ENVST-UA 495 Urban Greening Lab: New York Spring 2015

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1 ENVST-UA 495 Urban Greening Lab: New York Spring 2015 Tuesday and Thursday, 2-3:15 Bobst LL 150 Instructor: Anne Rademacher Office: 285 Mercer Street 905 Office Hours: Wednesdays 1-3 and by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION This reading and field intensive course explores the theory and practice of urban greening as it has been planned, debated, and implemented in New York City. Drawing on analytical tools from the social and biophysical sciences, we will consider how New York s historical and contemporary context shape the meaning, implementation, and social experience of environmental improvement. We will ask, What does it mean to green New York? What does it mean to green a city? Rather than accepting the meaning of this term as self- evident, we will give it clear analytical contours and apply our research questions accordingly. Our analytical approach integrates ecosystem ecology concepts, urban design principles, and social scientific sensibilities. REQUIREMENTS This course covers a wide range of topics and case studies, and it draws from multiple disciplinary perspectives. To do well, it is essential that you attend all class sessions, and complete all the required readings before coming to class. In my class lectures, I will assume that you have read the readings thoroughly, and I will often introduce additional material that does not appear in the readings. Due to the structure and content of the course, attendance for all class sessions is mandatory. Attendance will be taken before every class, and grading penalties will accrue with class absences. A mid- term exam will be given in Week 6; there is a final exam at the end of the semester. In addition, you will prepare two 2- page analytical commentaries that examine selected field trip portions of the course. Field trips will be timed so that students are able to attend them within the allotted course period; if this is not possible, alternative arrangements can be made with the professor. Your final grade will be computed based on the following distribution: 1

2 Attendance (10%) and Participation (15%) in all aspects of the class* Mid term exam 20% Two analytical essays 30% Final exam 25% *Attendance is mandatory; participation will be assessed based on a students active verbal and written engagement in class sessions. We will discuss this at our first class session. READINGS Required Books Pickett, Cadenasso, and McGrath, eds Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities. New York: Springer. LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE Jan 29: Course Introduction: Urban Ecologies and Urban Greening Feb 3 & 5: Ecology in the City vs. Ecology of the City and Science, Society, and Design: Urban Ecology and the Challenge of Integration Pickett, Cadenasso, and McGrath Ecology of the City as a Bridge to Urban Design. In Pickett, Cadenasso, and McGrath, eds. Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities. New York: Springer. Pp Cities as Ecosystems? Read and listen: ecology/podcasts/cities- ecosystems Cadenasso and Pickett. Three Tides: The Development and State of the Art of Urban Ecological Science. In: Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities. Pp Boone. Social Dynamics and Sustainable Urban Design. In: Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities. Pp Feb 10 & 12: Spatial Heterogeneity and the Concept of Resilience In: Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities: 2

3 Pickett, Cadenasso, McGrath, and Marshall. Ecological Heterogeneity in Urban Ecosystems: Reconceptualized Land Cover Models as a Bridge to Urban Design. Pp Shane. Urban Patch Dynamics and Resilience: Three London Urban Design Ecologies. Pp Wu and Wu. Ecological Resilience as a Foundation for Urban Design and Sustainability. Pp Iverson Nassauer. Landscapes as Method and Medium for the Ecological Design of Cities. Pp Feb 17 & 19: The Context for Greening in New York In: Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities: Svendsen. Storyline and Design: How Civic Stewardship Shapes Urban Design in New York City. Pp Pires, M Watershed protection for a world city: the case of New York. Land Use Policy 21: Pp Population and Development Trends. New York City Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan/Risk Assessment, March 2009, Pp Grove, M. et al A report on New York City s present and possible urban tree canopy. USDA Forest Service. 24 pages. NYC DEP. Nd. New York City s Wastewater Treatment System. Pp Watch: The Manahatta Project: mannahatta- project.aspx Feb 24 & 26: Social Dynamics of Urban Greening Re- skim: Boone, Iverson, and Svendson (assigned for previous sessions) In: Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities. 3

