the WAGNER

PLANNERSpring 2013 devastation frustration disruption panic anxiety pain worry devastation disbelief displacement vulnerability debris consequence politics pollution bureaucracy collapse blackout flood THE NEW NORMAL community participation trust salvage renewal conservation manage connect create prepare organize community give efficiency integration learn relocate replan prevent contribute partnership THE NEW NORMAL the WAGNER PLANNER

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1 APRIL 2013

CHIEF EDITOR ALAN LIGHTFELDT

ASSISTANT EDITORS CHRIS PENALOSA, CONTENT VRUNDA VAGHELA, DESIGN

4 FORECLOSURE: 6 PLANNING FOR GROUND ZERO THE NEW NORMAL 12 LIVING ON THE EDGE BY DANI ROSEN BY RAE ZIMMERMAN BY RONNIE HUTCHINSON

5 RIDE OUT OF POVERTY 10 (RE)MAKING IT BY STACI HABER RIGHT BY JACKIE BURTON

2 THE WAGNER PLANNER IS AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT JOURNAL OF THE URBAN PLANNING STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (UPSA) AT THE ROBERT F. WAGNER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE AT UNIVERSITY.

16 THE GREATEST AGE OF 14 IN THE WAKE OF URBANIZATION: AN INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD FLORIDA BY NOLAN LEVENSON BY ALEJANDRA RANGEL SMITH

15 COURTING DISASTER 18 THE BY THEA GARON TECH TRIANGLE BY ADAM ECKSTEIN

the WAGNER PLANNER 3 Foreclosure: Ground Zero a look at how foreclosures affect middle-income families

BY DANI ROSEN, MUP ‘13 York City: it has an extremely high percentage of 114 individual lots on four St. Albans of detached single-family homes, widespread blocks from January 2005 to August 2012. With thousands of foreclosures or families car ownership, and low population density. The market value for homes is currently an living in negative equity it can be difficult While the average homeownership rate in average of 20 percent below the market to narrow down the impact of foreclosure is 32 percent, 77 percent of value in January 2008, with some properties on a single subgroup. However, different St. Albans residents own their homes. Of as much as 40 percent below peak value. income groups were impacted in drastically these, 26 percent own their homes outright, Out of 114 parcels, 112 parcels experienced different ways. Research on the impacts of and of the 74 percent with a mortgage, 29 a decline in value between 2008 and 2010. foreclosure to middle-income homeowners percent have homeownership costs of less is still quite thin. In order to get a better than $2000 per month. The high rate of The number of homeowners at risk of understanding of how the foreclosure crisis homeownership and concentration of long- foreclosure in St. Albans is particularly has impacted middle-income communities in term homeowners brings greater stability striking. In 2011, the Neighborhood New York City, we take a closer look at one to St. Albans than other neighborhoods Economic Development Advocacy Project middle class community in Queens that was in Queens. Although the length of time monitored the 90-day pre-foreclosure notices ground zero for foreclosures: St. Albans. residents have owned their homes in St. that servicers must send to homeowners with Albans is similar to the Queens-wide average defaulting or delinquent mortgages. Of the St. Albans has been a stable, predominately (42% of homeowners in St. Albans moved 345,435 notices servicers distributed across African American neighborhood since the in before 1990, versus 38% in Queens), the the state, 94,890 were concentrated in the middle of the 20th century. Today it remains extraordinarily high homeownership in St. New York City area. St. Albans’ proportional a solidly African-American suburb, with Albans means that there is a very high rate of share of 153 notices per 1,000 units was the 91 percent of the area’s 48,000 residents, long-term homeowners per capita. worst in the city. with 91% identifying as Black or African- American. GROUND ZERO FOR HOME Using data provided by the Furman Center, FORECLOSURES this report analyzed 268 St. Albans homes Overall, the socioeconomic demographics of St. Albans are similar to borough-wide Like in other neighborhoods in New York City, averages, but a few notable exceptions set property values in St. Albans fell as a result St. Albans apart. The area’s housing stock of the housing crisis. For a glimpse at this and suburban character are unique for New decline, this study recorded the home values (CONTINUED ON PAGE 19) 4 Ride out of Poverty transit accessibility is a universal right BY STACI HABER, MUP ‘14 journey since nearly every journey begins sidewalks for the greater good of society. and ends on foot. Unfortunately, footpaths in Access to public transportation should be Andhra Pradesh are rare. While legislation People with disabilities have the most to a universal right. Throughout the world, in India requires the implementation of lose when it comes to accessible transport people continue to face barriers accessing accessible footpaths, the few footpaths that options. When exclusion persists and employment opportunities, healthcare are built are almost always poorly maintained people with disabilities are denied essential services, and daily activities due to a lack of and riddles with obstructions. Widths are transport services, their costs significantly mobility options. This issue is exacerbated also reduced in order to compensate for increase and the challenges worsen. This for certain groups in developing countries, future roadway widening or informal parking vicious cycle intertwines disability with a ranging from the visually impaired and the spots. This reality presents footpaths as lack of opportunities, which leads to poverty. elderly, to an expecting mother and a veteran highly unreliable since there is no universal Transportation, however, can be a tool for confined to a wheelchair. Some cities are standard that is accessible for people with poverty alleviation if focused appropriately recognizing the importance of accessible disabilities and the elderly. on those who need it. People with disabilities transit, such as Medellin, Colombia and have the chance to rise out of poverty if Ahmedabad, India, while others are Community groups are striving to change given the opportunity to access activities and struggling to adapt. this scenario. In 2005, Kanthi Kannan services like employment and healthcare started the Right2Walk Foundation to independently and safely. By providing for I had the opportunity to live in one of those advocate, lobby, and promote awareness for the most vulnerable, policy makers and struggling cities – Hyderabad, India – for footpath infrastructure in Hyderabad. Kanthi planners can improve the livelihood of those five months. I spent my time working with a is a very passionate and concerned citizen – who need it most. transportation consulting firm on equitable one who always makes her presence known transportation options for vulnerable in community meetings – and realizes that It only takes one day in India to realize population groups. Hyderabad, like many “every day we lose a life” because footpaths that their transportation leaves a lot to be cities in Southeast Asia, has significant traffic are not of proper quality in the city. She desired. Yet, one can also see just how many challenges. believes walking allows the poorest of the hard-working, socially aware individuals poor to access the city as their given right. are working to change the archaic norms. A lack of education on the roadways and little This sentiment can be echoed by Enrique If anything, my experiences in India lifted enforcement perpetuates a perilous situation Penalosa, the former Mayor of Bogota, my spirits – if people in their situation can for any traveler on the roadways. Whether Columbia, who recently gave a lecture at be working so hard for a bright, sustainable it is a motorized or non-motorized transport NYU on the future of cities, stating, “quality future, then it must surely be within reach. mode in the city, anguish and despair are sidewalks are the most important part of a ever-present. Providing proper footpaths is democratic society.” And yet, cities continue an essential component of an accessible trip to fail at recognizing the necessity of (CONTINUED ON PAGE 19)

