Mar
13
2009
1

A though for the Final Project

While I am aware that we are in constant need of low income housing and job opportunities, I really would like to focus on bringing some exposure to natural beauty into New Yorker’s every day lives. What I would like to see are some low-cost–maintenance public gardens, where New Yorkers can rent a plot and care for and grow their own vegetables and flowers.
There is one I know of already in Flushing near the Booth Memorial Hospital, called the Kissena Corrider Park. ( http://www.treebranch.com/BQGG_pdf/kissena_cunningham.pdf ) I think it would be great, if possible, to find some small plots of space outdoors in urban residential areas, or even to put greenhouses on the roofs of buildings that the public could access, so that New Yorkers can de-stress and discover their green thumbs.

Written by aarroyo in: Uncategorized |
Mar
10
2009
0

Topic Selection..

The city of the New York is currently facing serious problems of freight transportation. With the mass congestion of highways, streets, etc. freight transportation has added to the issue of traffic and pollution in the city. For my project, I will be doing more research on this citywide issue, document the problem and recommend the best policy approach.

Written by lalmeida in: Uncategorized |
Mar
09
2009
0

Final Project Idea

For the final project, I was considering creating a foreign language program for all public elementary schools in New York City and developing a system in which time and money could be optimized to make this idea happen. Studies show that children can pick up a foreign language a lot easier if they start becoming acquainted with it at a young age. Since money is tight these days, only two languages, or even one (Spanish), might be the only ones taught under this new program.

Luke
Luke

Written by clayne in: Uncategorized |
Mar
05
2009
0

Final Group Project

At a faculty symposium, which I recently attended, it was stressed that the final project must be a group effort – three or four students combining their resources to look at a selected topic in depth. The existing final project description still applies. Individual students should put forth topics and, as a class, we will look at areas of common interest or overlap to form a group. Since there are many components leading to making a compelling 10-minute public presentation before the university and outsiders, as well, it is would be best to form a team maximizing individual strengths.

All topics will require, among other things:

• Writing a compelling proposal
• Conducting basic research/literature search
• Identifying and contacting primary sources
• Conducting interviews, when possible
• Photographing existing conditions
• Preparing graphic illustrations
• Preparing verbal presentations

Given the scope of this project, give serious thought about pooling resources. Also, remember that a good portion of class time will be devoted to your being able to work together and develop your proposals. We’ll talk.

Written by jphillips in: Uncategorized |
Mar
03
2009
0

New York Essay…finally! :)

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New York City is extremely patriotic, more so than many seem to think.  There is a notion established throughout the United States that New York City is home to extremely unpatriotic individuals that can only believe in one mindset, namely that of the super liberal.  I guarantee you, there are more American flags in New York City than probably anywhere else, especially within the immigrant community.   

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E.B. White speaks of what is expected  in New York City.  What I noticed however was that nature, which is all around us in the City, White only really speaks about in terms of Central Park.   This picture showcases nature, and was taken right outside the Brookdale campus.  

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There is even nature on the sides of many buildings, such as on this one here.  Vines and other plants grow across the founding bricks and create beautiful views for everyone to see.  

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Sorry that it’s on its side…Scaffolding in New York City is abundant and well received on night’s when snow and rain are falling.  There is always construction in New York.  As soon as one project is finished, another is started.

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While scaffolding in some cases is very useful, it is also an obstruction that can destroy a scenic picture.  

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New York City never sleeps and establishments such as this restaurant with a “Late Nite Menu” are abundant to make room for the night’s lively ones.

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There are many forms of transportation in New York, one of the least prevalent being automobiles.  There are stop lights throughout the city, winding their ways through the concrete jungle.

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A man on the move, cigarette in hand, crosses the street when the “Don’t Walk” hand is bold it its orange glory.  Walking is probably the most commonly used form of transportation besides…

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Public transportation is used by every New Yorker, whether old or young, short or tall, skinny or fat.  The Subway is convenient and fast (for the most part) giving every New Yorker their chance to get to their destinations on time.

