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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Anna Adler Director of Programs and Operations, Fourth Arts Block

Anna Adler is an artist, educator, and cultural worker with a focus on community engagement through the arts. Most recently, she served as Director of Programs at Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc), a neighborhood non-profit in the East Village, as well as adjunct faculty in the Dept. of Art & Art History, at Marymount . Her past experience includes coordinator & curator of Peekskill Project, a citywide art festival organized by Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, NY. Anna’s recent creative endeavors include an Engaging Artists Residency through Artist Volunteer Center & More Art, SPARC (Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide) Residency through LMCC, and a Fulbright Grant for alternative theater, in Prague, CZ. Anna is excited to join the CORO NL group as she continues to work with FABnyc on projects surrounding a new public art initiative in Campos Plaza (East Village) as well as Lower History Month.

Anna’s Neighborhood Change Project is to return to Clinton Street with an ‘open house/open street’ event where operating long term businesses are highlighted while vacant storefronts and spaces waiting to be rented are activated through artist interventions which can include visual art, poetry, dance, and film/projection. This action will allow occupied and empty spaces to coexist and create a lively atmosphere of celebrating the current commerce of Clinton Street while re-imagining potential new arrivals.

Carey King Project Director, New East Merchants Association

Carey King is Project Director of the New Harlem East Merchants Association (NHEMA), an organization founded by small business owners, property managers and residents who live and work along Harlem's historic East 125th Street. In spite of a number of challenges -- including being a hotspot for K2 (synthetic marijuana), homelessness, and a nearly 50 percent commercial vacancy rate -- NHEMA has worked in recent years to clean the streets, beautify the neighborhood, start a Fresh Food Box program, and launch a new public plaza called "Uptown Grand Central." Carey is a graduate of Harvard's Graduate School of Education and has worked variously as a special education pre- teacher in , a small-town journalist in North Carolina, and for both Corbin Hill Food Project and GrowNYC/Greenmarket Co. here in NYC. She loves Zumba and vegetables.

Carey is excited to work on a Neighborhood Change Project that will enable NHEMA to structure its scope and vision for the next five years, including strengthening the merchant network, involving more area residents, developing an advocacy plan, and building a retail environment that grows and thrives despite big challenges.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Christine Stilletti Program Manager, West Brighton LDC

Christine Silletti joined West Brighton LDC as Program Manager in September 2015, after three years at Business Outreach Center Network in , helping small businesses recover and rebuild after . She continues to provide business counseling, technical assistance, and advocacy to small business owners, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs, throughout . Christine also leads community business organizing and special events along two commercial corridors; Forest Avenue and Victory Boulevard. Prior to working in the public sector, Christine spent 10 years as a small business owner and traveled throughout the US as a project management specialist. She has spent much of her free time assisting children with learning disabilities, including the development of two after school programs and a BOE accredited curriculum.

Christine’s Neighborhood Change Project will be focusing on representing the best interests of the businesses on Victory Boulevard regarding a proposal to widen parts or the entire corridor. This project will affect traffic, parking, pedestrian access, and private property rights.

Daniel Scorse Director of Operations, Hudson Yards/Hell’s Kitchen Alliance

Daniel Scorse is the Director of Operations for the Hudson Yards/Hell’s Kitchen Alliance (HYHKA). Dan joined HYHKA to manage the BID’s district- wide supplemental services as well as the complete maintenance and operation of the 2-acre public park surrounding the new 34th Street – Hudson Yards subway station. Prior to HYHKA, Dan worked at the Brooklyn Partnership, where he focused on streetscape beautification and pedestrian safety. Dan graduated from NYU-Wagner with a Master’s in Urban Planning in 2011.

Dan’s Neighborhood Change Project will involve HYHKA’s 2016 Streetscape Study, a consultant-led effort to outline public space improvements that coordinate the established parts of the district (Hell’s Kitchen) with the developing Hudson Yards area.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

David Rose Program Manager, Public Space Initiatives/Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership

David Rose is the Program Manager for Public Initiatives/Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership where he aims to improve neighborhood environmental education for the community. Outside of Business Improvement District (BID) operations work David has been involved with urban gardening and tree care in Brooklyn through the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Urban Gardener Program as well as citizen pruning training and volunteerism through Trees NYC. During his free time David engages in food consulting, community & economic development, housing policy, and political strategy work. David currently holds a bachelor’s in Urban and Public Policy from SUNY Buffalo.

