaboration with a former Pratt Light District, and community wellness programs. Fundamentals studio, to sustain, grow, green, and The El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice is celebrate the Southside of Williamsburg. a nationally known public high school. There are also four leadership centers within North Brooklyn that help youth and adults engage in community projects and social justice issues.

Figure 0-1: El Puente HQ, Hooper St, Study Area Figure 0-2: Williamsburg Bridge Plaza, Study Area

1 Planning Process

This report is the result of a collaborative planning process that started in January 2017. The planning students, their professors, and Ana Traverso-Krejcarek, the program manager of El Puente’s Green Light District, conducted the initial site visit on a snowy Saturday morning. From there, students spent over 40 hours returning to the Southside to conduct site surveys, take photo-documentation, locate and assess vacant lots and their conditions to build an inventory, and to interview key players and stakeholders. Part of this process involved the preparation of an existing conditions report, which greatly influenced the recommendations in the following pages.

NEIGHBORHOOD & EXISTING CONDITIONS CASE STUDY SITE SURVEY ANALYSIS RESEARCH

STAKEHOLDER RECOMMENDATIONS INTERVIEWS

Figure 0-3: Planning Process

2 Geographic Context

The Southside of Williamsburg is located in Brooklyn’s Community District 01 (CD BK-01), along with the North and East Williamsburg, and Greenpoint neighborhoods. This community district is bound by the East River to the West, Newtown Creek to the North and East, and Flushing Avenue to the South. This report focuses on census tracts: 513, 519, 523, 525, 527, 529, 535, 547, 549, 551, 553, and 555.

This report also examines issues within the Green Light District (GLD). The GLD is bound by Metropolitan Avenue to the North, Division Avenue to the South, Union Avenue to the East, and the East River to the West. In addition to the four priority parks, the GLD is the main geographical focus of this report.

Figure 0-4: Study Area, GLD, Southside of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space GLD

3 The Southside: Assets and Opportunities

The Southside is an old working-class, mixed- Land Use use neighborhood with a strong identity. The The three main land uses (residential, commercial, history is reflected in its urban fabric, as the area and industrial) are an intrinsic feature of this is culturally, ethnically, racially, and economically neighborhood, which is reflected in its built diverse. The community is filled with a rich fabric. 58% of the study area consists of mixed culture and vibrant energy, as portrayed physically residential and commercial uses, while 26% consist through stories painted on artistic murals, as of commercial and mixed residential uses. The well as emotionally through a strong sense of study area has seen a decline in industrial and community and commitment to the Southside. The manufacturing uses, which accounts for 7% of the area benefits from established community based study area. Transportation and utility comprises organizations, such as El Puente, and political up to 5%, public facilities and institutions account representatives that have been fighting to preserve for 9% of the study area, and there is 3% of the the Southside’s identity. There are many new land used for parking. Vacant lots, which will be incoming businesses within the area that can bring discussed in the following chapter “Vacant Lot about new opportunities if inclusive, in addition Inventory and Analysis”, accounts for 10% of land to a young population, accessible transportation uses. Parks and open space represent 3% percent infrastructure, and the area’s central location. within the study area.

Urban Design The Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and an elevated subway cut through the neighborhood, dividing the built environment. There is a lack of open space and greenery, with existing open spaces located along the BQE, where pollution from truck traffic contributes towards pocketed concentrations of poor air quality. In addition, heavy manufacturing sites are located in close proximity to residential properties. The BQ Green proposal plans for a 3-acre park over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) to combat air pollution and lack of open space, has been strongly advocated for many years, and can greatly benefit the Southside.

Figure 0-5: Land Use, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Note: For more information on Land Use map, see Fig. 1-10 of Existing Conditions report, page 14.

4 Zoning The study area is zoned R6-R8, which consists of medium-density residential uses. Directly situated next to residential uses are M1-M3 districts, which allow light to heavy industrial uses. The 2005 rezoning introduced inclusionary housing and also rezoned the waterfront to allow for large residential towers development. However, it did not establish successful regulation to preserve existing affordable housing. Since the inclusionary zoning allows the affordable housing to be located offsite but within Community District 1, it is likely that luxury and market-rate housing has been developed at the waterfront, and affordable housing somewhere else within the district. This rezoning, as well as the 2009 contextual rezoning, may have further facilitated the gentrification of the area. Figure 0-6: Zoning, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Note: For more information on Zoning map, see Fig. 1-35 of Existing Conditions report, page 21. Residential Commercial MX-8 GLD

5 Existing Conditions and Context

As discussed above, and explored in depth in the Existing Conditions Report, there are six major issues in the Southside of Williamsburg. The following issues are the result of extensive existing conditions research and analysis. The recommendations, which were developed to address these issues, range from short-term to long-term and vary in terms of necessary costs for implementation.

1. Lack of open space

Open space is essential for public health, cultural enrichment, and offsetting environmental hazards and industrial pollution. In the study area, there is a total of 0.3 acres per 1,000 residents, compared to New York City’s average of 1.5 acres per 1,000 residents. The four priority parks: Marcy Park, Rodney Park, La Guardia Playground North, and Continental Army Plaza, are all located along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) and in close proximity to the Williamsburg Bridge. As the Urban Lab Open Spaces report (2017) indicates, the air pollution levels in all these parks are above the standard recommended levels.

Figure 0-9: Study Area, GLD, Southside of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space GLD

Figure 0-7: LaGuardia South, Study Area

Figure 0-8: Marcy Park, Study Area Figure 0-10: Continental Army Plaza, Study Area 6 2. Extreme economic disparities

There is a large disparity between the census tracts There has been a decline in unemployment in the in the north and south when it comes to median area. Between 2000 and 2015, unemployment household income, educational attainment, and within the GLD decreased from 14% to 8%. poverty levels. The population in the northern However, there are two outlier census tracts, both area has better socioeconomic conditions. Median of which are mostly located within the Hispanic/ income in some northern tracts are twice as high Latino areas. Census tracts 551 and 527 have higher as the city average and a high percentage of the unemployment levels than Community District 1 population has a college degree or higher. The and New York City. Although other census tracts southern area is the opposite with lower median in the Southside may have lower unemployment income, higher poverty levels, and low educational levels, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the job attainment. opportunities are great.

Over 30% of the population in census tracts 525, 527, 529 and 535 are living in poverty. These census tracts also have high unemployment rates and low educational attainment levels. Residents living in these census tracts have a drastically different reality than those living in northern parts of the study area.

Figure 0-12: Unemployment by Census Tract, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 High Unemployment Priority Parks GLD

Figure 0-11: Economic Disparities by Census Tract, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Vulnerable Census Tracts Priority Parks GLD 7 Figure 0-13: Median Household Income, Study Area Figure 0-14: College Degree or Above, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Less than 2K 25K-40K 40K-53K 53K-80K Under 20% 20.1% - 40% 40.1% - 60% GLD + 80K Priority Parks GLD 60.1% - Above Priority Parks

8 3. Displacement

While the population in the Southside has increased, it’s evident that residents of the Southside are being displaced overtime. The total population of the study area in 2015 was 55,556. This represents a 22% increase from the year 2000, significantly higher than New York City’s increase of 5%. However, the percentage of the Hispanic/ Latino population decreased from 50% in 2000 to just over 30% in 2015.

The study area is ethnically very diverse. The northern area is predominantly White/Non- Hispanic and increasing. The central part within the GLD is still largely Hispanic/Latino, and the southern tracts have a large Hasidic population.

Figure 0-16: Hispanic Or Latino By Race Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Predominantly Hispanic Predominantly White GLD Priority Parks

Figure 0-15: Hispanic Or Latino By Race Source: ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates)

9 4. Heavy truck traffic

There is ample connectivity and access to transit within the study area. Residents in the Southside are located within walking distance to bus stops, and there are several subway stops nearby.

However, given the strong infrastructure, critical improvements are needed. There is a greater amount of transit activity in census tracts 525, 527, and 535, than in the remainder of the study area. The BQE and Williamsburg Bridge bring pollution from heavy truck traffic through the study area, which can also pose risks for pedestrians and bicyclists.

There is a high concentration of unsafe truck routes located near the BQE. Out of 17 accidents in total in 2016, three resulted in fatalities. Seven of the total accidents occurred within the vulnerable tracts in the southern part of the study area (shown in Fig. 0-11 Economic Disparities by Census Tracts). Figure 0-17: Truck Traffic,Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Fatalities Bus Stops Ferry Stop Subway Station Subway Routes Truck Routes Priority Parks GLD

10 5. Environmental Injustice: Existing 6. Climate Justice: Storm Surge Industrial Facilities With the threat of climate change and past events Increased truck traffic is a result of diesel trucks like Hurricane Sandy, storm surge has become an driving through the study area to industrial issue, especially in coastal neighborhoods. A large facilities. There are 16 solid waste facilities in portion of Williamsburg and portions of the study CD1, in addition to several industrial facilities area are susceptible to storm surge. When sea that are required to report toxin pollution to level rises during hurricanes, it can cause flooding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The in low-lying areas. Within the study area, 42% of solid waste facilities are predominantly located the buildings are located in storm surge zones. The in Significant Maritime Industrial Areas (SMIA), blue areas in figure xx are the most likely to flood, further north in Greenpoint, where there is a heavy and the different shades of blue indicate different concentration of industrial and polluting uses. The hurricane categories. facilities in this area are vulnerable to storm surge and can spread toxins and chemicals. Sewer outfalls, also know as Combined Sewer Outfalls (CSOs), release runoff into untreated sewage when treatment plants receive too much runoff to process. This can cause negative health impacts from storm surge and spread of toxins.

