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

Recent and Upcoming Events

Join CIVITAS for the Shaping Urban Design and Public Policy Tour

On Saturday, October 15 CIVITAS Executive Director Hunter Armstrong gave a tour of East 96th Street as part of openhousenewyork weekend. The tour focused on the way zoning and land use policies have shaped the Upper East Side and East Harlem.

Phillip Lopate Lecture at the Park Avenue Armory

The Kick-Off Event for Reimagining the Waterfront Design-Ideas Competition
A lecture by award-winning author Phillip Lopate
on his book Waterfront: A Journey Around Manhattan
Wednesday, October 26 at 7pm
Veterans Room, Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue (Between 66th-67th Streets)
The event is $10. There is no charge for CIVITAS members.
Space is limited, and registration is required. Please RSVP to info@civitasnyc.org or 212.996.0745.

Community Events on the East River Esplanade

Cleanup with Upper Green Side for It's My Park Day
Saturday, October 15, 10 am - 3 pm
Meet at the 96th Street on the East River Esplanade

Activities include: scraping, painting and daffodil planting. Email uppergreenside@gmail.com to volunteer.

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

East River Esplanade: A Gaping Hole in NYC's Waterfront

By Sharon E. Pope

Prepared for the CIVITAS Spring 2011 Newsletter

Photo by Anton Brookes, www.mockturtlemoon.com

New York City’s waterfront is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, heightened by new public and private investment and interest to enhance, repair and improve its vast waterfront. The NYC Department of City Planning has recently released its Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and several waterfront advocacy groups and water-dependent businesses have undertaken renewed efforts to bring attention to the city’s waterfront. With over 500 miles of shoreline, these initiatives comprise a massive effort to redesign the waterfront to accommodate a wide range of recreational and commercial activities; to reconnect it with adjoining upland areas; and to provide direct access to New York’s “Sixth Borough” (i.e., the waters of our bays, inlets, rivers and ocean).

The East River Esplanade on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem stretches from 60th to 125th Street. For these communities it is the portal to the river and their “living room” on the water, providing serene and stunning views of the East River, Roosevelt Island and the Robert F. Kennedy (Triborough) and Hell Gate Bridges. Residents visit the Esplanade to pause and reflect as well as to fish. It also serves as a significant recreational resource used by strollers, joggers, and bicyclists.New York City’s waterfront is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, heightened by new public and private investment and interest to enhance, repair and improve its vast waterfront. The NYC Department of City Planning has recently released its Comprehensive Waterfront Plan and several waterfront advocacy groups and water-dependent businesses have undertaken renewed efforts to bring attention to the city’s waterfront. With over 500 miles of shoreline, these initiatives comprise a massive effort to redesign the waterfront to accommodate a wide range of recreational and commercial activities; to reconnect it with adjoining upland areas; and to provide direct access to New York’s “Sixth Borough” (i.e., the waters of our bays, inlets, rivers and ocean).

The East River Esplanade on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem stretches from 60th to 125th Street. For these communities it is the portal to the river and their “living room” on the water, providing serene and stunning views of the East River, Roosevelt Island and the Robert F. Kennedy (Triborough) and Hell Gate Bridges. Residents visit the Esplanade to pause and reflect as well as to fish. It also serves as a significant recreational resource used by strollers, joggers, and bicyclists.

CIVITAS has had a long history of advocacy for an improved East River Esplanade. In February and March 2011, members of CIVITAS walked the length of the Esplanade to assess and document its existing condition; to identify areas of infrastructure distress; to note areas of limited or impeded access; and to highlight related critical needs.

They documented a shockingly deteriorated Esplanade that included breaches of the bulkhead, crumbling infrastructure, unsupported rails and sidewalk sink holes, buckling or bulging sidewalks, and piers and platforms in need of such dire repair as to necessitate fencing to protect the public.

The worst sections were found north of East 110th Street. To rescue the East River Esplanade much has to be done. As a start:

• Document, evaluate and repair the Esplanade’s pedestrian walkways.
• Repair sinkholes at 110th and 111th Streets, 114th and 115th, and at 124th Street. These are not the only sinkholes; however, they are the ones that could impact public safety. They require immediate repair.
• Increase signage at pedestrian entrances. Many entrances do not have any signage indicating access to the Esplanade.
• Enhance the 60th and 96th Street Esplanade entrances. These entrances serve as major access points and should be welcoming, safe and easily accessible.
• Install noise attenuation barriers to reduce automobile traffic sounds and exhaust pollution.
• Add sufficient quantity and variety of seating along barren stretches of the Esplanade.
• Replace trees in existing empty tree pits.

