Grant Application 2012 NYC Green Infrastructure Grant Program New York City Department of Environmental Protection Living City Stormwater Pilot Prepared by: Living City Block February 15, 2012 Background and Structure of the Application Living City Block is pleased to present this application for grant funding under the New YorkCity Department of Environmental Protection s Green Infrastructure Grant Program. We are exited by the prospect of demonstrating innovation stormwater control and combined sewer overflow (CSO) mitigation approaches as part of the program. Our project partners include Geosyntec Consultants, Future Green Studios and Gowanus Canal Conservancy. Figures referred to in this document are included after this narrative, followed by a set of attachments containing supporting documentation.[toc tbd, page of tables, figures and attachments] A. Applicant Information Primary Applicant Living City Block 509 Court Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 718.855.5736 Employer Identification Number: 90-0555484 Project Manager Christina Grace, Project Manager cgrace@livingcityblock.org 718.207.4967 SITE A ROOFTOP Commercial Building 78 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 Block 465, Lot 12 SITE B BIOSWALES Commercial Building/Abutting Sidewalk 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY Block 465, Lots 18-22 and 12 Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 1
Owner: Peter Moore, Team Gowanus LLC 515 Canal Street Suite 1C, New York NY 10013 Email: pmaarch@gmail.com Phone: 212 925 7760 [do we want to add Grant Eligibility Context? - Not in the outline, but good to have if it can be brief] B. Project Proposal Summary We are proposing an onsite and right of way project linking a private blue roof to both intensive active and passive right of way sidewalk bioswales at 92 3rd Street in the Gowanus Canal watershed in Brooklyn. To come: list all green infrastructure technologies that are being proposed [ approximate timeline budget summary Stormwater calculations summary Costs per gallon summary C. Project Details C.1 Project Description Current Stormwater Problem, CSOs and Water Quality in the Gowanus Canal The Gowanus Canal 1.5 mile long man made canal. At a low point of valley landform, is a 6-square mile watershed for surrounding areas including the Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Park Slope neighborhoods. The Gowanus Canal community is one of several combined sewer overflow hotspot regions throughout the City as described by numerous reports including the GWP (2004) and most recently the EPA Remedial Investigation report released in 2011. Combined sewers (i.e., sewers that receive both sewage and stormwater flows) serve 92 percent of the Gowanus Canal watershed, storm sewers serve only 2 percent, and direct runoff drains 6 percent of the watershed (NYCDEP, 2008a). During wet weather, runoff enters the combined sewers and exceeds the capacity of the system when an appreciable rate of rainfall occurs. There are two combined sewer systems in the watershed that overflow to the canal: the Red Hook and Owls Head water pollution control plants (WPCPs). Between these systems, there are 12 permitted CSOs to the study area; 10 are active. In addition, there are three known stormwater outfalls discharging to Gowanus Canal. Some of the greatest annual CSO discharge volumes come from RH-035 at the intersection of Bond and 4th Streets, immediately proximate to our site. The 3G project covers the blockwide region bounded by Hoyt, Bond, 4th and 3rd Streets and directly treats the GC-CF-W-067-070 CSO outfall. (See map below) Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 2
Largely due to the high volume of these discharges and subsequent water quality deterioration, in 2004, the Gowanus Canal was included by the NYSDEC on the New York State Section 303(d) list of impacted waters and was included within the New York State Section 305 (b) report as required by the Federal Clean Water Act because fish propagation was affected by oxygen demand that resulted from urban storm runoff and CSO discharges. The primary goal of the DEP s City-Wide Long Term CSO Control Planning Project is to reduce these CSO effects through the continued implementation of programmatic controls that can be effectively monitored. Ultimately the goal is to achieve a water quality level of saline Class D, a classification suitable for fishing and fish survival. Additionally, the Gowanus Canal has been identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of eight Urban River Restoration Initiative (URRI) Pilot sites in the United States. The Living City Stormwater Pilot was designed as a one component of a larger 3rd Street Green Corridor plan responding to these challenges and goals. We believe the project has added impact being part of a broader landscape of water quality targets and infrastructure improvements being carried out by multiple agencies. Green Infrastructure Project Approach The proposed project seeks to reduce the volume of stormater runoff flowing to CSSs connected to the RH-035 outfall of the Gowanus Canal sewershed by implementing innovative stormwater control systems at a commercial property in the sewershed. For this project we will be directing both sidewalk stormwater runoff and metered roof water from a blue roof system to both conventional intensive sidewalk bioretention swales and controlled underdrain bioretention systems to demonstrate the positive infiltration and water quality performance increment associated the active control of a bioretention cell s underdrain pipe. For example, towards the end of a precipitation event when inflow to the system is tailing off, water level monitoring within the bioretention swale will inform autonomous system control routines to allow for closing of the underdrain valve, extending retention times to allow for enhanced water quality and more time opportunity of infiltration to surrounding soils. Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 3