Figure 0-18: Existing Industrial Facilities,Study Area Figure 0-19: Storm Surge , Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016, ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates) Source: FEMA 2006 CSOs Outfall Bus Stops SMIA CD1 Hurricane Cat. 1 Hurricane Cat. 2 Hurricane Cat. 3 Truck Routes Hurricane Cat. 4 Hurricane Cat. 2 Hurricane Cat. 3 Priority Parks GLD Air Emissions CSOs Outfall Toxic Release - Air Water 11 Toxic Release - Water S.W.O.T. Analysis

Strengths 1. Historic, mixed use urban fabric 2. Cultural and ethnic diversity 3. Strong CBO’s and political representation 4. Transit infrastructure

Weaknesses 1. Socioeconomic inequality 2. Decline in Hispanic/Latino population 3. Neighborhood divided by BQE; pollution from BQE 4. Impervious and polluted parks, open spaces 5. Limited waterfront access

Opportunities 1. Young population 2. Incoming new businesses for new opportunities 3. Undeveloped and underutilized space 4. BQ Green plans for greening neighborhood

Threats 1. Gentrification and displacement 2. Lack of open space 3. Pollution 4. High unemployment in GLD 5. Waterfront luxury redevelopment

12 Inventory and Analysis

An inventory of vacant lots was prepared for the Significance of Vacant Lots assessment on whether these lots are eligible to be incorporated into the existing open space system While the existing conditions report has provided for the Southside. This inventory is a detailed study a relatively comprehensive analysis of existing of existing vacant lots based on a physical site open spaces, this report focuses more on vacant survey, and GIS mapping. This assessment includes lots found within the study area. According to location, zoning, property ownership, Floor Area NYC PLUTO data, there are 39.1 acres of vacant Ratio (FAR), Borough-Block-Lot (BBL) numbers, lots, out of which 11.2 acres (486,623 sq ft) are as well as lot area. There are 39.1 acres of vacant publicly owned. In addition, a site visit confirmed lot in the study area, out of which 15.4 acres are that 15.4 acres, or 39 percent of the vacant lots, currently undergoing development. Some areas are undergoing development. This reduces the are used for parking or storage, while some areas number of potential open spaces that could have are inaccessible. The study identifies 11.2 acres of been added to the inventory. vacant lots, which are publicly owned accounting to 29 percent. These public lots can be considered “priority lots” for El Puente. Those around the four parks that are of top concern for El Puente, “priority parks” – Marcy Park, Rodney Park, La Guardia Playground North, and Continental Army Plaza - are small and scattered across the site. The vacant lot inventory partly aides in framing some recommendations.

Figure 0-20: Vacant Lot, Study Area Figure 0-21: Vacant Lot, Study Area

13 Figure 0-22: Vacant Lot Inventory, Study Area

A few of these sites have been identified to be of Regardless, it is important for El Puente to be relative priority as they are publicly owned, and aware of these lots, perhaps to advocate for more it would be easier for El Puente to work with its stringent zoning or land use regulations, possibly partners and communicate with the City in looking in partnership with other advocacy groups who to create more open space. are well-versed in these issues such as Los Sures. The rationale would be based on the observation On the other hand, there are 28 acres of privately of several high density luxury developments on owned vacant lots, with 2.7 acres used for vehicle such vacant lots. This includes the Domino Sugar parking or storage. However, it may be more Factory site, another lot right across from it along difficult for El Puente in terms of discussing with Kent Avenue, a site next to Giando restaurant, as the owners the possibility of using these as public well as a few others indicated in figure 0-22. open space.

14 The trend is that vacant lots, particularly in the northern part of the study area and the waterfront, are being purchased by developers and built into new residential or commercial towers. This adds to the existing gentrifying impacts that have been affecting the study area. Therefore, while not directly related to El Puente’s work in the Southside, it may be crucial to be aware of and notify other advocacy groups who have the tools to address such a threat.

Figure 0-23: Vacant Lot Inventory, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Vacant Lots Priority Lots Priority Parks Open Space GLD

15 Objective 1

Enhance and expand the quality of open spaces to improve public health, multimodal transportation, and the environment in the community. The recommendations in this objective address issues related to accessibility to open space, the environment, and transit.

The Southside has ⅕ the amount of open space in comparison to the New York City open space standards. The recommendations within this objective look to enhance and expand the existing open spaces in the area. Each of these recommendations are based on site-specific urban design interventions to enhance the open spaces through greening and mitigating pollution in the study area. Each can stand alone as a recommendation, but are intended to enhance and complement each other through their connection via a ‘Greenpath’ (recommendation 1.2). This Greenpath ties each individual recommendation together as a network of green spaces, creating a greater sense of place and space within the Southside.

Accessibility Environment Transit

1.1 Advocate reclamation of Open Space lost thorugh Parkland Alienation

1.2 Create a Greenpath to connect the neighborhood

1.3 Pedestrian plazas to improve existing open spaces

1.4 “Southside Pedestrian Superblocks” to reduce pollution and traffic 1.5 Safety & connectivity in Continental Army Plaza through protected bike lanes 1.6 Partner with DOT to reduce truck delivery and congested routes

1.7 Cover Williamsburg Plaza Bus Terminal with green roof structure

1.8 Multipurpose open space under Williamsburg Bridge

1.9 Enclose BQE and ramp to the Williamsburg Bridge

1.10 Propose water storage project

16 LONG $$ Recommendation 1.1 TERM

Advocate for reclamation of open space lost through parkland alienation

As defined by the handbook on the Alienation and Conversion of Municipal Parkland in New York, parkland “alienation” occurs when a municipality wishes to sell, lease, or discontinue municipal parkland. Parkland alienation applies to every municipal park in the State, whether owned by a city, county, town, or village. Thus, as of right land sites that are zoned as parkland use should not be utilized otherwise, according to a recent case law (Capruso v. Village of Kings Point. See APPENDIX ).1 At any given point in time, total parkland within a region should remain constant, assuming the government provides no additional parkland. While land use may be changed, parkland spaces have to be replaced and provided elsewhere.

El Puente can use this as a tool to reclaim any parkland space that is currently not used as public open space. One such example is the one- acre lot under the Williamsburg bridge, between Wythe Avenue and Berry Street, South 5th and South 6th Streets, which is utilized as vehicle storage by the Department of Transportation, but should be used as public open space for the neighborhood. Council Member Antonio Reynoso has mentioned the possible contamination of toxic substances or pollutants at this site. Fortunately for El Puente, Council Member Reynoso has also publicly stated his interest in fighting for reclamation of this space. His experience and political power would be invaluable for El Puente in pushing for the reclamation of parkland lost through park alienation. In addition, El Puente could also gather support from Council Member Stephen Levin, as well as other advocacy groups such as 596 Acres and the Open Space Figure 1-1: Potential Alienation Sites,Study Area Alliance for North Brooklyn to form a Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space Existing Greenway GLD coalition to advocate for this. Potential Alienation

17 Alternative recommendations for the site will be One current issue with this site is the lack of provided in the following sections. Several vacant access, as it is blocked by an adjacent restaurant lots that were identified earlier can be utilized for named Giando by the River. However, next to potential relocation as shown in figure 1-1. this is a building owned by the City of New York, allowing for the possibility to work with the City The circled site along the waterfront, as shown to provide alternative access to the site. The main in figure 1-1, is also a site of interest. This site is advantage of having the City provide the parkland publicly owned by the City of New York and is would be the lack of any land acquisition costs. approximately 1.5 acres with a Facility FAR of 5.0. The only major investment required would be to Although there is a small variance of 0.5 acres, this lay the structural foundations to build a new park, site has potential for relocation of the parkland site which might require some work, especially at the under the bridge. The proximity of the site to the waterfront. Brooklyn Greenway Initiative2: a 26 mile bike and jogging route connecting Brooklyn’s waterfront, As noted in the aforementioned handbook, park and the newly proposed Domino Sugar Waterfront alienation is a very complex process and can Park, would also enhance its functionality as an inevitably be time consuming. For instance, it took open space. Its location in the Southside provides the City about 22 years from Common Council additional waterfront access and it would be closer authorization to initiate the process in 1984, and for residents of the Southside to access than the alienation was only completed in 2002.3 While two existing waterfront parks: Grand Ferry Park financially it would not be that substantial, El and the Edge Park near the North Ferry. Puente must be able to persevere in maintaining the advocacy for the open space reclamation.

Figure 1-2: Potential Site Along Waterfront,Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016

18 SHORT $$$ Recommendation 1.2 TERM

Create a greenpath to connect the neighborhood

This is an umbrella recommendation that proposes greening a main artery to connect the network of parks and green initiatives in the following recommendations. The Greenpath is a 1.2-mile-long corridor from Grand Ferry Park on the East River, along South 4th Street, that extends to Union Ave at the edge of the Green Light District, and potentially, further east towards Sternberg Park. The proposed Greenpath would link together existing open spaces and parks in the area, including Marcy Park, Rodney Park, La Guardia Playground North, and Continental Army Plaza, as well as the network of community gardens and other green and open spaces around South 4th Street.

The Greenpath will serve several purposes. First, it will connect - socially and physically - the eastern section of the GLD and the Southside, currently divided by the BQE, to the waterfront, forming a green, pedestrian friendly east to west axis.

Potentially, in the future, it could also connect the planned Domino Waterfront Park to the BQ Green. It is currently unclear how the recently revealed plans for the Domino Waterfront Park will impact the Southside, and whether it will help connect the community to the East River waterfront. However, it could be integrated into the Greenpath.

Within the Greenpath, pedestrian safety and comfort could be enhanced through street furniture and urban design interventions, such as curb extensions at every corner between Kent and Union Avenues, and ribboned sidewalks as shown in figure 1-3. Figure 1-3: Greenpath Proposal, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space Existing Greenway GLD 4 Planters and DOT Street Seats are Greenpath examples of street furniture that can be used within the curb extensions and in proximity to the parks along the Greenpath.

