Spring 2012

CIVITAS NEWS
Spring 2012
Working For Quality In Urban Life
REIMAGINING
thE WAtERfRoNt
IdEAS
CoMPEtItIoN
Bike share kiosks like this one will be installed in
NYC in July 2012. Photo by NYC DOT.
Shared Bicycles
Coming Soon to NYC
Elizabeth Manus
The Department of Transportation’s (NYC
DOT) long-anticipated New York City Bike
-
First Place Winner: Joseph Wood. “3X: 300% More Esplanade”
A Stunning Success: Esplanade
Competition Gets International
Attention and Museum Exhibition
Sharon E. Pope
The CIVITAS initiative to improve the
East River Esplanade (60th to 125th Streets)
made exciting progress in spring 2012. The
competition received over 90 entries representing more than 20 foreign countries. The
top-notch design jury decided the three grand
which are featured in this newsletter. You
tion at the Museum of the City of New York
this summer and fall. The Reimagining the
Waterfront
The museum is also developing educational
many children’s groups that will visit this
summer.
The competition was initiated in 2011 as a
way to inspire the Upper East Side and East
to include upper Manhattan and parts of
The city has contracted for five years
Great things are happening in waterfront
parks across New York and our government
as Vision 2020
future. Many of the wonderful parks we
and ideas competitions. continued on page 6
the United States. continued on page 10
CIVITAS in Action.....................................................3
3
4-5
11
Central Park Women’s Committee.................................9
Second Avenue Subway Station Art...........................11
Letter from the
President
foUNdER
August Heckscher 1914–1997
ChAIRMAN
Genie Rice
PRESIdENt
Felipe Ventegeat
ExECUtIVE VICE PRESIdENt
James T.B. Tripp
VICE PRESIdENtS
Diane P. Phillpotts, T. Gorman Reilly
City unsuccessfully attempted to achieve
through a congestion pricing program. Fortu-
When Spinning Your Wheels
is in Everyone’s Interest…
Photo by Drew Dies, www.structuresnyc.com
CIVItAS
1457 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10128
info@civitasnyc.org
p: 212.996.0745 / f: 212.289.4291
-
Manhattan College’s
School of Engineering in the Bronx.
Many students
my family did not
own a car. We did
SECREtARY
Natasha S. Brown
tREASURER
Edward G. McAnaney
BoARd of dIRECtoRS
Mark S. Alexander, William Bateson,
Lucienne S. Bloch, Jeffrey N. Bluestein,
Margit Swenson Bluestein, Jo Ahern Bressler,
William Q. Brothers, Adrienne Caplan,
Lee Chong, Elisabeth R. Clark, Ray Cornbill,
Janis M. Eltz, Cindy A. Fields, Conrad Foa,
Marcia T. Fowle, Judith Fresco, Jamie Gibbs,
Rita Hirsch, Roberta Hodgson, Willa Hutner,
Jeanne G. McAnaney, Steven Narker,
Jorge Pereira, Peter Pettibone, Agustin Rivera,
Roberta Schneiderman, Cora Shelton,
M. Sava B. Thomas, Frederic G. Withington
AdVISoRY BoARd
David Beer, Joan K. Davidson,
Marina Kellen French, Elise Frick,
Horace Havemeyer III, Mrs. Stephen Kellen,
Stephen S. Lash, Robert Quinlan,
R. Geoffrey Roesch, Cynthia D. Sculco,
Joseph Walsh, Charles S. Warren,
John S. Winkleman, Anthony C. Wood,
Joanne Woodward
ExECUtIVE dIRECtoR
Hunter F. Armstrong
ASSoCIAtE dIRECtoR
Tali Cantor
dEVELoPMENt ASSoCIAtE
Dena Fisher
INtERNS
Hannah Diaz, Samuel Myers
NEWSLEttER CoMMIttEE
Lucienne S. Bloch, Jo Ahern Bressler,
Marcia T. Fowle, Roberta Hodgson,
Willa Hutner, Elizabeth Manus,
Sharon E. Pope, T. Gorman Reilly
CIVITAS is a union of citizens concerned
with the quality of life on the Upper East Side
and in East Harlem. Since 1981 CIVITAS has
worked to improve the urban environment,
advocating for better land use, zoning and
urban transportation, clean air and water,
and public access to the waterfront.
