New York, New York: Living Breakwaters

Posted on November 13, 2018 by jehollow

City: New York
Country / US State / US Territory: New York
Type of Solution: Seawalls and Living Shorelines
Climate Impact: Seal Level Rise; Hurricanes and Storm Surge; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding
Social Value Created: Educational and Career Development Opportunities; Active Living and Recreation; Community Engagement; Social Cohesion; Arts and Culture
Cost: $60 million
Funding Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Rebuild by Design competition

Living Breakwaters is a project aimed at helping to reduce wave energy, lowering flooding risks during extreme storm events. The project was developed by SCAPE landscape Architecture for the Rebuild Design Competition, a competition held by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to improve coastal resilience in response to Hurricane Sandy.

The Living Breakwaters approach uses structures to restore and enhance marine habitats, as well as improve biodiversity. Structures include reef ridges, reef streets, crenulated crests, and bio-enhancing concrete. This habitat mimics historic oyster reefs, which helps to restore the oyster population.

Additionally, the project co-creates social value. The project will help to prevent beach erosion and protect property values. The project also will improves access to the shoreline an recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing.

Also, an on-land Water Hub will be constructed on shore for visitoring groups, recreation, and educational programs. The Harbor School and Billion Oyster Project will create educational opportunities for local schools to learn about ecological stewardship and how they can help to protect Staten Island’s coastline. Implementation of the project also provides educational opportunities for research and skill development through project monitoring.

Fig: Graphic showing the project design and connection between risk reduction, ecology, and culture (Image retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters)

Fig: Graphic showing more specifics about the project’s landscape architecture design (Image retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters)

Fig: Rendering of the Living Breakwaters project featuring contributions to social resilience (Image retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters)

Sources

Atlas. (n.d.). Creating protective infrastructure to reduce coastal risk, enhance aquatic habitat, and foster social resilience. Retrieved from https://www.the-atlas.com/project?id=374#.

New York State. (n.d.). Learn more about the Living Breakwaters project. Retrieved from https://stormrecovery.ny.gov/learn-more-about-living-breakwaters-project.

Rebuild by Design. (n.d.). Living Breakwaters. Retrieved from http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/our-work/all-proposals/winning-projects/ny-living-breakwaters.

Tampa, Florida: Mixed Use Space Green Infrastructure

Posted on November 7, 2018 by jehollow

City: Tampa
Country / US State / US Territory: Florida
Type of Solution: Buildings and Housing
Climate Impact: N/A
Social Value Created: Public safety; public health; benefits vulnerable communities (including low-income and elderly populations); education; arts and culture; redevelopment
Cost: $2 billion
Financing: $28 million stimulus grant

A unique mixed-use redevelopment in Tampa Florida. The development includes a combination of multifamily housing, senior housing, retail, and office space that meets the criteria for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. All of the housing is also classified as “affordable” housing. Previously, the space was a public housing development that was isolated from the broader community. The new development will increase community connectivity.

Green infrastructure is a major feature of the new development, helping to manage stormwater. A 33,000 cubic foot water-retention vault is being installed 12 feet underground. The vault is a very unique stormwater management system, collecting and treating water using nutrient separating baffle boxes and sediment chambers to remove pollutants from the water. Then, the water is stored and used for irrigation on-site. Any water exceeding the vault’s capacity is treated and released to Tampa Bay.

The site also includes permeable pavers and native plants, increasing groundwater infiltration of stormwater and reducing water demands landscaping. Additionally, there is a 16,000 square foot Technology Park above the stormwater vault that includes educational kiosks, solar public art, and the district chiller.

Sources:
Burgess, K. et al. (2017). Harvesting the value of water: stormwater, green infrastructure, and real estate. Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, 2017. Retrieved from https://developingresilience.uli.org/case/the-avenue/.

Langlie, K. (August 19, 2016). Health, green affordable housing in downtown Tampa celebrates Earth Day. Retrieved from http://www.83degreesmedia.com/features/encoretampa04916.aspx.

Portland, Oregon: Tanner Springs Park

Posted on November 7, 2018 by jehollow

City: Portland
Country / US State / US Territory: Portland
Type of Solution: N/A
Climate Impact: Extreme Precipitation and Flooding, Air Quality
Social Value Created: Public Spaces; recreation, arts and culture; active living; transportation diversity

Tanner Springs Park is a park located in Portland, Oregon. The park mimics a wetland that captures and filters stormwater, reducing flooding during extreme precipitation events and improving water quality. Additionally, the wetland helps to improve air quality. The wetland design helps to promote biodiversity, as well.

