la marqueta mile

8/11/2019 La Marqueta Mile

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NOT FOR DI STRI BUTI ON

Femi ni st Pract i ces Edi t ed by Lor i A. Br own

Ashgate Publ i shi ng Gr oup, London

1- 27- 2011 UNPUBLI SHED DRAFT

Chapt er 18: La Marquet a Mi l e - East Har l em, New Yor k

By Met a Brunzema

Introduction

La Marquet a Mi l e i s an i nnovat i ve economi c devel opment and

publ i c space r evi t al i zat i on pr oj ect t hat i s cur r ent l y under way i n

East Har l em, New Yor k Ci t y. The pr oj ect si t e i s l ocat ed under a

r ai l r oad vi aduct i n t he mi ddl e of Par k Avenue, between East 111t h

St r eet and t he Har l em Ri ver . Thi s mi l e- l ong space bi sect s a

nei ghborhood where i ncome, heal t h and educat i onal at t ai nment are

among t he l owest i n New Yor k Ci t y; a si t uat i on t hat has been

exacer bat ed by t he cur r ent gl obal economi c cr i si s.

Figure 18.1 Viaduct at Park Avenue and 111th street looking north


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At pr esent , t he t went y- t wo Ci t y owned bl ocks are most l y

vacant or occupi ed by par ked cars ; t he onl y bui l di ngs are t he

125t h St r eet t r ai n st at i on and t wo agi ng publ i c mar ket hal l s sout h

of 115t h St r eet . These under ut i l i zed si t es under t he vi aduct ( most

are appr oxi mat el y 56 f eet wi de by 230 f eet l ong) f or m t he medi an

of Par k Avenue and di vi de t he dense, et hni cal l y di ver se communi t y.

I n addi t i on, t her e ar e mor e t han t went y- f i ve vacant pr oper t i es

al ong each si de of Upper Par k Avenue that f ur t her f r agment t he

nei ghbor hood f abr i c.

Figure 18.2 Viaduct at Park Avenue and 115th street looking north

Si nce 2001, t he Har l em Communi t y Devel opment Corporat i on

( HCDC) - a New York St ate publ i c benef i t cor por at i on char ged wi t h

urban pl anni ng and economi c devel opment i n Upper Manhat t an, has

col l abor at ed wi t h my ar chi t ect ur e and ur ban desi gn f i r m on a

sust ai nabl e r evi t al i zat i on of t hi s compl ex si t e.


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Worki ng wi t h sel ect ed communi t y l eaders , advi sors and publ i c

of f i ci al s, we devel oped La Mar queta Mi l e as a new t ype of publ i c

pr oj ect t hat of f er s economi c, cul t ur al and l ear ni ng oppor t uni t i es

t o a communi t y t hat desperat el y needs t hem. I n addi t i on, t he

pr oj ect seeks t o i ncrease the r esi l i ence and adapt i ve capaci t y of

t he ent i r e nei ghborhood wi t h i nnovat i ve desi gn and publ i c

engagement st r ategi es. The i deas f or La Marqueta Mi l e were

devel oped wi t h my cl i ent Thomas G. Lunke, t he di r ect or of pl anni ng

and devel opment at HCDC; our st af f member s, proj ect advi sor s and

communi t y cont act s al so cont r i but ed except i onal r esearch and

i ns i ght s .

Our pr oj ect t eamst art ed t he pl anni ng and desi gn pr ocess by

exami ni ng how pover t y, di scr i mi nat i on and l ack of oppor t uni t y ar e

i nt er t wi ned wi t h East Har l em s hi st or y, geogr aphy and bui l t

envi r onment .

Figure 18.3 Park Avenue and 130th street looking east


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The Impact of Railway Development on Park Avenue

Par k Avenue i s one of New Yor k s most unusual t hor oughf ares

f or a var i et y of r easons. I t shar es i t s ri ght - of - way wi t h t he

Met r o- Nor t h Rai l r oad f r om Gr and Cent r al Ter mi nal at 42nd Street to

133r d St r eet and t he Har l em Ri ver ; and t r aver ses Manhat t an s l east

and most val uabl e r eal est at e. The st r i ki ng cont r ast bet ween t he

economi cal l y depr essed areas sur r oundi ng Park Avenue i n East

Har l em t he si t e of La Mar quet a Mi l e - and t he l uxur y di st r i ct

sout h of 96t h st r eet can perhaps be expl ai ned by t he t umul t uous

hi st or y of t he Met r o- Nor t h Rai l r oad Har l em Li ne on Par k Avenue:

When ear l y 19t h Cent ur y pl anner s cont empl at ed movi ng hor se-

dr awn f r ei ght on r ai l s f r omt he hear t of Manhat t an t o Upst at e New

York, Four t h Avenue - as Par k Avenue was t hen known - was chosen

because i t was l ess devel oped t han i t s nei ghbor i ng avenues. The

r ai l t r acks ran at gr ade unt i l 1871, when acci dent s and t he noi se

f r omnewl y- devel oped st eamengi nes f orced themt o be submerged i n

a bel ow- gr ade open cut . I n 1902, af t er t r ai n engi nes wer e

el ect r i f i ed, al l t he r ai l f unct i ons on Par k Avenue bet ween 42nd and

96t h St r eet s were encl osed bel ow gr ade. The vast r ai l yar d l ocated

bet ween 42nd and 50t h st r eet s was cover ed by a huge thr ee- bl ock

wi de pl at f or m cr eat i ng new r eal - est at e devel opment si t es and a

wi de park i n t he mi ddl e of Par k Avenue. Gr and Cent r al Ter mi nal

opened i n 1913 wi t h a spectacul ar Beaux Ar t s st r uct ur e, and f r om

1915 t o 1931 t hi s new di st r i ct was bui l t wi t h l uxur y apar t ment s,


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hot el s and of f i ces. To t hi s day, some of t he weal t hi est New

Yorker s l i ve on Par k Avenue sout h of 96t h St reet .

