The Municipal Art Society of New York

Join MAS on Tuesday, March 27, for a panel discussion on NYU’s expansion plan.  New York University is the latest city institution to evoke controversy with its ambitious expansion plan which would more than double the amount of density on two Greenwich Village area superblocks. NYU, like Columbia and Fordham, is an important New York City institution; however, each institution’s success relies as much on its location within New York City as in its state-of-the-art facilities. Continue Reading>>

Today MAS released a request for proposals seeking a consultant to prepare a manual tentatively titled Greening New York City’s Landmarks: A Guide for Property Owners. MAS, with the assistance of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), is producing the manual as an educational tool for property owners. Continue Reading>>

We are all familiar with sidewalks crowded with  “artist” vendors–those offering everything from  water color paintings of the skyline, refrigerator magnets,  to Justin Bieber photos. A bit of relief is at hand.  In May, a Manhattan appellate court lifted a stay on enforcement of new park rules which provide for as many as 145 designated spots for vending of “expressive matter” at four of our most iconic parks– Union Square Park (18 and 40 on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday), Battery Park (9), High Line Park (5) and portions of Central Park (68).  The court found that the rules did not violate the vendors’ state constitutional rights. Continue Reading>>

The Municipal Art Society testified at a recent New York City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses’ hearing on Fair Share. The Fair Share provision of the New York City Charter, added in 1989, was intended to include community participation in the siting of burdensome city facilities, such as sewage treatment plants and solid waste transfer stations, and to promote the equitable distribution of these facilities. Continue Reading>>

The MAS April/May newsletter and calendar is hitting mailboxes across the city right now. This issue features MAS Streets Month programs and tours, and our May 11 program on the future of New York City’s skyline.

In addition to our Streets Month tours, there’s a daylong visit to Tottenville in Staten Island, as well as our annual tour of Jane Jacob’s West Village, in honor of Jacobs’ birthday—this year would have been her 95th! Continue Reading>>

The Municipal Art Society released a list of 11 initiatives and places that will have the most significant effect on livability in New York City in 2011.

“Each item on our Livability Watch List has the potential to profoundly change the way New Yorkers experience their communities and their city,” said Vin Cipolla, MAS president. “How they progress in 2011 will affect livability in New York and cities everywhere.” Continue Reading>>

On Saturday November 13th, Pratt students and local residents came together for an afternoon of training on local planning issues. Hosted by MAS, in collaboration with Pratt Institute’s Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development, this semi-annual Livable Neighborhoods training provides incoming students and area residents with an opportunity to connect and learn how to participate more effectively in New York City’s planning process. Continue Reading>>

Buildings play an important role in the fight against climate change. Nearly 77% of New York City’s green house gas emissions are related to the construction and operation of buildings. Because of that, improving the efficiency of New York City’s buildings is a primary goal in New York’s sustainability plan, PlaNYC. Given that nearly 55% of New York City’s buildings were built before 1940, improving the efficiency of old buildings is a major part of tackling climate change. Continue Reading>>

Three prominent keynote speakers, Rochelle Roca Hachem, Emily Wadhams and David Bragdon, will address preservation and sustainability issues from international, national and city perspectives at MAS’ Conference on Preservation and Climate Change in New York City (October 15-17). Continue Reading>>

It’s hard to believe that August is already upon us, and fall is right around the corner. We at MAS have had a busy summer preparing for a provocative, informative fall season, as we introduce our first annual Next for New York programs.

Next for New York will explore the next wave in urban planning, preservation and climate change, and civic activism, as well as specific projects that will help shape the future of New York City.

This year, Next for New York includes three major events: Preservation & Climate Change Conference, the MAS Summit for New York City and the Jane Jacobs Forum. These programs will engage New Yorkers in stimulating discussions about urban livability and the future of our city and cities around the world.