4 The City of New York PlaNYC Progress Report. Chapters on Sustainability and Resiliency, pp Bagstad, K. and M. R. Shammin Can the genuine progress indicator better inform sustainable regional progress? A case study for Northeastern Ohio. Ecological Indicators 18: Pp March 3: Greening through Repurposing Urban Infrastructure Guest: Darren Patrick, York University Field visit to the High Line March 5: Mid-term Exam March 10 & 12: Greening by Creating Public Park Space Guest Lecture: Steven Weber March 12 Field visit: Comparing Urban Public Space through a Study of Plaza Parks March 24: The Urban Forest 1 Rowntree, Rowan (2002). Ecology of the Urban Forest: Introduction to Part I. In Urban Ecology 8:1-2, Pp Boyd, James and S. Banzhaf What are ecosystem services? The need for standardized environmental accounting units. Ecological Economics 63: Pp De Groot, RS, et al Challenges of integrating the concept of ecosystem services and values in landscape planning, management, and decision- making. Ecological Complexity 7: Pp March 26: The Urban Forest II Guest Lecture: Dr. Richard Karty Rowntree, Rowan (2002). Ecology of the Urban Forest: Introduction to Part II. In Urban Ecology 9, Pp

5 Rowntree, Rowan (2002). Ecology of the Urban Forest: Introduction to Part III. In Urban Ecology 15, Pp Web resources to review: Million Trees NYC Campaign: NYC Cool Roofs: March 31: Greening by Creating Urban Forest Field Visit to The New School Green Roof, led by Dr. Richard Karty April 2: Resilience in NYC: Sandy and Beyond Guest Lecture: Kirsten Keller, formerly with Build it Back Adger et al Are there social limits to adaptation to climate change? Climatic Change 93: In Crisis Cities: Disaster and Redevelopment in New York and New Orleans: Greenberg, Miriam and Kevin Fox Gotham. Conclusion: Lessons in the Wake of Crisis, Chapter 7 pgs In New York City CDBG-DR Action Plan: Examine maps on pgs Read sections on funding justification and housing, pgs Skim overview of Build It Back, pgs From NYC Recovery: NYC Build It Back Information Update Build It Back: April 7: Ecosystem Services and Land Use McPhearson, T., P. Kramer, and Z. Hamstead Mapping ecosystem services in New York City: applying a social ecological approach to urban vacant land. Ecosystem Services 5: Pp

6 Nassauer, J. and J. Raskin Urban vacancy and land use legacies: a frontier for urban ecological research, design, and planning. Landscape and Urban Planning 125: Pp April 9: Urban Resilience In: Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities: Barnett, Rod and Jacqueline Margetts. Disturbanism in the South Pacific: Disturbance Ecology as a Basis for Urban Resilience in Small Island States. Pp Karamouz, M., M. Kia and S. Nasif Prediction of Sea Level Using a Hybrid Data- Driven Model: New Challenges After Hurricane Sandy. Water Quality, Exposure and Health 6:1-2. Pp Web resources to review: Rebuild by Design: April 14: Greening through Resilience and Recovery Field Visit, post- Sandy recovery site with Kirsten April 16: Greening the Built Infrastructure First Essay is Due Review the current initiatives for Urban Green, the NYC chapter of the US Green Building Council: Read: Improving Building Envelopes, Making Buildings Resilient, Creating Low-Carbon Cities, Reaching All Industries, and Greening Codes, including the specific projects for each category (30pp) Review the implementation monitoring strategy (5pp): April 21 & 23: Greening through Building Design 6

7 Guest lecture and field visit to Bushwick Inlet Park with Greg Kiss, Principle Architect, Kiss + Cathcart April 28: Resilience and Rebuild: Living Breakwaters and Community Consultation in Staten Island Readings TBA April 30: The 2050 City and Post-midterm reading review The 2050 City May 5: Project Presentations Second Essay is Due May 5 May 7: No class meeting Final Exam will be given in class on May 14. 7