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CIVItAS News fall
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Spring
2012
10% of auto trips are under one-half
mile; 22% are under 1 mile; and 56%
safer for everyone.
many steps to the platform and a transfer to
I would ride along Riverside Drive. It was
-
shorter trip to school. Soon other students
family and teaching our sons to ride in the
to provide convenient and inexpensive
This summer you will have the opportu-
Transportation. So what are you waiting for?
Felipe Ventegeat
In Memoriam
Genie Rice
CIVITAS mourns the loss of Juanita Swain
and Reita Cash.
Former Board member Juanita Swain died
in Loreto, Mexico in fall 2011. As a board
member of CIVITAS in the early days, Juanita
threw herself into whatever needed doing.
Born in Chile, Juanita married Robert Swain
and lived with him in New York for a number
of years. One memory of Juanita was at the
St. Francis de Sales Church at a community
meeting. CIVITAS was introducing neighbors
from the Upper East Side and East Harlem
to methods to examine zoning, open space,
streetscapes and affordable housing, and
requesting them to join a committee to work
on these issues. Juanita showed her mastery
The evening succeeded in getting people to
agree to look into these issues and work with
the community boards and CIVITAS. At a
the food and generously prepared much of it
herself.
Loyal volunteer Reita Cash died in March.
Formerly in the fashion business, Reita was
active in the Lexington Democratic Club.
Reita helped with numerous mailings, often
from beginning to end. She also handled
check-in tables at a number of community
meetings. Reita voiced strong opinions and
was a lively and generous-spirited volunteer.
CIVITAS
in action
Consultants Hired for East Harlem
Rezoning Initiative
CIVITAS is pleased to announce that we
have hired Insight Associates and George
Janes Associates as consultants for the
East Harlem rezoning project. Ethel Sheffer, AICP, principal of Insight Associates,
has a long history of working with rezoning and community-based planning. She
is also an adjunct professor at Columbia
University. George Janes is the former
executive director of the Environmental
Simulation Center. The Community Board
11 Zoning Task Force meets monthly to
discuss updates of the project. Visit www.
meeting details. The area being considered includes Madison, Lexington and Park
Avenues between 115th and 132nd Streets.
This area has had the same antiquated
zoning since 1961. The purpose of CIVITAS’ work is to introduce contextual zoning
and create affordable housing and economic development opportunities. About
the project, Ethel said, “I hope and expect
that our work will provide the community of
East Harlem with the tools and resources
to create an imaginative and workable plan
for this area so that it can become an even
more vital, equitable and sustainable part
of the city.”
The rezoning project is made possible
through support from the New York Community Trust.
UPDATE: Newsrack Enforcement
UPCOMING: Tree Stewardship Event
CIVITAS would like to thank our community
leaders and partners who have supported efforts to improve newsrack box maintenance
and placement.
A growing list of supporters includes:
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer,
Council Members Gale Brewer, Dan Garodnick, Robert Jackson, Jessica Lappin,
Melissa Mark-Viverito, Rosie Mendez, and
Community Boards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11.
Organizations include: 34th Street Partnership, Association of Residential Boards,
East 86th Street Association, East Midtown
Partnership, Historic Districts Council,
LANDMARK WEST!, Real Estate Board of
NY (REBNY), Save Chelsea, Sutton Area
Community, and the Women’s City Club of
New York. (List in formation).
Join the list! Contact CIVITAS at info@civitasnyc.org or 212.996.0745 to get involved. You
can view resolutions and letters of support at:
www.civitasnyc.org/newsrack-enforcement
On Wednesday, May 30, join CIVITAS
and Trees New York for a tree strewardship
workshop on the East River Esplanade. The
location will be near the 107th Street pier.
Volunteers will help weed, mulch and plant
available at: www.civitasnyc.org/events
Heating oil panel discussion at the Church of St.
