Since 2006, LW! has demonstrated its commitment to highlighting the natural links between Historic Preservation and Green Building to deepen understanding that saving New York City’s historic built environment is inextricably links with protecting our environment.  LANDMARK WEST! has developed Green Buildings Seminars that focus on improving energy efficiency in existing buildings, innovative ways to adaptively reuse materials and restoration techniques that deepen awareness as to the natural links between  Green Building and Historic Preservation.  These seminars have gained the approval of the New York State Division of Licensing Services for real estate broker continuing education credits.

Environmental Benefits of Open Spaces Project
Hidden behind rows of brownstones that line the side streets of the Upper West Side are hundreds of privately owned adjoining backyards which shape open air micro-environments. Existing studies that have focused on public open spaces and vegetation have found that urban forests convey a range of environmental benefits to the surrounding environment but a detailed investigation of the environmental and economic benefits of privately owned open spaces and vegetation has not yet been undertaken.

LANDMARK WEST! is partnering with The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in order to quantify the environmental benefits, including the urban heat island effect and potential mitigation impact, that these areas have on air pollution.  This open space consisting of adjoining back yards, cover roughly 115 acres of land on the Upper West Side (between 59th and 110th Streets, between Central Park West and Riverside Drive) or approximately 14% of the size of Central Park! Click here for the detailed proposal Urban Forests in Our Midst .


Urban Forests in our Midst: The Environmental Benefits of Vegetation and Open Spaces within Brownstone Blocks on the Upper West Side
Abstract

Background and Context:
Hidden behind rows of brownstones that line the side streets of the Upper West Side are hundreds of privately owned adjoining backyards which shape open air micro-environments. Studies that have focused on public open spaces and vegetation have found that urban forests convey a range of environmental benefits to the surrounding environment (Nowak, 2007; Rosensweig, 2006; Peper, 2007; Riverkeeper, 2007), but a detailed investigation of the environmental and economic benefits of privately owned open spaces and vegetation has not yet been undertaken.

Scientific Partners and Personnel:
This research study is a creative community-university partnership that brings together LANDMARK WEST!, a non-profit community-based organization committed to preserving the architectural heritage of Manhattan’s Upper West Side with The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in order to develop evidence-based policies and best practices with regard to environmentally sound management of privately owned open spaces. Observable data and remotely sensed images, GIS mapping, CITYGreen and UFORE computer software models will be used to provide quantitative data for the Project.

Project Goals:
This Study seeks to ascertain the environmental and economic value of trees and shrubs planted in the combined rear yards behind the rows of brownstones on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. There are approximately 100 blocks between 59 th and 110 Streets, west of Central Park West, containing significant open, adjoining back yards, covering roughly 5 million square feet, or 115 acres of land-- that is approximately 14% of the size of Central Park!

Analysis of the micro-climates in sample brownstone blocks on the Upper West Side in City Council District 6 and Community Board 7 will allow us to determine whether these open areas present mitigation strategies to: 1) alleviate the urban heat island effect (UHI), thereby potentially reducing air conditioning use and energy consumption; 2) remove air pollution, including ozone thereby improving air quality; and 3) reduce stormwater runoff that overwhelms New York City’s water treatment infrastructure during heavy rains.

Once the Study is completed an on-line brochure and presentation materials will be developed to educate community residents about environmental stewardship and the range of environmental strategies that are available, affordable and suitable to employ within the small scale back yards typical on brownstone blocks. This resource will be a nexus between science and community advocacy and ensure that the scientific findings will be available and useful to the community. We believe that if these combined backyards are found to convey environmental benefits to the surrounding neighborhood, implications for similarly configured areas throughout the five boroughs could be profound.

To donate or for more information, please call 212 496-8110 or email evanmason@landmarkwest.org

Events - stay tuned for upcoming events!

Past Events
Green Building and Historic Preservation Seminar December 10, 2007
Green Building and Historic Preservation Seminar April 25, 2007

Photos
Please click here for some pictures showing examples of combined backyards, rich with green, lush open space, and sanctuary from the hustle-bustle of the City. Send in photos of other backyards to: landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org (please label them, so we know where they are!).

*The urban heat island effect is a measurable increase in ambient urban air temperatures resulting primarily from the replacement of vegetation with buildings, roads, and other heat-absorbing infrastructure. The heat island effect can result in significant temperature differences between rural and urban areas. http://www.epa.gov/hiri/resources/glossary.html#u