CIVITAS In Action

Memorial Sloan-Kettering - CUNY Hunter College East 74th Street Project 

At numerous community meetings, CIVITAS has testified for open space improvements to be part of a proposed 450-foot-tall complex by the City University of New York Hunter College (CUNY) and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). The location is between East 73rd and East 74th Streets and York Avenue and the FDR Drive. The million square-foot project’s application has entered the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, which includes recommendations to the NYC Department of City Planning from the Community Board and the Manhattan Borough President. 

CIVITAS is strongly in favor of improvements to the nearby East River Esplanade and feels that additional open space needs to be created and improved on the development site or very close by to accommodate the thousands of daily visitors. 

The project consists of an ambulatory cancer care hospital and nursing school and is currently a city-owned site, zoned for manufacturing (M3-2). The applicant is seeking a zoning change to a commercial (C1-9) lot, which allows for a 10 Floor Area Ratio (FAR). The applicant is also requesting a zoning text amendment for additional development rights (2 FAR), which could exceed 130,000 square feet. 

CIVITAS has urged open space improvements that are immediately proximate to the development site to handle its negative impacts, high automobile and pedestrian traffic and building density. We insist on improvements that are commensurate with the extremely valuable development increases being considered. 

Expansion of City Recycling Program 

New York City recently announced the biggest expansion of its recycling program in 25 years which it states will lead to more than 50,000 tons of waste diverted from landfills. The biggest change is that New Yorkers can now recycle hard plastics, including: 

• plastic bottles, jugs & jars 

• plastic caps & lids 

• plastic food containers (yogurt, deli, hummus, dairy tubs, cookie tray inserts, “clamshell” containers, other plastic take-out containers) 

• plastic packaging (“blister-pak” and “clamshell” consumer packaging, acetate boxes) 

• plastic housewares (flower pots, mixing bowls, plastic appliances, etc.) 

• bulk plastic (crates, buckets, pails, furniture, large toys & appliances, etc.) 

You can find a full list of what you can and cannot recycle on the Department of Sanitation’s website: on.nyc.gov/16CqDQF 

Apartment Building Recycling Honor Roll 

Congratulations to the following building for their participation in the Apartment Building Recycling Initiative: 

• 1192 Park Avenue 

• 410 East 57th Street 

• 1070 Park Avenue 

Join the Honor Roll! Contact CIVITAS at 212.996.0745 or visit: bit.ly/V76M7G 

City & Suburban and First Avenue Estates Model Tenements 

CIVITAS wishes City & Suburban Houses a happy 100th anniversary. We joined many neighbors in May to commemorate this milestone and the long fight to make this historic East 79th Street complex a NYC landmark. Betty Cooper Wallerstein, Andrew Dolkart, Tony Wood and many veterans of the preservation battle gathered at Temple Sharaay Tefila to celebrate. 

At deadline, the fate of another model tenement, First Avenue Estates, remains in limbo and is up for public hearing in June at the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The owner, Stahl Development, has made a hardship claim against landmark status. CIVITAS has testified in support of keeping the historic designation and commends Friends of the UES Historic Districts for leading the charge to uphold the landmarks law. Both tenement complexes were granted landmark status for their role in the Progressive Era housing movement. 

East Harlem Rezoning Update and Park Avenue Vision Session 

In spring 2013, Community Board 11 submitted zoning recommendations to the NYC Department of City Planning (DCP) for the Madison, Park and Lexington Avenue corridors. Developed in partnership with CIVITAS and described in detail in the winter 2013 newsletter, the study included suggestions for rezoning this area between 115th and 132nd Street. The full text of the zoning study is available on civitasnyc.org. We look forward to swift action by the DCP to bring much-demanded, up-to-date zoning to East Harlem. 