19 Los Sures

Roebling St Roebling St S 4th St El Puente S 4th St

Continental Army S 4th St Plaza S 4th St

LaGuardia Playground

Roebling St Roebling St Figure 1-4: Hazardous Intersection,Roebling St & S 4th Figure 1-5: Curb Extensions & Green Ribbons, Roebling St & S 4th

Second, planting additional trees in key sections For the Greenpath to be successful, in connecting along South 4th Street, especially between Driggs both sides of the BQE and in providing pedestrian Ave and Keap Street, and additional greenery safety and connectivity, the Department of around the boundaries of Rodney, Marcy, Transportation will need to address the dangerous LaGuardia, and Continental Army Plaza, could help intersection between Havemeyer street, South mitigate pollution5, absorb gaseous emissions and 4th street, and Borinquen Place in proximity to hazardous particles, and release more oxygen to LaGuardia Playground North. the air. El Puente could partner with organizations such El Puente’s Urban Lab Report recorded PM2.5 as the New York Restoration Project (NYRP), Trees levels (particulate matter that lodges in the lungs New York, the Open Space Alliance for North causing asthma and pulmonary disease) around Brooklyn, and Transportation Alternatives to the BQE, at a level 6 times higher than what is advocate for this initiative. recommended for human safety. According to the US Forest Service, trees absorb PM2.5 - “100 trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants per year.”6 Essentially, by absorbing polluting particulates, the Greenpath could function as a filter for pollution, in addition to being a neighborhood connector and beautifier.

The New York tree census shows lack of medium and large sized trees along South 4th street (with exception of the Rodney and Marcy Park areas). Therefore, the community could benefit greatly from planting trees around this location.7 Benefits Figure 1-6: Streets Covered with Trees, Brooklyn include reduced noise, storm water interception, Source: Blogography energy conservation and carbon dioxide storage, as well as aesthetic value, as listed by New York City’s Department of Parks. 8 20 SHORT $$$ Recommendation 1.3 TERM

Advocate for the creation of pedestrian plazas to improve existing open spaces

El Puente has expressed the need for open space where the community can gather. They envision a plaza where the community can come together regularly to strengthen and maintain their cultural ties and identity within the neighborhood. There are two open spaces across the street from El Puente’s offices, LaGuardia Playground North and Continental Army Plaza, that if connected, could serve as this plaza. Continental Army Plaza is not used by the community, save for occasional skateboarders and cyclists passing through. LaGuardia Playground, though, is considered valuable open space in the community. It is located directly across the street from El Puente, and serves as the playground for children from P.S. 50, located two blocks to the north. The open space is currently divided by Roebling Street, with heavy truck traffic travelling to the ramp of the Williamsburg Bridge, located on the south side of these spaces, and next to the exit ramp for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, as seen in Figures X and Xa. The truck traffic pollutes the air, and is a safety hazard for pedestrians and bicyclists. Closing Roebling Street to traffic would bridge the two open spaces to create a large space for El Puente’s plaza objective, mitigate pollution by redirecting truck traffic (see recommendation 1.6) and address safety issues for pedestrians and bicyclists (see recommendation 1.5).

This recommendation offers three components. The first phase would involve partnering with a university or a planning firm to conduct a traffic study and analysis. The objective of the study would be to look at the best options to redirect traffic from Roebling Street. One possibility for this would be to redirect all traffic from the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge to Borinquen Place, which runs along the south side of both of these parks.

The second phase recommends partnering with the New York City Department of Transportation Plaza Program to create a permanent pedestrian plaza on Roebling Street to bridge the two open spaces, bringing them together to create a large plaza which would create a sense of place for the community (also see recommendation 2.2). Figure 1-7: Pedestrial Plazas Proposal, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space Existing Greenway GLD 21 Greenpath Figure 1-8: Hazardous Intersection,Roebling St & S 4th

The third phase recommends partnering with the Department of Parks to plant more trees and a green wall on the south side of LaGuardia Playground North and Continental Army Plaza, on Borinquen Place, to mitigate pollution from truck traffic heading to the Williamsburg Bridge. Partnering with the Department of Parks to create a green wall (see recommendation 1.2) along this side of the park for safety and noise reduction, and several rows of trees to sequester emissions, would ameliorate pollution from this traffic. Implementing these same strategies on the south side of Continental Army Plaza would add to this recommendation, and create a green wall-forest that would buffer the resulting Plaza from the BQE and the Williamsburg Bridge to bring the design of the two open spaces together.

Figure 1-9: Before Intervention,LaGuardia Playground Figure 1-10: After Intervention,LaGuardia Playground

22 Figure 1-11: Before Intervention,LaGuardia Playground

Figure 1-12: After Intervention,LaGuardia Playground (Rendering)

The Department of Parks, after a visioning session With the traffic study findings, El Puente could last October, is currently in the design process consider partnering with the DOT Plaza Program, to renovate LaGuardia Playground. El Puente with which they have have had success in and members from the community that were at collaborating on their summer streets and weekend this visioning session will be invited to see the walks programs (as referenced in the following design proposal. Depending on whether the Parks recommendation, 1.4). Department has a tree buffer, and any extra trees in their design, El Puente could consider asking their Council Member to advocate for these additions.

23 SHORT $$ Recommendation 1.4 TERM Promote the creation of Southside Pedestrian Superblocks for reducing pollution and traffic The superblock concept prioritizes and works towards the pedestrianization of streets by reducing or limiting vehicle access in a network of combined blocks. This initiative will reduce pollution, improve air quality, increase walkability, and can enhance social bonds. The superblock is a grid composed by 3-5 horizontal streets and 3-5 vertical streets, or 9-15 contiguous blocks. Within it pedestrians have priority over vehicle traffic. Using this strategy, the intersections inside the grid could become lieus of community activity, alternative plazas where children can walk and play safely, and air pollution is controlled.

To implement this, a three phase program is recommended, where each individual phase can stand on its own for the creation of a network of superblocks. El Puente can build upon the Department of Transportation’s five existing Pedestrian Enhancement Programs, and partner with the Department to develop Southside superblocks (see appendix for additional information).

The first phase involves prohibiting trucks and heavy vehicles inside the superblock zones and limiting the speed within the block to 5-10 MPH. The second phase would be to close the area inside the superblocks to traffic during the weekends.

The final phase would be to completely pedestrianize these blocks, with the exception of residents and local business owners. Paris, Barcelona, and London have all successfully implemented different variations of superblocks. The streets and Figure 1-13: Superblock Proposal, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 intersections within the superblock Priority Parks Open Space Superblock GLD can then become locations where social bonds are promoted and activities take place.

24 Three locations within the Green Light District (GLD) have been identified for potential designation as super blocks, due to their key locations. The eastern superblock, between Borinquen Place, Union Avenue, South 4th Street, and Keap Street, can build upon the existing network of community gardens around South 4th Street, east of the BQE (Keap 4th Street Garden, Southside Community Garden, and Ten Eyck Garden), and its proximity to Rodney Park and the Brooklyn Arbor Public School.

The central superblock is situated at the heart of the GLD, encompassing South 3rd Street, Roebling Street, Hope Street, and Marcy Avenue. El Puente’s head office, La Guardia Park, and Continental Army Plaza, are along its borders. This area is especially prone to pollution, as identified in this studio’s Existing Conditions Report and El Puente’s Urban Lab Report. It would benefit greatly from limited Figure 1-14: Superblock Diagram, Study Area Source: Google Maps vehicle and truck access. The southwest superblock includes NYCHA’s Berry Street Development and is bordered by Broadway and Division Avenue, Wythe Avenue, and Bedford Avenue. Over 35% of the population in this area is under 18 years of age, making this an ideal location.

The three proposed sites will also complement and enhance the recommended Greenpath. Additionally, data shows that only 29% of people in proximity to the recommended superblock sites own a vehicle (2014/15 ACS), compared to 44% in Brooklyn9, making these suitable locations for such an initiative. The superblocks will also complement Figure 1-15: Weekend Walks Brooklyn 2013 the Grand Street Peopleway initiative designed Source: DOT Weekend Walks to mitigate projected congestion and commuting issues expected with the closure of the L train for renovations.10

Figure 1-16: Weekend Walks Brooklyn 2013 25 Source: DOT Weekend Walks SHORT $$$ Recommendation 1.5 TERM Enhance safety and connectivity in and around Continental Army Plaza through protected bike lanes The Southside of Williamsburg experiences a high volume of heavy truck traffic, as designated truck routes cut through the study area to access the Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and industrial sites. This makes it unsafe for bicyclists to safely access the Williamsburg Bridge. As shown in (Fig. 1-17), bike routes are predominantly located to the west of the study area near the waterfront. To the east of Continental Army Plaza, there are no bike routes. Bicyclists coming from the east do not have a designated spot assigned on the road to access the bridge. Additionally, census tracts 525, 527, and 535 have limited to no bike routes. Specifically leading up to the Williamsburg Bridge, surrounding Continental Army Plaza, and near the BQE there are multiple recorded fatalities from truck incidents, as shown in figure 1-17. The red circle indicates the boundaries around Continental Army Plaza lacking bike connectivity. For each recorded fatality, there are no bike lanes present on the map, however there are truck routes.

To address bicycle safety near Continental Army Plaza, this recommendation calls for enhancing safety and connectivity in and around Continental Army Plaza through protected bike lanes. This recommendation is to ensure the safety of bicycle riders and strengthen the existing transit infrastructure through added bike connectivity. However, this recommendation also aims to address safety concerns for pedestrians inside Continental Army Plaza. Since there is only one access ramp leading towards the exit to the Williamsburg Bridge, the influx of bicyclists cutting through the park presents an issue for pedestrians in need of the ramp.