Somewhat i nadver t ent l y, Par k Avenue i n East Har l em acqui r ed a

compl etel y di f f er ent char act er . I n 1892, t he U. S. War Depar t ment

r equest ed t he const r uct i on of a new and hi gher Har l emRi ver br i dge

t o t he Br onx ci t i ng t he need t o accommodate t al l war shi ps. As a

r esul t , t he upper Par k Avenue rai l cut was f i l l ed, and a 37- bl ock

l ong vi aduct was const r uct ed t o meet t he hi gher gr ade of t he new

br i dge. Compl et ed i n 1897, t he massi ve st eel vi aduct was

i mmedi at el y bl amed f or dr oppi ng Park Avenue l and val ues bet ween

96t h and 133r d st r eet s; r esul t i ng i n East Har l em pr oper t y owner s

f i l i ng hundr eds of l awsui t s agai nst t he rai l r oad company.

Fragments of a Beaux-Arts Plan

The const r uct i on of t he Par k Avenue vi aduct probabl y al so spoi l ed

a l arger pl an t o connect t wo Beaux Ar t s boul evards: Manhat t an s

l ower Park Avenue and t he Gr and Boul evard and Concourse i n t he

Br onx. Or i gi nal l y concei ved i n 1890 and compl et ed i n 1909, t he

180- f oot wi de Concour se was par t of a vast Beaux Ar t s pl an f or New

York Ci t y t hat t i ed t oget her t he newl y mer ged boroughs wi t h

br i dges, par ks, t r ee- l i ned boul evar ds and speedways. Thi s vi si on

was devel oped by Loui s A. Ri sse, t he chi ef engi neer of New Yor k

Ci t y s Topogr aphi cal Bur eau. I n 1900, Ri sse and hi s st af f cr eat ed

a 24 by 28 f oot map of New Yor k Ci t y t hat was exhi bi t ed at t he

1900 Wor l d s Fai r i n Par i s, wher e i t was one of t he gr eat est


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at t r act i ons. Unf ort unatel y, t hi s huge Beaux Ar t s dr awi ng has been

l ost and per haps Ri sse s grand ur ban vi si on vani shed as wel l .

Over t he year s, bot h t he Gr and Concour se and l ower Park Avenue

wer e si gni f i cant l y modi f i ed, and most of t he gr aci ous gr een spaces

were t aken over by the aut omobi l e. Despi t e numerous at t empts by

ci t y pl anners, a di r ect connect i on between Par k Avenue and t he

Gr and Concour se i n t he Br onx was never r eal i zed.

Figure 18.4 Park Avenue and 127th street looking east

Housing for a Diverse Population

East Har l em was set t l ed i n t he l at e 19t h cent ur y by Ger mans who

wer e j oi ned by I r i sh, J ewi sh, I t al i an and East er n Eur opean

i mmi gr ant s soon t hereaf t er . Af t er t he Second Wor l d War , most of

t he or i gi nal set t l er s had moved i nt o ot her mi ddl e- cl ass

nei ghborhoods and si zabl e Af r i can Amer i can and Puer t o Ri can

communi t i es t ook t hei r pl ace. From t he 1940 s on, t went y- f our


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publ i c housi ng pr oj ect s wer e bui l t i n East Har l em one of t he

hi ghest concent r at i ons of l ow i ncome housi ng i n Amer i ca. Today,

mor e t han a quar t er of East Har l em s r esi dent s l i ve i n t hese

f ederal l y subsi di zed housi ng pr oj ect s many of whi ch are Towers

i n t he Par k bui l t by Robert Moses. The r emai nder of t he housi ng

st ock consi st s of f r agment s of 19t h and 20t h cent ury r ow houses and

modern apart ment houses. I n t he l ast 20 years, t he l ocal

popul at i on has di ver si f i ed t o i ncl ude Af r i can, Car i bbean and

Mexi can i mmi gr ant s as wel l as nat i ve- born popul at i ons.

Figure 18.5 La Marqueta at Park Avenue and 115th street

The Rise and Fall of La Marqueta

I n 1936, New Yor k Ci t y Mayor Fi orel l o LaGuardi a opened La

Mar queta, a gr oup of f i ve encl osed market hal l s under t he vi aduct

between East 111t h and 116t h st r eet s. Thi s commerci al compl ex was


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desi gned t o gi ve a home t o t he maze of i ndependent pushcar t s

peddl er s t hat gat her ed under t he vi aduct s t r est l e. La Mar quet a

soon devel oped i nt o a popul ar Lat i no market pl ace - a st eami ng,

f r agr ant , noi sy, t r opi cal bazaar whi ch had i t s heyday i n t he

1950s and 60s wi t h more t han 500 vendors. I t was the sor t of

pl ace where one coul d spend t he ent i r e day - f ood shoppi ng,

br owsi ng and soci al i zi ng wi t h f r i ends. Thi s encl osed mar ket , once

t he spi r i t ual hear t of East Har l em s Puer t o Ri can communi t y,

decl i ned i n the 1970s when t r opi cal f oods became wi del y avai l abl e

i n nei ghborhood gr ocer y st or es and when the Ci t y shi f t ed

i nvest ment away f r om l i ght manuf act ur i ng. Today, t hr ee of t he

market bui l di ngs have been demol i shed and a f our t h i s shut t ered;

wi t h onl y one publ i cl y accessi bl e bui l di ng and l ess t han a dozen

market vendors.