As part of a focus on revitalizing and improving the Park Avenue corridor, CIVITAS joined many stakeholders at a May visioning workshop sponsored by the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Much of the discussion focused on the Harlem-125th Street Metro North Rail Station, the nearby abandoned comfort station and the open space below the viaduct. Many East Harlem neighbors who were part of CIVITAS’s rezoning meetings in 2012 consider new uses (not parking lots) and better design under the viaduct to be key changes to revitalizing this corridor. Do you have suggestions to improve the rail station, comfort station or viaduct near 125th Street? If so, pass along your ideas to CIVITAS and we will share them with EDC. The agency is working with WXY Architecture + Urban Design and Philip Habib & Associates and expects to share their plans later in 2013. 

CIVITAS Events 

In winter 2013, Syracuse University’s Lubin House exhibited Reimagining the Waterfront’s first place designs by Joseph Wood, an architecture graduate student. Syracuse Dean Randall Korman spoke at the February opening reception. Pictured: Sarah Henry (Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Museum of the City of New York), Hunter Armstrong, CIVITAS Director Lucienne Bloch & Claude Bloch, a Syracuse alumnus.

In February, Joan K. Davidson, honorary chair of the 2013 Annual Benefit, played host to a cocktail party celebrating the August Heckscher awardees. Pictured: Honorary Chair Dan Brodsky, CIVITAS Chairman Genie Rice, Honorary Chair Joan K. Davidson, Honoree Edie Kean and CIVITAS President Felipe Ventegeat. 

In May, Hunter Armstrong and architectural historian John Kriskiewicz presented “East of Eden” at House of the Redeemer. The lecture was a detailed, illustrated history of East 96th Street and how policy, preservation and advocacy have influenced its diverse development. More than 80 guests attended the jointly-sponsored lecture and reception in the House’s historic library. Pictured: Janet Robertson, a House trustee, and John Kriskiewicz.

In April, CIVITAS was honored with the Visionary Award by Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts. The award was for the Reimagining the Waterfront Esplanade project and presented by Kent Barwick (pictured right) at the Park Avenue Armory. Also pictured are Bill Bateson, Neville Epstein, Hunter Armstrong and Felipe Ventegeat. Photo courtesy of Friends. 

In May, CIVITAS and Trees New York co-sponsored a tree stewardship workshop at East 120th Street and Paladino Avenue. Volunteers cleaned and planted in tree beds recently installed by Trees New York to absorb stormwater runoff. The service project also coincided with the Great Saunter, a 32 mile walk along Manhattan’s shore, and volunteers cheered on participants as they walked the Esplanade. 

 

In May, CIVITAS joined Upper Green Side, East River C.R.E.W. and Friends of the Esplanade for It’s My Park Day, a citywide park cleanup event. Volunteers planted rose and butterfly bushes in the planter at East 96th Street and the FDR Drive. The daffodils and tulips that we planted along the Esplanade during last fall’s park clean up event survived the brackish floodwaters of Superstorm Sandy and bloomed this spring.

Air Quality and Recycling Workshop 

To celebrate Earth Day, CIVITAS sponsored an Air Quality and Recycling Workshop at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House on April 22. Topics included the NYC Clean Heat Program and alternatives to the polluting No. 6 oil, as well as the NYC Department of Sanitation Apartment Building Recycling Initiative. 

Harlem Earth Day Panel Discussion 

As part of the Harlem Earth Day 2013, Executive Director Hunter Armstrong participated in a panel discussion on environmental justice at My Image Studios. The event was sponsored by Harlem Park to Park and fellow panelists included environmental activist Peggy Shepard with West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT), Donnel Baird with Echo Green, and Tony Hillery from Harlem Grown. 

To read the complete spring 2013 issue of CIVITAS News, visit http://civitasnyc.org/civitas-newsletters/

Notification: Rockefeller University Expansion Presentation and New York Presbyterian Medical Facility Presentation

Left: Aerial view of Rockefeller University Right:  Rockefeller University looking North from East River Esplanade

Community Board 8 Land Use Meeting

Informational Presentation: Rockefeller University proposes to build a low research building (two-stories with rooftop pavilions) and a one- story conference center in air space over the FDR Drive adjacent to its campus, plus a one-story recreation building in the NW corner of the campus. Rockefeller University currently extends from 63rd Street to 68th Street between York Avenue and the FDR Drive.

