Design Manifesto

The district is facing a risk of sea-level rise, gentrification, dense houses, and losing habitats for local species.

To deal with these problems and follow the context of the policy goal of the Green New Deal, the project brought about several strategies. First, for decarbonization, the project introduces PV panels, green patches, urban farms, new walking/biking paths, wetlands to the district. Plants in green space and wetlands can absorb carbon dioxide. Biking and walking paths encourage people to choose low-carbon types of transportation. PV panels will reduce the use of traditional energy resources, the community will use clean energy instead. As calculated, these plants will additionally absorb 21209 US tons of carbon, and PV panels will produce about 191 thousand MWH per year.

Second, for justice, the project will increase 350 house units in the district and move about 500 house units to areas that are less susceptible to floods. The project will introduce some higher houses such as 5-story apartment buildings to the district. In this way, more people will afford houses in this district. In addition, in order to return control of some land areas to indigenous people, the project turned some housing lands into urban farmlands beside the shore. The strategy not only brings lands back to indigenous people but also deals with the problem of sea-level rise.

Third, for jobs, as mentioned above, urban farms will encourage public participation, and also provide more jobs for the community. PV panels will also provide jobs for workers to maintain them in the long run. The project also arranges a community center and some natural markets, which will also provide more job opportunities.