Over t he l ast 30 year s, many ef f or t s t o re- devel op the

l egendar y Lat i no mar ket pl ace f ai l ed, i n par t because the

devel opment pr oposal s were not abl e t o meet t he f i nanci al

expect at i ons of t he Ci t y combi ned wi t h communi t y di sagreement s

over t he devel opment concept and proposed uses. I n 2007, t he most

ambi t i ous of t hese pr oposal s, a si x- bl ock Lat i no- t hemed r et ai l and

f ood mal l , f ai l ed t o at t r act pr i vat e f i nanci ng. These and ot her

syst emi c i ssues cont r i but ed t o t hi s out come. For exampl e, t he

Ci t y- owned si t e i s l egal l y par t of Par k Avenue s st r eet bed; i t i s

not a convent i onal devel opment pr oper t y t hat can be used as

col l at er al f or convent i onal r eal - est at e devel opment l oan. I t i s


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t her ef or e not a sur pr i se t o f i nd t hat t oday s onl y act i ve

i nvest ment under t he vi aduct i s a Ci t y- sponsor ed communi t y ki t chen

i n one of t he ol d La Marquet a mar ket hal l s.

Lack of Retail Choices

A r ecent r et ai l sur vey by East Har l embased Manhat t an Communi t y

Boar d #11 f ound t hat many consumers shop out si de of t he di st r i ct

because of a l ack of r et ai l choi ces. Mor e than 90% of t he sur vey

r espondent s expr essed i nt erest i n new r est aur ant s i n East Har l em

and 85% want ed more f ood and nut r i t i on st ores. The survey al so

showed st r ong demand f or ar t , r ecreat i on and ent er t ai nment

ser vi ces as wel l as book and el ect r oni c st or es ( Cost a, 2010) . I n a

separat e st udy, The Cent er f or an Ur ban Fut ur e, a New Yor k Ci t y

pol i cy t hi nk t ank, conf i r med t hat East Har l em has t he l owest r at i o

of r et ai l st or es per capi t a i n t he ent i r e ci t y ( Gi l es, 2010) .


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Figure 18.6 La Marqueta Mile site plan


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The La Marqueta Mile Project

The l ack of r et ai l and f ood choi ces i n East Har l em, t he i sol at i on

of La Mar quet a and t he di sj oi nt ed ur ban f abr i c near t he r ai l r oad

vi aduct are sympt oms of a severel y st r essed ur ban syst em. East

Har l em s povert y and unempl oyment r at es ar e among t he hi ghest i n

New Yor k Ci t y. The US Census ( 2005- 2009) f i nds t hat more t han 50%

of East Harl em househol ds ear n l ess t han $30, 000. 00 per year .

Fur t her mor e, t he Fi scal Pol i cy I nst i t ut e r epor t s an aver age

unempl oyment r ate of 13. 6% i n t he ar ea; f or Bl acks and Hi spani cs

t he r ate r i ses t o 17%. Ther e are of cour se many other f actors -

such as l ow educat i onal at t ai nment , r aci al i nt ol er ance and sexual

pr ej udi ce t hat al so cont r i but e t o t he f r agment at i on and i ner t i a of

t he nei ghborhood.

Ri ght f r om t he st ar t , our t eam r eal i zed t hat bol d and

syst emi c i nt er vent i ons woul d be necessar y t o i ncr ease East

Har l em s soci al and economi c mobi l i t y and hel p peopl e t r ansf orm

t hei r l i ves. Our pr oj ect had t o st r at egi cal l y engage East Har l em s

exi st i ng st r engt hs, addr ess i t s l ack of r esour ces and f ost er

support networks. Most i mport ant l y, we want ed t o capt ur e t he

unt apped ener gy, cr eat i vi t y and r esour cef ul ness of t he peopl e of

East Har l em and enhance t hei r col l ect i ve abi l i t y t o sol ve

economi c, soci al and envi r onment al pr obl ems.

To achi eve t hese goal s, we devel oped La Mar quet a Mi l e, a

compl et el y new t ype of publ i c market and park promenade l ocated

under t he Par k Avenue vi aduct , f r om111t h St r eet t o t he Harl em


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Ri ver . Thi s si t e wi l l be t r ansf or med f r om a ser i es of

under ut i l i zed spaces t o a publ i c mar ket wi t h l i ght manuf act ur i ng

and r et ai l cl ust er s f or f ood, ar t and craf t s t hat ar e i nt er sper sed

wi t h i nf or mal publ i c spaces f or eat i ng, cul t ur e and ent er t ai nment .

The dense, yet porous devel opment of f er s mul t i pl e poi nt s of ent r y

t o the nei ghborhood and al so est abl i shes a pedest r i an connect i on

bet ween Cent r al Par k and Har l emRi ver Par k.

Speci f i cal l y, we pl an t o bui l d commer ci al spaces as smal l as

80 squar e f eet ( or l ar ger ) and aggr egat e t hem i n l oose cl ust er s

al ong t he 22- bl ock si t e. These smal l pr oduct i on/ r et ai l spaces

woul d be af f ordabl e t o East Har l em r esi dent s who want t o open or

r el ocat e a f ood, ar t or cr af t pr oduct i on busi ness. New

ent r epr eneur s woul d par t i ci pat e i n ski l l and busi ness t r ai ni ng -

and benef i t f r omshared ameni t i es and r esour ces. We cur r ent l y

est i mat e t hat appr oxi matel y 900 smal l busi nesses and over 4000

j obs coul d be cr eat ed a maj or boon f or a ci t y where i ndependent

busi nesses cont i nue t o be squeezed out by nat i onal chai n st ores.