Thomas More Parish House. Photo by Michael Storm.
UPCOMING: Heating Oil Workshop
On March 6, CIVITAS and Carnegie Hill
Neighbors co-sponsored an air quality
and heating oil workshop. More than 100
participants attended at the Church of St.
Thomas More Parish House. Topics included the NYC Clean Heat Program and
alternatives to the polluting No. 6 oil, which
is being phased out.
The next workshop is scheduled for
details, 212.996.0745.
clutter sidewalks across the city.
New faces at CIVItAS
Dena Fisher
Hannah Diaz and Sam Myers
Dena Fisher is working part-time as
the CIVITAS development associate. She
is part of the ReServe program, which
matches professionals who are 55 years
Sam Myers is a graduate student
in the urban affairs program at Hunter
College. During his time at CIVITAS,
Sam has focused on our heating oil and
air quality outreach program, and has
spent many hours going door-to-door
speaking with supers and co-op board
Hannah Diaz is a senior at Columbia
University and is majoring in urban
studies. She comes to CIVITAS through
Columbia’s Communities in Action intern
program and is the Carolyn Greenberg
Memorial Intern for 2012.
CIVITAS is fortunate to have recently
had interns from the Bronx Community
College, New York University, the University of Southern California, and local
high schools.
To apply for an internship or a volunteer position, email a resume to info@
civitasnyc.org.
civitasnyc.org
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Genie Rice, Sheila Platt, Rebecca Robertson
Lynden Miller and Sara Cedar Miller
Dawn & Warren Harbart, Linda Arnold
Encarnita & Robert Quinlan, Lynden Miller
Leigh Miller, Jean & Peter Pettibone
Steve Narker, Honorable Liam Kavanagh, Amy Freitag, Ed Bank
Christine Robinson, Pepe Maynard, Jeanne McAnaney
Jessie Weidinger, Lauren O’Toole, Michael Fonseca
Hatice Morrissey, Sava Thomas
hannah diaz
On March 14th, CIVITAS celebrated its
Held at the Americas Society, this year’s
Jay Meisel, Julie Kopel
Hunter Armstrong, Carmine Branagan,
Felipe Ventegeat
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CIVItAS News fall
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2012
the festivity, attendees mingled with one
another to the music of the Alex Donner
Orchestra. This year’s recipients of The
August Heckscher Award for Community
Service included Carmine Branagan, the
National Academy Museum and School,
and Penelope Maynard and Lynden Miller.
Encarnita and Robert Quinlan were the
event’s honorary chairs. Renovation was
the theme of the evening’s awards, as
each of the honorees was recognized for
achievements in revamping New York City’s
cultural treasures. Working towards the
preservation and appreciation of the arts,
Carmine, the director, and the National
Academy, were honored for the recent
renovation of the historic institution. Contributing to the restoration and enjoyment
of public space, Penelope and Lynden
were honored for their transformation of
Central Park’s Conservatory Garden. The
awards were presented by Mr. Quinlan, a
past honoree, and Rebecca Robertson,
president and executive director of the
Park Avenue Armory. The overall success of
the event was a result of many dedicated,
collaborative efforts, including those of this
year’s co-chairs: Genie Rice, Sava Thomas
and Felipe Ventegeat and vice chairs:
Margit S. Bluestein, Adrienne Caplan, Elisabeth Clark, Joanna Delson, Janis Eltz, Judy
Fresco, Jamie Gibbs and Steve Narker.
Photos by Michael Storm
Kevin Currey, Sharon Pope
Rebecca Robertson presents an award to Carmine Branagan
Janis Eltz, Gorman Reilly, Hunter Armstrong, Lisa Meyer
Michael Morgenfruh, Coreen McGowan,
Garth Bardsley
Sarah Young, Robert Moore
Matt Arancio, Michael Feldman, Tali Cantor
George Clark, Elaine Rosenberg
Susan Gooberman, Arete Warren
Lee Chong, Raymond Plumey, Ynes Leon
Eleonora Zilianti, Natasha Brown, Marcia Fowle, Joan Brothers, Adrienne Caplan,
Joanna Delson, Lori Barnhill
Lucienne Bloch, Willa Hutner, Judy Fresco
Natasha Brown, Caroline King, Jackie Keber
Felipe Ventegeat, Sandra Talavera, Ed McAnaney, Robin & Ted Withington
Ana Belopopsky, Tamara Belopopsky, Theodore Ouwerkerk
civitasnyc.org
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COMPETITION continued from cover
Conclusion:
The East Side does not want its waterfront to
as well.