David’s Neighborhood Change Project, TreEd on Myrtle (Tree Education on Myrtle), aims to improve the conditions of our tree beds so that they may be utilized as a sustainable and programmable environmental education space for the community. The objectives are to (1) improve the conditions of street tree bed soil by planting species that are native to NYC, (2) coordinate a series of workshops exploring soil conditions and the rejuvenating benefits of native planting in tree beds with a cohort of 15+ students from a local high school ( Academy), (3) host a total of five once-a-month tree tours through the summer and fall of 2016 as a means to allow for interested community members to learn about the value of the natural resources that they pass by every day in the urban environment.

Homer Hill Director of Communications and Special Programs, Improvement District

Homer Hill is the Director of Communications and Special Programs at the Grand Street Business Improvement District (BID) in East Williamsburg Brooklyn. The Grand Street BID serves the diverse community of East Williamsburg, a vibrant mix of working class Hispanic immigrants, and a more recent young professional transplant community. Homer holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from and is continually interested in urban environmental/social justice issues as well as skateboarding, basketball and cats.

Homer’s Neighborhood Change Project will work to assist Grand Street businesses in adapting to demographic changes in the community through the development of consumer preference surveys and strategic marketing initiatives.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Jacqueline Kennedy Interim Director, Brownsville Partnership

Jacqueline Kennedy’s interest in community development began in her own neighborhood, where she worked as an intern at a community-based nonprofit organization in Southeast San Diego, CA. Jacqueline expanded her knowledge of community development in low-income communities while consulting at the San Diego Foundation and serving as Assistant Project Manager for a local nonprofit developer. Jacqueline joined the Community Solutions team as an intern for the Brownsville Partnership, where she consulted on Special Projects in Brownsville before serving as the Outreach Coordinator. As the Manager of Strategic Community Engagement and Mobilization at the Brownsville Partnership, Jacqueline is responsible for establishing strong partnerships between community stakeholders and residents alike. She is also responsible for ensuring that the organization is investing appropriate time and effort in the goals and issues that will bring value to both the community and the organization's strategic direction. In April Jacqueline stepped into the role of Interim Director and currently works to support the Brownsville initiative in implementing innovative solutions to the neighborhoods most pressing challenges with a large focus on systems change and physical development. Jacqueline holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego and a Master’s in Public Administration in Nonprofit Management and Policy from NYU Wagner School of Public Service.

Jaqueline’s Neighborhood Change Project’s focus is in regards to commercial revitalization/invigorating and improving the Mother Gaston Blvd commercial corridor. The goal is to take what we have developed inside of our MGBPOPS Marketplace and bring it out to the rest of the corridor. This includes art, event space, business support, activities and opportunities for local startup businesses.

Jarrod Grim Senior Research Analyst, Alliance for Downtown NY

Jarrod Grim is a Senior Research Analyst at the Alliance for Downtown , joining the economic development team there in June 2013. At the Downtown Alliance, he analyzes real estate trends across the fast-evolving retail, residential, hotel and commercial office sectors in . With a vested interest in making Lower Manhattan a 24/7 neighborhood, Jarrod enjoys working with real estate brokers and property owners to highlight positive developments and encourage investment and growth in the district.

Before coming to the Downtown Alliance, he served with Teach for America as a middle school science teacher in post-Katrina New Orleans and worked in affordable housing research in New York. Jarrod has a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Penn State University and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from .

Jarrod’s Neighborhood Change Project seeks to complete a research study on the existing hotel market in Lower Manhattan, as well as examine impacts that future hotel development will have on the neighborhood.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Jesse Solomon Economic Development Program Manager, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation

Jesse Solomon is the Economic Development Program Manager at Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation. At SBIDC, Jesse provides direct assistance to industrial businesses and manages two commercial revitalization programs: a placemaking program that includes a summer street fair, and a capacity building program to plan for economic development in the lower-income areas of Red Hook. She joined SBIDC in 2014 after working for Council Member , where she became interested in the development pressures in Southwest Brooklyn, particularly along the industrial working waterfront. Jesse's background is in political advocacy and community organizing for social justice. After working as a campus organizer in for the Obama 2012 campaign, she worked as the Youth Lead Organizer for the Arab Association of New York where she helped organize advocacy campaigns for civic engagement, reform, and police accountability. Her Bachelor's degree is in Studies from Bryn Mawr College. She lived in Egypt for two years shortly after the break out of the Arab Spring and speaks Arabic. Jesse is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Policy & Leadership at Hunter College.

Jesse's Neighborhood Change Project focuses on creating economic development priorities in the low income areas of Red Hook with meaningful community involvement. The project will include a commercial district needs assessment, a plan for future business attraction, and support for local entrepreneurs.

