Resilient IBZ
Academic Work
Project Credit: Collaboration w/ Niharika Shekhawat and Minjung Lee
Year: 2019
Location: Brooklyn, New York. USA
Program: M.S. Architecture & Urban Design
School: Columbia University—Graduate School of Architecture Planning & Preservation
-
The state of New York is the largest regional economy in the United States; manufacturing is a major contributor to its growth. Currently, the city of New York has twenty-one Industrial Business Zones. Eighteen of these are located in waterfront sites. Sunset Park is home to an IBZ. Global warming, sea level rise, and extreme weather conditions threaten the IBZs, their ecosystems, and the prosperity of their communities.
Living shorelines stabilize the shore, reduce erosion and storm damage. They increase the flood storage capacity and strengthen the ecosystems. Hard infrastructure decays, while living shorelines naturally grow stronger over time. Resilient IBZ provides a resiliency framework to protect the waterfront Industrial Business Zones through the lens of ecology, community, and economy.
VideoWhat is an IBZ?Industrial Business Zone (IBZ)
Created in early 2006 in areas of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. The IBZ program evolved from the City’s earlier policies focused on In-Place Industrial Parks (IPIP)
Designated area in a city where industrial activities, such as manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution, are encouraged and protected. These zones are often located in urban centers to maintain the industrial workforce and prevent displacement due to real estate development pressures.
Key characteristics of IBZs include:
Zoning Protection: IBZs have special zoning regulations that discourage non-industrial development (like housing), ensuring that industrial businesses have the space they need to operate.
Tax Incentives: Businesses operating within IBZs often benefit from tax incentives or financial support programs to stimulate growth and maintain competitiveness.
Workforce Development: Many IBZs focus on supporting industrial businesses through workforce training programs to ensure local employment and skills development.
The goal of IBZs is to preserve urban manufacturing jobs, support the local economy, and manage industrial land use efficiently
The IBZs are at riskSite: Sunset ParkHow can the IBZ evolve with the raising sea levels?Strategic FrameworkAnalyzing Existing ConditionsDesign ApproachThe Brooklyn Greenway as an adaptive seawall armatureProgram Distribution
North - Manufacturing Sector
Center - Communal Cluster
South - Nursery Bay
Nursery Pods as itinerant coastal restoration devicesAn IBZ ready for change
