Design Charrette Initiative to Explore Green Infrastructure in Harlem
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) and the Canaan Baptist Church announced the launch of the Green Infrastructure Design Charrette Initiative for neighborhoods in Harlem as a legacy project of the 13th Annual CitiesAlive Green Roof and Wall Conference to be held Oct. 5 to 8, 2015. This project will advance New York City’s OneNYC poverty alleviation goals by developing partnerships with local workforce and business development organizations that serve to plan for growth, sustainability and resiliency. The charrette will leverage design expertise to re-imagine what part of Harlem could look like with a major green infrastructure makeover. New York City currently ranks fifth among North American cities for the green roofs installed, according to the annual Green Roof Industry survey released this May.
“We believe that sustainable green infrastructure can provide both economic opportunities and a better quality of life to our Harlem community,” said Deacon Russell of Canaan Baptist Church.
Over the past year GRHC has worked to develop and pilot the Green Infrastructure Design Charrette Initiative in several cities including London and Toronto. The Charrette involves two main components: identifying several key neighborhoods of four to 10 blocks in need of green infrastructure investment, and then bringing together teams of volunteer design experts and community activists to re-envision them with green infrastructure. The second component involves subjecting these designs to a cost-benefit analysis to determine short and long term aggregate costs and benefits associated with the implementation of the ideas generated by the design teams. The Charrette includes the development of a Harlem GEM that identifies the most suitable technology for as many as 100 affordable housing properties in Harlem. Technologies assessed through the Green Excellence Matrix (GEM) include green roofs, green walls, urban farming, solar PV, solar thermal and energy efficiency improvements.
“There are many unrealized opportunities to generate local employment through green infrastructure design, implementation and maintenance throughout New York and in Harlem in particular,” said Steven W. Peck, GRP, founder and president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. “This is an important first step towards identifying new projects that can be implemented in the community.”
The project partners are currently fund raising to cover the cost of conducting background research, organizing participants, facilitating the Charrette, preparing a final report. The development of the Green Infrastructure Design Charrette Initiative requires $50,000 to $150,000. The goal of the Charrette Initiative is to provide the basis for the implementation of green infrastructure projects in an underserved community. More funding will help to increase the scope of the project, to include a larger area for study.
"This project will focus on the development and implementation of sustainable revenue streams to support Green Infrastructure ... including urban farming, energy and sustainable technologies," said Dakota Pippins, CEO, Pippins Strategies Group, a long time Harlem resident and one of the organizers of the Charrette Initiative. “Supporting economic development through green infrastructure is the key to the success of this project.”
For the first time, CitiesAlive is heading to New York City, Oct. 5 to 8, 2015. The conference will focus on the latest scientific research, design, products and policies all of which are critical to meeting the challenge of promoting healthy and resilient people and places in New York City. Delegates can tour leading edge projects, research facilities and see sites such as the High Line, Jacob Javits Center and Brooklyn Grange. Some tour locations are not available for view by the general public.
Source: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
