Michael Kimmelman paints an idyllic picture along the Bronx River in New York, where the waterfront along "one of the most blighted, abused waterways in the country" is being transformed park by park.
As old industrial waterfronts throughout the five boroughs undergo a dramatic transformation, Kimmelman spotlights an area of "special priority" to the Bloomberg administration that has flowed beneath the radar.
Here, along the south end of the Bronx River, "a patchwork of green spaces has been taking shape, the
consequence of decades of grinding, grass-roots, community-driven
efforts. For the environmentalists, educators, politicians, architects
and landscape designers involved, the idea has not just been to
revitalize a befouled waterway and create new public spaces. It has been
to invest Bronx residents, for generations alienated from the water, in
the beauty and upkeep of their local river."
For Kimmelman, the jumble of projects, which aim to add up to the long-term recovery of a great waterway and its neighborhoods, "illustrates how government, although it can be obstructionist and
infuriating, is also indispensable to urban improvement."
"What's emerging in the Bronx is past and future. A new, more equitable
vision for the city in the 21st century. And a river returned, at least
partly, to its former glory."
FULL STORY: River of Hope in the Bronx
River Scenes: How Rivers Contribute to More Vibrant Urban Communities
The role of rivers in urban areas shifted in recent years from production to consumption. Now, access to a river's waterfront has become a highly valued amenity within cities.
Are Movie Studios 'Highest and Best Use' During a Housing Affordability Crisis?
Toronto's answer to the question posed in the headline is, "yes." One columnist wonders if the city can do more to balance its priorities.
Opinion: N.Y.C. Neighborhood Rezoning Displaces Vulnerable Residents
Rezoning has resulted in the loss of affordable housing in areas like the South Bronx, and any proposals need to consider the long-term racial equity impacts, according to a recent report by Churches United for Fair Housing.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Houston Mayor Pauses Complete Streets Projects
The move raises concerns among road safety advocates who point out that traffic deaths continue to rise.
Twin Cities Trains Move to Fewer Cars, Higher Frequency
Headways will drop from 15 minutes to 12 minutes.
DC Bikeshare System Breaks Ridership Record
Capital Bikeshare users took over 20,000 rides on one day in March.
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