As students and residents of New York City, look at the effects of the foreclosure crisis we each have become personally aware of on middle-income families in Queens, and the increasing vulnerability of urban regions sit down with Richard Florida to discuss the to natural disasters. In the wake of 2012’s potential of urban planning to build more Superstorm Sandy, the costs of an unpredictable resilient communities in an exclusive interview. climate and inadequate urban infrastructure are impossible for urban planners to ignore. New urban planners enter the field at a critical junction. This issue is a call to students and letter from the editors The Spring 2013 issue of the Wagner Planner, current practitioners to study the disasters ‘The New Normal’, is an exploration of where of the past in order to inform our response by alan lightfeldt, innovation has taken place and the places to those of tomorrow. As the world’s Vrunda Vaghela and Chris where it is needed the most: cities. The population continues its rapid and widespread Penalosa authors present a thoughtful retrospective on urbanization, the importance of safeguarding two of the most destructive disasters in recent our cities against disaster will only grow. n U.S. history, highlighting both the failures and the successes in cities’ preparation and response. We review original research by Wagner students on the vulnerability of New York City’s waterfront housing, take a careful the WAGNER PLANNER 5 Planning for the New Normal by rae zimmerman

blackout An explosion at one of ’s central power sta- tions plunges parts of the city into an eerie darkness as Superstorm Sandy passes, underscoring human- ity’s tenuous dominance over the force of nature. disaster by the numbers Just how destructive were Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy? Our info-graphic spread, Disas- ter by the Number, compares the data behind two of the biggest disasters in recent U.S. history. Page 8 6 Disasters are destructive conditions or events that arise suddenly or unexpectedly. The target of disruption varies enormously and cities known for their robustness have become targets of many of the events. Each community shapes the way it reduces the consequences. Yet there are many shared lessons that unite communities throughout the world. Disasters both destroy and create communities. As is now well-known, a growing number of extreme events or the magnitude of their consequences is occurring worldwide in terms of the degree of destruction and cost. These encompass extreme weather events such as record high temperatures, persistent heat waves, increased or decreased precipitation, storms and flooding.

In addition, there are extreme of average conditions. For example, and financial institutions. Resources consequences of geophysical age of structures may be a strong are usually more concentrated events, accidents and acts of factor in the overall deterioration on the edges of a disaster during terrorism. Weather extremes have of the built environment, but is preparedness and response and occurred against a backdrop of often not the cause of a disastrous the later stages of recovery and climate change that in addition to collapse. Finally, human behavior is ultimately prevention and resilience the weather extremes noted, is also a fundamental part of how extreme will need greater attention. bringing rising sea levels and rapid consequences become. For example, melting of ice. people are increasingly concentrated Our metaphors have moved over the in areas vulnerable to weather, past few decades from environmental Policy makers, managers and climate and geophysical phenomena. carrying capacity to sustainability to planners face several aspects of While population density is critical resilience, but many of the concepts disasters and their consequences. for efficient use of resources, in have remained the same. So - One is how their complexity creates vulnerable areas it can increase the know your region, its people and its interdependencies that magnify the number of casualties. economy, and the articles that this impacts of a given attack. Second is issue contains from policy, planning that knowledge of preconditions or Efforts will be needed at all levels and management are a step forward precursors underscores the need for beginning with the translation of in this effort. n detection, prediction and forecasting. individual and public perception into Third, preconditions may differ from community action and public will, what we know and expect in terms which in turn will drive legislative the WAGNER PLANNER 7 disaster by the numbers

hen Hurricane Katrina made land- of the damage and human cost of Hurricane Ka- fall in southeast Louisiana in August trina is matched only by Superstorm Sandy, which W 2005, it quickly became the deadli- tore through the country’s most densely populated est - and by some counts - the most destructive region in October 2012. Below is a comparison hurricane in U.S. history. The intensity and size of of the toll on critical infrastructure and lives be- the storm, coupled by the failure of the city’s le- tween Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. vee system, devastated New Orleans and its sur- rounding areas. Nearly eighty percent of the city was submerged in water, with the most destruction centered in the poorest neighborhoods. The scale

Households without power

katrina

sandy 3 million 8.51 million in 8 states in 16 states

Source: New York Times, New York State Governor’s Office 8 300 0.4 M 1.2 M million Millions of buildings Gallons of water pumped damaged by flood or wind from New York City’s subway sytem

1836 Total estimated cost of recovery

$148 billion Number of deaths tied to storm

$71 billion

285

the WAGNER PLANNER 9 (Re)Making it Right

what is the role of urban planning in

rebuilding new orleans?

