Big Streets: Using and Reusing Urban Thoroughfares

As populations in cities around the world continue to grow, and gridlock becomes more prevalent, we are witnessing creative ways of dramatically repurposing the street infrastructure built decades ago. In some cities, this has included the removal of elevated highways, altering the transportation modes and reconnecting original neighborhoods. Other cities have intensified uses under existing expressway infrastructure, or upgraded landscaping and urban design features that make the areas more walkable and transit-friendly. New York City has many options to improve its largest thoroughfares. What should be our priority in addressing the fates of our elevated routes like the Sheridan Expressway? Panelists will discuss their experience with leveraging the potential of infrastructure in the context of urban design and other ideas for repurposing roadways to make them more appropriate for the way urban citizens now use them.

Introduction:

John Norquist, president of the Congress for the New Urbanism and former mayor of Milwaukee

Moderator:

Michael Grynbaum, The New York Times

Panelists:

Joan Byron, director of policy at the Pratt Center for Community Development
Marion Weiss, principal of Weiss/Manfredi
Vaughn Fauria, president of NewCorp Inc., based in New Orleans

Cost: $15, $10 MAS members and students. Register online or call 212 935 2075.
APA and AIA credits are pending.

Register here.