The goal of the Build A Better Burbcompetition was to address several challenges facing the vast suburbs of Long Island. The competition sought to specifically address ways to build more affordable housing, reduce traffic congestion, provide more jobs, and provide local food. The entries were filed down to 23 finalists, and yesterday the six winners were announced — all of which provided interesting or viable suggestions for how to improve the region. Upgrading transportation via a rail network and providing better hubs filled with commerce and residential seemed to be a common theme, and there were many projects that incorporated agriculture more fully into the fabric of the suburbs.
Upcycling 2.0’s basic premise is to use the basic building blocks of cities and towns and combine them on parcels of land to better utilize our space. For example, instead of a big box store with a huge parking lot, the space would be better utilized as a combo unit containing a store, parking, and a high school built on top. Likewise, a strip mall can be topped with a row of single-family townhouses with a green belt built beside. In this way, single-use lots can be transformed into multi-use parcels, making better use of the space and providing multiple functions for area residents. Upcycling 2.0 does not propose that we tear down the existing infrastructure — instead it suggests to upcycle and add to it in order to make it more useful.
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The winners of the Build a Better Burb design competition were just announced, and a student group from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture and Planning and Preservation proposed an impressive concept to redevelop the suburbs on Long Island into a more sustainable and self-sufficient region. Upcycling 2.0 by Ryan H. B. Lovett, John B. Simons, and Patrick Cobb suggests densifying towns and making better use of underutilized infrastructure like parking lots. The plan also focuses…
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The basic premise Upcycling 2.0 is to combine incremental renewal with impovisational redevelopment, vertical integration and land use diversity.
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Upcycling 2.0 proposes to encourage interaction and civic participation via new community associations that pool and manage funds for collectivized improvements and amenities.
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Transportation networks are adjusted to make better use of town centers and develop the corridors around the rail lines more fully to encourage more walking. Specific areas are zoned for agriculture and conservation.
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Rental Incomes from surrounding properties go to help support community services and centers.
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Wide streets can be converted into agriculture corridors where vendors sell their produce and products below. An elevated platform above provides growing space.
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Big box stores and parking lots can be stacked with other important civic buildings, like schools.
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Lots can be made denser to include more housing options for a wider range of incomes.
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Throughout the community, public services and gathering spaces can be added to bring area residents together and provide amenities they may not have at home.
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