Upper West Side Streets Renaissance

On Saturday, January 12th, more than two dozen people from around the city came out to Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus and showed their dedication to the cause of Livable Streets by learning how to make decisions usually reserved for planning professionals at Livable Streets 101: Intro to Designing Streets for Neighborhood Life.

Led by Mike King of Nelson/Nygaard, urban planners and designers with experience working in cities around the globe gave informational presentations before leading collaborative walking/working tours of the neighborhood. Workshop participants evaluated the pros and cons of the status quo at area intersections, streets, and public spaces. Upon returning to Fordham, each “team” then developed a comprehensive plan for the neighborhood, taking into account the various groups that collectively use the space.

By the time that everyone was done presenting their designs, the energy in the room was palpable. Many people were left wondering why, if they could find functional solutions in the span of an afternoon, there were so many poorly designed spaces in their neighborhoods. All in all, the day was both a heartening display of ingenuity and a ringing challenge to New Yorkers to bring the spaces they deserve to the streets where they live.