Transforming Urban Vacant Land: Urban Agriculture as a Multifaceted Solution

Samuel H. Sage, Paul M. Harris & Hongbin Gao09.07.2012

ATLANTIC STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION, INC.

Growing Power's National-International Urban & Small Farm Conference

About ASLFNew York based not-for-profit, headquartered in the Near

Westside area in the City of Syracuse

Established in 1982 to provide legal, technical, and organizational services to individuals and organizations dealing with environmental issues

Has been taking a leading role in protection and restoration of Syracuse waterways and addressing CSO issues

Is incorporating innovative strategies to improve economic, social , and environmental sustainability in urban life

Urban Agriculture: Potentials for Today’s Urban Planning

Planning Issues for Urban America

Air & Water Pollution

Population Shifting

Crime

Food Deserts

Vacancy

Insufficient Urban Green Space

Climate Change and Basic Living

High Unemployment

Transportation

Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban LifeEnvironmental

Reduce energy consumption for and emissions from food transportation

Preserve urban open/green space

Reduce urban heat islands

Mitigate stormwater runoff

Increase biodiversity

Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban LifeSocially

Implement food justice strategies and improve food security, particularly for underserved inner city communities

Bring about social cohesiveness and create a sense of community

Reduce crime rate

Introduce healthier food and life style

Urban Agriculture’s Potential Roles in Today’s Urban LifeEconomically

Create jobs for urban dwellers from all socioeconomic backgrounds

Create local business

Reduce transportation

Reduce energy cost

Urban Vacant Land: The Regenerating Point From Below Zero

The ImpactsEconomically draining for city

Lower property values

Visual quality degradation

High rates of crime and arson

Public health issues Property Value Degradation around A Vacant Property

Source: Temple University Center for Public Policy and Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project. “Blight Free Philadelphia: A Public-Private Strategy to Create and Enhance Neighborhood Value.” Philadelphia, 2001.

The OpportunitiesUrban agriculture

Stormwater retention

Public green space

Urban infill development

Urban forestry

Habitat creation and conservation

A Vegetable Garden on A Former Vacant Lot in Cleveland, OH

Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/growing-self-sufficient-cities/

The Benefits of Reclaiming Urban Vacant Land

Produce fresh food

Create jobs

Beautify community

Mitigate pollution

Reduce crime

Introduce healthy life style

Increase property value

Reduce heat island effect

Create and conserve urban open space

Save municipal cost on maintenance

Revitalize inner city community

Greening Vacant Lots in the City of Syracuse, New York

Case Study

Background: The IssueOnondaga Lake, one of the most polluted

lakes in North America

Background: The Issue (cont.)

Diagram of a Combined Sewer Overflow System. Adapted from “CSOs Explained” Official City of Bremerton Site.

Municipal Source of Pollution: Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)

The Process: ACJASLF and the NYS-DEC 1988 lawsuit against

Onondaga County under the Clean Water Act

METRO Consent Judgment

Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ, January 1998)The key legal document Outlined two dozen projects for the County Extensive monitoring program

The Process: The 4th Stip to ACJ 2009The court order requires Onondaga County to use

GRAY and GREEN infrastructure addressing CSOs

Gray Infrastructure: Commitment to 88.7% annual volume capture in by 2013

Green Infrastructure (GI): Commitment to an additional 6.3% annual volume capture in Green Infrastructure commencing immediately in 2009, resulting in 95% total annual volume capture by 2018

The Solution: Save the Rain (STR)A GI program created by the County

Encompasses the storm water and GI initiatives Educates the public about issues and how they

can use and benefit from GI

InitiativesGI on public landGreen Improvement Fund: GI on private landRain Barrel ProgramUrban Forestry ProgramSTR-Vacant Lot Program (VLP)

VLP Program GoalsReduce minimum of 9 million gallons of CSO by

2018 with GI on publicly owned vacant lots

Provide different forms of GREEN infrastructure projects for Save The Rain

Simultaneously reclaim greenspace in a useful way and improve value of vacant lots to community

Engage public in GI maintenance for Save The Rain

Syracuse Vacant Lot Inventory3,668 vacant parcels in the

City of Syracuse (2012 data)

1,786 vacant parcels (392 ac.) in combined sewer service area where GI projects are required for managing stormwater and CSO’s

828 publicly owned vacant parcels which could be potentially used

Vacant Lots in the City of Syracuse.

Syracuse Vacant Lot Inventory814 of 828 public vacant parcels are under City

ownership

Ownership NYS County

City of Syracuse

TotalCity Owned

City TDCity

Agencies

Seizable Parcels

InventoryParcels 6 8 78 120 37 579 828

Acreage2.26 7.39 36.72 28.33 6.09 107.27 188.06

CandidatesParcels 0 0 24 60 25 332 441

Acreage 0 0 6.92 12 5.06 80.14 104.12

VLP: A Joint Venture Between Onondaga County and City of

Syracuse

Initiated in 2011 by Onondaga County

Funded by Onondaga County to built GI projects on City owned vacant lots

Developed collaboratively to fit under both governments’ immediate planning goals

Based on the agreement that defines the County’s and the City’s responsibilities in O&M of the VLP projects

Developed and coordinated by ASLF

The City of Syracuse Ordinance that depicts the City-County Agreement on installing GI on the City properties

VLP’s Reclamation TypologiesUrban OrchardCommunity Garden (Ornamental or Vegetable)Urban Forest/Tree Planting

Combined with other GI practices such as rain garden, cistern, bioswale, stormwater planter, etc. to manage stormwater runoff

VLP Pilot Project Rendering: Urban Orchard at 701 Oswego Street, Syracuse, New York

VLP Pilot Project: Urban Orchard at 701 Oswego Street, Syracuse, New York

Before After

VLP Projects: 2011

VLP Projects: 2012

Project Status

Concept Phase

Field Work Phase

50% Design Phase

Bid Phase Total

Number of Projects

7 3 3 3 16

Community Involvement in VLP Outreach to general public and communities near

project sites

Coordination with community in planning & design

process (community meetings, design workshops)

Community participation in maintenance (organized to

ensure the quality of performance)

Green job training and job creation

Further Needs and ChallengesLong-term ownership and O&M mechanism

Alternatives Under public ownership Under private ownership and operation Land Trust model

O&M Produce Taxes Utilities

Further Needs and ChallengesPublic acceptance and involvement in projects

Safety issues related to urban farming on abandoned land

Lawn VS Native GardenTree(s) VS Forest

An integral planning process to incorporate all stakeholders’ interests and meet their needs, particularly for urban agriculture typologies under VLP

Integrate Urban Agriculture & Vacant Lot Management in Urban Planning Process

Discussion

Legitimize the Process

Adaptation of Zoning and Land Use Policy

Adaptation of Food Policy

Guidelines for Growing Safe Food (on Potentially Contaminated Vacant Land)

Incorporation of Urban Agriculture in Urban Planning Agenda

Identify and Engage Key Stakeholders

Different levels of governmentRelevant departments and professionalsLocal leaders and councilsPrivate sectorLandownersAcademic organizations or research institutesNGOs, social movements, grassroots and

religious organizations

Develop/Adopt Appropriate Urban Agriculture Types for Vacant Lot Management

Community Garden

Allotment Garden

Urban Commercial Farm

Side-yard Garden

School Garden

For More InformationAtlantic States Legal Foundation, Inc.

658 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse, New York 13204315-475-1170. atlantic.states@aslf.orghttp://www.aslf.org/

Onondaga County Save The Rain Programhttp://savetherain.us/

Questions