“There’s no question that cities are pivotal as nations everywhere are dealing with growing populations, climate change and threats to sustainability,” said MAS President Vin Cipolla. “Through this very exciting annual series, MAS will examine a host of issues that New York is facing as a global city that also is a city of distinct neighborhoods.” Continue Reading>>

Join some of the most brilliant names in urban and fashion design for the follow-up to last week’s sold-out panel on the future of New York’s Garment District. This panel will discuss the cultural, economic and social contributions of creative communities. IDEO Partner Fred Dust, Parsons Dean and branding expert Simon Collins, and fashion entrepreneur Andrew Oshrin will offer their unique perspectives, as NYU sociology professor Harvey Molotch and Columbia University’s Sarah Williams discuss the characteristics of and factors that nurture the growth of these communities. Deborah Marton, executive director of the Design Trust for Public Space, will lead the discussion, drawing from the Trust’s recent Made in Midtown study of the Garment District. For more information and tickets click here or call 212 935 2075.

Urban Creative Districts
Tuesday, June 15, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Reception to follow.
At the School of Visual Arts Theater, 333 West 23rd St. (between 8th & 9th avenues) MAP
Moderator — Deborah Marton, executive director, Design Trust for Public Space
Panel — Simon Collins, dean, School of Fashion, Parsons the New School for Design; Fred Dust, partner, IDEO; Andrew Oshrin, president & CEO, Milly LLC; Sarah Williams, director, Columbia University Spatial Information Design Lab; Harvey Molotch, professor of Sociology and Metropolitan Studies, New York University.

Last night’s panel, Made in Midtown: The Garment District Today & Tomorrow, was a huge success. More than 250 people came out to hear Tim Gunn, of television’s Project Runway, moderate a discussion on the future of New York’s Garment District. Join MAS next Tuesday, June 15, as we pick up where last night’s panel left off. We’ll be discussing Urban Creative Districts.

The story of New York City cannot be told without understanding the role dynamic creative communities play in defining the identity of particular neighborhoods. Drawing on the Design Trust study, Made in Midtown, this discussion will invite leading creative thinkers and practitioners to imagine the future of the Garment District as an urban creative ecosystem. Panelists will discuss the cultural, economic, and social contributions of creative communities, and explore how improved visibility of the activities within these neighborhoods can strengthen those creative industries and New York City. Continue Reading>>

New York City’s Midtown Garment District presents a host of planning, economic development and preservation issues as the district has undergone significant change over the last four decades.

To chart a course for the future, the Design Trust for Public Space, with its partner, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, has launched Made in Midtown, a project that will document how New York’s fashion industry works today and how it could be the catalyst for future improvements in the Garment District.

The Design Trust’s findings, including specific research on international fashion centers provided by The Municipal Art Society, will show how New York’s fashion industry functions as an interconnected ecosystem that is integral to our city’s economy, identity, and sense of place. The Design Trust will launch the project website, madeinmidtown.org, with a day-long event open to the public on June 3 at the Port Authority Pop-Up Space, at Eighth Avenue at 41st Street. Following the launch, the Design Trust and MAS have organized public programming throughout June to publicize the findings and to guide this issue into a public discussion. Continue Reading>>

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Innovative public servants and savvy transportation and public space advocates are working to transform urban streets into “Complete Streets”, in which the street is shared equitably between all users — pedestrians, cyclists, bus passengers, motorists and truck drivers.

Last Thursday, at Scandinavia House, MAS hosted a fascinating program on the city streets of today and tomorrow. Focused on the key challenges to, and best practices in, contemporary street design, and highlighting examples from the Netherlands, Chicago and New York City, Paul Steely-White of Transportation Alternatives moderated an expert panel including: Gary Toth of Projects for Public Spaces (PPS); Andrew Wiley-Schwartz, assistant commissioner of NYC DOT, Nicole LaRusso of ADNY; and Janet Attarian of Chicago DOT.

Click on the player above to listen to a summary of the program or, to download it to your hand-held device, click here to open-up the MAS iTunes page.

Learn more about MAS’ work on streetscapes in New York City at MAS.org/publicpolicy, and to listen to more MAS podcasts, visit MAS.org/audio.

With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day just around the corner, MAS is supporting New York’s first “green” auction, which will promote awareness about conservation as well as raise funds for four prestigious environmental nonprofit organizations.

On April 22, Christie’s will hold The Green Auction: A Bid To Save The Earth, featuring top celebrities, industry leaders, philanthropists and conservationists from around the globe. Funds raised from this silent and live auction will benefit Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Conservation International, and New York’s own Central Park Conservancy. Continue Reading>>