“Pathways” Image Adapted from Haasnoot et al. Gowanus ... · Gowanus Pathways. a framework to support community resilience SES 660A | Demonstration of Professional Competence

G owa n u s Pa t h wa y s .a f r a m e w o r k t o s u p p o r t c o m m u n i t y r e s i l i e n c eSES 660A | Demonstration of Professional CompetenceAdrienne Downey | Fall 2017Professors: Jaime Stein and Alec Appelbaum

“Pathways” Image Adapted from Haasnoot et al. Dynamic adaptive policy pathways: A method for crafting robust decisions for a deeply uncertain world”. Global Environmental Change, vol. 23, 2013, pp 485-498

a f ramewor k t o s uppo r t c omm un i t y r e s i l i e n ce

G o w a n u s Pa t h w a y s . SES 660A | Capstone Adrienne Downey | Fall 2017

THEN NOW

© Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection © Aaron Zebrook



Gowanus Canal. Aaron Zebrook. The New York Times, Jan 4, 2017.



HUDSON YARDSEast Midtown, NYC

11th STREET BRIDGE PARKWashington, D.C.

DUTCH KILLS GREENQueens, NYC

ONONDAGA LAKEWashington, D.C.

© Onondaga Historical Association© OMA + OLIN

© Tishman Speyer © Margie Ruddick, Wild by DesignCASE STUDIES



FLEXIBLE

RESILIENT

RISK MANAGEMENT

ADAPTIVE TRANSPARENT

DEEP UNCERTAINTY

TRANSFORMATIVEvSTEWARDSHIP

SUSTAINABLE

INCLUSIVE

© Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO)



“At the heart of resilience thinking is a very sim-ple notion – things change – and to ignore or resist this change is to increase our vulnerability and forego emerging opportunities. In so doing, we limit our options.”

– Walker, B.H. and Salt.Resilience Thinking: Sustaining Ecosystems and People in a Changing World.

p.174, Island Press, 2006. Washington, D.C., U.S.



Wise, R.M., et al. Reconceptualising adaptation to climate change as part of pathways of change and response. Global Environmental Change. January 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.12.002



© DAVID ILIFF

THAMES RIVER ESTUARY FLOOD MANAGEMENTReeder, Tim and Nicola Ranger. How do you adapt in an uncertain world? Lessons from the Thames Estuary 2100 project. World Resources Report: Decision Making in a Changing Climate, 2011.

RHINE DELTA WATER MANAGEMENTHaasnoot , Marjolijn, et al. Dynamic adaptive policy pathways: A method for crafting robust decisions for a deeply uncertain world. Global Environmental Change, vol. 23, 2013, pp 485-498

Images: © Twynstra Gudde



“A rezoning is a land-use action, not a plan....What we need is a plan.”

– Ron Shiffmann, Professor Emeritus, Pratt Institute Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment



1Use the Rezoning to Build Funds.

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL

ECONOMICCommunity Benefit AgreementsTax Increment Financing (TIF)Green Infrastructure BonusFAR Zoning Bonus EcoDistricts®`etc...

$100M-$600M Estimated Potential

(UHI TAP, 2017)



Pathways Stewardship Committee:• Full-time Pathways Stewardship Coordinator, support staff

• Board of Directors:

o CHAIR: Executive Director, Fifth Avenue Committeeo Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice (GNCJ) and Gowanus Canal CAG (the two lists to overlap, not in duplicate)o NYC District 49 Council-membero Members of the Gowanus Community public at large members – recommend annual rotations from different socio-economic strata, sectors, etc.

• Standing Technical Assistance Council – e.g. ULI TAP Panel experts + Pratt Center for Commu-nity Development

• Agency Partners - NYC’s Mayor’s Office of Recovery & Resiliency, Mayor’s Office of Sustain-ability, Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Parks & Recreation, Department of Transportation, NYC Emergency Management, and NYC Housing Authority.

2Create a Stewardship Committee.

$

1

time

chan

ge

2

3

$OR ...AND

$$$

$$$$

The Resilience Dividend- Judith Rodin

Damage from maladaptation

$ $

∑ = $$$

$

$

Build the Pathways

Model

Monitoring & Assessment

Negotiate Decision Cycles

Secure Funding



3Draw Scenarios.

high risk

time

chan

ge

e.g. High Displacement

High Urban Heat RiskHigh Flood Risks

...

e.g. Medium Displacement (MIH)

Medium Urban Heat RiskMedium Flood Risk (Gate)

...

e.g. Deep Affordable Housing

Public Green SpacesMedium Flood Risk (Gate)

...

medium risk low risk



STRATEGY 1

4Build Strategies.

time

chan

ge

2

3

TOP 3 IMAGES : Gowanus Urban Heat Island: Technical Assistance Panel. Urban Land Institute, April 2017.

© The Lightstone Group © inhabitat.com© Greenscape LTD



1

time

chan

ge

2

3

$OR ...AND

$$$

$$$$


Damage from maladaptation4

Build Strategies.



5Link to Form Pathways.

$

1

time

chan

ge

2

3

$OR ...AND

$$$

$$$$


Damage from maladaptation

$ $

∑ = $$$

$

$



1

6Walk the Path.

20-30y

chan

ge

2

3

Negotiate Decision Cycles

Monitoring & Assessment

CLIMATE CHANGE

LEGISLATIVE CHANGE

ECONOMIC CHANGE

STRATEGY PERFORMANCE

TECHNOLOGY CHANGE



7Determinants& Spin-offs.

Image: EcoDistricts Protocol: The Standard for Community Development. Version 1.2, October 2016.

Image: Bridging Gowanus (2014)

New York General Municipal Law, Article 18-C, Municipal Redevelopment Law § 970-a-r• Gowanus Pathways Model (Redevelopment Plan, §970-f) • Pathways Stewardship Committee (Trusteeship, §970-l)

Bridging Gowanus (2014)

UHI TAP (2017)



“The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think.

– Gregory Bateson,Anthropologist, Systems Theorist, Ecologist.



FLEXIBLE

RESILIENT

RISK MANAGEMENT

ADAPTIVE

TRANSPARENTDEEP UNCERTAINTY

TRANSFORMATIVESTEWARDSHIP

SUSTAINABLE

INCLUSIVE

© Bebeto Matthwews via vBrooklynEagle.com

THANK YOU / QUESTIONS?

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“Pathways” Image Adapted from Haasnoot et al. Gowanus ... · Gowanus Pathways. a framework to support community resilience SES 660A | Demonstration of Professional Competence