Viewing NYC Articles Categorized Under Urban Planning

[VIDEO] A New Kind of Seawall Rises In Manhattan

2026-05-08T12:00:00-04:00

The video details the ambitious Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Plan in Lower Manhattan, aiming to protect the area from rising sea levels, storm surges, and extreme rainfall through 2100. Led by project manager Julia Rinaldi and water engineer Harrison Jaehn from the global engineering firm Arcadis, the plan involves extending and elevating the shoreline to create a new waterfront park, integrating hidden floodwalls, innovative drainage systems, and retractable floodgates. The project draws inspiration from the Netherlands' extensive flood defense systems. It also includes the reconstruction of the Battery Maritime Building and the creation of a new ferry hub for Staten Island and Governors Island ferries, emphasizing universal accessibility and public open spaces. This complex and costly undertaking is seen as a crucial investment in the future economic stability and livability of one of New York City's most vital areas. The tour was organized by Open House New York.

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[WATCH] How NYC Is Banning Cars on Broadway

2026-04-17T12:00:00-04:00

The video explores the transformation of Broadway, one of New York City's most famous streets, from a car-dominated thoroughfare to a more pedestrian-friendly space. Historically, Broadway, known as "Automobile Row" in the early 20th century, has continuously evolved with the city. New York City's Broadway Vision Plan, initiated in 2021, aims to pedestrianize sections of Broadway from Union Square to Columbus Circle, building on successful earlier efforts like the pedestrianization of Times Square. The transformation employs "tactical urbanism" — low-cost, temporary interventions like pedestrian plazas, outdoor seating, bike lanes, and protective barriers. These changes vary block-by-block, often reflecting the needs and wants of local neighborhood groups. While some areas, like Times Square, feature permanent materials and extensive pedestrian zones, other sections still include limited car traffic or mixed-use lanes, leading to some inconsistencies in the street's design. The video highlights how this shift represents a democratic approach to urban planning, prioritizing local needs over a uniform street design.

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[VIDEO] 5 New York Roads That Will Blow Your Mind

2025-12-27T12:00:00-05:00

From mind-blowing highways in New York City, to the hidden logic behind chaotic city layouts, Imperatur dives deep into the world of infrastructure, urban planning, and the strange beauty of how our cities are built. Expect fascinating stories, clever insights, and a touch of humor as we explore the wild, overengineered, and sometimes absurd ways humans have shaped their environment — one road, bridge, or metro line at a time.

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[VIDEO] The Hidden 200-Year Bolt In Central Park

2025-12-11T12:00:00-05:00

If you go to a certain spot in Central Park, there's a bolt that dates back to when Manhattan's street grid was being built. No plaque. No monument. It's just there. It's a relic of a revolutionary urban planning project that shaped the Manhattan we know today.

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[VIDEO] What if New York City Hosted The Olympics?

2025-10-10T12:00:00-04:00

New York City is one of the most iconic and sports-obsessed cities in the world—but it's never hosted the Olympic Games. After narrowly missing out on the 2012 bid, the city hasn’t tried again... but I believe they have the pieces to give it another try.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:38 The Events
1:26 Lower Manhattan
2:37 Flushing
3:02 Upper Manhattan/The Bronx
3:27 Brooklyn
3:43 Staten Island
4:04 New Jersey
4:19 Nassau County
5:05 Jamaica Bay
5:50 Remote
7:12 Outro

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[VIDEO] What New York Could Learn From Amsterdam’s Streets

2025-09-16T12:00:00-04:00

This video compares the street designs of New York City and Amsterdam. We'll briefly look into both cities' traffic planning history and then explore NYC’s 3rd Avenue and Amsterdam’s Overtoom. See how different design choices at the city and street level create drastically different urban environments.

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[WATCH] The Insanity of the Queens Street Grid

2025-05-13T12:00:00-04:00

In this video, we will discuss why the Queens Street Grid looks so weird.

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[WATCH] Planning New York - An SNL Animated Short

2025-04-07T12:00:00-04:00

Two men (Bowen Yang, Michael Longfellow) imagine and plan out New York City.

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[WATCH] How New York City Plans To Expand Itself

2024-12-21T12:00:00-05:00

if we compare the existing map of Manhattan with what the extension will cover it would be quite a feat of engineering if completed. But whatever difficulties it may propose, ideas like New Manahatta could be the most necessary option to take if New York City hopes to prevent major consequences.

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[WATCH] NYC's Former Chief Urban Designer Answers City Planning Questions

2024-11-18T12:00:00-05:00

Former Chief Urban Designer of The City of New York Alex Washburn returns to WIRED to answer another round of the internet's burning questions about city planning. How should cities accommodate electric bikes? Can urban planning mitigate over-gentrification? How can urban planning prevent crimes? What does the future of public transportation in urban centers look like? Can a city ever reach population capacity? How's it possible for a city to run out of water? Alex Washburn answers these questions and many more on City Planning Support, Vol. 2.

0:00 City Planning Support Rd. 2
0:15 How to accommodate electric bikes in cities
1:05 Gentrification
2:29 Living in the sprawl
3:43 Can urban planning reduce crime?
4:08 Booooring
4:58 Trees
5:51 If you build it will they come?
6:42 The future of public transportation
7:25 The Big Dig was a Big Dub
8:24 Sustainable cities
8:59 Why do taxpayers subsidize stadiums?
9:59 Hyperloop/Maglev
11:02 Concrete was a poor choice
12:23 Windmills on every building
13:08 Superblocks/Tartan Grid
14:40 Looks familiar!
15:31 Can a city reach capacity?
16:14 Favelas
17:12 please bro, just one more parking lot
18:22 NYC housing costs
19:25 Congestion pricing
19:58 Hall of Fame: Brasilia
20:55 Running out of water

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