To implement this recommendation, El Puente could consider connecting with Transportation Alternatives, Times Up, or the Department of Transportation to advocate for Figure 1-17: Multi-modal transit activity near Continental Army Plaza,Study Area enhanced safety measures such as Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space Fatalities Truck Routes GLD protected bike lanes to the east of NYC Bike Routes Continental Army Plaza and more bike lanes extending towards Union Avenue. 26 Once a connection is established, a data count could be conducted to measure how many bicyclists use Continental Army Plaza to get off and on the bridge. Additionally, pedestrian counts could be conducted too. Once this information is counted, along with an advocacy campaign, El Puente could consider contacting the Department of Transportation to conduct their own assessment on the need for more bike lanes. Adding more bike lanes, specifically protected bike lanes, will also work towards the larger picture of creating a network of connectivity. This recommendation can also complement the Greenpath as previously mentioned, by prioritizing pedestrian uses over vehicular traffic.

Additionally, design interventions are needed inside Continental Army Plaza to protect bicyclists and park uses for safe access to the Williamsburg Bridge.

Figure 1-18 shows the bicyclist patterns in and around Continental Army plaza. It shows what bicyclists are doing to protect themselves, and in addition this design can protect pedestrians. This is an example of where open space can be used to improve traffic safety for multi-modal users. Inside the park, there is a conflict area where both pedestrians and bicyclist riders overlap on the access ramp. The design intervention calls for designating the ramp for ADA accessibility uses through means Figure 1-18: Multi-modal transit activity near Continental Army Plaza,Study Area of paint or a clearly placed sign. Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 To address the needs of bicyclists, Observed Bike Route Existing Bike Lane advocating to create an additional Pedestrian Path Hazardous Intersection ramp next to the current ramp is first necessary. Since there are two large staircases in the middle of the park, the middle staircase could be used for a bicyclist only ramp, which could lead to innovative ideas such as creating a permeable ramp to soak up rainwater.

27 Figure 1-19: Design Intervention Continental Army Plaza,Study Area Figure 1-20: Design Intervention Continental Army Plaza,Study Area

Since this will be costly and require specialized A group of cyclists advocating for safer streets technicians or architects to construct, once created a group (and Twitter handle) called the enough support is created, El Puente could contact Department of Transformation. This group aimed architecture graduate schools in New York City to to address the need for protected bike lanes from design mock ideas. Then at a later date, El Puente heavy truck traffic and vans. The group put cones could work with the Department of Transportation around unprotected bike lanes with flowers on top. to send request for proposals. Another design Then, the Department of Transportation agreed to intervention calls for adding planters in the park study the area with unprotected bike lanes due to adjacent to the ramp to guide bicyclists and the advocacy campaign.11 Similarly, in other large protect pedestrians from the influx of cyclists. This cities such as Toronto and Boston, flower planters assumes that both bicyclists and pedestrians will have been placed as a buffer between truck traffic continue to share the access ramp. and bicyclists.

28 LONG $$$$ Recommendation 1.6 TERM Partner with the DOT to reduce truck delivery on congested routes and advocate for zero-emission buses at the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal There is a high concentration of truck routes within the study area, as trucks make deliveries and access main infrastructural connectors, such as the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) and the Williamsburg Bridge. This presents a safety hazard for pedestrians, along with the air pollution spread from diesel trucks. In 2016, there were 17 accidents, of which 14 occurred on truck routes. Additionally, there were seven fatalities within the census tracts identified as vulnerable, and more recently, three fatalities in 2016.12 To address heavy truck traffic, this recommendation calls to reduce truck delivery on congested routes, thereby improving pedestrian safety, and air quality in the study area.

This recommendation suggests that El Puente creates an off-hour plan for truck delivery. The off-hour plan, which is a short-term and low cost plan, would allow for reduced truck traffic on streets in the study area during congested daytime hours, improving business operations of participating vendors and receiving businesses, and improving air quality. Large trucks with a length of 20 feet or more would only be allowed on Kent Avenue, the Williamsburg Bridge, and the BQE (See Fig. 1-21). This would mainly be for semi-trucks and dump trucks.

An example of this is the Manhattan Off-Hour Delivery plan13, a pilot program that takes place between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m, when more than 400 businesses across Midtown and Lower Manhattan have shifted portions of their deliveries to off hours. The plan has reduced truck deliveries in the daytime, which has also improved pedestrian safety and Figur 1-21: Truck Routes, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 mobility since less trucks are on the Priority Parks Open Space Truck Routes GLD road. Greenpath

29 Figure 1-22: Electric Zero-Emission MTA Bus Figure 1-23: Zero-Emission Bus Batteries Source: NY Daily News Source: NY Daily News

El Puente could also consider working with the DOT This has been done as part of the MTA’s Zero- to replace buses at the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Emission bus pilot program.14 The MTA Zero- Bus Terminal that run through the area to zero- Emission bus is an all-electric, zero-emission emission buses (See Fig. 1-22), in order to improve electric bus, which ultimately could benefit the air quality and reduce emissions. city’s air quality. It could lead to pivotal change for the MTA and for the city’s environmental footprint. The plan has reduced the use of bus fuel, which can

thereby reduce the CO2 emissions, and improve air quality.

30 SHORT $$$ Recommendation 1.7 TERM Advocate for greening the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal

This recommendation advocates for the greening of the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal. The Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal is located at the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge between Broadway and South 5th Street on Havemeyer Street, at the intersection of several transportation routes. The Bus Terminal’s location near La Guardia Park and Continental Army Plaza, which both have very high PM2.5 levels according to El Puente’s Urban Lab Report, as well as close to the greenpath discussed in recommendation 1.2, create an opportunity to improve air quality and enhance connectivity. The New York City Department of Parks Street Tree Map15 shows a lack of medium and large sized trees in the area, providing an opportunity to mitigate pollution, reduce energy usage, and improve the area both functionally aesthetically.

The short-term goal of this recommendation is to connect it to the greenpath, and work with the zero-emission buses suggested in recommendation 1.6. The Bus Terminal is currently a concrete slab in the middle of the Southside. Planting trees and vegetation, and creating permeable surfaces between bus lanes and near waiting areas, instead of the concrete and asphalt paving at the bus terminal, would lessen the impact of the air and noise pollution and improve conditions for waiting customers, pedestrians, and park users in the surrounding area. Additionally, a user-friendly design that includes a sheltered waiting area would also make the terminal more engaging.

Figure 1-24: Williamsburg Bridge Plaza & Bus Terminal, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space Bus Terminal GLD

31 The long term goal would be to move the To implement this recommendation, El Puente Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal elsewhere, could lead a coalition of of local community groups possibly to a low-density, industrial area. The and other citywide environmental justice groups Williamsburg Bridge, the BQE, and the elevated to advocate to the Department of Transportation subway line all run in the same area, and the Bus and the Department of Parks, using data about the Terminal is an added burden on the community in pollution levels in the terminal, current use of the the Southside. El Puente could gather the support terminal, and the potential impact of increased of community members, council members, and trees and vegetation. El Puente could partner with other community organizations to put pressure on an organization such as the Open Space Alliance the City. A transportation study would also need to for North Brooklyn to gather this data. be conducted to measure the feasibility of moving it.

Figure 1-25: Bus Terminal - Current State, Study Area

Figure 1-26: Bus Terminal - Potential State,Study Area

32 LONG $$$$ Recommendation 1.8 TERM Advocate for enclosing designated but unused space under the Williamsburg Bridge to create a multipurpose space A 0.975 acre (42,471 square feet) space under the Williamsburg Bridge, located between Wythe Avenue, Berry Street, South 5th Street, and South 6th Street is designated as open space but not used as such due to high levels of noise and air pollution. The space, owned by New York City, could potentially be a good location for an enclosed multi-purpose public space.

As Council Member Antonio Reynoso has previously discussed, this space is an area of concern due to its inappropriate use and location for a green open space. El Puente could use his support in advocating to the Department of Parks to enclose the space and consider alternatives for its use. As the space is currently designated as parkland, the Department of Parks is the agency in charge of its use.

A similar project was developed under the Manhattan side of Queensboro Bridge, where there is an event space, and a space that was Figure 1-27: Unused Space Under Bridge, Study Area formerly occupied by a Food Emporium, but is Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 16 Priority Parks Open Space Truck Routes GLD currently vacant. However, these are privately Space Under Bridge Greenpath owned spaces. Another consideration for the use of enclosed space includes urban farming, which has been done just south of the study area, in Bedford- Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in shipping containers by Square Roots, an urban farming accelerator.17 A similar multi-purpose concept was also done at La Marqueta in East Harlem, and renew Lots in East New York.18 El Puente could partner with or reach out to those behind Square Roots, La Marqueta, and reNew Lots to ensure the space is used appropriately, as well as with other community organizations.

Figure 1-27a: Unused Space Under Bridge, Study Area

33 SHORT $$$$ Recommendation 1.9 TERM Enclose the BQE and ramp to the Williamsburg Bridge to stop noise and air pollution

To address air and noise pollution that has been affecting residents in the study area since the 1960s, it is recommended to advocate for the covering of the elevated section of the BQE and the Williamsburg Bridge entrance ramp, from the waterfront to Metropolitan Avenue (see Fig. 1-28 and 1-29). Unless the BQE is fully enclosed, even with the planting of trees to improve the air quality and quality of life, the environmental injustice of air and noise pollution will continue.

The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and the Williamsburg Bridge ramp cut through the heart of the Green Light District and the larger study area. These major transportation routes produce heavy pollution and cast hazardous particulate matter throughout the study area.19 Pollution is linked to high rates of asthma and respiratory disease amongst the population.20 Noise pollution from truck and vehicle traffic is constant and pervasive. “Traffic noise triggers a complex chain of responses affecting human health and well-being”,21 such as 22 sleep disruption, heart attack and hypertension, Figure 1-28: Williamsburg Bridge Exit Ramp, Study Area and “cognitive impairment in children”.23 Some of Source: Google Maps the worst noise and air pollution in the study area is concentrated at the few open spaces available to the community, as they are located alongside the BQE. The parks with the worst air quality include LaGuardia Playground and Continental Army Plaza.24

This is a long-term recommendation that would require several stages: conducting a noise pollution study to show the level of environmental injustice the noise pollution is causing, in conjunction with El Puente’s open air lab; and working with an Figure 1-29: Williamsburg Bridge Exit Ramp (Rendering) architectural firm for the design, a civil engineering Source: Google Maps firm for a filtration system, the NYC Department of Transportation to cover the Williamsburg Bridge entrance ramp, and with the NYS Department of Transportation to cover the BQE.

