Description: This area was occupied by the Domino sugar mills for 160 years. This 11-acre space is to consist, once the revitalization is completed, of two components: A 6-acre park located on the East River waterfront for the North Williamsburg community, and 700 affordable housing units (in four buildings) and the revitalization of the Landmarked Refinery, which is to eventually house offices, as well as so-called creative spaces.
Process: Revitalization of post-industrial areas, preservation of post-industrial heritage through the restoration of parts of historic buildings and engineering structures (creation of an educational path called “Artifact Walk”).
Community: It is intended to be a place of integration of diverse social groups (in particular: a space for the integration of Latino, African-American and Hasidic communities). Project implemented with the support of participatory activities.
NBS tools used: The park is located on the waterfront. It has a protective function (part of the city’s adaptation to climate change) against hurricanes and the effects of rising sea levels – in line with the sponge city concept. The park is 43% covered with vegetation (mostly native (formed in two layers: trees + undergrowth) to slow down the surface run-off of rainwater as much as possible. Organic material from the park is composted and reused to grow the plants found here. The park is WEDG certified (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines).
Developed by the University of Warsaw – research (August 2022 New York).
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