2011 newsletter documented the deteriorated
condition of several sections of the 60-125th
About the Jury Process:
selected architect Billie Tsien as the jury
-
78th and 81st Street entrances. Improvements are happening along our community’s
sought multi-layered solutions that demon-
much more potential.
Explaining the purpose of the competi-
The Esplanade is the community’s waterfront
promenade serving a wide range of active
and passive recreational activities. It also
defines the lower edge of the Upper East
looking from the river towards Manhattan.
The competition produced forward-looking
the Esplanade with its adjoining inland areas
and the river; created expanded opportunities
for visual and physical access to the water’s
edge and the river; and fostered renewed
nade’s existing condition and future potential.
Armstrong said: “We hope you will enjoy the
winning designs featured in this newsletter
and at the museum this summer. CIVITAS
wants to emphasize that the winners are ideas
tion. We are not endorsing any particular
resurgence of the Esplanade. The competieveryone to create a community-driven plan
Reimagining the Waterfront Jury Review
Overall the entries generated transformative designs or ideas that were at once
to further vet design ideas and concepts and
of the Esplanade.
presented “very compelling and provocative
encouraged the fullest expression of an
To learn more, visit the competition website:
www.reimaginethewaterfront-civitas.com
first Place: Joseph Wood
situation along the East River’s Esplanade is one of constraint relative to the
water and highway...With this strategy
300% and reverses the disconnection
-
development along Manhattan’s East
First Place Winner: Joseph Wood “3X: 300% More Esplanade”
graduate architecture student at Syracuse
waterfront into the adjacent Manhattan grid.
Not only does the plan provide a direct con-
proposals in the competition as part of a
design studio.
context. The proposal includes opportunities
for inland irrigation and stormwater management. In the designer’s words: “The current
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CIVItAS News fall
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2012
“This is a visionary and transformative proposal,
addressing the problem not just along
the water’s edge but many blocks inland.
This bold intervention creates a different
kind of street with a harmonious integration of people and nature. This is a clear
presentation of a big idea with a direct,
straightforward approach to livability and
other urban issues.”
Second Place: takuma ono and darina Zlateva
estuarine function. In this network are
the waterfront outward into the East
River and enhance the Esplanade.
In the designer’s words: “The aesof recreational activities are thoughtthe reticulated edge of the new waterfront seems as though it was constructed
-
“This clear and
varied scheme establishes a hybrid
water’s edge by addressing one area and
Second Place Winner: Takuma Ono and Darina Zlateva. “Hell Gate Estuary: An Ecological Use for Dredged Material”
Takuma Ono and Darina Zlateva are
founders of Aershop (Architecture/Environment/Research/Workshop) located in
known for its challenging waters at the con-
East 96th Street and the East 103rd Street
work (or reticulation) to support the river’s
Harvard Graduate School of Design.
do not feel you are an interloper in a natural
place; a bit spartan but it lets the separation
of conditions exist. This scheme also adroitly
accommodates changing tides and a potentially rising water level.”
third Place: Matteo Rossetti
Matteo Rossetti is an architect in practice in Milan and is a graduate of the
Politecnico di Milano.
Envisioning a long-term planning and
-
Writing the Esplanade is highly inclusive
which are incorporated into existing structures (including the 107th Street
tive ways to solicit suggestions
for improvement. This approach
encourages the community to
use the Esplanade as a communication platform and visual
arts medium and also includes
“The notion of colonizing certain locations as a first step
was revolutionary; it allows the public to
engage the waterfront in a new meaningful
way. Multiple phases and adjustments are
possible; this can be just the beginning of a
messy but democratic process. It is a great
programmatic model, not just a design
idea; and the preliminary components
have the essential aspects of an outdoor
art installation.”
types of recreation.