We pl an t o devel op a l arge number of f ood pr oduct i on/ r et ai l

f aci l i t i es wi t h shar ed and i ndi vi dual ki t chens t o enabl e l ocal

r esi dent s t o par t i ci pat e i n one of New Yor k Ci t y s most pr of i t abl e

l i ght manuf act ur i ng sect or s. Et hni c and speci al t y f oods, baker y

product s and more woul d be sol d at La Marquet a Mi l e and al so t o

cat er i ng compani es, r est aur ant s and gr ocer y st ores. We i magi ne

hundr eds of f ood ki osks and out door eat er i es al ong t he pedest r i an


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promenade t hat woul d of f er l ocal l y made di shes an amazi ng way to

exper i ence East Har l em s et hni c and cul t ur al di ver si t y.

La Marquet a Mi l e wi l l al so pr ovi de more shoppi ng opt i ons i n a

nei ghbor hood t hat ser i ousl y l acks r et ai l st or es and wher e so f ew

gr ocer i es sel l heal t hy f ood t hat i t was r ecent l y decl ar ed a f ood

deser t by New Yor k Ci t y publ i c heal t h of f i ci al s. The publ i c

spaces wi l l be desi gned and managed as a commons; an open pl ace

where di ver se peopl e can come t ogether f or busi ness and pl easure.

Unl i ke most publ i c open spaces i n New Yor k Ci t y, La Marquet a

Mi l e i s desi gned t o be f i nanci al l y sel f - suf f i ci ent - not dependent

on ongoi ng publ i c subsi di es f or i t s mai nt enance. Pr oj ect r evenues

f r om commer ci al r ent s or l eases wi l l pay f or admi ni st r at i on and

f i nanci ng cost s as wel l as f or r ecrui t i ng, t r ai ni ng and mar ket i ng

pr ogr ams. Ar t and cul t ur e gr oups wi l l r ai se t hei r own f undi ng.

At t i me of wr i t i ng, t he pr oj ect has gat her ed t he pol i t i cal

suppor t i t needs t o begi n t he next pl anni ng phases t hat wi l l

i ncl ude f easi bi l i t y st udi es, t he expansi on of st r at egi c f undi ng,

devel opment and progr ammat i c part ner shi ps, and a communi t y- based

open desi gn pr ocess. We ant i ci pat e that i t wi l l t ake sever al

year s t o r eal i ze t he mi l e- l ong pr oj ect .

Thinking in systems

Let ' s f ace i t , t he uni ver se i s messy. I t i s nonl i near , t ur bul ent

and chaot i c. I t i s dynami c. I t spends i t s t i me i n t r ansi ent


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behavi or on i t s way to somewher e el se, not i n mathemat i cal l y neat

equi l i br i a. ( Meadows, 2008)

Compl ex Syst ems Theor y of f ers an i nt erest i ng f r amework f or

unders t andi ng East Har l em as wel l as our pl anni ng and desi gn

pr ocess f or La Mar quet a Mi l e. Thi s t heor y i s based on f or t y year s

of appl i ed and t heor et i cal r esear ch i n Ecol ogy, Physi cs, Soci ol ogy

and ot her di sci pl i nes.

General l y speaki ng, syst ems ar e def i ned as a set of el ement s

t hat are i nt erconnected i n some way t o pr oduce thei r own pat t ern

of behavi or over t i me; f or i nst ance ci t i es, compani es, f or est s or

mol ecul es. I n essence, compl ex syst ems const ant l y r eor gani ze or

adapt t hemsel ves i n r esponse t o di st ur bances. I n ci t i es, t hese

i mpact s mi ght i ncl ude economi c cr i ses, r eal est at e cycl es or

nat ur al di sast er s; f or ani mal or pl ant speci es, t hey coul d be

pr edat or s, f i r es or sudden changes wat er , ai r or soi l qual i t y.

The heal t h of a syst em i s measur ed by i t s r esi l i ence, whi ch i s i t s

abi l i t y t o absor b shocks and r ecover af t er di st ur bance, and i t s

adapt i ve capaci t y or abi l i t y to shape change. Syst ems are

r egul at ed by f l ows of i nf or mat i on or f eedback l oops. ( Meadows,

2008)

I n her book Thinking in Systems, Donel l a H. Meadows st ates

t hat compl exsyst ems are i nherent l y unpr edi ct abl e and cannot be

cont rol l ed.


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The goal of f oreseei ng t he f uture exact l y and prepari ng f or i t per f ect l y i s

unr eal i zabl e. The i dea of maki ng a compl ex syst emdo j ust what you want i t

t o do can be achi eved onl y t empor ar i l y, at best . ( Meadows, 2008)

She of f er s i nt er est i ng t hought s on addr essi ng t he uncer t ai nt y

i nher ent i n syst ems.

I f you can' t underst and, pr edi ct , and cont r ol , what i s t here t o do? Systems

t hi nki ng l eads t o another concl usi on, however- wai t i ng, shi ni ng, obvi ous as

soon as we stop bei ng bl i nded by the i l l usi on of cont r ol . I t says that

t her e i s pl ent y t o do, of a di f f erent sor t of ' doi ng. ' The f ut ur e can' t be

pr edi ct ed, but i t can be envi si oned and br ought l ovi ngl y i nt o bei ng.

Syst ems can' t be cont r ol l ed, but t hey can be desi gned and r edesi gned. We

can' t sur ge f orward wi t h cer t ai nt y i nt o a worl d of no sur pr i ses, but we can

expect sur pr i ses and l ear n f r omt hemand even pr of i t f r omt hem. We can' t

i mpose our wi l l upon a syst em. We can l i st en to what t he syst em t el l s us,

and di scover how i t s propert i es and our val ues can work t ogether t o br i ng

f or t h somethi ng much bet t er t han coul d ever be pr oduced by our wi l l al one.

We can' t cont r ol syst ems or f i gur e t hem out . But we can dance wi t h t hem!