Despite its degraded condition, the Esplanade is still actively used by the public. Accordingly, its rescue and restoration are of critical importance. To restore the Esplanade will require the combined resources and efforts of Community Boards 8 and 11, community-based organizations, local businesses, adjoining institutions and elected officials. Funding will have to come from city, state and federal agencies, and possibly from the private sector. Only then will the Esplanade be able to fulfill its promise of park space for the communities of the Upper East Side and East Harlem, as well as a destination for visitors and tourists.

Since its founding as a Dutch trading post, New York City’s shoreline contributed substantially to the growth of the city with significant maritime trade. Although New York remains a premier port city, its traditional shoreline uses have been declining due, in part, to changes in shipping operations and an overall decline in the city’s manufacturing and industrial base. With waning traditional waterfront use (abandoned piers) its infrastructure fell into disrepair and subsequent physical decay. In 1992, the Manhattan Borough President unveiled a grand vision for Manhattan’s waterfront: a near continuous, publicly accessible esplanade around the entire island. It is this grand vision that many have today for Manhattan’s shoreline.

The East River Esplanade as a public open space has the promise of a vibrant gathering point for residents and visitors alike. With the renewed focus on the city’s waterfront and its adjoining “Sixth Borough,” we have an opportunity now to ensure that this promise is fulfilled.

CIVITAS in the News & Discount for Lecture at the Museum of the City of NY

CIVITAS in the News

Read about CIVITAS' efforts to improve newsrack box enforcement throughout New York City in the following July 2011 media coverage:

The 1,200 Learning Annex boxes that have been empty—and in violation—for much of summer 2011:
“Group Blasts Learning Annex Boxes as a Sidewalk Blight” - DNAinfo

Columnist Ralph Gardner's humorous take on the campaign:
“Much Ado About boxes” - Wall Street Journal and CIVITAS’ Letter to the Editor of the Wall Street Journal

And efforts on the Upper West Side to improve neighborhood streetscapes:
"Upper West Siders Fight to Rid Streets of Dirty Newspaper Boxes" National Public Radio WFUV

“Upper West Siders Join Battle Against Grimy Newspaper Boxes” - DNAinfo

Please sign and circulate our online petition urging NYC Council Transportation Committee chair James Vacca to schedule an oversight hearing to address the current legislation and improve regulations for newsrack placement and maintenance: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/newsracks/

Learn more at www.civitasnyc.org/newsrack-enforcement

CIVITAS Initiatives in the News

Air Quality
Read about the co-op 910 Park Avenue's decision to convert their No. 6 heating boiler to a dual burner that uses cleaner burning No. 2 heating oil or natural gas in the July 22, 2011 New York Times article: "Going Green in New York: One Co-op’s Story"

In April 2011, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection passed a rule that will require many buildings that burn air pollutant No. 6 heating oil to convert to a less polluting heating oil by 2015. Learn more about the legislation updates at http://www.edf.org/pressrelease.cfm?ContentID=11722 and about CIVITAS' advocacy towards cleaner air on the Upper East Side and in East Harlem at http://civitasnyc.org/heatingoil/

East River Esplanade
The New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger writes about the newly opened Esplanade park near Wall Street in his piece "On the East River Waterfront Esplanade" from July 22, 2011.

CIVITAS applauds this positive step towards an improved waterfront park and looks forward to similar public space enhancements along Upper East Side and East Harlem section of the East River Esplanade. Stay tuned for exciting news about CIVITAS' upcoming design-ideas competition to reimagine the waterfront.

Upcoming Community Events

Friends of CIVITAS are invited to this upcoming Museum of the City of New York lecture. Mention "CIVITAS" when ordering your ticket and receive a discount.

Whose Park Is It? Financing and Administering New York's New Parks
Tuesday, August 9 at 6:30 PM
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue

In the past 20 years New York City has added over 20,000 acres of parkland to its acclaimed public park system. Recent additions, such as the Hudson River Park, the Highline, and Brooklyn Bridge Park represent a new generation of park design as well as financing and administration. In an era of budget cuts and declining revenues, how is the city paying for its new parks? How does new park administration differ from the past? What role does private funding play in the administration of the city's parks? What makes a successful park in today's New York? Parks commissioner Adrian Benepe; Alexander Garvin, professor of urban planning, Yale University; and Catherine Nagel, Executive Director of the City Parks Alliance, discuss the past, present, and future of New York's public parks.

Presented as part of the ongoing Urban Forum series New York Infrastructure. Co-sponsored by the Central Park Conservancy, the City Parks Foundation, CIVITAS, Friends of the Hudson River Park, Friends of the Upper East Side, Hudson River Park and the Prospect Park Alliance.

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
To receive the Museum Member rate of $6, enter CVTS0809 when purchasing tickets on-line https://boxoffice.mcny.org/public/default.asp (https://boxoffice.mcny.org/public/default.asp) or mention CIVITAS when ordering by phone at 917-492-3395. *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.