BY JACKIE BURTON, MUP ‘14

at the lowest elevation. Increasing suburban de facto urban renewal project, one that would development and highway construction in the pin nature as the scapegoat in wiping out the When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in late 1950s and 60s, and the devastation caused by historically undesireable neighborhood. August 2005, the resulting destruction made Hurricane Betsy in 1965, fueled white flight out New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward a household of the area and solidified the neighborhood’s As a result, a renewed stream of federal funding name. As the nation watched the devastating status as an almost exclusively black, poor and private and nonprofit initiatives began floods displace an entire urban population, neighborhood. to re-homestead the Lower Ninth Ward. This many wondered how or if the city would recover. paper will examine two projects- the new levee While we still don’t have a definitive answer to Collectively, these factors resulted in the system surrounding New Orleans, and the this question, there is much to learn from what neighborhood becoming a paradoxical area Make it Right homes in the Holy Cross section has transpired in the Lower Ninth Ward since of concentrated poverty and crime, yet strong, of the Lower Ninth Ward, considered together Katrina. Two key themes are that urban planning tightknit community, which was figuratively and as “Lower Ninth Ward rebuilding infrastructure”- and infrastructure have become estranged, and literally isolated from the rest of the city. as examples of the current disconnect between that while landscape urbanism has played a urban planning and infrastructure, and as vital role in rebuilding the neighborhood, the Despite the Lower Ninth Ward’s history projects that highlight the enfeebling reality that absence of urban planning in this process has of neglect, the inadequacy of the federal landscape urbanism requires infrastructure, but rendered its results incomplete. government’s response to Hurricane Katrina can exist without urban planning. was surprising. In the wake of the storm, and The Lower Ninth Ward has always been one of in the absence of adequate relief aid funding, Under the direction of the Orleans Levee Board, the poorest neighborhoods of New Orleans. As it was debatable if the Lower Ninth Ward had a the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the the city expanded in the late 1800s, wealthier future at all. An advisory board, commissioned original levees that failed during Hurricane residents staked out the scarce lands at higher by then-mayor Ray Nagin, proposed razing the Katrina; their failure is widely believed to have elevations, and “the swampy expanse downriver “blight” of destroyed homes and essentially been the entirely preventable cause of most of that ultimately became the Ninth Ward” became allowing the land to revert back to its natural the hurricane’s destruction. The Orleans Levee home to free blacks and immigrant whites who swamp-like state. Civic activism, combined with Board was disbanded after Katrina, and the couldn’t afford to live elsewhere. The carving of ample press coverage that raised awareness Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority an Industrial Canal in 1918 divided the Ninth about the social justice issues facing the Lower (SLFPA) was formed in its stead to oversee Ward into the Upper and Lower halves, the Ninth Ward, defeated this planned shrinkage. construction of the monumental new levee latter portion resting South of the canal and Many cried fowl, seeing that option as a kind of system, which was also constructed by the 10 When Hurricane Katrina made landfall in late commissioned by then-mayor Ray Nagin, it was constructed in just over five years, August 2005, the resulting destruction made proposed razing the “blight” of destroyed aided by the fact that Congress allocated New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward a household homes and essentially allowing the land to all of the project’s funding in a lump sum name. As the nation watched the devastating revert back to its natural swamp-like state. at the beginning of construction in a rather floods displace an entire urban population, Civic activism, combined with ample press unprecedented move. The Army Corps many wondered how- indeed, if- the city coverage that raised awareness about the encouraged their contractors to “work would recover. While we still don’t have a social justice issues facing the Lower Ninth their projects in parallel,” that is, begin definitive answer to this question, there is Ward, defeated this planned shrinkage. Many construction on one piece before all of its much to learn from what has transpired in cried fowl, seeing that option as a kind of de components were fully designed, and they the Lower Ninth Ward since Katrina. Two facto urban renewal project, one that would were also able to streamline the process key themes are that urban planning and pin nature as the scapegoat in wiping out the for receiving environmental permits. The infrastructure have become estranged, and historically undesireable neighborhood. levee system is also innovative in scope; it that while landscape urbanism has played a consists of 133 miles of levees, flood walls, vital role in rebuilding the neighborhood, the As a result, a renewed stream of federal gates, and pumps, and includes the largest absence of urban planning in this process funding and private and nonprofit initiatives water pumping station on Earth. has rendered its results incomplete. began to re-homestead the Lower Ninth Ward. This paper will examine two projects- In 2007, part-time New Orleans resident The Lower Ninth Ward has always been one the new levee system surrounding New and long-time architecture enthusiast Brad of the poorest neighborhoods of New Orleans. Orleans, and the Make it Right homes in Pitt started an organization called Make As the city expanded in the late 1800s, the Holy Cross section of the Lower Ninth It Right to address what he perceived wealthier residents staked out the scarce Ward, considered together as “Lower Ninth as inadequacies of Lower Ninth Ward lands at higher elevations, and “the swampy Ward rebuilding infrastructure”- as examples redevelopment. Make It Right constructs expanse downriver that ultimately became of the current disconnect between urban sustainable homes (they are all LEED the Ninth Ward” became home to free blacks planning and infrastructure, and as projects Platinum-certified) in Holy Cross, one of and immigrant whites who couldn’t afford to that highlight the enfeebling reality that the most devastated areas of the Lower live elsewhere. The carving of an Industrial landscape urbanism requires infrastructure, Ninth Ward. To date, Make It Right has Canal in 1918 divided the Ninth Ward into the but can exist without urban planning. built over 80 colorful, avant-garde homes Upper and Lower halves, the latter portion in Holy Cross, each costing approximately resting South of the canal and at the lowest Under the direction of the Orleans Levee $430,000 to design and construct. Formerly elevation. Increasing suburban development Board, the Army Corps of Engineers displaced Lower Ninth Ward residents, who and highway construction in the 1950s and constructed the original levees that failed receive subsidies from the organization 60s, and the devastation caused by Hurricane during Hurricane Katrina; their failure is to help pay for the homes, own most of Betsy in 1965, fueled white flight out of widely believed to have been the entirely the Make It Right houses. Due to funding

“There’s also an elephant in the room: until another disaster strikes, nobody really knows for sure if the houses can actually withstand catastrophic flooding.” the area and solidified the neighborhood’s preventable cause of most of the hurricane’s concerns, Make it Right is not on track to status as an almost exclusively black, poor destruction. The Orleans Levee Board was meet their goal of constructing 150 new neighborhood. disbanded after Katrina, and the Southeast homes by 2013, yet they’ve expanded their Louisiana Flood Protection Authority efforts to several other cities. Collectively, these factors resulted in the (SLFPA) was formed in its stead to oversee neighborhood becoming a paradoxical construction of the monumental new levee Although the new levee system successfully area of concentrated poverty and crime, system, which was also constructed by the thwarted Hurricane Isaac earlier in 2012, it yet strong, tightknit community, which was Army Corps. Construction of the new system has been dubbed “woefully inadequate” by figuratively and literally isolated from the rest spanned from 2006-2011, and the project’s SLFPA president Tim Doody, and he may be of the city. cost was $14.5 billion, paid for with federal right. According to , “The funding. new system was designed and constructed Despite the Lower Ninth Ward’s history to provide what is informally known as 100- of neglect, the inadequacy of the federal Despite the disheartening fact that it took year protection, which means it was built government’s response to Hurricane Katrina a catastrophe to spark its construction, the to prevent the kind of flooding that has a was surprising. In the wake of the storm, levee system is innovative in several ways. 1 percent chance of occurring in any given and in the absence of adequate relief aid First, it was constructed incredibly quickly. year. But New Orleans has seen storms far funding, it was debatable if the Lower Ninth A system of its size and complexity could Ward had a future at all. An advisory board, have easily taken decades to complete, yet (continued on page 19) the WAGNER PLANNER 11 Living on the Edge new york’s dangerous development on the waterfront BY RONNIE HUTCHINSON, MUP ‘13

