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Transforming Urban Vacant Land: Urban Agriculture as a Multifaceted Solution
Samuel H. Sage, Paul M. Harris & Hongbin Gao09.07.2012
ATLANTIC STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION, INC.
Growing Power's National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference
About ASLFNew York based not-for-profit, headquartered in the Near
Westside area in the City of Syracuse
Established in 1982 to provide legal, technical, and organizational services to individuals and organizations dealing with environmental issues
Has been taking a leading role in protection and restoration of Syracuse waterways and addressing CSO issues
Is incorporating innovative strategies to improve economic, social , and environmental sustainability in urban life
Planning Issues for Urban America
Air & Water Pollution
Population Shifting
Crime
Food Deserts
Vacancy
Insufficient Urban Green Space
Climate Change and Basic Living
High Unemployment
Transportation
Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban LifeEnvironmental
Reduce energy consumption for and emissions from food transportation
Preserve urban open/green space
Reduce urban heat islands
Mitigate stormwater runoff
Increase biodiversity
Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban LifeSocially
Implement food justice strategies and improve food security, particularly for underserved inner city communities
Bring about social cohesiveness and create a sense of community
Reduce crime rate
Introduce healthier food and life style
Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban LifeEconomically
Create jobs for urban dwellers from all socioeconomic backgrounds
Create local business
Reduce transportation
Reduce energy cost
The ImpactsEconomically draining for city
Lower property values
Visual quality degradation
High rates of crime and arson
Public health issues Property Value Degradation around A Vacant Property
Source: Temple University Center for Public Policy and Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project. “Blight Free Philadelphia: A Public-Private Strategy to Create and Enhance Neighborhood Value.” Philadelphia, 2001.
The OpportunitiesUrban agriculture
Stormwater retention
Public green space
Urban infill development
Urban forestry
Habitat creation and conservation
A Vegetable Garden on A Former Vacant Lot in Cleveland, OH
Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/growing-self-sufficient-cities/
The Benefits of Reclaiming Urban Vacant Land
Produce fresh food
Create jobs
Beautify community
Mitigate pollution
Reduce crime
Introduce healthy life style
Increase property value
Reduce heat island effect
Create and conserve urban open space
Save municipal cost on maintenance
Revitalize inner city community
Background: The Issue (cont.)
Diagram of a Combined Sewer Overflow System. Adapted from “CSOs Explained” Official City of Bremerton Site.
Municipal Source of Pollution: Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)
The Process: ACJASLF and the NYS-DEC 1988 lawsuit against
Onondaga County under the Clean Water Act
METRO Consent Judgment
Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ, January 1998)The key legal document Outlined two dozen projects for the County Extensive monitoring program
The Process: The 4th Stip to ACJ 2009The court order requires Onondaga County to use
GRAY and GREEN infrastructure addressing CSOs
Gray Infrastructure: Commitment to 88.7% annual volume capture in by 2013
Green Infrastructure (GI): Commitment to an additional 6.3% annual volume capture in Green Infrastructure commencing immediately in 2009, resulting in 95% total annual volume capture by 2018
The Solution: Save the Rain (STR)A GI program created by the County
Encompasses the storm water and GI initiatives Educates the public about issues and how they
can use and benefit from GI
InitiativesGI on public landGreen Improvement Fund: GI on private landRain Barrel ProgramUrban Forestry ProgramSTR-Vacant Lot Program (VLP)
VLP Program GoalsReduce minimum of 9 million gallons of CSO by
2018 with GI on publicly owned vacant lots
Provide different forms of GREEN infrastructure projects for Save The Rain
Simultaneously reclaim greenspace in a useful way and improve value of vacant lots to community
Engage public in GI maintenance for Save The Rain
Syracuse Vacant Lot Inventory3,668 vacant parcels in the
City of Syracuse (2012 data)
1,786 vacant parcels (392 ac.) in combined sewer service area where GI projects are required for managing stormwater and CSO’s
828 publicly owned vacant parcels which could be potentially used
Vacant Lots in the City of Syracuse.
Syracuse Vacant Lot Inventory814 of 828 public vacant parcels are under City
ownership
Ownership NYS County
City of Syracuse
TotalCity Owned
City TDCity
Agencies
Seizable Parcels
InventoryParcels 6 8 78 120 37 579 828
Acreage2.26 7.39 36.72 28.33 6.09 107.27 188.06
CandidatesParcels 0 0 24 60 25 332 441
Acreage 0 0 6.92 12 5.06 80.14 104.12
VLP: A Joint Venture Between Onondaga County and City of
Syracuse
Initiated in 2011 by Onondaga County
Funded by Onondaga County to built GI projects on City owned vacant lots
Developed collaboratively to fit under both governments’ immediate planning goals
Based on the agreement that defines the County’s and the City’s responsibilities in O&M of the VLP projects
Developed and coordinated by ASLF
The City of Syracuse Ordinance that depicts the City-County Agreement on installing GI on the City properties
VLP’s Reclamation TypologiesUrban OrchardCommunity Garden (Ornamental or Vegetable)Urban Forest/Tree Planting
Combined with other GI practices such as rain garden, cistern, bioswale, stormwater planter, etc. to manage stormwater runoff
VLP Pilot Project Rendering: Urban Orchard at 701 Oswego Street, Syracuse, New York
VLP Pilot Project: Urban Orchard at 701 Oswego Street, Syracuse, New York
Before After
VLP Projects: 2011
VLP Projects: 2012
Project Status
Concept Phase
Field Work Phase
50% Design Phase
Bid Phase Total
Number of Projects
7 3 3 3 16
Community Involvement in VLP Outreach to general public and communities near
project sites
Coordination with community in planning & design
process (community meetings, design workshops)
Community participation in maintenance (organized to
ensure the quality of performance)
Green job training and job creation
Further Needs and ChallengesLong-term ownership and O&M mechanism
Alternatives Under public ownership Under private ownership and operation Land Trust model
O&M Produce Taxes Utilities
Further Needs and ChallengesPublic acceptance and involvement in projects
Safety issues related to urban farming on abandoned land
Lawn VS Native GardenTree(s) VS Forest
An integral planning process to incorporate all stakeholders’ interests and meet their needs, particularly for urban agriculture typologies under VLP
Legitimize the Process
Adaptation of Zoning and Land Use Policy
Adaptation of Food Policy
Guidelines for Growing Safe Food (on Potentially Contaminated Vacant Land)
Incorporation of Urban Agriculture in Urban Planning Agenda
Identify and Engage Key Stakeholders
Different levels of governmentRelevant departments and professionalsLocal leaders and councilsPrivate sectorLandownersAcademic organizations or research institutesNGOs, social movements, grassroots and
religious organizations
Develop/Adopt Appropriate Urban Agriculture Types for Vacant Lot Management
Community Garden
Allotment Garden
Urban Commercial Farm
Side-yard Garden
School Garden
For More InformationAtlantic States Legal Foundation, Inc.
658 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse, New York 13204315-475-1170. [email protected]://www.aslf.org/
Onondaga County Save The Rain Programhttp://savetherain.us/