The project also provides the community with accessible public space and has a number of social benefits for the community. Tanner Springs Park features a boardwalk and art installation on the east side of the park, and there is a recreational path running through the central area of the park. The art installation contributes to the community’s arts and culture. Recreational trails contribute to active lifestyles, as well as improve walkability and bikeability that contributes to diversity of transportation.

Community members were also engaged in the design process through surveys and planning charrettes in order to provide socially valuable features for that particular community.

Fig: The environmental services offered by Tanner Springs Park. Image credit Dreiseitl. (Photo retrieved from https://land8.com/tanner-springs-park-an-oasis-in-the-middle-of-the-city/)

Fig: Residents using the park for recreation. Photo credit: Lavalle Linn. Photo retrieved from (https://land8.com/tanner-springs-park-an-oasis-in-the-middle-of-the-city/)

Fig: Blue Heron using the wetland area in the park. Image credit Dreiseitl. (photo retrieved from https://land8.com/tanner-springs-park-an-oasis-in-the-middle-of-the-city/)

Sources

Landscape Architects Network. (May 5, 2015). Tanner Springs Park, an oasis in the middle of the city. Retrieved from https://land8.com/tanner-springs-park-an-oasis-in-the-middle-of-the-city/.

Phoenix, Arizona: Civic Space Park

Posted on November 7, 2018 by jehollow

City: Phoenix
Country / US State / US Territory: Arizona
Type of Solution: Park
Climate Impact: Extreme Temperatures and Urban Heat Island Effect; Air Quality; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding
Social Value Created: Public Space; Social Cohesion; Diverse Transportation; Connectivity; Active Living and Recreation; Arts and Culture

Phoenix, Arizona is a classic example of urban sprawl. The city is already facing issues with extreme temperatures, which is further amplified by the urban heat island effect. Civic Space Park is a 2.7 acre park located in Phoenix that includes green space with trees to mitigate extreme temperatures and provide shade for residents. Solar panels producing 75 kilowatts of renewable energy provide additional shade. Also, the green infrastructure improves stormwater management, which is helpful during monsoon season.

Not only is the park helpful in managing climate risks, but the park is a public space contributing the social cohesion and providing a number of other social benefits. The park features a number of artistic featurings, including a nighttime lighting show simulating lightning during a monsoon and an art installation, titled, “Her Secret is Patience.” This title arose from a phase used by Ralph Waldo Emerson that was inspired by elements of Arizona nature. There is also an interactive water feature, providing a playspace for children and adults.

The park promotes recreation and leisure, providing a turf landscape in the southwest corner of the park with pedestrian-scale retaining walls, game tables, benches, and densely spaced shade trees. The site is also located adjacent to the METRO Light Rail, increasing access to the park through improved connectivity and promoting diverse transportation.

Fig: Birds eye view of Civic Space Park (Photo retrieved from http://worldlandscapearchitect.com/civic-space-park-phoenix-usa-aecom/#.W1HvvdJKiUk)

Fig: LED lights with nighttime lighting show (Photo retrieved from http://worldlandscapearchitect.com/civic-space-park-phoenix-usa-aecom/#.W1HvvdJKiUk)

Fig: Interactive water feature with the “Her Secret is Patience” art installation above (Image retrieved from http://worldlandscapearchitect.com/civic-space-park-phoenix-usa-aecom/#.W1HvvdJKiUk)

Source: AECOM. (July 23, 2013). Civic Space Park, Phoenix USA. World Landscape Architecture. Retrieved from

*Note: This case was documented from an interview with a city practitioner.

Los Angeles, California: Green Alley

Posted on November 7, 2018 by jehollow

City: Los Angeles
Country / US State / US Territory: California
Type of Solution: Alleyway
Climate Impact: Extreme Temperatures and Urban Heat Island Effect; Air Quality; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding
Social Value Created: Connectivity; Diverse Transportation; Public Health and Safety; Community Engagement; Social Cohesion; Arts and Culture; Public Education and Awareness

Los Angeles has over 900 of miles of alleys that are often used for dumping and experience high instances of crime. The Trust for Public Land Climate Smart Cities program is a national program for assisting cities in projects to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The Avalon Green Alley Demonstration project repurposed a mile of underutilized alleyways in South Los Angeles into green alleys.