Informational Presentation: New York Presbyterian Hospital will provide an update on its new medical facility that will be constructed on York Avenue between 68th and 69th Streets. They will discuss the overall project plan, construction timeline and logistics.

Discussion of refining and/or amending language to allow funding to also apply to the creation of public open space as well as existing parks in the Community Board 8 adopted MSK/CUNY zoning text amendment.

New York Blood Center
310 East 67th Street, Auditorium
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
6:30PM

For the most up to date information check: http://www.cb8m.com/calendar-meeting_date/2013-07

Reimagining the Waterfront is a CIVITAS-sponsored initiative to improve the East River Esplanade between East 63th and 125th Streets.  For more information visit: www.reimaginethewaterfront-civitas.com Call (212) 996-0745 or email info@civitasnyc.org to get involved.

Reimagining the Waterfront Exhibition Now Open

Winning designs for Reimagining the Waterfront are on display at the Museum of the City of New York June 6 through October 28, 2012.

Competition winners from across the world attended the June 5 opening reception.  Architects and landscape architects traveled from as far as Spain, Canada and Puerto Rico to be recognized.
Read recent press about the competition and exhibition in NY Daily News.

Reimagining the Waterfront is a CIVITAS-sponsored program to solicit design ideas for the East River Esplanade between East 60th and 125th Streets.  The exhibition, curated by Andrea Renner, the Museum’s Andrew W. Mellon Post Doctoral Curatorial Fellow, features the eight winning proposals as well as historic images of the East River Esplanade and photographs of the site today.

The museum is located at 1220 Fifth Avenue (at 103rd Street) and "suggested admission" is $10.
Click here for details about the exhibit and visiting the Museum of the City of New York.

We hope you'll visit the exhibition and tell us what you think.  See below for details.

Upcoming Public Programs for Reimagining the Waterfront at the Museum of the City of New York

EAST RIVER ESPLANADE: JUDGING FROM THE WATERFRONT
Tuesday, June 26 at 6:30 PM

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Register at www.boxoffice.mcny.org or call 917-492-3395*. Use the Discount Code "CIVITAS626" to receive the $6 admission rate.

Reimagining the Waterfront is a CIVITAS-sponsored program to solicit design ideas for the East River Esplanade between East 60th and 125th Streets. The exhibition, curated by Andrea Renner, the Museum’s Andrew W. Mellon Post Doctoral Curatorial Fellow, features the eight winning proposals as well as historic images of the East River Esplanade and photographs of the site today. Join members of the selection jury including Signe Nielsen, Principal at Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, lawyer and Upper East Sider Albert K. Butzel, veteran of the battle over Westway, Warren James, Principal at Warren A. James Architects + Planners, and Adam Yarinksky, Principal at Architecture Research Office (ARO) to hear about the winners they chose from 91 proposals. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Reimagining the Waterfront: Manhattan's East River Esplanade and in partnership with CIVITAS.

*A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.

REIMAGINING THE WATERFRONT: FAMILY PROGRAM

Friday, July 13 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

and Saturday, July 21 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM 

FREE. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Register at www.boxoffice.mcny.org or call 917-492-3395

Learn about the East River waterfront in a family-friendly walking tour and exploration of the exhibition Reimagining the Waterfront: Manhattan's East River Esplanade. After discussing the relationship between the river, FDR Drive, and adjacent neighborhoods, participants will create their own proposals for the redesign of the waterfront.  Recommended for ages 7 to 12.

