Department of City Planning Releases Principles of Good Urban Design Guidebook

 

Department of City Planning Releases Principles of Good Urban Design Guidebook

Guidebook Democratizes Urban Design, Helps New Yorkers Incorporate Principles into Neighborhood Advocacy

New Principles Revamp and Expand 2017 Guidelines into Practical, Accessible Guide

New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick announced the release of the Principles of Good Urban Design, an illustrated guidebook that makes New York City’s urban design principles clear and accessible to the public. With the release of the guidebook, New Yorkers from all walks of life will be better able to put the Principles of Good Urban Design into action in their own communities, whether they’re planners, developers, civic leaders, or any New Yorker who wants to help shape the future of their neighborhood.

“New Yorkers know their neighborhoods better than anyone and it’s vital that we supply them with the planning tools to advocate for their priorities. With these Principles of Good Urban Design, we’re providing the public with a roadmap to improve the way our city looks and feels. Through these resources, we can all work together to get to yes on a more dynamic, greener, and more welcoming city,” said Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick.

“Every New Yorker deserves to engage in the decisions and processes that impact the design and livability of their neighborhood,” said New York City Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “I'm thrilled to see NYC Planning release these Principles, as they will serve as an important tool to help democratize the language of urban design, ultimately allowing more voices to shape our city's future.”

“New York City’s well-designed and welcoming public spaces are part of what make the city so special,” said New York City Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “The Principles of Good Urban Design showcase our shared values in designing and delivering high quality public spaces in a timely manner for all New Yorkers. We applaud Department of City Planning and all our agencies for their effort in moving this vision forward.”

“As New York City continues to execute complex coastal infrastructure and other climate projects while building in play, community, and open space access, this guidebook will be a critical tool,” said Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “Most important, it can be used by community leaders to advocate for air, noise, and extreme heat mitigation, which is especially important for those disproportionately burdened by climate hazards.”

“I congratulate the Department of City Planning on the launch of the Principles of Good Urban Design Guidebook. By centering communities and embracing their diverse perspectives in urban planning we can ensure their needs and aspirations shape the spaces designed for them. This process of co-designing is critical for trust between communities and government,” said Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chair and Executive Director, New York City Civic Engagement Commission.

“The Principles of Good Urban Design guidebook should help New Yorkers for generations to come,” said New York City Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley. “As the City’s chief design and construction manager, it is our priority to deliver the best-in-class public works that enhance communities, and we know the importance of working with and taking into consideration the needs and opinions of our City’s vibrant and diverse communities. This guidebook will be an important resource to better create urban design and we thank DCP for this in-depth tool.”

“Community involvement is foundational to building strong and vibrant neighborhoods and every New Yorker must have the opportunity to participate in shaping the future of our city,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Adolfo Carrión Jr. “The Principles of Good Urban Design will serve as a powerful tool driving inclusive development that's greener, more accessible, and safe, while celebrating the city's history, culture, and identity.”

“It is essential that New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs have the right tools to help shape their neighborhoods,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “Principles of Good Urban Design will give New Yorkers the resources to help addresses the near-term challenges in front of us while also continuing to build a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers.”

“In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the presence of green and open spaces becomes increasingly crucial. And as the City grapples with the impacts of climate change and severe weather, design practices must also emphasize sustainability to improve the lives of New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “This guidebook highlights all of these principles and empowers New Yorkers with practical tools to help shape a greener, more resilient, and more equitable city for all.”

“Fostering a sense of belonging in our diverse neighborhoods is of utmost importance. The Urban Design Office, through the release of its Principles of Good Urban Design, and creation of an innovative public engagement platform, has led our city by example - demonstrating how centering the voices and values of New Yorkers in our city's design and planning processes can produce enduring civic spaces that serve generations to come,” said Sreoshy Banerjea, Executive Director of the New York City Public Design Commission.

New York State Empire State Development President CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The public realm is the vibrant backdrop of our daily lives as New Yorkers. The Principles of Good Urban Design outlined in this guidebook provide both inspired vision and practical wisdom for enhancing our shared spaces over time. Whether applied to long-term planning or short-term projects, these principles can help make the public realm more equitable, resilient, and beautiful for all.”

This guidebook provides answers on what urban design means, and how planners consider everything from public input to environmental needs to a neighborhood’s history and culture to craft design recommendations that enhance communities. Beyond making it easier to get around and enjoy New York City, good urban design has a tremendously positive impact on our physical and mental health. It makes for a more beautiful and cleaner urban environment, generates economic activity, supports innovation, and encourages play.