Kriss Casanova Director of Economic Development, Union Square Partnership

Kriss Casanova serves as the Director of Economic Development for the Union Square Partnership, creating and managing programs to enhance Union Square’s streetscape and promote commercial activity. With over a decade of experience, Kriss previously served as Director of the Citywide Storefront Improvement Program at NYC’s Department of Small Business Services, and developed public- private partnerships working for the Culver City Redevelopment Agency in .

Kriss’ Neighborhood Change Project will focus on the beautification of the triangle park on Union Square East between 14th and 15th Streets, as well as the planted medians along Union Square East. This will include enhancements such as seasonal landscaping, public seating, art, and community programming.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Linda Humphrey Executive Director, Beach 116th Street Partnership

Linda Humphrey is the Executive Director for the Beach 116th Street Partnership in Rockaway Beach. Here she serves as an advocate for local merchants and quality of life improvements along the shopping corridor of Beach 116th Street, Rockaway’s . Revitalizing this area highly affected from damages from Hurricane Sandy and encouraging new merchants to take over vacant properties is her priority. She herself lost her storefront business, Rockaway Beach Digital and Design due to extreme flooding from the storm. Linda is responsible for social media campaigns for the Beach 116th Street Partnership and utilizes her experience in photography and graphic design to complete the tasks. She Co-Directs multiple events throughout the year, helping to bring visitors and surrounding neighborhoods together for seasonal celebrations and shopping on the corridor. With the rebuilding of the boardwalk and new landing coming to Rockaway, Linda sees the promise of resiliency in the Rockaways. Linda studied Communications at LIU/C.W. Post in where she was also a member of the Women’s Basketball and Volleyball teams and a DJ at the radio station WCWP. Her passion for the Rockaways runs deep as she is a life-long rockaway resident with family ties to the community for over 150 years.

Linda’s Neighborhood Change Project is to beautify existing areas and buildings affected by damages due to Hurricane Sandy. Revitalizing areas highly affected by Hurricane Sandy will hopefully encourage new merchants to take over vacant properties and bring new art and culture to the area.

Lowell J. Herschberger Director of Career and Education Programs, Cypress Hills LDC

Lowell J. Herschberger has 17 years’ experience in youth services and workforce development. As the Director of Career and Education Programs at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation in Brooklyn, NY, he oversees several innovative models that support residents of this Latino and immigrant community. In 2012, he led a sectoral initiative in Transportation and Logistics and in 2014; he designed Cypress Hills Business Partners, an initiative to support local businesses on the commercial strip in East New York. This community is the first to be effected by Mayor DeBlasio’s rezoning plans, and the local businesses have much to gain or lose by the pending changes. CHLDC has been active in the Coalition for Community Advancement, a group of local stakeholders who are concerned about displacement of local businesses and the creation of good jobs. Lowell holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Ohio State University and Cedarville University. He gained additional training in University’s Non-Profit Management Institute and the Workforce Leaders Academy of Public/Private Ventures. He finds particular delight in a number of volunteer experiences, including several non-profit board member positions. Last year he completed his first Century Ride (100 mile bicycle ride) and hopes to run a half marathon in the Spring.

Lowell and his team at Cypress Hills Business Partners are currently conducting a commercial district assessment of the Fulton Street strip in the hopes of creating greater investment in the revitalization of the area.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Mark Dicus Executive Director, SoHo Initiative

Mark Dicus serves as the Executive Director of the recently formed SoHo Broadway Initiative where he guides the organization’s development, sanitation, pedestrian/public safety and advocacy programs. He was previously the Executive Director of the Church Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) in Brooklyn, a diverse community where he worked cooperatively with stakeholders, government agencies and elected officials to transform the district through the installation of antique street lighting, a robust façade improvement program and several significant pedestrian safety/traffic calming initiatives. Mark has a JD from and an LLM in Taxation from . He is also a Cum Laude graduate of the University of South Carolina. Mark is a long-time Brooklyn resident where he lives with his family and plays Ultimate Frisbee in his spare time.

Mark’s Neighborhood Change Project seeks to examine the challenges of the mixed use community that exist within the SoHo Broadway business improvement district and to work collaboratively to develop Best Practices Guides to address some of these challenges.