( Meadows, 2008)

Whi l e these concept s ar e wel l known i n t he ar t and sci ence

communi t i es as wel l as academi a, Compl ex Syst ems Theor y has not

yet had a maj or i mpact on New Yor k Ci t y s muni ci pal pl anni ng

cul t ur e. Wi t h t he except i on of l andscape pl anni ng where

var i abi l i t y and adapt at i on ar e i nher ent t r ai t s, l ar ger publ i c

pr oj ect s st i l l seem t o f ol l ow a st andar d Goal s and St r at egi es

pr ocess ai med at cr eat i ng nar r owl y def i ned pr oj ect s wi t h

pr edi ct abl e out comes.

To some ext ent , t he La Mar quet a Mi l e proj ect at t empt s t o

cr eat e a new model f or syst ems- based pl anni ng t hat f ost ers


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communi t y r esi l i ence r at her t han opt i mi zi ng i sol at ed si t es i n an

urban syst em. Thi s new approach embr aces uncer t ai nty and change,

makes l ocal pr ocesses more cl ear , r esponsi ve and engagi ng, and

empower s peopl e t o make t hei r own choi ces.

Sustainability, adaptive capability and diversity

Sust ai nabi l i t y i s t he capaci t y to creat e, t est and mai nt ai n adapt i ve

capabi l i t y. Devel opment i s t he pr ocess of cr eat i ng, t est i ng and

mai nt ai ni ng opport uni t y. The phr ase t hat combi nes t he t wo, sust ai nabl e

devel opment i s t heref ore not an oxymoron but r epr esent s a l ogi cal

part nershi p. ( Gunderson, 2006)

I n t hei r bookResilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and

People in a Changing World, sci ent i st s Br i an Wal ker and Davi d Sal t

suggest t hat di ver si t y i n al l i t s f or ms - bi ol ogi cal , l andscape,

soci al and economi c - enhances t he resi l i ence and adapt i ve

capaci t y of communi t i es ( Wal ker , 2006) .

Our pl an f or La Marquet a Mi l e f ocuses on achi evi ng di ver si t y

at many l evel s: ent r epr eneur s and t hei r st af f , busi ness sect or s,

pr oduct s and ser vi ces as wel l as t he spat i al var i et y of t he mi l e-

l ong pr omenade. The si ze of t he smal l est commerci al uni t - 80

square f eet - was del i ber atel y desi gned t o generat e soci o- economi c

di ver si t y at La Mar quet a Mi l e. Thi s smal l commer ci al uni t woul d

be af f or dabl e t o a br oad pool of pot ent i al ent r epr eneur s,

i ncl udi ng st r eet vendor s and l ocal r esi dent s f r om East Har l em,

especi al l y yout hs, women, el der l y and ot her t r adi t i onal l y

di sadvant aged peopl e. The exampl e of a t wel ve square- f oot spi ce


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busi ness at La Boquer i a Market i n Barcel ona demonst r ates t hat even

smal l er commer ci al spaces can be economi cal l y vi abl e i f t hey ar e

wel l i nt egr at ed i nt o a l ar ger commer ci al ecosyst em. Bi gger

commerci al spaces woul d be cheaper and more ef f i ci ent t o bui l d,

but t he numerous economi c and soci al benef i t s of gi vi ng car eer

oppor t uni t i es t o a br oad spect r um of l ocal ci t i zens out wei ghed

t hat ar gument . Fur t hermore, t he smal l scal e of t he commerci al

uni t s makes i t possi bl e t o desi gn f i ne- gr ai ned and ar chi t ect ur al l y

var i ed ur ban spaces t hat ar e r esponsi ve t o l ocal condi t i ons. To

add f l exi bi l i t y, many of t he smal l commer ci al uni t s wi l l be

out f i t t ed wi t h removabl e par t y wal l s so t hat t he busi nesses can

expand or cont r act i n response t o changi ng market demands or

economi c cycl es.

I n addi t i on, we seek t o at t r act a mi x of owner shi p t ypes -

smal l pr i vat el y or f ami l y owned busi nesses, cooperat i ves and not -

f or pr of i t ent er pr i ses, as wel l as a var i et y of pr oducti on/ r et ai l

busi nesses and cul t ur al uses. We hope t hat t hi s dense ur ban

mi cr ocosm wi l l cat al yze f ar - r eachi ng busi ness and per sonal

net wor ks, as wel l as i nnovat i ve col l abor at i ons bet ween smal l

busi nesses. Franchi ses of l ar ger r et ai l chai ns have been

del i ber at el y excl uded f r om our pl an, because we t hi nk that

i ndependent busi nesses ar e bet t er abl e t o wi t hst and downt ur ns i n

t he economy. For i nst ance, nat i onal r et ai l chai ns t end t o suddenl y

cl ose t hei r l east pr of i t abl e st or es. I ndependent busi nesses al so


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have anot her i mport ant advant age - whi ch i s t hat most of t hei r

r evenues ar e r etur ned t o t he l ocal communi t y.

Investing in food production

I t i s i nt er est i ng t o poi nt out t hat f ood manuf act ur i ng was an

ear l y i nt erest of my cl i ent Thomas Lunke and t hat i t has

r emai ned a def i ni ng el ement of La Marqueta Mi l e. At t he ver y

begi nni ng of t he pl anni ng pr ocess, Thomas Lunke ar r anged a vi si t

t o Chel sea Mar ket , a huge f act ory bui l di ng t hat was t r ansf or med

i nt o a whol esal e and r etai l cent er by t he devel oper I r wi n Cohen

f or a set of smal l f ood manuf actur er s i n t he earl y 1990 s i n New

York Ci t y. Thi s uni que proj ect was wi del y cr edi t ed wi t h

r evi t al i zi ng a f or mer l y i sol at ed and danger ous ar ea i n West

Chel sea, New Yor k. Chel sea Market was f ounded wi t h a hi gh

concent r at i on of f ami l y- owned busi nesses i ncl udi ng Amy s Br ead,

Rut hi e s Cheesecake and Fat Wi t ch Br owni e - each wi t h t hei r own

pr oduct i on f aci l i t y and r et ai l st or e. These uni que f ood

manuf actur i ng busi nesses wer e i nst r ument al i n creat i ng Chel sea

Mar ket s success.