Manhattan’s far west side, Greenpoint- Williamsburg, Hunter’s Point and Coney Island; all of these neighborhoods were inundated by Superstorm Sandy’s storm surge. They are all also part of major 64,000 rezoning efforts that are set to make them The number of new residential units con- prime locations for massive residential development. Over the past decade, a structed on Manhattan’s Far West Side and significant proportion of the city’s recent growth has occurred closer and closer to the Financial District since 2002, areas that were water’s edge. At a time when New Yorkers submerged in water by Superstorm Sandy’s have finally begun to grasp what climate change and sea level rise looks like, the city surge. is also set on a to encourage much of its future growth along the glaringly vulnerable waterfront. 23,000 After years of decline in the city’s waterfront communities, Mayor Bloomberg and his The number of new residential units con- administration have made a concerted effort to invest in areas adjacent to the water. structed in newly-rezoned Hunter’s Point Stretching over 520 miles, the reintegration in Queens and Greenpoint-Williamsburg in of the waterfront into the city fabric can increase ecological vitality, provide Brooklyn in the last decade. additional recreational space, and promote economic development. The ironic reality remains that the city’s effort to revitalize its historic waterfront has also left many of the new businesses and residents directly rise implications. Instead of keeping the water out, people in harms way. When the city rezoned the have begun proposing soft development The New York City Panel on climate change Greenpoint–Williamsburg waterfront in strategies. These designs replace hard found that sea levels could rise another 2 2005, much of the attention was focused on infrastructure that tries to keep water out with to 4.5 feet by the year 2080. Coupled that the heights of proposed buildings, or how a constellation of interventions that mimic New York has lost nearly 80 percent of its mass transit would cope with the increased and work with natural systems. One such historic tidal wetlands over its urbanization ridership. Sea level rise was very rarely part example involves porous pavement designs and many waterfront neighborhoods such of the discussion. that retain and filter water rather than quickly as Battery Park City are built on man-made channel it away. Another soft design example When Sandy made landfall in late landfill, the city carefully needs to calculate would utilize waste glass to create jacks that October 2012, much of New York’s recent how to deal with future storms and rising can be dumped into New York Harbor. This developments were in the direct path of waters. would potentially catalyze a formation of the storm surge. Citywide, 126 census natural reefs and shoals, creating a complex Many design proposals have focused on tracts grew by more than 25 percent in underwater topology that can mitigate the how to keep the water out, including the population since 2000. Of those tracts, 48 power of future storm surges. New York City construction of massive sea barriers at the were impacted by Sandy storm surge. Since is an urban expanse the stretches across entrance to New York Harbor and the Long 2002, over 27,000 residential units have three islands and a peninsula; this is not Island Sound. This method is costly, easily been added on Manhattan’s West Side and an engineering problem, it is a geographic reaching billions of dollars. But considering another 37,000 in the Financial District. reality. Using natural design processes to the incredible size of New York’s coastline, New York has done a great job in attracting manage a natural process may be the only it is unlikely the city will ever be able to new residents to the city, but much of this option New York has to properly grow and properly defend its 520 miles of waterfront growth has been oriented towards waterfront sustain its waterfront development. n from future storms and sea rise. development without much heed to sea level 12 13% The share of NYCHA public housing units located within Sandy’s surge, de- spite making up only 5 percent of New York City’s total housing stock. Map by Ronnie Hutchinson the WAGNER PLANNER 13 In the Wake of Sandy evaluating the pos-disaster transit response

Infrastructure Cleanup, Dewatering, and the Return of Rail

The MTA was effective in assessing the damage to infrastructure and instituting a cleanup plan. Inspectors examined every stretch of impacted rail and electrical infrastructure to ensure their functionality. One of the most challenging aspects of the storm repair is the 108-year old subway system, which has unique and outdated parts that require extensive time and costs to replace.