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Buses are also used quite frequently and represent a large number of people living in New York City.  They provide hugely necessary transportation and have become staples on every single street in New York’s five boroughs.

Written by JoeyD. in: Uncategorized |
Mar
02
2009
0

In New York City, appreciating the generic…

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Subway signs such as this are second nature to New Yorkers, though tourists frequently need help deciphering them, especially when the trains are undergoing construction and operating along different routes.

 

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Gas station/convenience stores commonly found along certain thoroughfairs in the outer boroughs frequently offer auto repairs and maintenance as well. As these areas are becoming more gentrified, however, these small business are becoming less common.

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Escalators are found throughout the city, both above and below ground. Using motion sensors in escalators has been considered in improving NYC’s efficiency, to avoid powering them when they are not in use.

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From most places in midtown, either the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building can be seen. Though such buildings tend to define many people’s ideas of what New York looks like, they only make the majority of the infrastructure in certain neighborhoods.

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Multi-family apartment buildings and townhouses are found throughout the city, and the rows of fire escapes are a common aesthetic in many neighborhoods that have not yet replaced the old buildings.

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Movies, TV shows, and various Broadway and off-Broadway shows are advertised on billboards, phone booths, and busses and trains and their stations in all boroughs of the city, particular those with big-name talent.

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Ketchup, coffee cups and saucers, salt & pepper, sugar, and Greek keys are found in ubiquitous in diners all over the city.

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The grid system is frequently taken for granted in the city (especially Manhattan but the outer boroughs as well), but New Yorkers are accustomed to streets and avenues intersecting.

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Subway seats in N, R, and W trains used to be a variety of vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow. They still are the familiar shades of orange that so many New Yorkers are used to. Now some N trains have been replaced, as they probably will all be in time, with more modern and sleek looking grey, silver and purple technologically advanced cars.

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Tree-lined streets may not be as common in most urban parts of New York as they are in the suburbs, but current plans and regulations for the city involve the planting of trees in order to beautify the streets of the city.

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Trash heaps can be found on the sidewalk of any street, and one never knows what will be found lying discarded on the sidewalk.

Written by slitsas089 in: Uncategorized |
Mar
01
2009
0

photo essay

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Found in the window of an obscure store near Union Square. Hidden treasures of New York, let me tell you.

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Taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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Central Park. I’m sure you’ve seen this guy around before. He was pretty intense.

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Three red balloons in Chinatown. The other 96 escaped.

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Inspiration everywhere you look. It reads, “I want everybody to be smart. As smart as they can be. A world of ignorant people is too dangerous to live in.” (Carson Kanin)

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Hermes overlooking Grand Central.

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Breaking up the monotony. Who says New Yorkers only know the color black?

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Obligatory subway picture. The train will be here soon. We hope.

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This view? Instantly recognizable by now.

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Lastly, the Verrazano and an early sunset.

Written by zchiu in: Uncategorized |
Feb
28
2009
0

Local Church

A local church in Bayside, Queens. It is interesting how a largely Caucasian church is now holding services for a Chinese Audience to fit the changing demographics of the neighborhood.

Long Island Railroad

There is no subway station in Bayside, so to get to the city, you have to take a 40 minute bus ride to the 7 train in Flushing Main St. Either that, or pay the extra $5 for the Long Island Railroad to Penn station.

Crocheron Park

The local park is a great place to bring the family for a picnic. Just make sure the kids are not swimming in the lake.

6 Train

I am sure everyone is familiar with this location. Here is a hint: we take this train every day.

Cars

Some law abiding car drivers stopping at a red light and wondering why that strange Asian boy is taking a photo of them.

Cars gone

The same road, just the other direction.

Taxi

A common scene in city: a New Yorker hailing a cab.

311

A broken traffic sign lying on the floor. Someone call 311!

DANE

I am not sure what DANE stands for, but it is gratified on the side of our dorm building.

Home Sweet Home

The view from my dorm building window. Home sweet home at last.

