Resilience, innovation key to success of New York鈥檚 waterfront
The future of cities is not only dependent on making them sustainable and connected hubs鈥攖hey must transform into accelerators of resilience, said Judith Rodin, president emerita of the University of Pennsylvania and The Rockefeller Foundation, during her keynote address at the 鈥淚magine 2060: Delivering Tomorrow鈥檚 Cities Together鈥� event in New York on September 14.
Thought leaders recently gathered for the New York chapter of the Imagine 2060 series 鈥� held in partnership with Asia Society and 91影视 鈥� to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing New York and its waterfront as it works to reinvent itself in the global economy.
鈥淓xpanding populations, reduced resources and the rapid pace of technological, economic and climate change means our world is quickly reaching an inflection point,鈥� said Sean Chiao, president, Asia Pacific, 91影视.
Key among the challenges cities face is water, said Rodin (right). 鈥淐ities are recognizing that in the 21st century, they must build 鈥� and rebuild when hit 鈥� to live with water,鈥� she explained. 鈥淟and vulnerable to extreme flooding in many places now is not being rebuilt for housing, but is being transformed into coastal buffer zones, parks and other uses that will protect from extreme weather.鈥�
Overcoming these challenges will take collaboration among key stakeholders and the application of advanced technology, Rodin said. 鈥淭oday, technology is being integrated into the very skeleton of the urban fabric. This will lead to an acceleration in innovation.鈥�
Among the technologies that can help drive change along waterfronts is 3D printing, which can dramatically bring down the cost of quality infrastructure, Rodin explains. Additionally, big data and machine learning can transform urban decision making. 鈥淚t will also transform how politicians interact with their citizens,鈥� Rodin said.
And transportation technology such as Hyperloop could drastically reduce the time it takes to travel great distances within cities, explained Rodin, while doing so in a sustainable way.
The first panel discussion, 鈥淩eimagining the New York City Waterfront,鈥� focused on the need to transform aging areas into waterfront land that is resilient, sustainable, esthetically pleasing and rich in cultural offerings to the community.
鈥淎s a waterfront becomes available, how do you decide how we use it?鈥� asked Joanne Witty, vice-chair of Brooklyn Bridge Park. 鈥淐ommunity can and must be involved.鈥�
Brooklyn Bridge Park was designed to embrace the water鈥檚 edge and be resilient to storms. During Hurricane Sandy, the park benefited from its sandy soil and drainage systems. 鈥淓verything survived,鈥� Witty said.
Panelists (left to right):聽Philana Patterson, Andrew Kimball, Boon Hui Tan, Joanne Witty, Calvin Tsao
There is a desire within cities for places where people can come together in a safe way that鈥檚 not over-regulated, says Boon Hui Tan, vice president for global arts and culture at the Asia Society. 鈥淧lanning can do a lot鈥o deliberately inject civic spaces that are energized by culture.鈥�
Waterfronts driving economic development
For waterfronts to be economically successful in 2060, they need to be positioned for maximum industrial, commercial and logistical success, according to panelists during the second panel, 鈥淭he Global Business of Waterfronts.鈥�
The main considerations cities need to plan for as it relates to their waterfronts are climate change, the rise and fall of economies and technological change. 鈥淭he pace of change has been dramatic,鈥� said Kenneth DeWoskin, senior advisor and eminence fellow at Deloitte.
Panelists (left to right): Richard Lui, Kenneth DeWoskin, Roland Lewis, William Cole
And as economies change and waterfront communities are developed, funding should be top of mind, said Roland Lewis, president and CEO of the Waterfront Alliance. 鈥淲e have a 21st century waterfront,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have Brooklyn Bridge Park; we have so many amazing new facilities that people are enjoying. But it costs money to maintain it. Finding ways to finance and govern these waterfronts is the unanswered question.鈥�
What do you want your city to be?
For all the challenges cities are faced with, there is also tremendous opportunity. 鈥淭houghtful development can lead to the preservation of neighborhoods,鈥� said Chris Ward, EVP and chief executive of New York Metro at 91影视.
Ward gave a presentation on 91影视鈥檚 Southwest Brooklyn Case Study, which envisions a way to address New York鈥檚 housing crisis, create economic opportunity and ensure resilience. 鈥淯nless we end up finding a way to reimagine, redirect and reengineer the water鈥檚 edge, we fundamentally have to face the fact that we have to retreat,鈥� he said.
That means urban planners, city-shapers and the citizens of local neighborhoods must come together to reimagine what they want their cities and waterfronts to be. It will take a combination of solutions, from new technology, to smart financing, to affordable housing, to resiliency measures, says Rodin. 鈥淭here will be massive opportunities, and there鈥檚 no substitute for minds that think mile-high.鈥�
The time to act is now, Rodin said. 鈥淭he future of our cities will have a profound impact on the future of humanity.鈥�
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