The proposed project will demonstrate the efficacy of two important concepts: 1) the performance benefits associated with linking rooftop detention with streetscape bioretention, where runoff from roof surfaces which is typically connected to the City s combined sewer system is redirected to street-side bioretention to introduce benefits of retention/detention and water quality enhanced by the two system s integration, and 2) controlled underdrain bioretention, where the water quality and recharge benefits of typical retention/detention systems are augmented by introducing forecast-specific retention control. The integration of surface features such as bioretention with roof-top detention provides for extended time-to-concentration of storm flows from the roof, allowing for more time-distributed inflows to the bioretention system and better overall performance. [workforce development component?] The evaluation of available capacity??? [see Geosyntec] Site Ownership SITE A ROOFTOP: Commercial Building (92 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231) (Kings County, NY, Block 465, Lot 12) SITE B BIOSWALES: Commercial Building/Abutting Sidewalk (Kings County, NY, Block 465, Lots 12, 18-22) The properties are owned by by Team Gowanus LLC headed by company principal Peter Moore, 515 Canal Street Suite 1C, New York NY 10013. Phone: 212 925 7760. The company is an active participant Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 4
in the project planning. Approval to construct and operate the proposed system has been provided by Peter Moore. Property ownership documents are provided in Attachment x. 78-92 Third Street, situated on the south side of the street, are part of a set of five connected buildings making up a single commercial redevelopment site. The site is located in Gowanus, Brooklyn, in NYCDEP Community District 6, ith a Median HH Income of $67,538, but nearly 20,000 people living below the poverty level. The area is a dense, urban community of mixed commercial, industrial, municipal and residential land use. Current Uses of Proposed Project Area The site is a commercial property and public sidewalk. The building is being redeveloped to include community amenities including shared office spaces, artist studios, restaurant, retail, and a small boutique hotel space. The combined buildings currently houses three small businesses, but most of the square footage is vacant, including the floor below the blue roof area. Third Street is a high-trafficked corridor between Carroll Gardens and Park Slope. There is active car, bicycle and foot traffic. Description of Existing Sewer Connections and Any Active Detention Systems [phil] Expected Impacts on Current Usage The project is positioned to greatly enhance the property. The bioswale represents significant beautification of a historically industrial block that currently has struggling street trees and no other green features across [x feet of ] a double wide sidewalk. The blue roof-decking system is meant to demonstrate stormwater systems that work in concert with and enhance usable space. The roof will be an active event space. The construction will not interfere with existing work in the building and will have [xyz] impact on sidewalk traffic. Feasibility Studies/Analysis? This should include but is not limited to flow analyses, plant lists, soil borings, permeability tests, and/or structural analyses for rooftop installations. C.2 Site and Project Analysis (Stormwater Flow and CSO Reduction) Site and Project Analysis must include all of the following: 1 page max Using the Stormwater Calculations Template provided, describe the tributary area to the proposed green infrastructure installation. Describe the tributary area to the installation by size, material, location on the site and other characteristics. Describe the total stormwater volume and the 1 inch rainfall volume on the impervious surfaces of the site in cubic feet (cf) and gallons (g). For infiltration projects, include a description of soil classification and permeability rates if available. If vegetated, describe the proposed plant schedule and estimated evapotranspiration rates. If the proposed installation is a detention system (i.e. blue roof or cistern) describe the how the system will be effective in detaining stormwater. C.3 Sustainability Benefits of the Project Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 5
What are the sustainability/ecological benefits of proposed project? For instance urban cooling, energy reductions in buildings, ecosystem health improvements, property value, recreation and other quality of life benefits, and/or health and environmental justice benefits. 1 Page Max Filtration of pollutants Habitat? Ecological benefits of the blue roof?- will there be any cooling/insulation benefits? Both will enhance property value (do we need a calculation of how much?) - street scape... C.4 Community Benefits How will the proposed project benefit local stakeholders? How will local institutions or groups be involved in design, construction and/or stewardship? Describe any community engagement elements including: educational or job training opportunities, future stewardship initiatives and economic benefits. 1 Page max Beautification Opportunities for education Community replication Workforce Development We will leverage the project to promote and facilitate educational opportunities and community involvement in understanding the interdependent issues surrounding stormwater management, CSOs, and water use. We have community support from Councilman Brad Lander s office and community groups including the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation, The Gowanus Conservancy, Proteus Gowanus, and The Dredgers. We have also received support from P.S. 58 s (elementary school) Science Department to participate in the project through instructive site tours and classroom activities. This stormwater project is integrated into a broader set of sustainability measures that will be implemented within the surrounding blocks involving energy and water efficiency, waste and stormwater management, urban agriculture and alternative transportation. The project will be connected to a larger community-driven planning process led by Living City Block and positioned to maximize exposure to this innovative stormwater management solution. C.5 Project Team/Expertise (Please add brief bios below) Living