34 There are several examples of noise and pollution barriers, both proposed and in existence, to reference. One of these includes a proposal to cover the trenched portion of the BQE on either side of the the proposed site of the BQGreen (see XYa and XYb). There is also a covered highway in Warsaw, Poland, the S8 (see Fig. 1-30), that functions as a noise and air pollution barrier. Other examples can be seen in Italy, India, and Australia.

Figure 1-30: Highway, Warsaw, Poland Photo: Alik Keplicz

Figure 1-31: BQE Trench Figure 1-32: Covered BQE Trench (Rendering) Source: http://www.kisscathcart.com/BQE/overview.html Photo: http://www.kisscathcart.com/BQE/overview.html

35 LONG $$$$ Recommendation 1.10 TERM Propose a water storage project through the creation of a sunken plaza

This recommendation proposes using the area under the Williamsburg Bridge from Kent Avenueto Wythe Avenue to create a sunken plaza that can flood in wet conditions and be used as water storage. The area can be dug down and then rimmed with concrete, creating an area that can store water runoff during high-rain periods in order to relieve the pressure on the water treatment plant, as well as contain storm surge during hurricane episodes.

In dry weather, when the plaza does not have water in it, the area could be open to the public, and contain such uses as a skating park, a playground, or seating. An addition to the project could be a structure on top of the plaza to protect the park users from falling objects, paint, and possibly, to reduce the noise from the bridge.

El Puente would need to obtain the rights to use the space from the City, which it currently uses as storage. It may be helpful to provide alternative locations to move the storage to, or suggest the possibility of building a structure as far inland as possible to create new storage. El Puente would work to convey jurisdiction of the space to the Department of Parks and work with them in getting such a structure built.

Figure 1-33: Water Plaza Proposal, Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space Proposed Plaza GLD CSOs Outfall Hurricane Cat. 1 Hurricane Cat. 2 Hurricane Cat. 3 Hurricane Cat. 4 Hurricane Cat. 2 Hurricane Cat. 3

36 There are “water plazas” in Amsterdam, which serve the purpose of holding excess rainwater to prevent areas from flooding.25 When these parks are not holding water they serve practical uses such as playgrounds and courts.

A similar size project (9,000 square meters, pictured above) in Rotterdam cost around just over $5 million.26 Based on this, it is estimated that this project would cost around the same price, assuming it is similar in features. Creating a shelter structure would increase that cost.

Figur 1-34: Space Proposed for Water Plaza, Study Area

Figure 1.35: Water Plaza, Dry Condition Figure 1-36: Water Plaza, Wet Condition Source: publicspace.org Source: publicspace.org

Figure 1-37: Water Plaza Concept Source: urbandesignnaba.com

37 Neighborhood Vision

Figure 1-38: Objective 1 Recommendations Diagram, Study Area Source: Google Maps

38 1.11 Sources

Recommendation 1.1 1. “Capruso v. Village of Kings Point.” Justia Law. Accessed May 31, 2017.http://law.justia.com/cases/ new-york/court-of-appeals/2014/102-0.html. 2. “Brooklyn Greenway Initiative: What We Do.” Brooklyn Greenway Initiative. December 10, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://www.brooklyngreenway.org/about-bgi/what-we-do/. 3. Paterson, D. A. “Site Reconnaissance Report Southern Tributaries to Cayuga Lake”. 19.2 Legal and Regulatory Constraints on Site Selection: Parkland Alienation & the Use of City Parkland as a Dewatering Site. 2010. http://ccetompkins.org/resources/southern-tributaries-to-cayuga-lake- dredging-project Recommendation 1.2 4. NYC Department of Transportation, http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/streetseats. shtml 5. According to the EPA and NYC Department of Parks trees have many environmental and health benefits: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/ochp_2015_near_road_ pollution_booklet_v16_508.pdf, and NYC Department of Parks, https://tree-map.nycgovparks.org/ learn/benefits 6. US Forest Service, https://www.fs.fed.us 7. “NYC Parks Street Tree Map.” NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. 2017. https://tree-map. nycgovparks.org/. 8. NYC Department of Parks, NYC Tree Street Map, https://tree-map.nycgovparks.org/learn/benefits Recommendation 1.3/ 1.4 9. Vehicles available, American Community Survey 2014 (5-Year Estimates)(SE), ACS 2015 (5-Year Estimates), Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau 10. Grand Street Peopleway, 2017. DNA INFO, https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161101/ williamsburg/l-train-shutdown-transportation-mta-grand-street-transportation-matthew-von-ohlen, and https://campaigns.transalt.org/petition/grand-street-peopleway Recommendation 1.5 11. Whitford , Emma. “Safe Streets Activists Are Planting Flowered Orange Cones Along Bike Lanes.” Gothamist. October 7, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://gothamist.com/2015/10/07/bike_lane_ flower_power.php. 12. Vision Zero View. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017. http://www.vzv.nyc/ Recommendation 1.6 13. Donohue, Pete. “Electric, Zero-emission MTA Bus Hits the Road.” NY Daily News. N.p.,14 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Apr. 2017. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/electric-zero-emission-mta-bus-hits- road-article-1.1455731 14. Off-Hour Deliveries, http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/ssi10-offhour.pdf Recommendation 1.7 15. “NYC Parks Street Tree Map.” NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. 2017. https://tree-map. nycgovparks.org/.

39 Recommendation 1.8 16. Warerkar, Tanay. “Under the Queensboro Bridge, a beloved retail space is set to be revitalized.” Curbed NY. January 24, 2017. http://ny.curbed.com/2017/1/24/14375164/queensboro-bridge- landmark-michaels-food-emporium. 17. “Square Roots.” Square Roots. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://squarerootsgrow.com/. 18. “ReNew Lots.” NYCEDC. May 17, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://www.nycedc.com/program/ renew-lots. Recommendation 1.9 19. “Green Light District Overview.” Green Light District Overview | El Puente. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://elpuente.us/content/green-light-district-overview. 20. “Green Light District Overview.” Green Light District Overview | El Puente. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://elpuente.us/content/green-light-district-overview. 21. “Turning Down the Volume on Road Traffic.” Road Traffic Technology. August 4, 2011. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/features/feature126199/. 22. Kim, Minho, Seo I. Chang, Jeong C. Seong, James B. Holt, Tae H. Park, Joon H. Ko, and Janet B. Croft. “Road traffic noise: annoyance, sleep disturbance, and public health implications.” American journal of preventive medicine 43, no. 4 (2012): 353-360. 23. Communications, NYU Web. “NYU Launches Research Initiative to Combat NYC Noise Pollution.” NYU. November 7, 2016. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/ news/2016/november/SONYC_Launch.html. 24. “Green Light District Overview.” Green Light District Overview | El Puente. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://elpuente.us/content/green-light-district-overview. Recommendation 1.10 25. “Water Square Benthemplein.” De Urbanisten. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://www.urbanisten.nl/ wp/?portfolio=waterplein-benthemplein. 26. Bravo, David. “Water Square” in Benthemplein.” Public Space. 2013. Accessed May 31, 2017. http:// www.publicspace.org/en/works/h034-water-square.

40 Objective 2

Support small businesses, provide training, and create employment opportunities for inclusive and sustainable economic development. The recommendations in this objective address issues related to the environment, education and culture, and sustainable economic development.

Objective two focuses on promoting local small businesses and providing employment opportunities through revitalizing underutilized parks and open spaces. The interventions build further on objective one’s pedestrian initiatives to promote better safety and quality standards for commuting and existing open space. Recommendations in objective two also encourage youth and community members alike to be a part of community activities, internships opportunities, youth-led and youth run activities, and overall promote active membership within the Green Light District. These recommendations encourage Southside community members to support each other, as well as link the socio-economic disparities that currently prevail in the neighborhood. Each recommendation in this objective build on each other, but can also be implemented separately, thus creating a better link and support system to form a greater vision for the Southside community.

Education & Culture Environment Economic Development

2.1 Promote creation of worker co-ops to foster local economy 2.2 Cultural workshops and social activities in open spaces for active social recreation 2.3 Local food businesses and markets in underused parks and open spaces

2.4 Green programs in public schools through education and training 2.5 Partner with local companies to create high school internships for Southside students 2.6 Create a compost service in the Southside for youth employment and environmental awareness 2.7 Develop a program for a youth-led Environmental Justice Walking Tour to promote public interest and local culture 2.8 Advocate for a more inclusive Green Jobs Green New York Program

41 LONG $ Recommendation 2.1 TERM Promote the creation of worker cooperatives to foster local economy

The Southside of Williamsburg has high El Puente could do community outreach to local unemployment rates, in addition to high levels of residents and entrepreneurs and provide them with socio-economic inequality. Promoting the creation information and training sessions on a regular basis of worker cooperatives in the community has to foster the creation of cooperatives within the the potential to generate increased economic community. El Puente could also offer scheduled development at the local level. A worker cooperative times to provide continuing free guidance or is an employee owned and democratically run provide workshops on starting, growing, and enterprise formed by a group of people to meet maintaining a cooperative. They could partner with their self-defined needs and goals. There are three New York City Network of Worker Cooperatives, main benefits. First, worker cooperatives build local the Working World, and Solidarity NYC, which offer wealth through the pooling of limited resources. workshops and training for starting and running Second, worker cooperatives can create quality a worker cooperative. The worker co-ops would jobs through organization based skills training, use research and policy analysis, peer learning improving wages in the long term. Third, worker networks, and awareness through education to cooperatives create an impact for underserved gain support.3 populations, through social and economic justice, in means of good employment and living wages.1 Some examples of cooperatives in the New York CIty area include: The Green Worker Cooperatives, Worker cooperatives, “employ sustainable business Si Se Puede in Sunset Park, Beyond Care: Childcare practices that do not harm the local environment Cooperative. 4 5 6 often, and profits are more likely to remain and circulate within the community. As democratically run organizations, cooperatives help member- owners develop critical leadership skills and practice direct, grassroots decision-making. They allow employees to accumulate wealth and build assets through having an ownership stake in the cooperative.”2 Examples of co-ops would be food service, compost, crafts, and others.