REIMAGINING THE WATERFRONT: GALLERY TOUR

Saturday, July 14 at 3:00 PM

and Tuesday, August 7 at 3:00 PM

FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

Register at www.boxoffice.mcny.org or call 917-492-3395

Join exhibition curator Andrea Renner for a tour of the eight winning designs from CIVITAS's ideas competition for redesigning and revitalizing the East River Esplanade as it snakes its way from the Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge at 60th Street to the RFK-Triborough Bridge at 125th Street. The tour will include an investigation of the visions for the future, as well as photographs of this often-underutilized waterfront site through history.  Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Reimagining the Waterfront.  FREE with Museum admission. 

What do you think about the winning designs?

We want to hear from you!  Share your thoughts on the competition designs, and your visions for a re-imagined East River Esplanade.  You can do this by filling in comment cards at the exhibit. Or by contacting us at info@civitasnyc.org or 212.996.0745. 

Call for Designs: East River Waterfront Competition

By Sharon E. Pope

Prepared for the CIVITAS Fall 2011 Newsletter

In September 2011, CIVITAS launched Reimagining the Waterfront, an ideas competition to tackle design problems on the East River Esplanade, 60th to 125th Streets. As we documented in our Spring 2011 newsletter, multiple sections of the Esplanade are in severe disrepair and even sinking into the East River. CIVITAS is proud to organize the competition with the growing number of public officials, neighbors and advocates who are calling for a better future for the waterfront park.

Reimagining the Waterfront is a first step toward developing a vision for improving the Esplanade. The CIVITAS team of volunteer architects and planners organizing the competition selected the boundaries East 60th to 125th Streets. This emphasizes the broad span of park between the Ed Koch Queensboro and Robert F. Kennedy Bridges and the role the Esplanade does, and could, play in many diverse communities.

Open to architects, urbanists, students and community stakeholders, the competition is intended to produce exceptional designs and ideas that profoundly enhance the public’s relationship with the park and river, and bridge the urban and the aquatic.

The waterfront is the transitional boundary between New York City’s hard and soft edges, between life on land and life on water. As such, urban waterfronts offer infinite opportunities to craft and maintain that relationship. In his book, Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan, writer Phillip Lopate stated “Any redesign on the waterfront must start from the premise of public access.” Competition design goals include public access, attention to active and passive uses, effective use of existing amenities, and neighborhood context.

The competition will be open to submissions through January 15, and winners will be determined in winter 2012 by a jury of renowned, highly-skilled designers, park advocates and representatives of the Upper East Side and East Harlem. Winning and creative submissions will be available on the competition website for the public to review and to envision an improved park in the future. Competition winners will receive monetary prizes and publicity for their top-notch designs.

It is important to distinguish between an ideas competition, such as Reimagining the Waterfront, and a design competition, which results in a commission for the winner and includes construction documents for the project. There is not yet money available for an ambitious redesign of the Esplanade, but CIVITAS’ goal for the ideas competition is to begin developing the necessary community and political support.

Fortunately, funding is already being allocated to make much-needed repairs to the Esplanade. Council Member Jessica Lappin has secured over $1 million to fix some of the worst sinkholes and to conduct an engineering study. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Council Member Lappin co-chair a task force of elected officials and government agencies to address Esplanade concerns.

CIVITAS is grateful for competition support, which includes grants from Council Member Lappin and the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation. We will publicize the competition and the winning designs during 2011 and 2012 through public events, including an October 26 lecture by Lopate.

The grassroots citizen efforts of the Friends of the East River Esplanade, Community Boards 8 and 11, and Transportation Alternatives have helped raise the waterfront discourse through which the CIVITAS competition can explore designs and ideas of not only what is possible for the Esplanade but what can be dreamed for it as well.

On a recent cloudy day, an intrepid jogger was asked what he would like to see for the East River Esplanade. He gazed forlornly up and down the waterfront. He decided instead to discuss what he generally liked about the Hudson River and Riverside Park greenways. He is envious of West Siders, but that may change over the coming years as the East River waterfront is improved. Through the combined efforts of the competition and other stakeholders, the spotlight of scrutiny will help to formulate a long-term plan for the park incorporating definitive, targeted waterfront designs and substantial improvements. These actions will produce a waterfront that engages everyone. Only then will the Esplanade along the Upper East Side and East Harlem become, observes Lopate, “the place that will finally tell us we have arrived.”