The subway system was severely affected by the flooding of its tunnels between Manhattan and Brooklyn. MTA employees used their three pump trains to remove water from the tunnels as soon as possible. Workers put in double shifts on consecutive BY NOLAN LEVENSON, MUP ‘14 would be shut down on Sunday, October days to get the pumping done. 28 at 7:00 p.m. and buses would suspend service at 9:00 p.m. to allow the MTA On Wednesday, October 31, the MTA enough time to make preparations for the announced that subway service would Hurricane Sandy hit the New York storm. In addition, the agency moved rolling resume the following day, primarily north Metropolitan Area on October 29, stock to higher ground, closed ventilation of 42nd Street in Manhattan and into the 2012, causing devastating impacts to grates, removed electrical infrastructure, Bronx, east of and transportation infrastructure. The destruction and placed sandbags in vulnerable areas. Williamsburg, and in parts of Queens. The demonstrated the vital and central role that This allowed the MTA to be ready to restore F and N trains (between Manhattan and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority service as quickly as possible. Queens) were the only trains crossing the (MTA) plays in the region. Every day, nearly , which created massive crowding 10 million people rely on the MTA’s regional As a result of the MTA’s preparations, the issues at stations and on trains. Limited network of subways, buses, commuter rail, storm caused no damage to the rolling Metro-North service between Grand Central and bridges and tunnels to travel to work and stock; buses were back in service on and White Plains began, and limited Long leisure activities. When these services were Tuesday, October 30 at 5:00 p.m., and some Island Railroad service between Jamaica unavailable after the storm, the region’s subway service returned on the morning of Station and Penn Station and Atlantic economic activity suffered, forcing people Thursday, November 1. Both transit modes Terminal resumed as well. The MTA worked to find alternative and more time-consuming ran free of charge for riders through Friday, tirelessly to get the system back in order, ways to travel. The MTA, however, was November 2. Despite these successes, opening lines as they became ready and proactive and adaptive in finding solutions there were unexpected challenges, power was restored. to transportation challenges created by the including the flooding of the Hugh L. Carey storm. Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and Queens- Midtown Tunnel. Trees and other debris Learning from recent previous experience lay along Metro-North (MNR) and Long with storms and extreme flooding, the Island Railroad (LIRR) tracks. Impressively, MTA developed strategies and used new almost all repair work was done with internal technologies and infrastructure in preparation resources, employees, and equipment. for hurricanes. Realizing imminent threats to the city and its infrastructure, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that subways (continued on page 20) 14 Courting Disaster many americans are only one disaster away from financial ruin BY THEA GARON, MUP ‘13 and $80 billion, much of which has been stability amongst its residents by promoting borne by households and small businesses. household savings. If it manages to do this, Nearly half of American households are one While a reserve of emergency savings then when the next disaster strikes – and emergency away from a financial disaster. would not have saved homes or businesses this now seems to be a question of when, not This is the finding by the Corporation for from Sandy’s wrath, it could have provided if –households may have adequate savings Enterprise Development (CFED) . According a financial cushion to those families whose to prevent an unexpected emergency from to a report issued by CFED, approximately lives were upended by the storm. A reserve turning into a financial calamity. n 44 percent of households do not have of emergency savings might have helped enough money saved up to cover basic households see themselves through the living expenses for 3 months without steady roughest patch immediately after the storm income. Without a cushion of savings to until help could arrive in the form of low- fall back on, one emergency, such as a job interest government loans. loss or an unexpected medical event, could push these families over the brink and into Saving is difficult, particularly for low- financial disaster. income families who are living paycheck- to-paycheck. But a reserve of emergency While the majority of these “liquid asset savings can be instrumental in preventing poor” households live below the official an unexpected event from turning into a poverty line, many of them also lead middle financial disaster. One of the best ways class lifestyles. The CFED report, which that cities can prepare their residents for synthesizes information culled from the 2013 the next disaster is by designing policies Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, found that promote household savings, especially that three-quarters of these households are emergency savings. These policies can employed full-time and over 15 percent of take the form of tax-time savings initiatives, them earn more than $55,000 per year. “It’s citywide savings campaigns, or matched really a mainstream issue,” Andrea Levere, savings programs. Although New York City President of CFED told the Huffington Post: is already at the forefront of these efforts “…this issue isn’t just about ‘those poor in many respects, the city should redouble people,’ it’s about half of us.” its commitment to increasing financial When an emergency does strike, households that lack a cushion of savings are forced to seek out expensive forms of credit to make ends meet. The report found States with the highest average that the average American borrower carries $15.01 $15.06 $10,736 in credit card debt. Those monthly credit card debt (thousands) fees can eat away at a household’s already $14.25 $13.80 $13.83 meager financial resources. The Scorecard also found that more than half (56.4%) of $13.01 $13.01 $13.01 $12.56 consumers do not qualify for short term $12.18 credit at “prime rates” and are forced to turn to high-cost alternative types of credit such as payday, auto-title, or installment loans which can carry triple-digit interest rates. de ma hi md wa ri ca nj ct dc Hurricane Sandy tragically showed us just how financially unprepared for an emergency many households are. When the storm hit New Jersey, New York, and Average U.S. credit the surrounding area, it destroyed people’s homes, businesses, and livelihoods. The $10,736 card debt in Q3 2012 financial damage that Sandy wrought upon the region is estimated to be between $60 Source: Corporation for Enterprise Development the WAGNER PLANNER 15 THE * GREATEST AGE OF URBANIZATION is the urban planning profession poised to lead a global renaissance? * richard florida says yes.

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY ALEJANDRA RANGEL SMITH, MUP ‘13 *16 page 14 * ABU DHABI - During January 2013, Richard Florida taught a class entitled The Global City, which focused on the strengths and weaknesses of cities, in particular Abu Dhabi in the global economy. We were able to sit down with Professor Florida to talk about the future of the urban planning profession. Our discussion touched on three central themes: gentrification, planners’ reticence to growth, and the growing ‘backwardness’ of the urban planning. “Growth and development are important” Florida makes clear. “What I fear in urban planning is that it is becoming a very backward looking profession...maybe we need to call it placemaking and city building. I think we may need a new vocabulary, a common language.”

