by: Jessica Sheridan Assoc. AIA LEED AP
After seeing PlaNYC take off in 2008, I have been wondering if many of the initiatives will carry through in 2009. How will the changing economy affect the greening of the city? If one million people do not move to the city, will plans change? These questions are not new; they have been asked since PlaNYC’s launch (See Sustaining NYC with 20/30 Vision?, by Carolyn Sponza, e-Oculus, 12.04.07; NYNV Extols PlaNYC, by Kate Soto, e-Oculus, 05.15.07; and Mayor-Proposed PlaNYC is Short-Sighted, my Editor’s Soapbox, e-Oculus, 05.01.07).
PlaNYC was a tall order. Over the course of last year, two major aspects of the plan did not garner the support that was needed. Congestion pricing failed to pass government approval, and NYC lost the potential for Federal funding that could have helped the MTA’s budget problems. We may all pay significantly in increased fares this year if solutions such as those outlined in the Ravitch Commission Report do not pass (nota bene: in a public hearing on December 16, the New York Building Congress endorsed the report. Click here to read the testimony. Also, see Commission Delivers Ravitching Report, my Editor’s Soapbox, e-Oculus, 12.09.08, to read more about the report in general).
In addition, recently it was announced that Bloomberg’s plan to create or preserve 165,000 units of low- and moderate-income family housing by 2013 has been pushed back a year. 82,500 units of the 500,000 have been financed, and funding is badly needed. This is just one of the reasons that some major construction projects are stalling in the city.
One of the problems with PlaNYC is that it depends on both funding for initiatives that have not been attempted before in the city (if not elsewhere) and government buy-in. Asking people to open their pockets to green the city may be asking too much this year, and we will see who the most forward-thinking officials are. Education and community outreach is not a priority of PlaNYC, so part of its potential failure could be because of a lack in maintenance required by the general public.
But there is a chance yet for PlaNYC and the greening of the city. The new building code, going into effect in July, is much more conducive to sustainable design as it incorporates ideas from the International Building Code. AIA members are now required to fulfill sustainability continuing education hours. And this year, the Green Building Certification Institute, taking over the administration of LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, may require all LEED APs to fulfill continuing education hours, as well. Finally, there is a new administration in the White House, and President-elect Obama has been promising energy reform, updated urban policy, and improved transportation and community development. There is still hope…