Figure 2-3: Co-op Source: workersjustice.org

Figure 2-1: Co-op Figure 2-2: Co-op Source: communitywealth.org Source: sisepuede.com 42 SHORT $$ Recommendation 2.2 TERM Create workshops and social activities in open spaces to promote active social recreation In order to promote community engagement within the Southside, it is important for local residents to develop social attachments to open spaces in their neighborhood. The implementation of cultural workshops, such as arts (e.g. painting, dance, music lessons) or fitness (e.g. pilates, zumba, salsa, yoga) in existing open spaces is an example of such attachment.

These activities could be organized by El Puente, in collaboration with other community organizations such as Los Sures, Southside Community Mission, and Spaceworks (Williamsburg Library). This partnership could recruit local instructors to teach these workshops for a voluntary fee, which would be paid by the community. 1

The location of these workshops 3 could be within El Puente’s priority parks, and other open spaces within 2 the GLD. However, they could also be expanded to different areas within the neighborhood. This could enhance the unification of different areas of the Southside, providing 4 the opportunity for residents to strengthen social relationships. These workshops could promote the public use of the waterfront, as open spaces 5 on the waterfront are not frequently used for social purposes. 6

Figure 2-4: Potential Spaces for Workshops,Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space GLD 1 Grand Ferry Park 4 Marcy & Rodney Parks 2 Jaime Campiz Playground 5 Roberto Clemente Ballfield 3 Maori Triangle 6 Jacob’s Ladder Playground

43 In order to incorporate the suggested open spaces into the same network, this recommendation also proposes to expand the boundaries of the Green Light District from Division Avenue to Clymer Street, along Kent Avenue and Bedford Avenue. This action would add Roberto Clemente Ballfield and Jacob’s Ladder Playground to the GLD, and include them in the parks network around the Greenpath proposed in recommendation 1.2.

The implementation of cultural workshops is also an opportunity for sustainable economic development. The revitalization of these spaces Figure 2-5: Salsa at Coney Island Boardwalk could attract more residents into these parks, Source: www.travellingbananas.com providing the possibility to host local markets and small food businesses. This can be related to recommendation 2.3.

Some examples where this has been done in the past includes salsa on the Coney Island Boardwalk 7,paper arts and crafts at Poe Park in the Bronx8, and yoga hosted by the Prospect Park Alliance in Prospect Park.9

Figure 2-6: Paper Arts & Crafts, Poe Park, Bronx Source: www1.nyc.gov

44 SHORT $$ Recommendation 2.3 TERM Support economic development opportunities through local food businesses, and weekend flea markets in underused parks and open spaces This recommendation promotes economic development of local small business in the neighborhood, by encouraging organization of local food businesses and weekend artist and flea markets. The idea is to promote economic development for local vendors through cultural promotion and preservation. This would provide the community with local employment opportunities and income, and enliven currently underutilized spaces. El Puente could host, organize, and promote these small local businesses. They could consider partnering with NYC Small Business Services to support community members with access to affordable kitchen space, training programs, and food- cooperative education for local food 1 markets and food related businesses. El Puente could also help its community members, in attaining the Secondhand Dealer General License from Department of Consumer Affairs for weekend local artist and flea markets. 2 Potential locations for this recommendation include Marcy and Rodney Parks for local artist and flea 3 markets, where each park could have its own special theme of flea market presentation, from antiques, to hand crafts, to jewelry, furniture, clothes, and even paintings by local artists.

A food market could also be set up, with food trucks along Grand Figure 2-7: Potential Spaces for Workshops,Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Ferry Park to revitalize the currently Priority Parks Open Space Potential Spaces GLD underused waterfront. Greenpath 1 Grand Ferry Park & Precinct 2 Williamsburg Bridge 3 Marcy & Rodney Parks

45 The proposed Greenpath could act as an axis and connecter for the artist and flea markets, to the food markets, providing residents a pedestrian friendly path to access.

The suggested enclosed space under the Williamsburg Bridge as presented in recommendation 1.8 could be used for these businesses in winter, thus allowing these to be year round economic opportunities.

Some case studies that have successfully implemented the above stated ideas include the Figure 2-8: Brooklyn Flea Market, La Marqueta Brooklyn Flea Market, the Vintage Flea Market in Source: fundreds.com Soho and Chelsea, and La Marqueta. 10 11 12

Figure 2-9: Food Festival Source: fundreds.com

46 LONG $$ Recommendation 2.4 TERM Encourage green programs in public schools through education and training

This recommendation is to encourage, train, Currently the neighborhood consists of 11 public and generate awareness among public school schools. El Puente could help and encourage these students about green programs such as urban schools to reserve a space in the school garden for farming practices, composting, sustainability, and urban farming and composting, which students growth and nutrition cycles, as a part of the school can actively be a part of, and see the everyday curriculum. progress of their work. Through practice and training, El puente could also encourage students The benefits of this recommendation include to be a part of compositing for the community improved awareness among school students garden developments within the neighborhoods. about the implications of climate change, and the importance of a green and clean environments, starting from an early stage. It would also provide students a way to be a part of initiatives that support greening their neighborhood and involve students with composting for community gardens.13 14 15

El Puente currently hosts workshops for garden cleanups, volunteer days, and community workshops on topics such as rain gardens, composting and growing, and eating healthy. El Puente could partner with the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance (NYC-EJA), to expand its current Environmental Education Figure 2-10: East New York Green Schools Program Program to include training and awareness of Source: schools.nyc.gov green programs in urban farming practices, sustainability, composting and the importance of nutrition and growth cycles.

47 LONG $$ Recommendation 2.5 TERM Partner with local companies to create high school internships for Southside students

Socioeconomic inequality and the decline in the Hispanic/Latino population pose a threat to the community in the Southside. Partnering with local tech companies to create internships for high school students could encourage diversity in various industries within the Southside community. This could prepare students to stand out as candidates for college, and receive work experience and training to enhance opportunities towards future careers. By interning in these prospective fields, students can aid future socioeconomic equality within the study area, especially amongst the Hispanic/Latino population. Internships could also help students who want to be future entrepreneurs and promote their culture in the community, helping to tackle diversity issues in various professional fields.

Students could be selected from El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice and high school students who live in the Southside.16 These students 1 could intern with creative companies within Williamsburg that were main contributors towards gentrification in the neighborhood. Companies such as Vice, Colossal Media, Fuzz, and Ghost Robot are examples, but the list could continue depending on the 3 2 companies El Puente chooses. Vice is a large mass media company, Colossal 4 Media is a company that creates hand painted media for various clients, Fuzz is a mobile app development company, and Ghost Robot is an advertising agency. These creative companies are in various work fields such as graphic design, art, advertising, business, and information technology.

Figure 2-11: Local Prospective Businesses for Internships ,Study Area Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 Priority Parks Open Space GLD 1 Colossal 4 Ghost Robot 2 Fuzz 3 Vice 48 The program could potentially last for six weeks in the summer, while students are on their summer vacation from school. El Puente could build a mentorship program that would guide the students prior to going into the internships with resume building, appropriate work ethics, confidence building, and basic computer skills to prepare them for the internships. These mentorship sessions could be handled on a few evenings a week, for a month before the internships starts. Throughout the internship, students could meet with a mentor once a week to go over the process and bring up any issues or concerns. At the end of the internship, Figure 2-12: Student Internship students could take part in a ceremony where they Source: Politic365 would receive a certificate and small celebration.

One or a few mentors should be compensated for helping the students and the payments would solely be up to El Puente, and is not necessary since mentors can volunteer. The mentors could alternatively be paid evenly in one set amount; a small payment per mentor for the summer, if El Puente choses to compensate the mentors. Students would ideally be paid via the internship from the company.

The NYC Department of Youth and Community Figure 2-13: Student Internship Development’s Ladders for Leaders Program is a Source: Genesysworks relevant case study. “The Internship Program serves hundreds of high school and college students, each year as part of the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development’s Ladders for Leaders Program. Students receive real-world experience while exploring career options, as well as training, mentoring, the opportunity to build their résumé, and earn money toward their future.”17 Students in this program earn money as well.

49 SHORT $ Recommendation 2.6 TERM Create a compost collection service in the Southside for youth employment and environmental awareness Income inequality and economic disparities Since El Puente is already a non-profit organization are prevalent themes within the Southside. with 501-C3 status, this service can pick up in a This recommendation aims to employ youth few short-months. First El Puente will need to in the Southside by creating a compost service advertise on social media, on their website, and program. This will create customer service, social consider doing a flier campaign throughout the media, compost, and bike delivery positions, and Southside to attract residential and commercial engage youth through environmental awareness. buildings to join the compost program, but also to Establishing a compost program in the Southside enlist interested youth to join the program. While of Williamsburg will not only benefit community New York City recently developed a municipal residents through employment, but also offer compost program, composting is only provided for an opportunity for El Puente to connect and North Williamsburg and Greenpoint.1 If El Puente organize with other members of the community. wants to consider partnering with BK Rot, they This program also addresses sustainability by should first seek out a connection and explain the encouraging residents to avoid throwing out benefits of BK Rot expanding to the Southside. This garbage into landfills and be more conscious about connection could offer BK Rot the opportunity to the larger food network.18 This recommendation collaborate with El Puente, expand their network aims to be a locally owned initiative to develop a and access, and align with their missions and sustainable local economy. It also aims to inspire values. Additionally, such a connection can offer El all residents and workers to think about food Puente the opportunity to expand their network, security and larger food systems and develop an and learn skills about compost. understanding for garden processes, as well as appreciation in basic foundational systems. To build The compost service program can be an initiative off the previous recommendation, the compost run out of the Green Light District or Latino and urban farming skills that youth could learn in Climate Network. Youth employment preference educational programs can then be transferred into is given to youth living within the study area, with a paying job. An estimated five to eight jobs could specific preference to those living in the Southside, be created from this program. Additionally, down and amongst identified economically vulnerable the line, youth and other workers can establish a census tracts 525, 527, and 535. The type of local worker’s co-op. employment would be seasonal and consist of bike pick up of compost, customer service for managing El Puente can get started by generating interest subscriptions, payment, and any inquiries, and for jobs and the compost service. El Puente could a social media position to promote, advertise consider a partnership with BK Rot to develop a and maintain all social feeds and the website. compost service program in the Southside. BK Rot Additionally, there will be a network to work with created the compost service program, but their the six community gardens in the study area to current boundaries do not extend to Williamsburg. receive the compost and work with the gardens. This service can be replicated from BK Rot, but also offer the opportunity for El Puente to carry out the initiative on their own and add their own ideas how they best see fit.

