Low Hanging Fruit

The Green Movement seems to be entrenched in the public conscious, government and private sector in the last few years.   Unfortunately, the idea of being green has not been properly developed.  Many environmentalists understand that for the transformation to occur that it will not come overnight.  If giant steps are unrealistics, small measures  towards greening society will eventually commence the process.

New York City like every other city has come out with a lofty visioning plan about reducing their emissions and becoming more energy efficient.  A number of these concepts have  already flamed out.  In other areas, the city has not been very effective in making small changes.  For example, a stroll down the street one comes to find a number of street  lights on during the day.   But New York City is not the only culprit in this behavior.  The cities of Florida seem to believe that leaving the lights on during the night at desolate baseball parks, parking places and other unused areas is acceptable behavior.  Government, private sector, and individuals should not wait to make giant steps but simply begin by working on the low hanging fruit then transition to other areas that require more effort.  

The Workhouse [Suburban Life Lab Update]

Creating useful public space in the suburbs is not always the easiest endeavor, especially when the space was previously a prison. The Lorton Correctional Facility, located in suburban Northern Virginia, was originally built to provide an alternative to the outdated and overcrowded prisons in Washington D.C. In 2002 after succumbing to some of the same conditions it was built to resolve, the prison was an eyesore on an otherwise useful piece of land and the government needed to find a suitable use for the space.

Upon acceptance of Fairfax County’s adaptive re-use plan, the federal government transferred the land to the county. In September 2008, The Workhouse “Phase I” opened with art studios, galleries, and classrooms, with future plans for a theater. The re-use project takes advantage of existing buildings on the prison grounds as well as some new construction. The Workhouse employs a unique plan by combining an existing, and well known, location (prison) with a rethought purpose (art) to create useful public space in the suburbs.

Art producing energy

The city of New York missed an incredible opportunity this past summer when it partially funded a $15 million dollar art installation on the East River.  The $2 million contributed by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation for Olafur Eliasson’s Waterfalls was justified by local politicians as a creative way to generate an estimated $55 million. Where or not the Waterfalls were a failure or success in terms of economic contribution to the city coffers is not the focus of this entry, nor is it the mocking of the Waterfalls’ scale by the city’s skyline from almost every angle.  The real issue here is the city’s failure to capitalize on an opportunity to contribute to the idea of sustainability in public artwork through investments in renewable forms of energy and resources.  

In short (or not): Let’s encourage all further public art installations to incorporate recylcing or recyclable resources.  Any project that requires energy could be run off solar, wind, or tidal sources.  Let’s challenge artists, scientists, engineers and educators to work together to not only inspire people through works of art, but to also advance ‘green’ technologies through public investment.  This ideas goes hand in hand with President’s Obama’s pledge to fund renewable forms of energy, possibly bringing federal dollars into the funding pool.  This could be an exceptionally beneficial relationship between two unlikely allies that could generate just as much revenue for local businesses as the estimated $69 million brought in by the Waterfalls.

What better way to show that renewable energy is a very real and plausible option to create, and/or power, inspired pieces of artwork with these resources.  I can see it now – Tourists flocking to the city to see the lighthouse powered by the sun, or the elevated garden that was built over two blocks of Houston, or the giant sculptures that double as vegetable planters.

- Michael Morris

Tree Huts

Is this New York City’s attempt at affordable housing in the midst of a recession? Are these built for some type of conservation project? Is this some type of art form?  After further investigation, the tree huts were created by Tadashi Kawamata to display his interest in forms of shelter and his interest of inserting private objects into the public realm.

Although, a picture is worth a million words it is better to visit these structures at Madision Square Park in New York City. The background view of the modern buildings with such simple structures creates a nice visual contrast.  Children and parent seemed enthralled by the tree huts.  

Conference of Minority Transportation Officials

COMTO, the Conference of Minority Tansportation Officials was founded in 1971 on the Howard University campus in Washington, DC.  it was created to afford minorities, who have contributed much to the transportation industry, a forum to provide great opportunities in employment, promotion, contract opportunities, as well as networking for each other.

Today, COMTO is nationwide with 35 chapters and over 2000 members from varying levels and arenas of the transportation industry.  COMTO members are represented in transportation agencies (transit, subway and rail systems, port authorities, and airports), non-profits, and historically underutilized businessess(small and disadvantaged business enterprises).

MIT Subway Hack on the MBTA

Long story short, three MIT students hacked into MBTA (Massuchesetts Bay Transportation Authority) subway system and discovered a number of vulnerabilities including giving themselves unlimited fares on those magnetic fares.  It has opened a series of problems for the university, students and the authority for appearing somewhat incompetent. Beyond the legal issues, it would be nice to utilize this raw ingenuity for something more productive like enhancing public transportation.  For the whiz kids from MIT, a couple of ideas come to mind like creating a GIS system that indicates when the next train will arrive at the subway station for the MTA or LIRR.  I would be also elated to see that price fares stabilize through some financial analysis that manages to keep the budget in check – business department.

Encouraging Community Service through Bikes

Harsh cold weather and budget shortfalls aside, let’s look ahead to the inevitable coming of Spring and an idea that would help local businesses, improve access to cycling, and promote volunteerism.  The idea starts with the city purchasing bicycles from local manufacturers, such as Worksman Cycles in Queens at a bulk price. The city would then offer these bicycles to individuals at a less-than-retail price.  With the purchase of a bike, riders would be required to take a short bicycle safety class. The purchase would include  a helmet, lights and a bell. Participants could get the price of their bicycle down through volunteering for a participating organization (local food bank, hospital, etc.).  The program would offer cheap, well-built bicycles to the community, while encouraging community service.

Funding for the program could possibly come from grants or federal funding (stimulus package?), and a city agency, such as DOT, could combine forces with a transportation advocacy group, such as Transportation Alternatives, to administer the program.

- Mike Morris

Pedal Power

Besides sailing, the pedal power is perhaps the most eifficent form of transportation for human kind.  Around New York City, I am starting to see this new form of public transportatoin known as pedicab.  Maybe in the near future, we will see more after Mayor Bloomberg in 2007 vetoed a bill that limited the number of pedicaps on the streets.  Overall, I think the numbers of the three-bicylces should increase because they assist in cutting emissions and minimize the ever increasing traffic congestions in a city that has enough cars.

- Leonardo Bentham

Banksy Loves New York City

The utlra secretive artist  Banksy strikes in Soho.  He is a graffiti artist known for creating very clever works of art in England. Obviously, he has crossed the pond and bestowed us with some excellent work.  It would be great to encourage more public art by artist in New York City with the endless supply of building walls – close to one million edifices.

Location:  Grand & Wooster Corner 

-Leonardo Bentham

Obama Litter

On November 4^th, 2008, our great nation voted for Barack Obama.  Many seem proud of this accomplishment.  I am elated! But I am starting to have a problem with the Obama litter in the urban environment. No disrespect to our President elect but his face or his propaganda is plastered on every New York corner.  While visiting Philadelphia, I also witnessed this level of admiration for Obama.  He became the new Che Guevera! I even saw an Obama sale down in Soho.  Does this level of visual adulation change voter’s minds?  At least for myself, I think these public displays forced me to think of the candidates on a more constant basis.  Although, I am not a fan of public advertising but have to concede this level of political enthusiasm being displayed in our urban environment leads to great conversation which fuels us to be better informed.  Obama 08!