Alejandra Rangel Smith (ARS): In this era all engaged. But planners not so much. ARS: In terms of participatory planning, of rapid urbanization, cities are expanding Worse yet, I like to say our field suffers how do you think planners can involve and intensifying rapidly, what advice would from the narcissism of small difference: we community members in an efficient way? you give young urban planners on how to debate and fight with each other endlessly. Does technology enhance or alienate in this incentivize global cities that are creative and But really, we know what it takes to build process? innovative? great cities. We know what works and what * does not. It’s our obligation to get there Florida: Jane Jacobs became a friend and Richard Florida (Florida): What a great and build a bigger platform and engage the mentor late in her life. I asked her after the time to be planner. Cities are where the public. I’ve said many times cities are our terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, action is. They are the social and economic most important form of economic and social as a New Yorker, what would she like to see organizing units of our time – the sources organization. And the place we choose to happen there, how would she like to see the of innovation, wealth and growth. And of live has the biggest effect on our lives – as site rebuilt. She said basically I was asking course the most rapidly growing cities are much or more than our choice of college, the wrong question and starting from the in the emerging and developing world. We our job, even our life partner – because all wrong premise. It’s not what she would like are going to put more people in cities and of those other choices turn on where we to see happen, or any so-called expert for spend more on city-building over the next live. My view is that as planners we have that matter. She said planners should go visit few decades, than ever before. My advice: an obligation to help people understand the the site, absorb the site, talk closely with the travel the world. Go see the great process places they live in, and help them make the people who work there, live there, commute of urbanization as it unfolds. Be part of the best and most informed choices possible. through there. They’re* the ones who know greatest age of urbanization ever. what needs to be done. Involving the ARS: Considering the great amount of community – the people who live and work in ARS: If you had limited resources, would bureaucracy in developing countries, in places – is key. And yes technology makes you invest in improving and expanding the what sector do you think urban planners will this even easier. infrastructure correctly or would you invest have the most power and impact? Public, in programming the existing city intensely? private or non-profit sector? How about in ARS: Finally, in light of recent events such as the developed cities? Superstorm Sandy, apart from strengthening Florida: It’s time to stop building outward and their infrastructure how do you think cities intensifying the space and infrastructure we Florida: The big shift I see is away from the and planners should plan and manage for already have. All good things – innovation, public sector and into the not-for-profit and climate change and disasters? new startups, jobs, economic growth, private sectors. Young planners I speak social capital, and so much more stem with are less enthused with the slowness Florida: We need resilience not just from density. And denser places are more and bureaucracy of government. They like sustainability. Resilience comes from *interactive, safer, more energy-efficient and the feel of smaller, startup organizations. people and neighborhoods that are flexible more environmentally friendly. That seems like a good thing to me. and adaptable. Density helps too. Denser, more mixed used neighborhoods seem ARS: From what platform do you think ARS: Thinking globally, what cities do you more resilient and better able to respond. urban planners will have the most impact think will present greater opportunities and We need to empower communities and on cities, planning territory for growth and challenges for urban planners to have an neighborhoods to be able to respond quickly intensification, providing incentives for the impact? Developing cities, mid-sized or vice and flexibly. Top down planning simply does economy or creating the right regulation? versa? not work. When it comes to climate change, national leaders have been slow to respond Florida: Both matter. But the fact of the Florida: Global cities in the emerging and on climate change, but city leaders and matter is that planners need a better developing economies. This is the greatest mayors have stepped out in front. Benjamin platform. Look at how economists make their era of city-building in world history. There’s Barber has a new book out titled: “If Mayors case and shape the public conversation. so much to be done. So much these cities Ruled the World.” We’d all be a lot better off Not just economists, CEOS, political have to do and learn. So much planners if we followed the lead of mayors and city officials, foreign policy makers – they are have to offer builders on climate change. n * * the WAGNER PLANNER page 15 17 The Brooklyn Tech Triangle what does brooklyn need to do to attract start-ups?

BY ADAM ECKSTEIN, MUP ‘12 due to low vacancy rates and rising rents in in order to find out what factors contributed these neighborhoods. to these firms locational decisions. Transit connectivity is a major concern to 91 percent The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership of Manhattan based tech firms. A desire to New York City has a booming tech (DBP) believes they can solve this problem be located in “tech neighborhood” was the scene. Since 2007 over 500 tech start- by creating a “Tech Triangle” district in second greatest concern, with 57 percent of ups have popped up right in the city. Brooklyn. This Tech Triangle would consist respondents listing. According to this survey, Many of these start-ups focus not on of Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO and the Transit and being in a “Tech neighborhood” hardware but software development. They Brooklyn Navy Yard and would aim to create were vastly more important to tech firms then serve markets such as fashion, media, services and incentives in these areas, the costs of rent. advertising and finance that are already which would encourage start-ups to move to prominent in our local economy. The City’s Brooklyn and further grow the local Economy. The survey reinforced many conventional strong service economy has drawn these The goal for DBP is to find the right mix of norms concerning “new economy” firms. Tech start-ups to New York. financial incentives and provision of services start-ups tend to like converted industrial that would make Tech Start-ups locate to spaces over others; they have strong While a growing number of these “new these areas in Brooklyn which have more preferences towards buildings with good economy” companies have crossed vacancies and lower rents. This will ensure natural light, open ceilings, large kitchens the bridge to DUMBO and Downtown continued growth in the Tech field and provide and buildings that allow bicycles. Additionally Brooklyn - a vast majority of these start- an economic boon to Brooklyn. To planners most start-ups prefer month-to-month leases ups are located in Downtown Manhattan. and politicians it seems like a win-win. as most of them are planning to expand The Flatiron District, Union Square, Soho rapidly and unexpectedly. Probably the most and TriBeCa house a majority of these A recent survey of Manhattan-based tech unsurprising result from this survey (and the start-ups. However there is concern that firms, conducted by the Center for an hardest to overcome) is the lack of knowledge growth could be stifled in the Tech field Urban Future, asked a variety of questions within this business community about neighborhoods outside of Manhattan – and specifically what amenities they have to offer.

Many of these issues can be addressed. A targeted media and public outreach campaign would help market these neighborhoods to the Tech Community. Local zoning regulations can be changed to encourage more buildings and retro-fittings to create more spaces that the new economy firms like. Lastly the city can work with land owners to encourage month- to-month leases to make their properties more appealing to the tech sector.

However poor or perceived poor connectivity is probably one of the largest barriers that the Tech Triangle will have to face. Although Downtown Brooklyn is well served by a variety of subway lines – DUMBO and the Brooklyn Navy Yard are not. One of the proposed recommendations for DBP is to create a special “circulator” bus. This proposed bus would work much like the Washington DC Circulator. The buses go along designated