I r wi n Cohen event ual l y became an i nf ormal pr oj ect advi ser .

He ar gued st r ongl y i n f avor of a devel opi ng a l ar ge ar r ay of

i ndependent f ood whol esal e/ r et ai l busi nesses at La Marqueta Mi l e

as a way t o creat e l ocal communi t y weal t h. He al so suggest ed t hat

Chel sea Market s hybr i d whol esal e/ r etai l busi ness model was

par t i cul ar l y appr opr i at e f or an economi cal l y chal l enged ar ea l i ke


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East Har l em f or t wo r easons: f i r st , more money can be made by

addi ng val ue t o a r aw mat eri al compared t o si mpl y r esel l i ng one;

and second, t hat a hybr i d whol esal e/ r et ai l busi ness i s mor e

r esi l i ent and adapt abl e i n t he f ace of i nevi t abl e economi c swi ngs

and shi f t i ng mar ket condi t i ons. I n addi t i on, f ood pr oduct i on i s

one of t he most l ucr at i ve bl ue col l ar occupat i ons and a gr owi ng

manuf act ur i ng sect or i n New Yor k Ci t y ( Gi l es, 2010) .

I n addi t i on, t he f ood sect or was par t i cul ar l y compel l i ng

because of i t s ver y l ow ent r y bar r i er . Thi s meant t hat peopl e wi t h

l i mi t ed car eer opt i ons due t o t hei r age, r ace, sex or l ack of

educat i onal at t ai nment , woul d be abl e t o ent er r el at i vel y

l ucr at i ve car eer s pat hs. The f ood pr oduct i on sect or i s especi al l y

wel comi ng to women, who can get compensat ed f or ski l l s t hat are

t r adi t i onal l y non- pai d domest i c work. I n East Har l em, women al so

hol d t he keys of an i ncr edi bl y di ver se f ood cul t ur e that dr aws on

cul i nar y tr adi t i ons f r om t he Uni t ed St at es, Lat i n Amer i ca, Af r i ca,

t he Car i bbean and more.

The ul t i mat e ar gument f or an i nvest ment i n f ood

manuf act ur i ng, eat er i es and f r esh pr oduce mar ket s i s i t s pot ent i al

t o addr ess t he l ack of af f or dabl e and heal t hy f ood choi ces i n East

Har l em. Poor nut r i t i on i n t he ar ea has been di r ect l y l i nked t o a

ver y hi gh r at e of hear t di sease, di abet es and ot her i l l nesses. We

ant i ci pat e st udyi ng t hese i ssues i n an upcomi ng f easi bi l i t y study,

t hat wi l l al so l ook at t he mar ket f or l ocal l y made f ood pr oduct s,

t he i nf r ast r uct ur e requi r ement s f or i ndi vi dual and shar ed


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ki t chens, t r ai ni ng needs and t he pot ent i al f or t yi ng i nt o exi st i ng

publ i c nut r i t i on campai gns by t he New Yor k Ci t y Depar t ment of

Heal t h, t he New Yor k Ci t y Counci l , t he Manhat t an Borough Presi dent

and Fi r st Lady Mi chel l e Obama.

Design for community engagement

We wer e al so i nt erest ed i n pushi ng t he boundari es of t he

ar chi t ect ur al desi gn pr ocess, by devel opi ng i nt er di sci pl i nar y

desi gn methods t hat t i e vi t al economi c and soci al syst ems wi t h t he

gener at i on of ar chi t ect ur al f or m. For us, t he ar chi t ect ur al

pr ocess i s a col l abor at i ve ef f or t t o shape a syst em, not t he

devel opment of abst r act i deas t hat mer el y l ead t o a set of pr oj ect

del i ver abl es.

We are cur r ent l y st udyi ng an i nt er est i ng f r amework f or

l i nki ng ar chi t ect ur al desi gn, wor kf or ce t r ai ni ng and bui l di ng

const r uct i on at La Mar quet a Mi l e. Speci f i cal l y, our pl an i s to

engage a const r uct i on management f i r m t o work wi t h sel ect ed sub-

cont r act or s, such as masonr y f i r ms, gl ass and met al f abr i cat or s

and even aut o body shops i n Upper Manhat t an. These f i r ms woul d

par t i ci pat e i n a gr een const r uct i on- t r ai ni ng pr ogr am desi gned

f or appr ent i ces f r om East Har l em. I n an i nt er est i ng r ever sal ,

t hese f abr i cat or s woul d not bui l d a pr emedi t at ed ar chi t ect ur al

desi gn - i nst ead, t he t r ai ni ng needs of t he appr ent i ces and t he

capabi l i t i es of t he l ocal f abr i cat i on f i r ms woul d det er mi ne t he

shape and mater i al s of our desi gn. I n essence, we woul d desi gn an


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i nst r ument f or t eachi ng ent r y- l evel , i nt er medi at e and advanced

bui l di ng const r uct i on and deconst r uct i on t echni ques. Work produced

as par t of t hi s ski l l t r ai ni ng pr ogr am ( whi ch woul d be suppor t ed

by educat i on f undi ng) l ower s t he const r uct i on cost and enabl es

t he qual i t y of t he ar chi t ect ur e t o be hi gher and mor e r ef i ned.

Exper i enced worker s woul d work hand- i n- hand wi t h t r ai nees t o

devel op a myri ad of cut t i ng edge gr een const r uct i on det ai l s t hat

wi l l be meani ngf ul on ot her pr oj ect s as wel l .

