Embedded Files
Building Bridges Across the River, 11th Street Bridge Park
Building Bridges Across the River, 11th Street Bridge Park
FACULTY: Meredith Phillips Almeida
TEAM: Peter Estes, Henry Hoffmann, Deaunte Johnson, Lauren Newman, Katya Rudnik
The 11th Street Bridge Park, a Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR) project, has catalyzed development in Washington, D.C.’s East of the River communities. BBAR launched an Equitable Development Plan (EDP) to address displacement risks and ensure lasting benefits for residents and businesses. Small business preservation is critical to mitigating displacement as new investments reshape the area. The Capstone team assessed existing conditions and developed policy recommendations to strengthen local entrepreneurs and foster economic resilience. They conducted a literature review, stakeholder interviews, and an evaluation of the small business support ecosystem, identifying gaps in resource utilization, barriers to property ownership, and strategies to improve business success. The final report provides actionable strategies to enhance long-term stability for local entrepreneurs, including closing resource gaps, expanding ownership pathways, and fostering a supportive environment. These recommendations ensure businesses in Historic Anacostia thrive alongside new investments, aligning with the EDP’s goals.
BFJ Planning
BFJ Planning
FACULTY: Meredith Phillips Almeida
TEAM: Ma’isah Bateman, Anthony Cardenas, Kristen Cawthorn, Maggie Huang, Ellie Karpe, James Walmer
BFJ Planning, a consulting firm engaged by the Town of Islip, supports updating the town’s comprehensive plan to address housing, sustainability, and resilience issues. This work matters because Islip faces persistent stormwater flooding, disproportionately impacting communities like the Bay Shore and threatening infrastructure and equity. The Capstone team was tasked with researching and recommending solutions to mitigate flooding impacts, focusing on green infrastructure interventions. To achieve this, the team conducted an existing conditions analysis of Islip, prioritizing Bay Shore, and combined spatial mapping, environmental vulnerability assessments, and community feedback to identify localized strategies. Final recommendations included tailored green infrastructure projects and implementation tools—such as site-specific designs and policy guidance—to help Islip advance flood resilience while aligning with broader planning goals.
City of Stamford Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Department
City of Stamford Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Department
FACULTY: Michael Keane
TEAM: Austin Celestin, Kiersten Mills, Leo Ruyter-Harcout, Elliot Wareham, Alex Yu
The City of Stamford Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Department (TTPD) ensures safe, efficient mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists while balancing competing demands on public infrastructure. This work matters because Stamford’s rapid residential growth and evolving curb uses—from delivery zones to bike lanes—require adaptive parking strategies to prevent congestion and equity gaps. The Capstone team was tasked with developing a parking plan to address these shifting needs, prioritizing accessibility and reducing reliance on private vehicles. To achieve this, the team conducted an existing conditions analysis, stakeholder interviews, surveys, on-site data collection, and a review of best street design and parking management practices. The final deliverables included short-, medium-, and long-term guidelines for parking reform and targeted case studies for four key corridors, providing TTPD with actionable strategies to optimize curb space and promote sustainable transportation alternatives.
New York City Emergency Management Department
New York City Emergency Management Department
FACULTY: Sarah Kaufman
TEAM: Laura Blumenfeld, Harrison Crist, Claire Crisp, Cole Perry, Melanie Reyes
New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), collaborates with community organizations like We Stay/Nos Quedamos to address public health threats exacerbated by climate change, focusing on extreme heat’s disproportionate impact on historically marginalized neighborhoods. This work matters because structural racism and disinvestment have left low-income communities, such as Melrose in the Bronx, with heat-trapping infrastructure and inadequate cooling resources, intensifying health risks as temperatures rise. The Capstone team was tasked with co-developing localized heat mitigation strategies tailored to Melrose’s vulnerabilities and assets. To achieve this, the team combined urban heat island research, spatial vulnerability mapping, and community engagement—including surveys, interviews, and site visits with We Stay/Nos Quedamos. The final deliverables included a report for NYCEM, a community roadmap for heat resilience, and a toolkit empowering residents to advocate for interventions like green infrastructure and cooling centers, centering equity in climate adaptation.
New York Restoration Project
New York Restoration Project
FACULTY: Michael Keane
TEAM: Daniela Aizencang, Maha Aldawood, Alanis Allen, Kiersten Klang, Ally La Pinta, Campbell Munn
New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and revitalizing community gardens and green spaces across New York City. This initiative matters because TDR transactions involving NYRP-owned gardens require careful planning to balance community benefits with financial sustainability while navigating complex zoning regulations. The NYU Wagner Capstone team was tasked with developing guidelines and resources to help NYRP evaluate and execute TDR transactions, focusing on air rights transfers from garden properties to developers. To achieve this, the team conducted stakeholder interviews, analyzed zoning codes (including impacts of the City of Yes amendments), and created detailed development potential assessments for garden sites and adjacent properties. Final deliverables included process documentation, a zoning database, evaluation recommendations, and a test case—equipping NYRP with tools to streamline future TDR decisions and maximize community and ecological value.
Rebuild by Design
Rebuild by Design
FACULTY: Sarah Kaufman
TEAM: Doug Berger, Ella Copiatti, Nic Saladino, Clara Smith, Kara Stoley
Rebuild by Design is a climate change nonprofit organization that uses collaborative, innovative approaches to help communities build resilience to climate change. This work matters because, as climate change worsens and the risk of displacement increases, Rebuild by Design’s work becomes essential in preparing cities to effectively and inclusively manage incoming climate migrants. The Capstone team was tasked with developing strategies for receiving communities to integrate climate migrants, boost economic growth, and enhance social infrastructure, recognizing that entire U.S. regions will eventually become uninhabitable due to climate change. The team prepared a comprehensive literature review on climate migration and integration processes, interviewed city officials, long-range planners, and other policy experts, and created case studies of receiving cities. The final deliverables included a report, an interactive map, and a presentation establishing city archetypes with tailored recommendations for each archetype.
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