Urban Ocean Lab’s Post

🌟 Exciting News from the City of Austin, Texas! 🌟 Attention all Austinites! 📢 Your input is needed to shape the future of our city's preservation efforts. 🏡 The City of Austin has unveiled its Equity Preservation Plan, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at preserving our historic buildings while promoting environmental sustainability and community well-being. 🌳 This plan not only honors our city's rich history but also sets a course for a more equitable and sustainable future. Now is your chance to make your voice heard! 🗣️ We want YOUR feedback to ensure that this plan reflects the needs and aspirations of our diverse community. Whether you're a long-time resident, a business owner, or a passionate advocate for sustainability, your input is invaluable. Here's how you can participate: 1️⃣ Read the Equity Preservation Plan draft: https://lnkd.in/gfj4dZaB 2️⃣ Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below. 3️⃣ Attend our upcoming community feedback sessions to engage directly with city officials and fellow residents. To view upcoming events Let's work together to shape a city that we're proud to call home. 💚 Together, we can preserve our heritage, protect our environment, and build a more equitable future for all. #AustinPreservation #CommunityEngagement #Sustainability #Equity

NYC will be an even wetter place in the future because of heavier rainfall and sea level rise. The Mayor asked New Yorkers to devise a pathway to meet our climate future by asking important questions, which were discussed at today’s seminar to share working group recommendations: * How do we make the conversation and outcomes about adapting to the reality of increasing rainfall and flooding in NYC as inclusive as possible? *How can we address existing and impending social, environmental and financial risks to city infrastructure from climate change and flooding? *Is it time to give back some land and housing to create room for increased flooding? What would equitable buyouts look? These recommendations come from New Yorkers, for New Yorkers:

Read more about the upcoming Harold Simmons Park in Dallas. It's not just a park, but a visionary P3 project that blends urban development with nature beautifully. The public-private partnership model is doing wonders here. 🏞️ https://lnkd.in/g2-j7bjx #HaroldSimmonsPark #SustainableDallas #UrbanInnovation"

Milwaukee is tackling the challenge of urban stormwater management through an innovative community-based public-private partnership. The Fresh Coast Protection Partnership is expanding green infrastructure, enhancing neighborhood quality, and developing the local workforce. In this episode, Bre Plier, AICP from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Kurt Farrell of CIS delve into the intricacies of scaling these efforts, benefits of collaboration, and impactful results seen so far, such as capturing millions of gallons of stormwater and revitalizing urban spaces. They also highlight the importance of designing with maintenance in mind, engaging community stakeholders, and fostering small, minority, and women-owned businesses. This episode is part of a series on urban resilience supported by CIS. #water #watermanagement #greeninfrastructure #publicprivatepartnership #P3

On Monday Natalya Garrod (Owner and Principal Planner of Sumac EP) had the pleasure of attending the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Caldwell First Nation and Parks Canada at Point Pelee National Park. The MOU speaks to Caldwell's future role in the proposed National Ojibway Urban Park in Windsor & LaSalle in Southwestern Ontario. This was a very exciting day for Caldwell as they have spent the last year and a half working towards an MOU that establishes a strong relationship with Parks Canada and one that enables the nation to nation relationship build on the principles of mutual respect, shared decision-making, and recognition of Caldwell First Nation's inherent jurisdiction and authority. https://lnkd.in/ezvxrttJ Every word was carefully considered and reconsidered. It was not always a smooth process but when people came together to the table with the right intentions that is where progress was made. The key lessons Natalya learned throughout the process: 1. Interpersonal relationships move things along much faster than any tactic. 2. Set realistic expectations for what can be achieved. Small starts get the ball moving. 3. Show up to the table in person and share a meal. This allows for fulsome conversations that can't be had over an email. This is where true understanding occurs. 4. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. The strong spirit of Caldwell First Nation is what got them to this point in the process and they have so much more they are going to achieve.

Jackson Redevelopment Authority in concert with partners 2C Mississippi announced an initial $1.5 million dollar green infrastructure investment in the Farish Street Historic District. Farish Street, sometimes referred to as a Black Wall Street was a center of Black business and culture in Jackson, Mississippi that thrived in spite of the challenges of segregation and racism. Many organizations and leaders of the Civil Rights Movement lived and worked there, making Farish street a symbol of Black socio-political resiliency. With the advent of integration of public schools combined with the systemic underinvestment that followed, the street began to decline. The Farish Street project was chosen by community members based on two factors, (1)the Urban Heat Island data collected for Jackson revealed that Farish Street is an extreme urban heat island, recording 10°F hotter than other parts of the city, and (2) Farish Street has historical significance. Learn more about the project: www.2cmississippi.org/ #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityBuilder #DowntownJackson #JacksonStrong #TheStandard #JRA #JacksonRedevelopmentAuthority #ChangingTheNarrative

Green alleys are commonly constructed to mitigate flood and stormwater in the US. In the upcoming semester, I, along with two peers, will conduct a policy analysis exploring how the City of Dubuque, IA, can enhance its tools to surpass flood mitigation and unlock the full potential of green alleys as catalysts for urban revitalization and sustainable development. Did you know? - In the history of the US, there were times when alleys were not on the attention span of policymakers and urban planners because they were thought to be unhygienic, unsafe, and not worthy of resources. It wasn't until the end of the 1990s that many alleys in the US underwent significant transformations into green alleys, often linked with urban revitalization and social innovation initiatives. - During the 1930s, alleys were used as a tool to discriminate against certain racial and socio-economic groups. - Additionally, organized alley greening efforts in the United States date back to only 2006. #Greenalleys #greeninfrastructure #sustainabledevelopment #publicpolicy

In case you missed this important conversation on housing and historic preservation with the ACHP, CA SHPO, City of Los Angeles, LA Conservancy, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and CA YIMBY....here is a summary and link to the recording: https://lnkd.in/eMJQjccQ

🌿✨ Reimagining Omaha: A Testament to Community and Vision ✨🌿 As a kid, the place we now admire as The RiverFront, also known as Gene Leahy Mall, was a playground of my youth. Walking along the older, somewhat sketchy riverbanks and descending the steel slides during hot summers—sometimes leaving a bit of myself on those scorching surfaces—are memories etched in my heart. The space has undergone a total transformation, yet the iconic molten steel slides remain, allowing my cherished memories to be experienced by future generations as well. The transformation of The RiverFront into a vibrant, communal space is nothing short of miraculous. It stands as a beacon of Omaha's spirit, embodying a sense of community that fills your soul with the greatness of humanity. This transformation required vision, belief, and, significantly, an investment from the city and its citizens. It's a reflection of what makes Omaha the 14th best place to raise a family in the U.S., according to USNews.com. The RiverFront now serves as a central gathering spot, bridging the historic Old Market and north downtown Omaha, and extending a scenic path to the Missouri River. This revitalization has spurred growth in downtown Omaha, bringing new restaurants and retail spaces that enhance the city's core vibrancy. Importantly, the project honors Omaha's heritage while embracing modernization, featuring flourishing landscapes, public art, and diverse recreational offerings. The RiverFront is a testament to the power of community collaboration and forward-thinking urban development. As someone who is proud to call Omaha my home, witnessing this transformation has been profound. The RiverFront is more than a park; it's a symbol of what a community can achieve with vision, effort, and collective generosity. It's a reminder of Omaha's enduring spirit and a promise of its vibrant future. #Omaha #RiverFront #CommunityDevelopment #UrbanRevitalization #PublicPrivatePartnership