We al so hope that t hat a l arge communi t y part i ci pat i on i n t he

const r uct i on pr ocess wi l l f ost er a sense of l ocal owner shi p i n t he

proj ect .

An upcomi ng f easi bi l i t y st udy wi l l devel op a f r amewor k f or

t hi s proj ect - based car eer pathways model t hat matches t he

busi ness expansi on needs of l ocal f abr i cat or s wi t h t he uni que

t r ai ni ng and empl oyment needs of t he East Har l em communi t y. Thi s

st udy wi l l devel op a l i st of pot ent i al const r uct i on and

f abr i cat i on busi nesses i n Upper Manhat t an as wel l as r ecr ui t i ng,

t r ai ni ng, desi gn i nt egr at i on and pr oj ect del i ver y st r at egi es.


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Figure 18.7 La Marqueta Mile site plan 111th to 119th streets


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We wer e al so i nt erest ed i n usi ng archi t ect ur e and ur ban desi gn t o

cul t i vat e a heal t hy, creat i ve and i nt el l ectual l y st i mul at i ng

envi r onment t hat f ost er s i ndi vi dual cur i osi t y, publ i c engagement

and personal choi ces. Goi ng beyond t he f unct i onal or monetary

i mpl i cat i ons of desi gn, we devel oped a set of pr oposal s t hat

addr ess t hi s l ar ger pi ct ur e of human pot ent i al .

I n 2007, my f i r m was commi ssi oned by t he Har l em Communi t y

Devel opment Corporat i on (HCDC) t o devel op a concept desi gn and

cost est i mat e f or r oughl y one t hi r d of t he La Mar queta Mi l e

pr oj ect on ei ght bl ocks between 111t h and 119t h st r eet s under t he

Par k Avenue vi aduct . Wi t h t he i nput f r om New Yor k Ci t y Economi c

Devel opment Corporat i on ( EDC) , we devel oped a more det ai l ed

pr oj ect wi t h 315 commerci al uni t s as wel l as cul t ur al and open

spaces i nt egr ated i nt o a publ i c pr omenade.

To make t he new mar ket mor e porous and access i bl e t o t he

communi t y, we deci ded t o deconst r uct t he t wo r emai ni ng La Marquet a

mar ket hal l s and t o r e- use each of i t s bui l di ng component s

i ncl udi ng ol d spr i nkl er pi pes, door s and sevent y- year ol d st eel

beams. These mater i al s as wel l as ol d shi ppi ng cont ai ners woul d be

used t o cr eat e commerci al and open spaces on t he ei ght bl ocks.

Thi s 100% bui l di ng mat er i al r e- use appr oach woul d vi r t ual l y

el i mi nat e t he need f or const r uct i on wast e di sposal and i t s r el at ed

greenhouse gas emi ssi ons.

We f ound t hat t hi s sel f - i mposed const r ai nt not onl y suppor t ed

our i nt er est i n pr eser vi ng physi cal el ement s of t he ol d l a


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Marquet a market and our envi r onment al goal s but t hat i t coul d

push our desi gn t owards unexpected f ormal and mat eri al sol ut i ons.

Figure 18.8 Tilted Tower kiosks at 111-112th streets

For us, La Marqueta Mi l e repr esent s t he devel opment of

oppor t uni t i es f or economi c and soci al mobi l i t y, gr eat er sel f -

suf f i c i ency and l i f e choi ces. I t i s theref or e onl y f i t t i ng t hat

t hi s envi r onment shoul d st i mul at e t he sense of vol at i l i t y,

creat i vi t y and i nnovat i on t hat i s char act er i st i c of many new

busi nesses.

The bl ock between 111t h and 112t h st r eet s, cont ai ns t wenty-

f i ve commer ci al ki osks t hat f r ame seat i ng ar eas wi t hi n t he

pedest r i an pr omenade. These bui l di ngs are made f r om r e- used

shi ppi ng cont ai ner s t hat ar e cut at an angl e. The ti l t i ng t ower s

not onl y creat e a st i mul at i ng commer ci al envi r onment t hei r

sl opes and shi f t i ng spaces al so r ef er t o t he hi st or i c condi t i on of

t hi s si t e - a swamp at t he edge of t he ol d Har l em Cr eek.


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Figure 18.9 Hydroponic kiosks at 112-113th streets

The desi gn of t he bl ock between 112t h and 113t h st r eet s was

i nspi r ed by a det ai l ed study of t he ol d La Mar quet a mar ket hal l at

East 115t h st r eet , and t he f ew r emai ni ng market vendor s who have

been t her e f or many years . Dur i ng our s i t e vi si t s, we observed

t hat t hese vendors of t en sur r ound t hemsel ves wi t h expansi ve

hangi ng pl ant s t hat r ecei ve some l i ght f r om t al l cl er est or y

wi ndows. Thi s obser vat i on i nspi r ed our desi gn f or new commerci al

ki osks wi t h t al l skyl i ght s t hat can hol d smal l hydr oponi c uni t s.

These ar e soi l - l ess hangi ng pl anter s t hat can grow t omat oes,

pepper s, f l owers or more i n water t hat can be r e- ci r cul at ed and

r eused aut omat i cal l y. By adapt i ng a l ocal mar ket t r adi t i on and

cr eat i ng wel l - l i t commerci al spaces t hat enhance ur ban gardeni ng

and var i ous f or ms of bi ol ogi cal l i f e, pl ant s and t hei r har vest and

nut r i t i on cycl es become i nt egr at ed i nt o t he l i f e and dai l y habi t s

of t he communi t y.


