Urban Studio, Fall 2019

Faculty: Brian McGrath, Claire Weisz, Graci Mills

This project seeks to mitigate scale and intervene at the neighborhood level to connect community, industry and infrastructure via a local food network. Mott Haven in the South Bronx was identified as an opportune test site. Ironically, despite its proximity to Hunt’s Point, it is one of NYC’s most food insecure neighborhoods. In 2008, NYC started the Green Cart Initiative to increase access to produce in areas such as these - “food desserts.” Interviews with local green cart vendors lead to this proposal, which aims to support and increase the number of vendors using their permits, thus multiplying their impact. The project ties into existing rail infrastructure in order to decrease reliance on trucks - another environmental justice issue in this neighborhood.