50 BK Rot is a non-profit located in Bushwick/Bedford- BK Rot has an economic model that pays youth Stuyvesant that picks up compost from residential wages through membership fees, and could easily and commercial buildings, and offers the option be replicated to suit El Puente’s needs. This model to purchase compost for additional projects. The allows for transparency and self-sufficiency of the compost service benefits Know Your Wastelands, a program. Additionally, grants and donations can community garden located at 1278 Myrtle Avenue. help subsidize extra costs should it be needed. The current boundaries of BK Rot compost service BK Rot’s economic model charges a monthly fee represented in figure 2-14 offer the opportunity to for compost pick-up and services. In addition expand pick up to the Southside. to employment opportunities, the non-profit also offers volunteer positions and community service, as well as academic credit for students. Additionally, BK Rot has a horizontal model that allows for total transparency and self-sufficiency amongst the workers and customers.

Figure 2-14: BK Rot Boundaries Source: bkrot.org

51 SHORT $$ Recommendation 2.7 TERM Develop a program for a youth-led Environmental Justice Walking Tour to promote public interest and local culture El Puente has strong ties and commitments to community organization and environmental justice. This recommendation builds on previously established walking tours, but specifically focuses on sustainability, involves youth, and could gain revenue through ticket sales. The tour will highlight local community gardens, campaigns, future green initiatives, and murals/cultural sites as shown in figure 2-15. This recommendation works with the Southside’s strengths including its young population, incoming new businesses for new opportunities, and cultural and ethnic diversity. This tour could highlight the improvement, effort, and promise of the neighborhood that focuses on green initiatives.

The youth would lead the tour and gain skills in program management, public speaking, and research. It would be educational, fun, and could involve their own family history. Youth could also receive compensation for being tour guides. The tour could promote local business, encouraging guests to eat or buy merchandise in the Southside. Local businesses could also use produce from urban farming and implement better waste management systems as a demonstration of sustainable practice.

The steps of this recommendation are to develop sites and substance of the tour, engage youth to be involved, advertise through online platforms, and target audiences. El Puente can work with youth in its programs, local residents, and businesses. They could partner with the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Historic Preservation or SES Departments at Pratt, the Municipal Art Society of New York, and Figure 2-15: Potential Sites for Tours,Study Area NYC-EJA for promotion or substance if Source: PLUTO 16v2, September 2016 needed. Priority Parks Open Space GLD Greenpath Murals

52 Another goal of this recommendation is to initiate a long-term partnership with a university such as Pratt Institute. If funding is necessary, the organizations listed could assist and revenue could be gained through ticket sales. Selling environmental products such as recycle bins or earth balls is also a possibility.

Some examples of successful implementation of recommendation include Places that Matter, the South Bronx environmental justice walking tour, and Jane’s walk in Boston. 19 20 21 22 Figure 2-16: EJA Walking Tour Source: www.lvejo.org

53 SHORT $$ Recommendation 2.8 TERM Advocate for a more inclusive Green Jobs Green New York Program

Previous recommendations advocated for the Given both El Puente and NYC-EJA are members creation of sustainable worker cooperatives of NY Renews, a climate change coalition with to develop jobs and agency for workers in the more than 100 community based organizations, Southside. This recommendation builds upon this recommendation calls for a more active these broader initiatives by advocating for a more involvement in asserting a green job skills-based inclusive Green Jobs Green New York program. The training program to help disadvantaged workers in New York State Energy Research and Development the Southside. Authority (NYSERDA) developed the Green Jobs Green New York (GJGNY) program to help New Currently, the New York State Climate and Yorkers with “access to energy assessments, Community Protection Act calls for “good jobs installation services, low interest financing, and and climate justice with 100% clean, renewable pathways for various green-collar careers.”23 energy.”25 Now as part of recently enacted This recommendation will provide research to legislation, climate commitments are part of the show that El Puente could consider partnering law and “resources are equitably reinvested in with the New York City Environmental Justice disadvantaged communities.” This legislation Alliance (NYC-EJA) and NY Renews to revitalize provides the perfect opportunity for El Puente the defunct green apprenticeship program. to partner with NYC-EJA and NY Renews to hold Research has also indicated that there is a need to legislation and Albany accountable in creating a address the shortcomings presented by the low- green apprenticeship program by providing funds, to-moderate income (LMI) working group of the training, and opportunities for members of the Green Jobs Green NY program. The final aspect of Southside. El Puente could support NY Renews, but this recommendation will discuss how El Puente also work with NYC-EJA to make sure that residents could train workers from the Southside to form from the Southside benefit from this opportunity, cooperatives and build a green economy with as well as actively connect training opportunities green jobs. with the other recommendations presented regarding worker cooperatives. Partner with NYC-EJA and NY Renews to revitalize the green apprenticeship training as part of the If successful, other community based organizations NYS Climate and Community Protection Act. in disadvantaged communities seeking to provide In 1995, NYC-EJA launched the City’s first green training, access, and opportunities to low income jobs training program, then known as the Minority communities in predominantly environmental Workers Training Program.24 The program was justice areas could use approaches set forth by El successful and met targeted benchmarks, however Puente as a model. once the funding expired, the program took a back step to other pressing priorities. While El Puente does offer job training and development with their Global Justice Institute since 2012, the program is predominantly education based and misses an opportunity to focus on more hands-on, skills- based approach training.

54 Green Jobs Green New York More Inclusive Even if the GJGNY program may be on path to El Puente could also advocate for the reforms expiration, as focus is currently being channeled put forth by Green Job Green New York, Low & into New York Reforming the Energy Vision (NY REV), Medium Income Advisory Council to make sure El Puente could publically advocate for reforms that disadvantaged communities are included in put forth by the LMI of Green Jobs Green New all initiatives for green jobs and loans for retrofit York program to ensure future energy programs projects. to be successful. This could mean a public letter to Cuomo or NYSERDA supporting and advocating Since the establishment of the Green Jobs Green reforms put forth by the LMI working group to show New York program, made possible through the support for necessary reforms and make sure that Green Jobs Green New York Act of 2009, there has NY REV can be more inclusive than GJGNY. NYC-EJA been successes. Under the program, El Puente has can also lead a data collection process on energy successfully pursued energy retrofit projects of 12 jobs within the Southside to highlight a missed multi-family residence buildings in the Southside. opportunity and show there is need for more However, there are many criticisms of the Green green jobs. Finally, whether it is information for the Job Green New York program that hinder the GJGNY program or NY REVs, research indicates that success and limit opportunities for populations in there is need for informational one-pagers which need. can be printed or digitally distributed. This simply means that El Puente can create bilingual, neatly In fiscal year 2015-2016, the LMI working designed brochures to help community members group published a report discussing key interested in obtaining loans or seeking green job recommendations for the future success of GJGNY. training to have access to information about the The ineffectiveness of GJGNY is a combination application processes. of failures to procure financing and unreliability data. Loans meant to help disadvantaged Train Southside Workers to Form Co-ops and communities, instead kept people out of the Establish Green Jobs process. Participants were required to have very El Puente could train workers from the Southside high credit scores, as well as a 50% debt to income to form cooperatives, and co-own their businesses ratio, and slow reimbursement processes made instead of looking for jobs. This will maximize it difficult for contractors to be reimbursed.26 The benefits to a local inclusive economy and create report also said that the loans did not cover health agency amongst the Southside workforce. El Puente and safety insurance, nor did the program serve can be influential in incorporating previous lessons customers living in manufacturing areas.27 The lack on worker co-operative training information of financial literacy and knowledge of complex and use that to develop training program and application processes also contributed towards workshops for green-oriented jobs that prioritize the failure of receiving loans for energy retrofit energy efficiency and green solutions. Alternatively, projects that would ultimately produce sustainable El Puente could partner with green organizations green jobs. The LMI working group also stated that to train green workers. there was “inadequate employment and labor data available to assess the impact of GJGNY in creating good jobs for disadvantaged workers and struggling communities.”28 Additionally, the report questioned how successful the path for job training and development was, as it was “not clear” to the working group. 55 Case Study: The Minority Worker Training Program, Chicago This recommendation explored a case study about the minority workers environmental training program in Chicago as an example of how larger green apprenticeship programs can operate to provide green jobs for economically vulnerable and disenfranchised populations. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences hosts a 13-week job training program for environmental remediation and construction job training.29 The program focuses on professional studies, environmental, health & safety training, and practical hands on experience within the field. Figure 2-17: Training for Workers Workers receive free meals during the program, as Source: OIA Inc well as free transportation. At the end of the 13- week job training program, workers are equipped with over eight licenses and certifications to allow future success in a variety of fields. With limited requirements, there is accessibility for a wide array of people with various levels of income to participate in the program. Requirements include a high school diploma or GED equivalent, that the applicant be unemployed or underemployed, and have a valid driver’s license.

