Fifth day: Urban and regional planning
Today we focused on planning dynamics of New York. The two lectures of the day were both given by organization and people who are involved in planning dynamics both from policy making and NGO perspectives. We've gathered in front of the Regional Planning Association's (RPA) in the morning and hosted by this organization. RPA is a 90 years old not-for-profit organization (with a lot of private sector involvement) who is doing research, planning and advocacy in the fields of urban and regional planning in the Tri-State Region (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) to bring mega trends on the policy agenda and set targets for policy makers. We've learned that their role is very important and sometimes create discussions in the fragmented policy scene.
After this very interesting session we've continued with the last student presentations. I joined Jan van Weesep's group this time and followed the presentation of two RA students Sophie Rijnaard and Lisa Deijl to Chelsea. They took us to the meat cutting district and starting from the historical biscuit factory, which is now know as the Chelsea Market, they guided us through the neighborhood which is under transformation. Lots of artists who have special skills like installation art, large paintings, or video art are present in this neighbo
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rhood due
to the availability of large spaces. Wile've walked through the piers which are now transformed into fancy sport centers and went on top of the famous High Line (http://www.thehighline.org), which is an old railway line used by freight trains above the streets of Manhattan's West Side. Facing the risk of demolition after losing it's function (yes, now you should think of post-industrial era) the line was left to it's destiny, and quite connected to this morning's session, saved by the RPA's advice to keep it for a future purpose. Landscape designers and architects made sure that it is an elevated park and today it is not only an amazing tourist attraction but also an element in the neighborhood that triggered the soci-spatial transformations (and yes, gentrification too!). New or renovated residential units on the line sell for millions today.
We went down and took a (PATH) train to New Jersey to catch our appointment at the New Jersey's City Planning Office. New Jersey has an interesting feel after the busy streets of Manhattan. Once you are out of the underground you feel that you are in another city, which is more quiet, organised and clean, and has the most spectacular view over lower Manhattan! The lecture at the City Planning Office gave us the highlights of how New Jersey has been developing through the history and how it is planned. The planners of the Office took us to a guided tour, which showed us how this commuter town is booming and how it's waterfront is changing rapidly.
Our afternoon program continued by a guided walking tour of Jan van Weesep around the World Trade Center and Battery Park waterfront development through the streets around the Stock Exchange and ended in the waterfront, just below the Brooklyn Bridge with a small 'beach' party with the UCU alumni. Tat a he evening continued for the devoted jazz fans heading towards the West Village and ending up in a tiny little jazz club called 'Smalls' with a music that was extraordinary. What a feast to the ears and what a way to end this wonderful day! Tomorrow is going to be our final and perhaps the most busiest (and hottest unfortunately) day...
Today we focused on planning dynamics of New York. The two lectures of the day were both given by organization and people who are involved in planning dynamics both from policy making and NGO perspectives. We've gathered in front of the Regional Planning Association's (RPA) in the morning and hosted by this organization. RPA is a 90 years old not-for-profit organization (with a lot of private sector involvement) who is doing research, planning and advocacy in the fields of urban and regional planning in the Tri-State Region (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) to bring mega trends on the policy agenda and set targets for policy makers. We've learned that their role is very important and sometimes create discussions in the fragmented policy scene. 
After this very interesting session we've continued with the last student presentations. I joined Jan van Weesep's group this time and followed the presentation of two RA students Sophie Rijnaard and Lisa Deijl to Chelsea. They took us to the meat cutting district and starting from the historical biscuit factory, which is now know as the Chelsea Market, they guided us through the neighborhood which is under transformation. Lots of artists who have special skills like installation art, large paintings, or video art are present in this neighbo
<
/a>
rhood due
to the availability of large spaces. Wile've walked through the piers which are now transformed into fancy sport centers and went on top of the famous High Line (http://www.thehighline.org), which is an old railway line used by freight trains above the streets of Manhattan's West Side. Facing the risk of demolition after losing it's function (yes, now you should think of post-industrial era) the line was left to it's destiny, and quite connected to this morning's session, saved by the RPA's advice to keep it for a future purpose. Landscape designers and architects made sure that it is an elevated park and today it is not only an amazing tourist attraction but also an element in the neighborhood that triggered the soci-spatial transformations (and yes, gentrification too!). New or renovated residential units on the line sell for millions today.
We went down and took a (PATH) train to New Jersey to catch our appointment at the New Jersey's City Planning Office. New Jersey has an interesting feel after the busy streets of Manhattan. Once you are out of the underground you feel that you are in another city, which is more quiet, organised and clean, and has the most spectacular view over lower Manhattan! The lecture at the City Planning Office gave us the highlights of how New Jersey has been developing through the history and how it is planned. The planners of the Office took us to a guided tour, which showed us how this commuter town is booming and how it's waterfront is changing rapidly. 
Our afternoon program continued by a guided walking tour of Jan van Weesep around the World Trade Center and Battery Park waterfront development through the streets around the Stock Exchange and ended in the waterfront, just below the Brooklyn Bridge with a small 'beach' party with the UCU alumni. Tat a he evening continued for the devoted jazz fans heading towards the West Village and ending up in a tiny little jazz club called 'Smalls' with a music that was extraordinary. What a feast to the ears and what a way to end this wonderful day! Tomorrow is going to be our final and perhaps the most busiest (and hottest unfortunately) day... 
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