As CIVITAS’s 31st year of serving our community comes to a close, we need your support to continue our work to improve quality of life on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem. Please consider making a year-end gift.
An update on some of our 2012 accomplishments is below and in our recently published newsletter.
A Call for a World-Class East River Esplanade Park: CIVITAS sponsored an exhibition of the winning designs from the _Reimagining the Waterfront Design Ideas Competition for East 60th to East 125th Streets_ at the Museum of the City of New York from June through October. Throughout the year, CIVITAS also organized community visioning discussions, published a full-color exhibition booklet and developed proposals for improving the waterfront. Superstorm Sandy served as a reminder that the Upper East Side and East Harlem must develop a comprehensive plan to prepare for the future of our community's waterfront. The issues of rising sea levels and climate resilience were explored conceptually in the competition and exhibition. CIVITAS plans to continue community outreach for a better park in 2013.
Working to Improve Air Quality: CIVITAS sponsored a series of air quality and heating oil community workshops. Attendees were given an overview of the harmful effects on air quality of No. 6 heating oil. The East Side has the worst air quality in New York, and much of that pollution comes from the heating oil burned in neighborhood buildings. Stay tuned for additional meetings in 2013.
Up-to-Date and Contextual Zoning In East Harlem: CIVITAS and Community Board 11 partners are pursuing an initiative to plan for East Harlem's future and bring modernized, appropriate zoning to the neighborhood. CIVITAS and CB11 met with hundreds of East Harlem neighbors to discuss the needs of the Madison, Park and Lexington Avenue corridors. Additional public meetings and outreach are scheduled for 2013.
Reducing Sidewalk Clutter: CIVITAS has called for improved enforcement measures for the frequently vandalized and often empty newsrack boxes that litter so many sidewalks in New York. Volunteers located more than 150 newsrack box violations between 59th Street and 96th Streets, York and Fifth Avenue. CIVITAS will continue to push for a NYC Council oversight hearing on maintenance and better legislation in 2013.
Thriving Street Trees: CIVITAS sponsored tree stewardship workshops to educate community members on topics including mulching, weeding, and cleaning up tree bed soil.
We hope you’ll send support for these important initiatives and our other work. To donate via credit card, visit www.bit.ly/SupportCIVITAS or call (212) 996-0745. Or mail a check to CIVITAS, 1457 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10128.
Thank you and happy holidays.
Regards,
Hunter F. Armstrong
Executive Director
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