56 Objective 2 - Neighborhood Vision

Figure 2-18: Objective 2 Recommendations Diagram, Study Area Source: Google Maps

57 Sources

Recommendation 2.1 1. “The Benefits of Worker Cooperatives.” Democracy at Work Institute. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://institute.coop/benefits-worker-cooperatives. 2. “Worker Cooperatives.” Community-Wealth.org. June 24, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2017.http:// community-wealth.org/content/worker-cooperatives. 3. “SolidarityNYC.” SolidarityNYC. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://solidaritynyc.org/ 4. “Cooperative Economic Alliance of New York City: Summary of Findings.” Solidarity NYC. April 2014. http://solidaritynyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/CEANYC-Final-Report.pdf. 5. Ink, Social. “About Us.” New Economy Project. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://www. neweconomynyc.org/about-us/. 6. “Renewable Energy Co-ops.” Renewable Energy Co-ops | Community Power Network. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://communitypowernetwork.com/node/9220. Recommendation 2.2 7. Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk. NYC Parks. 2017. https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/coney- island-beach-and-boardwalk/ 8. Paper Arts and Crafts. NYC Parks. 29 April 2017. https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2017/04/29/ paper-arts-crafts-sun-and-moon-in-warm-and-cool-colors 9. Prospect Park Yoga Summer 2017 Series. Bend + Bloom Yoga. 2017. http://www.bendandbloom. com/park-yoga/ Recommendation 2.3 10. Brooklyn Flea. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://brooklynflea.com/. 11. “Artist, Designer and Vintage Markets.” Artists & fleas. Accessed May 31, 2017.http://www. artistsandfleas.com/. 12. “La Marqueta.” NYCEDC. October 05, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://www.nycedc.com/ project/la-marqueta. Recommendation 2.4 13. “Welcome.” Green School: An Academy for Environmental Careers - New York City Department of Education. February 15, 2017. Accessed May 31, 2017.http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolportals/14/ k454/default.htm. 14. “Home.” Washington Youth Garden. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://www.washingtonyouthgarden. org/. 15. “Mission.” ROCHESTER ROOTS, INC. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://www.rochesterroots.org/. Recommendation 2.5 16. “El Puente Academy for Peace & Justice | Overview & History.” El Puente . Accessed May 31, 2017. http://elpuente.us/content/el-puente-academy-peace-justice-overview-history. 17. “Internship Information for Students.” PENCIL.org. March 10, 2017. Accessed May 31, 2017.http:// pencil.org/internship-program-for-students/. Recommendation 2.6 18. “Organics Collection In Houses & Small Buildings (1-9 Units).” DSNY - Zero Waste. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/zerowaste/residents/organics-collection-in-houses-and- small-buildings-1-9-units.shtml.

58 Recommendation 2.7 19. “Jane Jacobs in the West End.” Home. Accessed May 11, 2017. http://janeswalk.org/united-states/ boston/jane-jacobs-west-end/. 20. “Place Matters: Mission .” Mission | Place Matters. Accessed May 11, 2017.http://www. placematters.net/mission. 21. “Environmental Justice Waterfront Tour (Landmark South Bronx).” Home. Accessed May 11, 2017. http://janeswalk.org/united-states/new-york-city-ny/environmental-justice-waterfront-walking- tour-landmark-south-bronx/. 22. “MYTOWN: Leaders of the Future Learning the Lessons of the Past.” Mass Humanities. Accessed May 11, 2017. http://masshumanities.org/about/news/f01-mt/. Recommendation 2.8 23. “Green Jobs – Green New York .” NYSERDA. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ Researchers-and-Policymakers/Green-Jobs-Green-New-York. 24. Site research from 1995 apprencticeship program 25. “Green Jobs – Green New York .” NYSERDA. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ Researchers-and-Policymakers/Green-Jobs-Green-New-York. 26. “ GJGNY Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) Working Group .” NYSERDA. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Researchers-and-Policymakers/Green-Jobs-Green-New-York/GJGNY- LMI-Working-Group. 27. Annamarya , Scaccia , and Brooke L. L. Williams. “NYS’s Green-Energy Loans Played Hard to Get.” City Limits. March 20, 2017. Accessed May 31, 2017. http://citylimits.org/2016/01/26/nyss-green- energy-loans-played-hard-to-get/. 28. “ GJGNY Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) Working Group .” NYSERDA. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/Researchers-and-Policymakers/Green-Jobs-Green-New-York/GJGNY- LMI-Working-Group. 29. “Posts about minority worker training program on Real Talk.” Real Talk. Accessed May 31, 2017. https://ccounty.wordpress.com/tag/minority-worker-training-program/.

59 Conclusion

The recommendations presented in this report Figure 3-1 shows the distribution of are the result of a collaborative effort to address recommendations by time and cost. It shows the disproportionate lack of open space in the the amount of investment needed and how long Southside, and the economic challenges this it would take for each recommendation to be community faces, as initially identified by El implemented. The most expensive and long term Puente. The magnitude of El Puente’s sustained recommendation is to the proposal to enclose efforts is a testament to the power of collective the Brooklyn Queens Expressway & Williamsburg community resiliency, and the members of this Bridge exit ramps to stop noise and air pollution. studio have appreciated the opportunity to join in The least expensive recommendation is to create this important conversation. a compost service in the Southside for youth employment and environmental awareness.

Figure 3-1: Recommendations Scatter Plot

60 This map shows the links between all of the design interventions and recommendations proposed for consideration throughout this report. When viewed in the context of a neighborhood vision, together the recommendations can enliven and unify the community.

Figure 3-2: Overall Neighborhood Vision Source: Google Maps

61 Appendices

APPENDIX 1: Capruso v. Village of Kings Point (June 12, 2014)

The highest court ruled that legislatively unauthorized “non-park” uses of public parkland by municipalities are continuing wrongs that can be challenged at any time by the public or the state, and that statute of limitations and laches defenses may not be asserted by municipalities to block efforts to enjoin such violations of the Public Trust Doctrine. This ruling applies even where the municipal misuse of parkland has been ongoing for decades.1

In 1938, the Village leased Kings Point Park to the Great Neck Park District with the understanding that the Park District would manage and maintain the park. The Western Corner of the park was reserved for a pistol range for local police and for storage of highway materials and supplies.1

In 2008, the Village adopted a proposal to deforest, regrade and enclose the Western Corner and build a Department of Public Works facility. The proposed facility, approximately 12,000 square feet in area, would include a diesel truck garage, a road-sign shop, administrative offices, and crew quarters, and be enclosed by a chain-link fence. The proposal also envisaged the construction of an asphalt roadway and parking area, and yet did not seek legislative authorization.1

In March 2009, plaintiffs Daniel Capruso, Alan Berkower and Elizabeth Allen, who live near Kings Point Park, commenced an action against the Village, its Mayor and its Board of Trustees. Eventually, in the Supreme Court, the Village concedes that the Western Corner is dedicated parkland and that the present and proposed uses of it have not been authorized by the State Legislature and thus violate the public trust doctrine.1

The State’s “legislative approval is required when there is a substantial intrusion on parkland for non-park purposes”. In addition, under the continuing wrong doctrine, plaintiffs are able to challenge defendants’ ongoing violation of the public trust doctrine at any time while the violation lasts, without being barred by the statute of limitations.1

62 Current DOT Pedestrian Enhancement Programs

Summer Streets (currently a Manhattan only program) An annual celebration of New York City’s streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in August, nearly seven miles of NYC’s streets are opened for people to play, run, walk, and bike. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. In 2016, nearly 300,000 people took advantage of Summer Streets.2

Shared Streets Pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles share the historic streets of Lower Manhattan and motorists are encouraged to drive at 5 mph. Partnering with many community based organizations, a wide range of local business offerings, and free historic and cultural programs to offer bicycle and walking tours and live performances.3

Weekend Walks Multi-block, multi-day events on commercial corridors that promote the use of streets as public space, running from April through December. Community based organizations apply to close commercial streets and provide active programming that highlights local businesses. In 2017, DOT is partnering with over 60 community based organizations to offer over 120 days of car-free programming.4 El Puente will host Weekend Walks on 9/23

Plaza Program DOT works with select organizations to create neighborhood plazas throughout the City to transform underused streets into vibrant, social public spaces. The NYC Plaza Program is a key part of the City’s effort to ensure that all New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of quality open space.5

Neighborhood Slow Zones A community-based program that reduces the speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph and adds safety measures within a select area in order to change driver behavior. The ultimate goal of the Neighborhood Slow Zone program is to lower the incidence and severity of crashes. Slow Zones also seek to enhance quality of life by reducing cut-through traffic and traffic noise in residential neighborhoods. DOT creates Slow Zones in response to applications from communities. After each round of applications, DOT selects appropriate locations and works with the community to devise a plan to install the Slow Zone. Slow Zones must be approved by the local Community Board. DOT has worked with communities throughout the city to create Slow Zones.6

63 Sources

1. “Village of Kings Point - Decisions.” New York Courts. 2014. https://www.nycourts.gov/ctapps/ Decisions/2014/Jun14/102opn14-Decision.pdf. 2. “Summer Streets.” New York City Department of Transportation. Accessed June 04, 2017. http:// www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/home/home.shtml. 3. “Shared Streets: Lower Manhattan.”New York City Department of Transportation. Accessed June 04, 2017. http://home.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/sharedstreets/shared-streets.shtml 4. “Weekend Walks 2017.” New York City Department of Transportation. Accessed June 04, 2017. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/weekendwalks/html/home/home.shtml 5. “Plaza Program.” New York City Department of Transportation. Accessed June 04, 2017. http:// www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/pedestrians.shtml 6. “Neighborhood Slow Zones.” New York City Department of Transportation. Accessed June 04, 2017. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/slowzones.shtml

64