A Roadmap for Equitable Open Space Planning: The Public Impact of Public Space

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the largest public housing authority in North America, housing more than 400,000 low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. In 2018, NYCHA launched the Connected Communities Initiative to employ human-centered designs that better connect residents to their communities.

A Roadmap for Equitable Open Space Planning: The Public Impact of Public Space evaluates the benefits of improved and activated open space designs on NYCHA campuses. To support this initiative and prove the value of investing in traditionally underfunded open space projects, the SIPA Capstone Team conducted a Life Cycle Cost-Benefit Analysis of three Open Space Master Plan (OSMP) sites: Morris (I and II), Nostrand, and Van Dyke (I and II). Through literature review and interdisciplinary expert interviews, the team quantified and monetized co-benefits including health, safety, environment, and social capital. Results showed greater value than the associated project costs for all three sites.

The report detailed four potential financing strategies to realize the OSMP ambitions. Considering suitability, feasibility, and acceptability, the team analyzed these strategies, illuminating opportunities for NYCHA to incorporate additional data sources, track key metrics, and advocate for policy that supports green infrastructure interventions. By funding several pilot sites through the Public Housing Trust, NYCHA can benchmark their success to obtain more robust financing through impact bonds. The final report is supplemented by a presentation slide deck and a modifiable Excel model to reference for other sites.