Learn more about the competition at www.reimaginethewaterfront-civitas.com

Phillip Lopate's Lecture for Reimagining the Waterfront

"We need a way to weave the waterfront into the normal street life in New York City."

In the kickoff lecture for the Reimagining the Waterfront competition, Phillip Lopate provided inspiring words and reflections from his book, Waterfront at the Park Avenue Armory on Wednesday.

NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin opened the evening with remarks about Esplanade repairs and an engineering study that is underway. The landmark Veterans Room, a collaboration of major 19th century designers, was the venue for the discussion.

If you were unable to attend the event, we hope you will stay tuned for upcoming public programming related to the Reimagining the Waterfront Design-Ideas Competition. Read on for more information.

More news about the October 26 lecture and competition is on DNAinfo.com.

About the Waterfront Competition

CIVITAS is calling architects, landscape architects, urban planners and professional designers to enter the Reimagining the Waterfront Ideas Competition for the East River Esplanade, East 60th to East 125th Street.

Visit the competition website www.reimaginethewaterfront-civitas.com for information about the competition including guidelines, prizes, and helpful resources. Registration began on September 15. Competition winners will be announced winter 2012.

The deadline for submissions is January 15. Please help spread the word. Thank you!

Upcoming Presentation

CIVITAS will present details about the competition to the Manhattan Community Board 8 Parks Committee on Thursday, November 3, at 6:30 pm at the New York Blood Center,
310 East 67th Street. The most up-to-date meeting details are here.

Community Events

TODAY: El Barrio/East Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force, NYC Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito and have organized the 1st Annual Haunted Housing March, organized by the El Barrio/East Harlem Anti-Displacement Task Force. The march will begin at 110th Street and Lexington Avenue at 3:30 pm. The purpose is to bring attention to the practice of "warehousing" vacant apartments in East Harlem. More information about the issue is in today's New York Times.

More information about the march is here.

Mom and Pop vs. Big Box: Retail in New York City
Wednesday, November 2 at 6:30 pm
The Museum of the City of New York

1220 Fifth Avenue

New York has long been a city of both large department stores and small, independently owned businesses. But in recent years the balance seems to be shifting with the rise in franchise chains and even big-box retailers traditionally associated with suburban shopping. Has New York reached a point where there are too many chains? Which neighborhoods are oversaturated and which are under-retailed? Do chain stores necessarily undercut independently owned businesses? In conjunction with the release of the Center for an Urban Future's "New York by the Numbers" retail report, Jonathan Bowles, Executive Director of the center, moderates a discussion with Gale Brewer, New York City Council Member, District 6; Marlene Cintron, President, Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation; Jeff Roseman, Executive Vice President, Newmark Knight Frank; Victor Vora, Owner, Concord Market; and Vicki Weiner, Director of Programs, Pratt Center for Community Development, exploring the changing nature of retail in the city.

Presented as part of the ongoing Urban Forum series New York Infrastructure

Co-sponsored by the Center for an Urban Future
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
$12 Non-Members
$8 Seniors and Students
$6 Museum Members / CIVITAS Friends discount
*A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.

To receive the Members rate (50% discount) use code Retail112 when ordering: https://boxoffice.mcny.org/public/show.asp

CIVITAS Reimagine The Waterfront: Design-Ideas Competition for the East River Esplanade and Upcoming Events in the Community

Reimagine the East River Waterfront: Design-Ideas Competition for the East River Esplanade

CIVITAS is pleased to announce the Reimagining the Waterfront Design-Ideas Competition for the East River Esplanade, East 60th to East 125th Street. We are launching the competition this month to create a vision for the future of this potentially world-class park. We are calling architects, landscape architects, urban planners and professional designers to develop dramatic and original concepts for the waterfront between 60th and 125th Streets. Our goal is to jump-start a process that aspires to the transformation of the entire East River Esplanade experience. Stay tuned to the CIVITAS website and watch your email for announcements of upcoming public events for Reimagining the Waterfront Design-Ideas Competition.

