ENVST- UA 495 Urban Greening Lab: New York Fall 2016

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1 ENVST- UA 495 Urban Greening Lab: New York Fall 2016 Thursdays, 2-4:45 Instructor: Anne Rademacher Office: 285 Mercer Street 906 Office Hours: 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 on October 29; there is a final exam at the end of the semester. In addition, you will prepare two Lab Project Reports that cover selected field trip portions of the course. Expect quizzes and additional small assignments to ensure that you re staying up to date with readings and other exercises. 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 may be made with 1

2 the professor. Note that the last session of the semester involves a field visit that is likely to require additional time; please plan your schedule accordingly, in advance. Your final grade will be computed based on the following distribution: Attendance (10%) and Participation (15%) in all aspects of the class* Mid term exam 25% Two Lab Project Reports 25% 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. Required Articles and Additional Readings: available electronically via the Classes website and/or Bobst Library. HONOR CODE All written work in this course must be original and composed exclusively by you, the author. You must acknowledge in writing any assistance you receive from the literature, other students, textbooks, internet, or any other source. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will be immediately referred to the Dean s office. For more information on NYU s policy on academic integrity, visit: DISABILITY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Academic accommodations are available to any student with a chronic, psychological, visual, mobility, learning disability, or who is deaf or hard of hearing. Students should please register with the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at NYU's Henry and Lucy Moses Center for Students with Disabilities 726 Broadway, 2nd Floor New York, NY Telephone: Voice/TTY Fax: Web site: 2

3 LECTURE AND READING SCHEDULE September 3: Course Introduction: Urban Ecologies and Urban Greening Sept. 8: 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 Sept 15: Spatial Heterogeneity and the Concept of Resilience In: Resilience in Ecology and Urban Design: Linking Theory and Practice for Sustainable Cities: Cadenasso, Pickett, 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 Sept 22: 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

4 Articles: 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 Review: OneNYC: The Plan for a Strong and Just City Press Release: of- the- mayor/news/257-15/mayor- de- blasio- releases- one- new- york- plan- strong- just- city#/0 The Full Report: Sept 29: Coastal Cities and the Problem of Resilience The City of New York PlaNYC Progress Report. Chapters on Sustainability and Resiliency, pp 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

5 From NYC Recovery: NYC Build It Back Information Update Build It Back: Oct 6: Green Transformation / The High Line October 13: The Urban Forest : what makes an urban forest an ecosystem? Articles: Rowntree, Rowan (2002). Ecology of the Urban Forest: Introduction to Part I. In Urban Ecology 8:1-2, Pp Rowntree, Rowan (2002). Ecology of the Urban Forest: Introduction to Part II. In Urban Ecology 9, Pp 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: October 20: Ecosystem Services and Land Use / Washington Square Park Articles: 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 Ernstson, H. & S. Sörlin Ecosystem services as technology of globalization: On articulating values in urban nature, Ecological Economics 86: 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 October 27: Urban Forest Cover Field Visit II October 29: Midterm Exam 5

6 November 3: When/Are Buildings part of the urban ecosystem? I Field Visit to The New School University Center Guest: Thomas Whalen, Assistant Vice President for Facilities Management Design, Construction, and Facilities Management 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): November 10: When/Are Buildings part of the urban ecosystem? II Bronx River Greenway House NYC Cool Roofs: November 17: When/Are Buildings part of the urban ecosystem? III Guest lecture with Jean Phifer, Environmental Architect at Thomas Phifer and Partners Readings TBA The City of New York Mayor s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability. One City Built to Last. Read First Half The City of New York Mayor s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability. One City Built to Last. Read Second Half Dec 1: New York s Coastal Ecology: A River and its City Guest Lecture: Murray Fisher, Executive Director, New York Harbor Foundation 6

7 Review: Read: the- oyster/ Additional readings TBA Dec 8: Remaking a Resilient City: Rebuild by Design on the East River Articles: 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: December 8: Final Exam in class 7