Marques Payne Director of Membership and Merchant Services, Bronx Chamber of Commerce

Marques Payne has spent the majority of his career as a community organizer before the phrase became synonymous with President Obama. After a successful endeavor as a non-traditional student at Mercy College, Marques became Student Body President and then Senate Intern for State Senator Kevin Parker. Utilizing the valuable skill set earned in the State Senate, Marques brought his skills back to his and worked in Central Council for Economic Development before becoming a consultant for community boards and local businesses. Under the principle of visibility plus credibility equals profitable, Marques personified this mantra to gain attention from the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Within 24 months, Marques climbed from Membership and Merchant Services Coordinator to Director of Membership and Merchant Services, his current position as Operations Manager of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Marques’ Neighborhood Change Project wishes to increase the presence of business owners and financial representatives like bankers. He hopes the Neighborhood Leadership Program will provide a platform to hone his skill sets in a way for him to successfully communicate the needs and interest of the localities his organization represents. Through intensive workshops, real time training, and an education in commercial revitalization efforts, the neighborhood leadership program will provide the transformative experience to create agents of change in our communities.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Michael Tsang Project Manager, Two Neighborhood Council

Michael Tsang joined the staff of Two Bridges Neighborhood Council (TBNC) in August 2011. As Project Manager of the organization’s Food Access initiatives, Michael works in close collaboration with local stakeholders to develop and provide programing aimed at strengthening the relationships between local residents and the area’s many diverse small businesses. A lifelong New Yorker, Michael is proud that his current work allows him to directly serve the neighborhood he was born and raised in. Prior to his time at TBNC, Michael tutored children in summer and after-school programs throughout the . Michael studied media in and is certified in New York State as an Emergency Medical Technician.

Michael’s Neighborhood Change Project will focus on expanding TBNC’s “NeighborFood” program, which aims to keep local dollars in the local community, support small businesses and strengthen social ties among neighborhood residents.

Patreinnah Acosta-Pelle Business Development Consultant, Bradhurst Merchants Association

Patreinnah Acosta-Pelle is the Business Development Consultant for Bradhurst Merchants Association, Inc (BMA) and Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Inc (HCCI). She graduated from The City College of New York with a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Creative Writing and received an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from SUNY Cobleskill. Patreinnah has extensive experience in the public relations industry, owning and operating her business, PR City, Co., a New York City and New York State Certified MWBE firm. Patreinnah provides her public relations expertise in the Bradhurst District through community and grassroots organizing where she is currently working on urban renewal/revitalization for the area.

Patreinnah’s Neighborhood Change Project of the Bradhurst region is to develop a Business Improvement District, create a business center to meet the needs of the neighborhood, develop environmentally friendly business practices, create employment/job training and youth recreational/educational opportunities, deal with specific issues such as language barriers (Bradhurst has a high concentration of Middle Eastern and African populations), double digit unemployment rates, high vacancy rates as well as filling in the void of the retail leakage.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Ryan Gleason Director of Government Affairs, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

Ryan Gleason joined the Staten Island Chamber in 2011 as the organization’s Communications Coordinator, where he directed all marketing, public relations, print, and digital efforts. He helped to develop the Chamber’s presence on the web and social media, and worked with member marketing professionals to launch the “Call the Chamber” re-branding campaign that the organization currently utilizes. More recently, he has brought his strengths of advocacy and networking to the position of Director of Government Affairs. Ryan can now be found tracking all major legislative and regulatory issues affecting member businesses such as transportation issues, health care, and wage and labor issues. Ryan enjoys sports, especially his beloved New York Giants and Devils, and gaming. He currently lives in St. George on Staten Island with his wife, Reagan.

Ryan hopes to develop a project that focuses on economic opportunity and growth in two changing neighborhoods on Staten Island, Midland Beach and St. George. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Chamber was able to provide limited support to the often-overlooked small business community in Midland Beach. With the help of the cohort, he hopes to learn about and bring much needed resources to affected areas and learn the skills to better coordinate with fellow Chamber staff to provide needed resources to storm ravaged businesses. Second, with new mega projects like the New York Wheel and coming to Staten Island’s North Shore, there is a need for current residents and businesses to have a say in the development of the neighborhood. Ryan hopes to make the connections and develop the networks necessary to have a robust and healthy dialogue about the future of the area.

Tameka Pierre-Louis Capital Program Coordinator and Energy Liaison Officer, Library

Tameka Pierre-Louis is the Capital Program Coordinator and Energy Liaison Officer at the Queens Library where she oversees the administration of large scale capital construction projects, the development of energy reduction initiatives for sixty-five facilities to support the Mayor’s PlaNYC goals in reducing the City’s carbon emissions, and the collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection on the development of open space to support program expansion at seven community branches. She is also deeply involved in many strategic initiatives involving the revitalization of Southeast Queens including serving as the Co-Chair of the Transportation/Infrastructure and Parks Committee under the Jamaica Now Leadership Council to drive economic growth of Jamaica’s bolstering business district; as well as the Economic and Development Committee within Community Board 13 where she has been actively working with local community stakeholders, small businesses, and political leaders as a liaison to form the Laurelton and Rosedale Merchant Association to facilitate improvement of its commercial corridors through implementing a store façade and streetscape program. She cites Dr. Majora Carter, a Coro LNY Alumni, as one of her all-time heroes.

