Affordable housing is in a state of crisis. Driving forces – such as community opposition, government skepticism, and slow-moving progress – have facilitated a lack of housing development within the nation. This studio explores this issue in Westchester County. The Westchester County Department of Planning tasked the studio team to develop a comprehensive planning report exploring options for integrating affordable housing and mass transit into selected Westchester County office parks, with an emphasis on those in the I-287 corridor.
Office parks in Westchester County have emerged as a potential location for new affordable housing development in the coming years. Many of these parks, especially those in the I-287 corridor are currently underutilized and yet include large areas for potential residential and commercial development. Though generally designed to be solely accessible by car, they are also often well-located in the roadway transportation network of the county. The studio team blends theory and practice, utilizing skills learned in a classroom and applying them to a real-world situation.
The following scope of work occurred during the duration of the Semester:
- Selection of viable redevelopment sites along the I-287 corridor
- Assessment of attractiveness of the properties including but not limited to zoning ordinances, environmental concerns, and transportation accessibility
- Preparation of rough estimates of cost per unit and design guidelines
After three months of research, tenant interviews, and discussions with various experts in related fields, the studio produced three proposals for redevelopment of the following sites:
- The Crossroads Shopping Center in Greenburgh
- Former General Foods headquarters in White Plains
- Marriott Renaissance at Teardrop in Harrison
The Westchester County Department of Planning
2020-2021
Stephanie Almanzar
Esteban Carvajal
Gregory Diebold
Stephen Hanrahan
Michael Kralovich
Kate McCabe
Aleksander Miletic
Oluwanisola Olosunde
Andrew Taranto
Michael Van Itallie
Rhea Vazirani