I n t h e d e s i g n e r ’s w o r d s :
people will have the opportunity
to leave physically a message
stone or on other surfaces. The
Third Place Winner: Matteo Rossetti. “Writing the Esplanade”
civitasnyc.org
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honorable Mentions:
on view at the Museum of the City of New York, June 6 - September, 2012
Spain
Italy
Canada
Puerto Rico
Clean Water
Stalls Creation of
Proposed Park
Sharon E. Pope
Honorable Mention: Gerard Cadger and Xenia
Semeniuk. “FDR Marshland”
Exciting plans are already underway
for the East River Esplanade—but unchallenges.
The proposed Andrew Haswell Green
Park, which is on the East River Esplanade from 59th to 63th Street has a
clean water problem; requiring a $12
Honorable Mention: David Elzer. “Island Esplanade”
plan for a new waterfront park from 59th
to 64th Streets. Over the years Phase 1
was implemented to include installation
of a dog run; new lighting, chess tables,
pavement treatments and landscaping for the area. Five million dollars for
additional upgrades has been secured
park upgrades can began immediately,
197-a Plan for Queensboro Bridge Area, Manhattan CB8. Figure
19: View of Park/Former Sanitation Building. BFJ Planning, 2005.
8
CIVItAS News fall
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Spring
2012
York City Parks Department
engineering study concluded
that marine borers (underwater organisms that feed on
wood) have infested the pilings supporting the proposed
park. Due to the infestation,
the pilings now have a life
span of just 8-10 years. Clean
water has facilitated the marine borers’ preference for eating the wooden pilings. “With
clean water comes problems”
laughed Judy Schneider, a
Community Board 8 member
and long-time advocate of the
proposed park, “We did not
have this problem when the
East River was dirty.”
In the summer of 2006, the
New York City Council approved Community Board 8’s
New York City Public Design Commission.
the City dedicated to Andrew Haswell
Green. He is credited with spearheading the 1898 expansion of New York City
to include independent municipalities,
Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island;
and also overseeing the creation of
Central Park as president and comptroller of its Board of Commissioners during construction.
More information about Community
Board 8’s 197-a Plan is available at:
www.reimaginethewaterfront-civitas.
com/competition/resources
Central Park
Conservancy’s
Women’s Committee
the pristine condition of Central Park. While
-
hannah diaz
private initiative and support. In order to raise
former Women’s Committee president Nancy
four dynamic women founded the Women’s
Committee in 1983. Through the philan-
With people venturing from all corners of the
Park is again one of New York City’s crown
transforming Central Park’s Conservancy
nearly thirty years of success.
The Park we enjoy today is a result of the
To learn more about Central Park Conservancy’s Women’s Committee, visit:
www.centralparknyc.org
the Central Park Conservancy’s Women’s
Support Local
Greenmarkets
-
inspiring example of philanthropy and activC o m m i t t e e ’s o t h e r
Family Party in Heckscher Playground.
In addition to organizthe founding Committee
initiated park programs
to increase citywide
attention and volunteer
services. The Committee has since advanced
and overseen nearly a
dozen park-wide initiaThe original Women’s Committee in the 1980s, from left: Marguerite Purnell, Norma
tives that aim to involve
Dana, Phyllis Cerf Wagner, Jean Clark. Courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy.
city residents in the
ism and a model for other park improvement park maintenance. By creating a sense of
Mount Sinai Hospital
East 99th Street (between Madison
and Park Avenues)
Open June 13 - November 21
Wednesdays, 8 am - 5 pm
East 92nd Street Market
First Avenue (between 92nd and
93rd Streets)
Open June 17 - Dec 19
Sundays, 9 am - 4 pm
East 82nd Street Market
East 82nd Street (between First and
York Avenues)
Open year round
Sundays, 9 am - 3 pm
For more information about the NYC
Greenmarkets and a map, visit
www.grownyc.org
For those that recall New York City at
From an urgent mission of restoration to a
Committee and the Central Park ConserWomen’s Committee. The once-green grass
that had served as a haven from the concrete
original four women live on in the Comlittered with used needles and shards of glass.