The Trust for Public Land Climate Smart Cities collaborated with the City of Los Angeles, UCLA, and Arizona State University to create green alleys in South Los Angeles. These green alleys improve air quality and contribute to urban cooling, mitigating extreme temperatures and the urban heat island effect.

The green alley also helps to filter pollutants from stormwater runoff and control stormwater, mitigating flooding and recharging the groundwater. Additionally, the repurposed alleyways provide recreational space and improve the walkability and bikeability of the area. The green alley creates a safe passageway between various key destinations in the area, including a grocery store and nearby schools. The safe passageway improves community connectivity.

A volunteer group, Equipo Verde (Green Team), manages the green alley, organizing volunteer days, picking up garbage, and landscaping and planting trees. The group improves community engagement and educates the local community on the importance of managing these alleyways.

Fig: The Green Alley Demonstration Project completed by The Trust for Public Land (Retrieved from https://www.tpl.org/green-alleys#sm.0000ca4mkgzx8en8zd02b2m3nuov7)

Fig: Members of Equipo Verde working on the landscaping in the green alley (Retrieved from https://www.tpl.org/verde#sm.0000ca4mkgzx8en8zd02b2m3nuov7)

Sources: The Trust for Public Land. (March 17, 2016). Meet the Equipo Verde: allies for alleys. Retrieved from https://www.tpl.org/verde#sm.0000ca4mkgzx8en8zd02b2m3nuov7.

The Trust for Public Land. (n.d.). Green alleys. Retrieved from https://www.tpl.org/green-alleys#sm.0000ca4mkgzx8en8zd02b2m3nuov7.

Baltimore, Maryland: Growing Green Initiative

Posted on November 6, 2018 by jehollow

City: Baltimore
Country / US State / US Territory: Maryland
Type of Solution: Green Infrastructure
Climate Impact: Extreme Temperatures and Urban Heat Island Effect; Air Quality; Extreme Precipitation and Flooding
Social Value Created: Social Cohesion; Educational and Career Development Opportunities; Food Security and Nutrition; Water Quality; Community Engagement; Arts and Culture

The City of Baltimore launched its Growing Green Initiative (GGI) in 2014. The program works to repurpose vacant lots into community assets, such as green infrastructure, community gardens and urban farms, recreational space, and open space for community gatherings. Residents have the ability to adopt a lot. Thus far, the city has successfully repurposed nearly 800 vacant lots.

Green infrastructure helps to manage stormwater by increasing the amount of pervious surfaces for on-site water treatment, reducing flooding and thereby improving community health and safety. Lots are also used to increase the tree canopy and increase the urban forest, helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and act as a buffer along railways and highways.

Some lots have been converted into community gardens and urban farms to help combat Baltimore’s food deserts, improving food security and nutrition, as well as increase social cohesion. Other lots have been converted into community gathering spaces and play spaces, improving social cohesion and increasing physical activity of children, improving children’s health.

One vacant lot was transformed into a sculpture park on Homestead Street in East Baltimore, contributing to the community’s arts and culture. Employment and job training opportunities are also created by this program for landscape maintenance and planting, stormwater facility development, urban farming, and food systems.

In 2016, the City of Baltimore partnered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Chesapeake Bay Trust to hold a competition, the Growing Green Design Competition: Vacant Lots Transformed. The competition engaged community groups, design firms, non-profit, and private partners to develop ideas for transforming vacant lots. Seven projects were awarded $300,000 to design and construct their ideas.

Fig: Guide for repurposing vacant lots in Baltimore, Maryland (Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Green_Pattern_Book.pdf).

Fig: Urban agriculture on a vacant lot (Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/projects/baltimore-green-network/)

Fig: Sculpture park on a former vacant lot on Homestead Street in East Baltimore (Retrieved from https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/2017/6/20/vacant-lot-transforms-into-sculpture-park-in-east-baltimore).

Sources:
Dillin, A. L. (June 20, 2017). Vacant lot transforms into sculpture park in East Baltimore. Baltimore Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/2017/6/20/vacant-lot-transforms-into-sculpture-park-in-east-baltimore.

The Climate Adaptation Clearinghouse. (May, 2014). Baltimore, Maryland Growing Green Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.adaptationclearinghouse.org/resources/baltimore-maryland-growing-green-initiative.html.

United States Forest Service. (2015). Green pattern book: using vacant land to create greener neighborhoods in Baltimore. Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Green_Pattern_Book.pdf.