City Block and its project partners have world class experience and expertise in the design, implementation and monitoring of systems designed to manage and measure stormwater flows and technology enabling advanced control of these systems. The team also has an exceptional landscape design track-record and strong community organizing and outreach capabilities. Living City Block, based in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, spun out of the Rocky Mountain Institute in 2009. Our mission is to develop and implement a replicable, scalable and economically viable framework for the creation of hyper-efficient cities, one neighborhood at a time. We facilitate community-based initiatives to address issues of stormwater, waste, alternative transportation, open space, local food systems, community connectivity and economic development. We are working on the ground in Brooklyn and Denver to implement deep sustainability measures at the neighborhood scale. Our Brooklyn project is centered on a 3rd Street Green Corridor through the Gowanus neighborhood, from Smith Street to 4th Avenue. This stormwater management project will be a centerpiece of a comprehensive stormwater management plan for the 3rd Street Corridor. Project Director, Christina Grace, will be responsible for the overall management of the Living City Stormwater Project. Her 20 years of project management experience most recently includes management of the New York State Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 6
Department of Agricultures Urban Food Systems Program where she was responsible for shepherding projects at multiple scales from large-scale farm to city distribution efforts to community based urban farm and community garden implementation. Christina has extensive grants management experience as both grantor and grantee. Geosyntec has designed and/or implemented over 100 detention systems similar to the Intelligent Detention systems proposed, and has designed and conducted numerous monitoring programs for state, federal, non-government organizations, and private clients. A selected list of representative projects is contained in Attachment 6. In addition, Geosyntec is an industry leader in the development of innovative approaches and enabling technology for solving some of the most challenging environmental problems an example of which is the system proposed for this grant. Implementation of Intelligent Detention systems has the potential for delivering high value performance on a very cost-effective basis. Geosyntec is currently under contract as a Subconsultant to the joint venture of HDR/HydroQual, Hazen & Sawyer and BioHabitat, Inc. on the DEP s PlaNYC initiative. Future Green Studio is a design-build firm in Brooklyn, New York specializing in landscape urbanism and green roof design. At the forefront of a national design movement focusing on establishing place and identity through ecological design, Future Green Studio offers a strong design vision, and a commitment to the union of beautiful spaces and green solutions. Our work focuses on reclaiming post-industrial landscapes, on planning future visions for cities, on greening New York City s rooftops. We use a patchwork of productive and performative landscape typologies to help transform neighborhoods and communities and facilitate developers and clients to go green. We are a process-oriented design firm seeking out innovative methods of analysis, of drawing and of concept-forming. Our design process includes analyzing, mapping, diagramming sketching, model-making, and image creating. Our designs hope to reveal the site s sense of history, of imagination, of wonder, and of playfulness. Our intention is to scrape away, uncover and unearth the latent conditions of the site to reveal to the eidetic, social and spatial processes that act a substrate to the site s successful growth. Gowanus Canal Conservancy [Hans tbd] H. Construction Timeline [Table tbd] What is the approximate Construction Timeline in weeks? Complete Appendix A- Project Timeline to answer this question. I. Budget Summary Budget Summary - Complete Appendix B Budget Template and use it to complete the following bullets: Total Project Cost Total Hard Costs Total Soft Costs Total Requested Funds from DEP Matching Funds (if applicable) Include a summary of all matching funds/in kind contributions Soft Costs as % of Total Project Cost Monitoring Costs (if applicable; keep separate from Total Project Cost) J. Stormwater Calculation Summary Complete Appendix C- Stormwater Calculations template and use the numbers derived to complete the following bullets: Total Impervious Tributary Area (sf) Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 7
1 Volume/Impervious Tributary Area (gal) Total Volume of Stormwater Managed by Proposed Green Infrastructure (gal) K. Costs per Gallon Summary Calculate the costs per gallons managed for the proposed using the budget and stormwater calculations completed above Total Project Costs/Total Volume Managed Appendices: Required Supporting Documents Project Timeline Template Provided in Appendix A Proposed Project Budget Template Provided in Appendix B Stormwater Calculations Template Provided in Appendix C Maintenance Plan Template Provided in Appendix D Maps of the Project Area (3 max) Photos of the Project Area (5 max) Conceptual Designs and Drawings for the proposed construction project (PDF Format 8 ½ X 11, 5 pages max) Surveys/Structural analyses (PDF Format 8 ½ x 11) Contractor s Estimate to support Budget costs Monitoring Plan (optional) Guidance Provided in Appendix E Letters of support [The Dredgers, Councilman Lander s Office, Representative Velazquez and Proteus - any others?] Required for private property proposals: First and last page of Property Deed or copy of Title [Chris] For various proposed detention systems (if available, PDF): Site plan showing existing sewer connection and detention systems on the site. (Note this information will eventually be required prior to receiving grant funding) Required Documents/Forms Appendix A, B, C, D, E Attachment 1, 2, 3 Acknowledgement by Commissioner, Corporation, Individual Living City Stormwater Pilot - 2012 DEP Green Infrastructure Grant Program 8