The Principles of Good Urban Design help to democratize this aspect of planning with a set of shared values and language through which all New Yorkers can evaluate, discuss, and advocate for meaningful, lasting changes that improve the city’s urban landscape. The four principles are:

• Enhance people’s daily lives – including with accessible, safe, high-quality public spaces 
• Care for a neighborhood’s history, culture, and identity – including by celebrating existing community spaces or natural resources 
• Embrace NYC’s dynamism – including with building designs that harmonize with older architecture 
• Confront society’s greatest challenges – including with resilient and public health-focused design decisions  

Each of these principles can have an impact on parts of the city that New Yorkers experience in their daily lives: how space is used on a sidewalk, how parks and open space are laid out, how storefronts and ground floors of apartments interact with the public realm, and how architecture helps to determine the character of a neighborhood.

This release of the Principles of Good Urban Design guidebook is a significant expansion of the initial guidelines, published in 2017. In this guidebook, DCP has fully transformed the principles into a thorough, practical manual that can be applied to nearly any planning discussion in the five boroughs.

“AIANY is thrilled to host the NYC Department of City Planning’s Office of Urban Design for the launch of the Principles of Good Urban Design and Guidebook,” said Gregory Switzer, 2024 President, American Institute of Architects New York (AIANY). “Clear, thoughtful urban design is critical to advancing equity, affordability, and sustainability. The Principles provide a toolkit for advocating for good design citywide that improves our public realm, upholds the identity of neighborhoods, drives innovation, and creates climate resilient buildings.”

“New York City’s diverse population is ever-changing,” said Howard Slatkin, Executive Director of Citizens Housing and Planning Council. “And the design of our city must continue to evolve along with it. In a city of 8.5 million residents and twice that many opinions, resources like this guidebook can provide a great public service by grounding our conversations and debates in a shared language that we can use to improve public design for our common benefit.”

“Good urban design is a critical component of city planning. MAS applauds the NYC Department of City Planning’s Urban Design Office for developing these defining principles. The fact that the principles were developed in conjunction with community members, city agencies, and design professions will ensure they will assist us in achieving our shared goals of a more livable city,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, President, Municipal Art Society of New York.

Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES PROGRESS TO IMPROVE CARE AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN CUSTODY, ADVANCES PLANS FOR FUTURE USES OF RIKERS ISLAND

 

Adams Administration Announces $14 Million for Enhanced Programming Initiatives to Support People in Custody as They Return to Their Communities

 

NYC Health + Hospitals to Move Forward with Construction of More than 350 Outposted Therapeutic Housing Beds

 

Administration Announces Completion of Feasibility Studies on Potential of Building Renewable Energy Infrastructure on Rikers Island

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced progress on several jails-focused initiatives to provide greater care and enhanced programming for people in custody and released two feasibility studies on potential sustainability uses of Rikers Island. The city will invest $14 million to enhance programing initiatives for people in custody. Mayor Adams also directed NYC Health + Hospitals to move forward with construction of more than 350 outposted therapeutic housing beds that will increase access to specialty health care services for people in custody while moving those who are most clinically vulnerable off of Rikers. Additionally, the administration announced the completion of the Feasibility Study for a New Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility on Rikers Island and the Renewable Rikers Feasibility Study Report, required under local law, that assess the potential building of renewable energy infrastructure on Rikers Island.

“Ensuring dignity, safety, and care of all justice-involved New Yorkers is a top priority for our administration and today’s announcement will provide greater access to specialized medical care for people in our custody, as well as delivering much-needed resources to support those who are preparing to return to their communities,” said Mayor Adams. “While our commitment to the success of our jails is unwavering, we are also planning for the future of Rikers by releasing these studies that asses the feasibility of bringing renewable energy infrastructure to the Island.”

"As we implement plans to house incarcerated New Yorkers with greater dignity and care, we must also envision a future for Rikers Island — one that supports New York's significant energy and sustainability needs," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. "This is an opportunity not only to reimagine a better criminal justice landscape in this city, but a better environmental justice landscape too."

“The investments announced today show the administration’s commitment to support the whole-person through difficult life transitions and thereby strengthening our communities overall,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “As New Yorkers engage with and transition from the justice system, they will receive support ranging from workforce development, transportation, community connections, educational opportunities, housing assistance, and health care, among others. Additionally, we will open hundreds of beds in outposted housing units that will serve those with specialized clinical needs. Thank you to all involved in this multi-agency effort to walk with people as they build productive, fulfilling lives.” 

“Programs providing education, health and wellness, and transitional services are essential for improving the safety of our jails and creating better outcomes for those in our care and custody,” said New York City Department of Correction (DOC) Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. “Investments in programming can lead to reductions in violence, lower rates of recidivism, and pathways to higher education and employment.”

