November 11, 2015
by: EmmaPattiz
FitCity 10 reports are now available online!103rd Community Garden by SCAPE Landscape Architecture for New York Restoration Project - Credit Ty Cole
2012DS29 New Settlement

Now available online and at the Center for Architecture, the FitCity 10 Report celebrates 10 years of FitCity! In addition to a summary of the conference in May, the publication includes a synopsis of past Active Design milestones and speaks to the future. Active Design initiatives have created healthier spaces and communities; the report highlights those achievements, and emphasizes the importance of public and private involvement in the movement.

FitCity 10 marked a decade of the global Active Design movement and focused on how it can contribute to an equitable city. AIANY partnered with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to bring together hundreds of designers, architects, public health professionals, policymakers, community organizers, researchers, and students in the public health, architecture, and urban planning fields. FitCity aims to equip participants with the tools needed to address public health challenges through the built environment. The FitCity 10 Report, complete with case studies and powerful statistics, is another useful tool for engaging others in the movement.

The report is free. Please contact epattiz@aiany.org for a copy or download a digital version online.

Pulse Points

  • AIANY testified before the Landmarks Preservation Commission in support of designating the IRT Powerhouse on West 57th Street. It was the third of four hearings dedicated to addressing LPC’s 95-item backlog.
  •  On 11.17.15, AIANY is hosting the third in a series of programs with the Public Design Commission of the City of New York. Equity and Infrastructure: Public Works and Civic Pride, organized with the AIANY Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will focus on how the NYC Department of Environmental Protection uses good design to create facilities that meet the engineering challenges of water management while integrating into the urban fabric and giving back to the local communities.
  • Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law Intro. 154-A, which requires the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation to provide an annual report on the maintenance costs for every park. The Parks Department will also have to publish updates on the status of capital projects on its website. The bill will increase transparency of spending, potentially setting a precedent for other NYC agencies. Read the press release here.
  • NCARB unveiled the “Transition Calculator” for the ARE, which will assist licensure candidates transition from ARE 4.0 to ARE 5.0, expected in 2016. Read more about the tool here.
  • The NYC Department of Buildings has ended Post Approval Amendment (PAA) and Corrections drop offs. All files must now be scanned and e-mailed as a PDF to bpaas@buildings.nyc.gov.
  • The City announced a series of updates that will increase the role of Minority and Woman Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) in housing and economic development projects. A $10 million predevelopment loan fund will help emerging firms receive financing to purchase land and begin work. An additional $10 million fund will allow those firms to secure the bonds necessary to complete City work. Other reforms will reduce unnecessary barriers in the bidding process and divide lager projects into smaller ones to increase opportunities suitable for small and mid-size firms. Read more here.
  • The NYC Economic Development Corporation issued an RFP for a site near Union Square. With the development, the City sees this project as an opportunity to drive economic growth by supporting tech and creative startups.
  • The NYC Economic Development Corporation also announced a commercial development at 420 Albee Square in Downtown Brooklyn. The development with create office space for emerging innovation and contribute to Brooklyn’s Tech Triangle. The project builds on the de Blasio Administration’s commitment to supporting growth and creating jobs in emerging fields across NYC, and the need to create 60 million square feet of office space by 2025.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy, in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), the National League of Cities (NLC), and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) launched the SEED Collaborative, a strategic effort to assist state and local governments manage, standardize, and share large building performance data sets.

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