Written by JonathanJoa in: Uncategorized |
Feb
26
2009
0

Christina’s Reading Guide

Reading Guide

1. What does Department of City Planning (DCP) certification of an application mean?
DCP certification of an application means that all the necessary forms, plans and documents are present and that the application is ready for review.

2. Who are the major participants in the review process?
The major participants in the review process are Community Board, Borough President and the City Council.  If necessary, the Borough Board is also involved.

3. What is the time allotted for each phase of the process?
Within 60 days of receiving the application, the Community Board is required to hold a public hearing, submit a written recommendation to CPC, the applicant, the Borough President, if necessary, the Borough Board.
Within 30 days of receiving the Community Board recommendation (or within 30 days of the expiration of the CB review period, should they fail to send a recommendation) the Borough President should send a recommendation to the City Planning Commission.
Within 60 days of the Borough President’s review, the CPC must hold a public hearing and approve, approve and modify or disapprove the application.

4. What role does the mayor play in the review process?
The mayor can veto an application within five days of the vote, but otherwise a decision by the City Council should be considered final.

5. Which bodies must hold a public hearing during the review process?
The Community Board and the City Planning Commission must hold public hearings.

6. Who makes the final decision in the approval or disapproval of a land use application?
The City Council decision is considered final unless the mayor vetoes the Council action.

Written by ctesoro in: Uncategorized |
Feb
25
2009
0

Daniel’s NYC Journal

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17363&id=1384800020&l=014d4

This is a facebook link.



Written by dcowen in: Uncategorized |
Feb
25
2009
0

Photograph Essay

Brookdale-The Center of the Universe

Brookdale-The Center of the Universe

25th Between 1st and FDR Drive-The Green Mile

25th Between 1st and FDR Drive-The Green Mile

NYU Dental-Interesting tidbit: Rudi Bakhtiar went here briefly before deciding to become the most beautiful newscaster on the planet.

NYU Dental-Interesting tidbit: Rudi Bakhtiar went here briefly before deciding to become the most beautiful newscaster on the planet.

The Front of Brookdale- It's a funny thing: I was trying to get into the gym the other day (I had to use the secret door in the women's locker room...don't tell.), I accidentally took a wrong turn, I opened a door... and there was First Avenue.

The Front of Brookdale- It's a funny thing: I was trying to get into the gym the other day (I had to use the secret door in the women's locker room...don't tell.), I accidentally took a wrong turn, I opened a door... and there was First Avenue.

1st Av.

1st Av.

The alley bedside the dorms- Needless to say, what happens here stays here.

The alley bedside the dorms- Needless to say, what happens here stays here.

FDR

FDR

FDR in the snow

FDR in the snow

Madison Square Park-luscious. The statue is Jaime Stettin's great-grandfather.

Madison Square Park-luscious. The statue is Jaime Stettin's great-grandfather.

I swear these guys were giving me looks.

I swear these guys were giving me looks.

Midtown

Midtown

The Empire State Building-Represent.

The Empire State Building-Represent.

Written by clayne in: Uncategorized |
Feb
25
2009
0

Photo Essay

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Written by clayne in: Uncategorized |
Feb
25
2009
0

dsc00212

Written by clayne in: Uncategorized |
Feb
25
2009
0

A day for Noah

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I wake up late. It is a Saturday, close to noon. Looking out my window, I expect to see a bright happy view, waiting to call me out of doors. Even in sleep I feel the gentle touch of sunlight on my face. I can tell, today is one of those stay outside all day. I open my eyes slowly. I know what I will see, but still I hope for trees and clouds.

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I strain to see the ground. This is not a problem I encountered growing up in Brooklyn. Giving up on amusing myself with an interesting view of the street, I try a different view.

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I look up. This is a bad decision. I see none of the natural, expected colors.  The area in front of me is dominated by beige and gray, concrete and glass. Sunlight glares off the windows three or four floors above me. By this I know there is life out there somewhere, looking straight ahead, it would be hard to tell. The light prevents me from looking in the windows of the building across the street. In the giant glass windows I see a reflection of my window, and all the other windows in my building. The beautifully organized suicide proof windows, distorted by the windowpanes opposite.