(continued on page 21) 18 education, individuals with higher credit Foreclosure: Ground Zero scores are often hit harder by foreclosures. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4) The road to recovery for individuals who The challenges of rebuilding infrastructure in previously had higher credit scores is also the Lower Ninth Ward may seem disjointed, that underwent the foreclosure process considerably more difficult. but that is precisely why urban planners can from 2005 to 2012. The average difference and should play a role here. Infrastructure between the original purchase price of the Understanding the role that foreclosure plays that is deeply connected by the natural home and the price sold at auction or after in the lives in middle-income families will landscape from the micro-level of 80 homes REO classification was $113,002. Using the be crucial to policy-based interventions. A in Holy Cross, to the levees surrounding the dataset of 268 St. Albans homes that entered tremendous amount of wealth was lost over Ninth Ward, out to all of New Orleans, should foreclosure between 2005 and 2012, this the past five years. A family’s future ability be developed with a regional intention that paper determined that 9 percent of all blocks to borrow and access the housing market will is heavily influenced by the landscape of the within St. Albans blocks were host to three or have a large impact on the nation as a whole region, and planners should be at the helm of more foreclosures. and the housing market recovery. n this development. Planners have the ability (and arguably, the duty) to fill the role of Because of the high rate of homeownership developing urban areas with a sustainable, and the analysis of foreclosures in St. regional perspective. In New Orleans, Albans, one can deduce that homeowners Ride Out of Poverty (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5) allowing space for the regional-minded urban in St. Albans invested greatly in their homes. planner to enter this development offers the Historically, homes in the community were I am convinced that universal access is greatest potential to solve conflicts such as more expensive than other communities in possible, where every city has reliable regional Gulf Coast flooding. Queens and although incomes in St. Albans transportation infrastructure for all, regardless are higher than average, a substantial of gender, age, and income. Transportation Further, according to a recent study by the investment would be needed to purchase planning and engineering is not just about United Nations Office for Disaster Risk a home. Many community leaders stated providing a high level of service, it is about Reduction, infrastructure itself accounts that foreclosures often cause families in St. using universal infrastructure in every society for only about one-sixth of what urban Albans to lose everything. They confirmed to further implement just and equal treatment residents believe is necessary for disaster that residents’ displayed a propensity to of all its members. Once we shift to this preparedness. Higher up on the list were invest the majority of their wealth in their mindset, we can create a socially responsible more organizational, information, and policy- homes as opposed to savings. Research transportation system throughout the world. centered concerns. Numbers one and two confirms that among middle-income families, n were “taking disaster risk reduction into the value of a home represents a substantial account in new urban planning regulations, share of a family’s wealth. Middle-income plans, and development activities,” and families rely on the appreciation of their “establishing councils, committees, and homes in order to finance children’s (Re)Making it Right disaster management structures dedicated to education and retirement. Lacking the equity (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10) disaster risk reduction.” of a home to borrow against will have an negative impact on middle-income families more damaging than the 100-year standard. Urban planners are trained to think on a who have faced foreclosure in St. Albans and Katrina is generally considered to have been regional scale and to create multi-faceted around the country. a 400-year storm.” Other debates spurred by projects. Their presence would ensure that the the new levees range from pleas from nearby Lower Ninth Ward is redeveloped in a cohesive In addition to the loss of equity, foreclosures towns for their own protective infrastructure, way that is tied to the environmental realities also blemish individuals’ credit scores for to accusations that the massive system has of the region beyond the neighborhood. They seven years. Deyanira Del Rio, the Associate callously redirected flooding to other parts of would likely be more concerned with, and Director of NEDAP, said that “landlords and the region as far away as Mississippi. able to plan for, desperately needed elements employers are increasingly using credit like multi-modal transportation infrastructure, scores as a means of evaluation, and the Media darling Make It Right has shortcomings economic growth initiatives, and long-term negative effects of refinancing scams could as well. The organization’s difficulties in development and community resilience than paint borrowers in an inaccurate light.” obtaining funding makes its longevity as a flashy Make It Right. force for reconstruction seem questionable. Income demographics point to an additional The homes, although subsidized, are still Indeed, urban planning and infrastructure reason why the loss of credit is particularly quite costly to design and build, making them have become estranged, and landscape devastating for St. Albans’ families. St. an impossible purchase for the average Lower urbanism has the potential to re-unify them. Albans is a middle-income community with a Ninth Ward resident. Many local residents see A silver lining of the tragedy that the Lower median income of $77,213. While the credit them as more of a tourist destination than a Ninth Ward has experienced is that is has the scores of St. Albans residents are not known, rebirth of their neighborhood. There’s also an ability to become a hub for this re-unification, families with higher incomes are more likely elephant in the room: until another disaster should city officials, nonprofit organizations, to have more responsible credit payment strikes, nobody really knows for sure if the and private entities choose to recognize behavior. According to House Logic, a houses can actually withstand catastrophic for-profit entity providing homeownership flooding. (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) the WAGNER PLANNER 19 between Manhattan and Brooklyn, full R train THE BUS BRIDGES (Re)Making it Right service was restored. With the exception of (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19) the A train between Howard Beach and the The commuting challenges forced Rockaways, and the South Ferry 1 train officials from the MTA, in coordination with the New York City Department of and support it. In the meantime, we can be station, the entire subway system is fully Transportation (NYCDOT) to create a bold sure that the hearty residents of the Lower operational at the time of writing. and innovative transportation solution: Ninth Ward will continue piecing together impromptu Bus Rapid Transit. Between their beloved neighborhood as all of these By Monday, November 5, commuter rail Brooklyn and Manhattan, 330 buses ran elements swirl around them like leaves on a service had been mostly restored. On the to replace missing subway service. The gulf breeze. n MNR lines east of the Hudson River, almost all of the lines were operating. Those that agencies instituted New York’s first truly travel through New Jersey west of the river exclusive busways over the Manhattan from Rockland and Orange counties were Bridge between Jay Street and Atlantic still without service. Shuttle buses filled in Avenue/Barclays Center and Midtown service gaps where possible in MNR service Manhattan. Buses also traveled across In the Wake of Sandy areas until November 19 to allow commuters the (although not (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14) to get to work while repairs were done. By in exclusive lanes) from the Hewes Thursday, November 8, almost all LIRR Street station to Midtown Manhattan. In Manhattan, the buses traveled on bus On Saturday, November 3, 80 percent of service was restored, with the exception of priority lanes on Lexington Avenue, East the subway system was back in operation, the Long Beach Branch, which had to operate 23rd Street, Third Avenue