Submissions from professional designers will be judged by the competition jury, including:

Al Butzel, Principal, Albert K. Butzel Law Offices

Warren James, Principal, Warren A. James Architects + Planners

Hon. William Castro, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

Signe Nielsen, FASLA Principal, Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects

Rob Rogers, FAIA, Partner, Rogers Marvel Architects

Jack Travis, FAIA, Principal, Jack Travis Architects

Billie Tsien, AIA, Principal, Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects

Adam Yarinsky, FAIA LEED AP, Principal & Co-Founder, Architecture Research Office (ARO)

Visit the competition website www.reimaginethewaterfront-civitas.com for information about the competition including guidelines, prizes, and helpful resources. Registration will begin on September 15. Competition winners will be announced winter 2012.

PROUDLY ORGANIZED BY CIVITAS

WITH:

U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney

NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin

NYC Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito

CO-SPONSORED BY:

U.S. Congressman Charles B. Rangel

Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer

NYS Senator Liz Krueger

NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano

NYS Assemblyman Micah Z. Kellner

NYS Assemblyman Robert J. Rodriguez

NYC Council Member Daniel R. Garodnick

The competition is made possible through a grant from NYC Council Member Jessica Lappin and the generous support of the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation.

In the News

East River Esplanade

Check out the August 11 issue of Our Town which profiles work that is underway to improve the crumbling infrastructure along many sections of the East River Esplanade in the article "Esplanade Emergency".

You can also read about the Esplanade in CIVITAS' Spring 2011 newsletter, "East River Esplanade: A Gaping Hole in NYC's Waterfront".

Upcoming CIVITAS Events

Discussion and Drinks Meetup at The Lexington Social

Join CIVITAS members for a casual get-together at The Lexington Social.

Come introduce yourself and tell us what urban planning and quality of life issues interest you.

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

6:30 – 8:00 pm

Lexington Avenue between 103rd and 104th Streets

RSVP by email: info@civitasnyc.org or phone: 212.996.0745 or through our Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/CIVITAS/.

Join the Meetup to find out about upcoming events.

2011 openhousenewyork Walking Tour

For the second year, CIVITAS will participate in openhousenewyork weekend with a walking tour Shaping Urban Design & Policy: The East 96th Street Corridor. The tour will focus on the way zoning and land use policy shape the physical landscape of New York, and how city policies and neighborhood advocacy have affected the built environment of the Upper East Side and East Harlem.

The event will take place on October 15, 2011. Stay tuned for more details and registration instructions.

Upcoming Community Events

Department of Transportation Community Presentation on First and Second Avenue Bike Lanes

Presentation to Community Board 8

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

6:30 pm

NY Blood Center, 310 East 67th St (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

Visit the CB8 website for the most up to date details.

Community Forum On Parks & Waterfront Access On The East Side

Hosted By:

NYS Senator Liz Krueger

NYS Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh

NYC Council Member Daniel R. Garodnick

And Community Boards 6 and 8

Thursday, September 8

4:00-7:00 pm

Sutton Place Synagogue

225 East 51st Street (between Second and Third Aves.)

Please visit www.eastsideopenspace.com for more information.

Recycling Events

Third Avenue Street Fair/Recycle- O-Rama

Saturday, September 10

Visit the first "Green Block" - Third Avenue between 83rd-84th Streets - to recycle electronics,

paper items for shredding, textiles, and more. For a full list, visit: http://thisweekatthemarket.wordpress.com/

Electronics Recycling

Tuesday, September 20

11 am to 7 pm

Church of the Heavenly Rest

Rally To Save Ruppert Playground

Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at 2:00p.m.

Between 92nd & 93rd Sts and Second & Third Avenues