Raising close to 20% of the Conservancy’s
sore in the middle of Manhattan.
park’s restoration and maintenance. Under
the leadership of Central Park Administrator
daffodil Giveaway
New Yorkers for Parks will give away
free daffodil bulbs this fall as part of
the “Daffodil Project.” Established in
2001, the program commemorates
September 11 through parks and
community revitalization. Registration begins in early August.
Check www.ny4p.org for dates and
registraton information, or contact
Emily Walker, Community Outreach &
Events Coordinator at 212-838-9410,
ext 314 or ewalker@ny4p.org
civitasnyc.org
9
BIKE SHARE continued from cover
worth—and approximately 6 feet wide.
Bike share programs (widespread in
that system users can easily find and return
city of more than seven million) supplement existing transportation options. In
selected with an eye toward serving the
determined that 54 percent of all trips New
mile.)
option.
your own helmet—safety is of course a
Biking rules such as “Yield to Pedestrians, Stay off the
ible on all bike share handlebars. NYC DOT.
the system’s sponsor will work with
have fewer accidents than people who ride
to provide discounts on helmet purchases to
Riders will have the option of different types of registered (long-term) and
continue to expand its education and outreach
tive to add to its portfolio of safety programs.
in Manhattan and six in Brooklyn.
program. Alta is paying the system costs;
private sponsorship is meant to cover capital
30-day MetroCard (less than $100).
We say: Hop on it.
To learn more about bike share,
Skeptics might take heart at knowing that
cultural and tourist attractions. An average
DOT website: www.nyc.gov/bikes
Suggested Locations for Bike Share Kiosks, 59th-79th Streets:
Possible locations include: wide sidewalks, public plazas and parks, streets with parking removal, streets without parking removal, and private property.
59th-79th Streets. Clusters of kiosks show interest in stations near Hunter College and on First and York Avenues. NYC DOT Bike Share website, www.nyc.gov/bikeshare.
10
CIVItAS News fall
2010
Spring
2012
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Second Avenue
Subway Station
Gets a Gust of
Artistic Breath
hannah diaz
As a bundle of blanched papers and
leaves swirl together in a wind-blown dance,
the small storm creates an open walkway
through which daily commuters pass as
they descend the subway stairs. Flash forward to December 2016, and this scene
could describe one of the three entrances to
the new 96th Street station on the Second
Avenue subway line. A recently released
rendering of the new station features work
by New York sculptor Sarah Sze in which
the entrance walls are covered with indigo
and white tiles. The glazed ceramic tiles will
feature line drawings of various objects, and
as a whole, the design is meant to play with
one’s sense of perspective. The design will
be the dominating feature of the subway
station at an estimated 4,000 square feet,
Rendering by the artist, Sarah Sze, from Art Along the Way
and Urban Design, www.bit.ly/Ii3dPt
and according to Sze in the Wall Street
Journal, will give “the entire station a kind
of identity.” Sze’s design was chosen as
part of a competitive panel process, and the
contemporary feel was a goal of the committee of arts professionals in charge of design
selection. The project is commissioned by
Arts for Transit, the MTA program that has
worked to include public art in New York
transit stations since 1985. In addition to
96th street, stations at 72nd and 63rd streets
will also feature designs by different artists. Each art installation is slated to cost
the MTA around $900,000 to $1 million.
An example of Sze’s work can be seen on
display on the High Line.
To learn more about MTA Arts for Transit,
visit: www.mta.info/art
civitasnyc.org
11
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www.civitasnyc.org
Reimagining the Waterfront
MCNY Exhibition
COMING SOON...
An exhibition of the competition’s winning entries at the
Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
June 6 - September 2012
For upcoming events and programs related to the exhibition, visit:
www.reimaginethewaterfront-civitas.com