Social Equity: We’re All in This Together [Part II]

New Yorkers concerned with increasing Social Equity often spoke about increasing the richness of the public realm: bringing communities together more frequently and in a more concerted fashion, and creating more opportunities for sharing with their neighbors. The kinds of community spaces and what they wanted to share differed by borough.

  1. BRONX: Residents of the Boogie Down want to see more safe & nurturing spaces for young people in their neighborhoods. Bronxite Ashlee wants teen centers featuring affordable classes and recreational activities around Bainbridge or Gun Hill Roads, while another suggests the Fordham and Norwood neighborhoods as ideal spots. Sheridan from Van Nest thinks a similar arrangement would increase safety and neighborhood appreciation in her corner of the borough, too. Prudence from Grand Concourse would like to see more YMCAs in the northernmost borough. Brendan wants to see the city develop library parks with ample community program, like those in Medellín, Colombia, in the South Bronx and other neighborhoods that are “used to disinvestment and neglect.”
  2. MANHATTAN: Sharing underused spaces to promote cross-cultural exchange is a priority for Manhattanites. Lydia from the Upper West Side wants artists to be allowed to take over empty storefronts and stalled developments to create publicly-accessible studio space. In East Harlem, one resident wished that there were more gastronomy festivals and events to celebrate the Latino community. Steven from Harlem would like there to be a graffiti park where street artists could go to show off their best work. Nearby, Sheryl suggested that an outdoor movie theater be set up on the blank side of a building next to an empty lot. And in Washington Heights, someone called for the forlorn Audubon Terrace to become a more vibrant public space.

[Click here to read Part I, which focuses on citywide trends in Social Equity.]

Have a great design solution for one of the ideas listed above? Click here to register for the By the City / For the City design competition today! Entries are due by midnight (EST) on Sunday, July 31st, 2011. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

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  1. urbandesignweek posted this