Enhanced Programming on Rikers Island

Mayor Adams today announced $14 million in funding for DOC to increase programming initiatives for people in custody in New York City jails. Building on the department’s commitment to addressing the needs of individuals in its care, DOC identified five key areas to bolster support for people in custody. Initiatives to receive funding include:

• Trauma-Informed Programming: DOC will ensure improved access to trauma-informed care for people in custody through the creation of a social work, mental health, and creative arts therapy team that supports learning opportunities for graduate-level students. Trauma-informed programming will be available to sentenced individuals and detainees with specialized needs.
• Transition Planning Programming: DOC will invest in transition planners who will be assigned to each general population housing area and at intake at a higher frequency to ensure consistent assistance to navigate reentry challenges and establish a foundation for long-term stability. Transition planners stationed at the facility’s intake will serve as a crucial point of contact prior to discharge, mirroring a hospital model for a seamless transition to the community. Transition planners will facilitate reentry workshops, assist in resume development, and support individuals transitioning to state prisons.
• Substance Misuse Programming: Funding for substance misuse programming will ensure the provision of substance use education and support groups, as well as support transition planning specific to substance misuse. Substance misuse programming will be available to sentenced individuals and detainees with substance misuse needs. In 2023, 4,266 individuals self-reported drug use.
• Supplemental Educational Programming: Funding for supplemental educational programming will ensure the provision of basic literacy, numeracy, general education diploma preparation, and English Language Learner services and college readiness, as well as tutoring for people in custody.
• Transportation Programming: DOC will offer transportation to community-based services to people upon discharge, making it easier for people to access emergency housing, employment, substance misuse services, and family reunification. Discharge transportation will enable DOC to provide critical support during the at-risk period immediately following incarceration, decreasing the likelihood of recidivism.

Outposted Therapeutic Housing Units

The Adams administration is also moving forward with construction of outposted therapeutic housing units at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and North Central Bronx as part of its commitment to increasing access to specialty care services for people in custody while moving the most clinically vulnerable people off of Rikers. The units will house patients who have serious medical, mental health, and substance-use needs and would benefit from a more structured, clinical environment. DOC will provide security and custody management in the units, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services (CHS) will continue to be the primary provider of care, in closer coordination with hospital specialists.

Construction is already underway at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the first of the three units, with anticipated completion by spring 2025. Construction of the units at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull and North Central Bronx will be completed in summer 2027, assuming timely completion of design and barring significant unforeseen field conditions. Construction of all units is fully funded, with a total capital investment of $718 million, and will comprise approximately 360 beds, depending on final designs. All three hospitals will benefit from an infusion of funds to renovate and repurpose hospital space to create the outposted therapeutic housing units. NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull recently relocated and renovated its inpatient pediatrics unit, and upgraded other clinical and administrative spaces, to prepare for the construction of the outposted unit.

Studying The Future Use of Rikers Island

As the Adams administration continues to explore the future development of Rikers Island, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) today released two feasibility studies assessing the possibility of using the island’s available buildable land to help the city and state achieve shared clean energy goals, while investing in the city’s infrastructure and repurposing Rikers Island to advance climate justice. Both studies offer an alternative to older wastewater infrastructure and present solutions that would contribute significantly to the city’s climate and energy transition goals.

As required by Local Law 31 of 2021, DEP completed the “Feasibility Study for a New Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility on Rikers Island,” which concludes that the construction of a new state-of-the-art Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) on Rikers Island to consolidate operations of four existing facilities is both viable and presents a unique and transformational opportunity for DEP’s operations.

As required by Local Law 17 of 2021, MOCEJ completed the “Renewable Rikers Feasibility Study Report,” which assesses siting of renewable energy infrastructure on Rikers Island. It includes an evaluation of five different scenarios to achieve cost savings, emissions reductions, and energy performance goals, and presents a preferred scenario that includes a combination of solar, battery storage, offshore wind interconnections, and a WRRF.

“The city has an opportunity to reimagine how Rikers Island can serve New Yorkers,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “The DEP and MOCEJ studies present options that would turn Rikers Island into a center of state-of-the-art green technologies that would help us achieve our energy, air quality, and water quality improvement goals.”

“‘Renewable Rikers’ was born out of the idea that the future of Rikers Island can contribute to a sustainable and resilient New York City and provide benefits to New Yorkers who have been most impacted by our criminal justice system,” said MOCEJ Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “Our research found Rikers Island has the potential to be a home for solar installations, battery storage systems, and offshore wind interconnection infrastructure, helping New York City reach its world-leading, ambitious climate goals. We look forward to working with the Rikers Island Advisory Committee and stakeholders, who first put forward the vision of a renewable Rikers."

“The Outposted Therapeutic Housing Units are an innovative approach to carceral health care, and we are thrilled to advance this groundbreaking model,” said Dr. Patsy Yang, senior vice president for correctional health services, NYC Health + Hospitals. “The initiative is also a testament to the strength and commitment of the NYC Health + Hospitals system in caring for all New Yorkers, particularly the most vulnerable.”

“Investments in programming and therapeutic beds are essential components of an overall commitment to safety for staff, people in custody, and the broader public,” said Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan. “I look forward to working with my colleagues at the Department of Correction, NYC Health + Hospitals, and all other city agencies that are dedicated to realizing Mayor Adams’ vision of a safe and fair criminal justice system in New York City.”