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Raising Awareness

(poster hung up and posted on-site)

Poster Description

(01) NYC hosts over 700 MILES of elevated bridges, highways, subway tracks, and rail lines. (02) As space becomes increasingly limited, the area beneath these structures have

the potential of providing
communities with much
needed room. (03) Unfortunately, many of these spaces fall under the jurisdiction of multiple agencies, such as the Department of Transportation,
Parks Department, and
Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (MTA), creating a

maze of regulations and responsibilities. (04) Additionally, transforming these areas requires significant investment in redesign, infrastructure, and community engagement, all of which are difficult to achieve within a budget-constrained

environment. (05) In many cases, these spaces are located in low-income neighborhoods, adding another layer of complexity. (06) In such cases, gentrification concerns often arise, with community members fearing that any improvements could lead to displacement rather than equitable development.

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Actions Steps

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What can be done?

The following steps provide a guide on how to transform underutilized spaces beneath NYC’s elevated infrastructure:

01. Conduct a comprehensive land survey

Assess development potential for spaces under elevated infrastructure (bridges, subways, highways, and rail lines).

02. Analyze and categorize parcels

Identify physical conditions and classify them into distinct types of spaces.

03. Engage communities through workshops

Collect input, feedback, and local perspectives on potential uses for each space.

04. Design and implement temporary installations

Experiment with design ideas and gauge community interaction.

05. Collaborate with DOT and other agencies

Explore development possibilities and policy influence for citywide improvements.

06. Develop tailored design and programming recommendations

Create realistic, context-specific design and programming recommendations for each site.