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Figure 18.10 Animal Murals at 113th street looking east

Figure 18.11 Floating Animals block at 113-114th streets

The bl ock between 113t h and 114t h st r eet s cur r ent l y hol ds a

wi ndow- l ess concr ete bl ock mar ket hal l t hat i s now used f or

st or age. Thi s f ul l - bl ock bui l di ng f i l l s t he space under t he

vi aduct and cr eat es a physi cal bar r i er bet ween two l ar ge publ i c


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housi ng proj ect s, t he J ames W. J ohnson Houses t hat are home t o

appr oxi mat el y 2, 957 r esi dent s and t he Robert A. Taf t Houses whi ch

house about 3, 316 resi dent s.

Our desi gn f or t hi s bl ock bal ances pr eservat i on of sel ect ed

bui l di ng el ement s wi t h a st r at egy t o creat e a mi d bl ock open- ai r

meet i ng space t hat connect s t he housi ng communi t i es on t he east

and west si des of t he vi aduct and cr eat es a uni que pl ace wi t hi n

t he mi l e- l ong pr omenade. Thi s open space i s sur r ounded by f ood

and beverage est abl i shment s as wel l as ot her busi nesses t hat are

l ocat ed i n t he f our cor ner s of t he bl ock. Each cor ner i s f r amed by

wal l f r agment s of t he ol d La Mar quet a hal l .

We i nt r oduced an el ement of humor by al so preser vi ng some of

t he mur al s on t he exi st i ng bui l di ng. These mur al s ar e ol d but cher

shop adver t i sement s t hat depi ct l arge pi gs, r oost ers and cows. We

chose t o cut out t hr ee of t he gi gant i c ani mal s and pr op t hem up

l i ke sur r eal bi l l boar ds at t he edges of t he bl ock.

I t i s wel l - known t hat soci al and r ecreat i onal acti vi t i es

enhance f r i endshi p as wel l as communi t y and busi ness net works.

That i s why we wanted t o cr eat e a publ i c space t hat has many

act i vi t i es f or young and ol d, and pl aces f or pl anned and i mpr ompt u

encount er s or f est i vi t i es. The seat i ng ar eas i ncl ude t abl es wi t h

ar t i f i ci al t r ees made of r eused spr i nkl er pi pes ot her t ubul ar

met al f ound on t he si t e. These scul pt ur al t r ees wi l l f or m an

umbr el l a- l i ke canopy and i t s br anches wi l l be ret r of i t t ed wi t h LED

l i ght s t o create a magi cal ni ght t i me at mosphere. We al so pl an t o


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cr eat e smal l pavi l i ons f r om r e- used wi ndow f r ames ( wi t hout gl ass)

t o creat e al t er nat i ve seat i ng ar eas.

These publ i c spaces woul d be f r ee and open t o communi t y

member s and vi si t ors f or eat i ng and dr i nki ng, peopl e watchi ng,

games and mor e.

Figure 18.12 Old steel beams to be reused in Steel Village

Figure 18.13 Steel Village plan at 118-119th streets

The bl ock between 118t h and 119t h st r eet s i s t entat i vel y cal l ed

t he St eel Vi l l age. We pl an t o use hundr eds of st eel beams t hat

wi l l be sal vaged f r om t he cei l i ngs of t wo La Mar quet a mar ket

hal l s. The beams wi l l be deconst r uct ed i n a pr of essi onal manner

and sor t ed on- si t e. We pl an st ack the beams hor i zont al l y t o cr eat e

t hr ee commer ci al bui l di ngs wi t h mul t i pl e sky- l i t commer ci al uni t s.


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Over l appi ng cor ner j oi nt s al l ow us t o use a var i et y of st eel beam

si zes and a f ai r l y f l exi bl e geomet r y. The publ i c spaces wi l l al so

be const r uct ed wi t h t he st eel beams, f ormi ng i nt erest i ng canopi es

and publ i c seat i ng ar eas.

Open Design process

Our pr el i mi nar y desi gn f or La Mar quet a Mi l e wi l l be

superseded i n t he f ut ur e wi t h t he i nput f r om t he communi t y and

st akehol der s. I n t he next desi gn phases, we woul d l i ke t o creat e

an open desi gn process i n whi ch peopl e can col l ect i vel y creat e,

devel op and i mprove La Marquet a Mi l e over t i me.

The desi gn f or t he mar ket woul d consi st of essent i al

i nf r ast r uct ur e as wel l as open ar eas and f l exi bl e zones t hat t he

communi t y can hel p t o pr ogr am. To f aci l i t ate thi s pr ocess, we

woul d l i ke t o augment communi t y and f ocus group meet i ngs wi t h a

wel l - desi gned Web 2. 0 i nt er f ace. Thi s web- si t e woul d document t he

desi gn process and al l ow peopl e t o comment on the desi gn and make

suggest i ons f or speci f i c uses ( gal l er y, bal l cour t , per f or mance

space et c. ) or pr ogr ams ( ar t exhi bi t s, f est i val s, l i ve musi c or

t heat er) whi ch woul d be r ated by submi t t i ng onl i ne, by text

message or i n per son.

We i magi ne web- si t es, bl ogs, f an pages, campai gns f or var i ous

progr ams and much moreengagi ng mul t i pl e st akehol der s dur i ng t he

desi gn and const r uct i on pr ocess and af t er t he openi ng of La

Mar queta Mi l e.


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Conclusion

We bel i eve t hat La Mar queta Mi l e wi l l enabl e t he popul at i on of

East Har l em t o t ake gr eat er r ol es i n sust ai ni ng r esi l i ent and

vi abl e l i vel i hoods. Thi s pr oj ect empower s t hem not onl y i n t he

areas of r evenue generat i on and envi r onment al mai nt enance of t hei r

l i ves but al so by a st i mul at i ng envi r onment t hat f ost er s

i ndi vi dual cur i osi t y, publ i c engagement and per sonal choi ces.

la marqueta mile

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