and Bowery. including one of the East River subway with diesel trains because of damage to tunnels, the Joralemon Tunnel of the 4/5 power substations. This branch was almost On the first day of this operation, Thursday, trains. This tunnel experienced significantly completely restored on November 25, November 1, people swarmed to these less flooding than the others because however it still runs with some limitations. stations, causing overcrowding and its entrances on both the Brooklyn and confusion. NYCT President Prendergast Manhattan side are at relatively high BRIDGES AND TUNNELS acknowledged the challenges of running elevations. This was an important repair the buses. “If the bus bridge did anything,” because the 4/5/6 line is the highest capacity All bridges and tunnels were closed before Prendergast said, “it helped underscore transit corridor in the country (on its own it the storm in preparation for the high winds for people how our rail system has a lot would be larger than any other rapid transit and flooding. Although most bridges were more utility than our bus system.” By system in the country). able to re-open in a short amount of time, the Friday morning, 3,700 people boarded the two MTA tunnels—Hugh L. Carey Brooklyn- buses per hour, with three buses loading The MTA was committed to getting the entire Battery and Queens Midtown Tunnels simultaneously, and rode into Manhattan system running again, and not just focused experienced significant flooding. on Manhattan. This is highlighted by a on dedicated lanes. Lines to board buses were still packed on Friday, but the system valiant effort to restore subway service to the Even with preparations, the MTA did not was functioning much more efficiently. The Rockaways. Hundreds of feet of track and the expect the tunnels to experience such a large MTA was once again able to coordinate signal system along the Broad Channel Bridge quantity of flooding. This forced the MTA to and solve some of the issues by being were permanently damaged. On Sunday, be flexible in their recovery plan and address adaptable and proactive. November 11, the A train was extended to unexpected issues. Howard Beach, and a free shuttle bus was COMMUNICATION AND CLARITY set up between the Howard Beach and Far Working hard to pump the tunnels, the MTA Rockaway/Mott Avenue stations. The MTA, was able to accommodate rush hour traffic Once it was announced after the storm that however, says that it will be months before in one direction as quickly as they could for the subways would reopen in some parts subway service is restored between the the tunnels, opening one tube at a time— of the city, the MTA was quick to adjust its Rockaway Peninsula and Howard Beach. To Manhattan-bound in the morning, Brooklyn- service map as routes became functional. restore transit service within the Rockaways bound in the evening. The Queens-Midtown The map featured a stripped down version peninsula, the MTA brought subway cars on Tunnel was able to open partial service of the normal subway map, featuring flatbed trucks and placed them on unused starting Friday, November 8, and returned operational routes in full color, and non- tracks to run a shuttle, the ‘H’ train, between to full operation on Friday, November 16. operational routes in gray. Typical map the Far Rockaway-Mott Ave. and Beach 90th On Monday, November 12, limited rush-hour features, such as parks and neighborhood Street stations. This line opened on Tuesday, service for buses reopened in the Hugh L. names, were removed for clarity, so users November 20. From Far Rockaway, riders Carey Tunnel in the Manhattan-bound tube. could easily interpret which routes were can take a bus shuttle to Howard Beach to On Tuesday, November 13, the tube was open. regular A train service. opened to car traffic as well, with one lane for buses and one for cars and normal traffic was To communicate this information, all On Tuesday, December 4, J/Z service was completely restored on Monday, December updates to bus, subway, commuter rail, extended to Broad Street, and on December 10. 21, after cleaning severe damage from (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE) flooding in the Montague Street tunnel 20 credit to any business that moves from In the Wake of Sandy Manhattan to Brooklyn. As we learn from PHOTO CREDITS (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20) Urban Economics - this is a gross waste of funds. Tax incentives are marginal FORCLOSURE: GROUND ZERO and bridge and tunnel service were posted on in locational choice, and the services, the MTA’s website, Twitter, and Facebook. The amenities and transit connectivity that firms 4 BEN TAYLOR map was posted and updated numerous times want in Union Square, will not be replicated per day as routes opened, again highlighting in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. When asked PLANNING FOR THE NEW the responsiveness of the agency. This in the survey - only 4% of tech firms said NORMAL information outreach was essential at a time that tax incentives were a top factor in their when many were without television, internet, locational decisions. These funds could 6-7 DAVID SHANKBONE or cell phone service; by posting information easily be redirected into more public services in many places, the MTA was sure to reach a that would make these neighborhoods more large proportion of the population. The MTA attractive. (RE)MAKING IT RIGHT also conveyed images of the storm damage 10 MEL SILVERS by posting photos and videos online, which The Brooklyn Tech Triangle does have a lot helped the public comprehend the extent of of potential. Along with the recommendations the flooding in the system. mentioned above, a number of ideas have IN THE WAKE OF SANDY been recommended to DBP such as the 14 BEN TAYLOR THE RESILIENCE OF THE MTA creation of an Art Walk between theses neighborhoods or a local bike share to The recovery efforts of the Metropolitan encourage greater connectivity. But the THE BROOKLYN TECH TRIANGLE Transportation Authority in the wake idea with the most profound potential is to of Hurricane Sandy were remarkable, 18 BEN TAYLOR market each neighborhood specifically to demonstrating the MTA’s importance to the different sub-sectors of the Tech economy. region. First, it was well prepared, protecting DUMBO already has a large number of critical equipment and infrastructure. Then, creative firms and could be marketed to during and immediately after the storm, it was further art and design based start-ups. The quick to adapt to the needs of the system, location of DoITT, NYU Poly and the future filling the service gaps left without the East CUSP building could be marketed to open River subway tunnels with buses. Finally, data tech start-ups. And lastly the Brooklyn it systematically and effectively repaired Navy Yard would be a great location for any and restored service primarily using its own tech firm interested in small manufacturing - internal resources, re-mobilizing the region such as HEVO Power Inc., a small start-up within just a few days after the storm. Within located in Soho that will eventually produce weeks almost the entire MTA transportation wireless electric charging stations. network was back in full service after dealing with the most devastating storm in the New During our interviews I had the pleasure to York Metropolitan region’s history. The MTA speak to the head of a local tech incubator, should be commended for its impressive Micah Kotch. Micah founded the NYU Poly recovery, and the vitality of their services 137 Varick tech incubator in 2009 and is one to the region and its economy must be of the foremost experts in New York on Start- n recognized. ups. When asked about the Brooklyn Tech Triangle he stated, “The six things start- ups need in no particular order are; talent, services, expertise, a tech community, an The Brooklyn Tech introduction to customers and an introduction Triangle to capital.” The Brooklyn Tech Triangle will need to focus on its weak points in regards (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18) and work to create comparative advantages “circular routes”, with cheaper fares and to these criteria. However once and if the have a limited amount of express stops. right combination of services and amenities They would be branded and marketed is found – the Tech Triangle economy will n differently then normal busses – becoming flourish. a cheap, fast “Tech Bus” that the community would be excited to ride on.

In order to encourage more firms to move to Brooklyn, the city currently gives a whopping $3000 per person yearly tax the WAGNER PLANNER 21 urban planning anytime http://wagnerupsa.wordpress.com/planner/