Tameka’s Neighborhood Change Project seeks to implement a comprehensive pedestrian plaza project targeted at the revitalization of the distressed section of the Veteran’s Plaza in Rosedale, which is central to the major shopping corridors of Rosedale and acts as a gateway to the impending Green Acres Commons, a new $83.7 million retail center being built adjacent to the mall. She envisions that this strategy will strengthen the local economy while enhancing the quality of life for its residents.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

TJ Witham Director of Communications, Times Square Alliance

TJ Witham is continuing a tour of the New York City nonprofit world as the Director of Communications for the Times Square Alliance, having come from ’s Watermill Center as the Director of Programs and Communications. Prior legs of the tour include work with the New York Foundation for the Arts, The Alliance of Resident Theaters/New York, and Roundabout Theater Company. He is also a co-founder and co-artistic director of CollaborationTown (CTown), a New York based Theater Company. With CTown, he has co-created and/or performed in Help Me To Make It, The Play About My Dad, The Momentum, Let's Go, Townville, 6969, The Deepest Play Ever: The Catharsis Of Pathos, They're Just Like Us, The Astronomer's Triangle, and This Is A Newspaper. Residencies include Robert Wilson's Watermill Center and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. TJ has a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from University.

TJ’s Neighborhood Change Project has to do with formulating and executing a communications plan around a new vision for Times Square based on the completion of the Broadway Pedestrian Plazas.

Trey Jenkins Marketing and Corporate Partnerships Manager, Alliance for

Trey Jenkins is the Marketing and Corporate Partnerships Manager for the Alliance for Coney Island. In his position, he works to market the historic Coney Island Amusement District and secure corporate sponsors for events put on by the Alliance. Prior to this position, Trey graduated from Hartwick College, earning a degree in History before earning a Master's Degree in History/Political Science from the College of Saint Rose. After his Master's degree, Trey decided to go into the marketing and events world with a Sponsorship and Promotions Internship at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida, which opened the door for opportunities with NBC Sport's Golf Channel from 2008 – 2012. In 2012 Trey made the move to New York City where he took a position with Macy's Parade and Entertainment Group as a Sponsorship Coordinator working with sponsors for Macy's iconic events. Trey is a passionate sports fan with a strong allegiance to Louisville Cardinals basketball and Florida Gators football. Trey's other interests include playing soccer and basketball, reading, travelling, politics and exploring NYC.

Trey’s Neighborhood Change Project will be working with the amusement district on Surf Avenue and the business district on Mermaid Avenue to bring the two together through the Weekend Walks Program offered by the City of New York. The goal is to have 2-4 Weekend Walks in the summer of 2016 leading up to a big event to end the summer season, the Coney Island Music and Food Festival. He is looking to work with businesses on both avenues to achieve this goal in making the business districts in Coney Island unite as one.

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NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS HIP 2016 Co ho r t Biographies

Whitney Barrat Executive Director, Old Seaport Alliance

Whitney Barrat serves as Executive Director of the Old Seaport Alliance, a neighborhood improvement organization formed by the Seaport’s small business owners in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy. Representing both the Seaport’s business and residential communities, Whitney works to promote the neighborhood, advocating for improvements in municipal services, transportation, resiliency, pedestrian safety, historic awareness, programming and economic vitality of the City’s oldest waterfront district. Whitney has worked in Lower Manhattan since 2007, first serving as Director of Construction Mitigation for the Alliance for Downtown New York, where she worked with City Agencies, small businesses, and property owners to find solutions to construction-related issues and conflicts. Whitney later served as the Downtown Alliance’s Director of Special Projects, where she developed and directed an original, $1.5M temporary public art program, bringing it from a four-project experimental pilot, to a successful 37-project program, entitled Re:Construction, which has been widely replicated, both City- and nation-wide. Whitney earned her LEED-AP accreditation in 2008, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lehigh University, and a Master’s of Public Administration from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Whitney’s Neighborhood Change Project is focused on creating a historical walk and destination thoroughfare, allowing the millions of bikers and pedestrians coming off the Brooklyn to travel through the Old Seaport neighborhood through an activated Peck Slip, and onward to the ships and piers of the Seaport Museum. Implemented through a combination of street-level way finding signage and an online application, access to historical information about the pathways from the Bridge through the Seaport will be readily available. We envision innumerable educational opportunities, improvement and activation of under-used spaces under and around the Bridge, enhanced economic resiliency and community partnerships, and an increased awareness of New York City’s historic neighborhood.

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