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I am no longer determined to move out of doors. Instead I stay inside, watching TV, reading, daydreaming. Then I get hungry. The kitchen is disgusting, that’s what happens when 50 teenagers use the same facilities. I use it anyway, what else can I do? While I wait for the water to boil, I read the sign. “BEWARE THE MUTANT ROACHES! AHHH!” I laugh, until I see them.

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Cockroaches have never fazed me, but I can’t help being disgusted. I start to understand the urge to eat out. Eating out has so many advantages. There are no dishes, counters, or stoves to clean. No time taken to prepare, food is simply a phone call away. Its so simple I sometimes think I’m crazy for enjoying dealing with the problems and the dirt that cooking in New York City presents.

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By the time I finally leave the dorms, it is dark. I meet my friends at the train station. This is always my favorite meeting spot. In a city full of places to go, there are too many nondescript places and large chains. I have spent too many hours waiting for a friend in the “Starbucks on Astor Place,” while they were waiting across the street in the “Starbucks on Astor Place.” Somehow the train station is more prominent. It also provides me with a great spot for people watching. Today there are mostly young people exiting the station, walking quicker, and with more of a purpose than suits usually do during the evening rush hour.

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Walking down the street, I notice the cities free newspaper receptacles. They are empty. I start analyzing my life. Why have these particular bins caught my attention? What is so significant about them? Why are they empty? I don’t want to think about what this means. They shouldn’t mean anything to me. I keep walking, and I don’t look back.

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In stark contrast to the empty newspaper bins, I next notice the full trashcan, leaking all over the sidewalk. This is just one trashcan, but I know that on every other corner there is another full trashcan. How do other cities stay clean? Even with the amount of litter in New York, we still manage to fill up the trashcans. There are even towns and cities with no trashcans. I am in awe of the clean cities of the world.

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We are almost home when we pass the tank. It so out of place. Its massive weight sits demurely by the sidewalk. A taxi has pulled up right behind it, the passengers get out, pay the cabbie, and walk off. No one notices. Maybe the camouflage coloring really works, but I don’t believe that.

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And finally, I found a phone booth. These things are fairly hard to come by now a days. Everyone has a cell phone, so the city has let the booths fall into disrepair. More money is put into the advertisements on the sides than into actual calls. Communication has evolved. Its not stationary anymore, I can take everything with me as I walk. There is no reason to make a call from a booth when we can have a conversation in the 10 minuets it takes to walk from the train station. New inventions are always made in the interest of saving time. New Yorkers always need more time. They always rush, they can never slow down.

Written by NoahC in: Uncategorized |
Feb
24
2009
0

ULURP Reading Guide (Alair Micocci)

  1. What does Department of City Planning (DCP) certification of an application mean?

This means that an application is complete and ready for public review. The application must contain all materials necessary to address any and all issues that might be related to the project or application in question.

 

  1. Who are the major participants in the review process?

The major participants in the review process are the department of city planning, the Borough President, the Community Board, City Council, and the mayor.

 

  1. What is the time allotted for each phase of the process?

The Community board is given 60 days to review the application. The Borough President has 30 days unless the Community board fails to act in which case the Borough President has 30 days from the end of the Community board’s 60 days. Within 60 days of the expiration of the Borough President’s review the CPC must hold public hearing to determine whether to approve, modify, or disapprove the application. The City Council does review’s only certain applications.

 

  1. What role does the mayor play in the review process?

The mayor is not required to approve a CPC decision, but can veto one within 5 days of CPC approval. This veto can be overridden with a 2/3 vote in council. The Mayor can also veto an approval 50 days after it’s been approved of the council has taken no action (he has 5 days to do this). Again the council can override this veto with a 2/3 vote (within 10 days).

 

  1. Which bodies must hold a public hearing during the review process?

Both the Community board and the City Planning Commission must hold public hearings during the review process.

 

  1. Who makes the final decision in the approval or disapproval of a land use application?

The City Planning Commission makes the final decision in the approval or disapproval of a land use application.

Written by amicocci in: Uncategorized |

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