Neighborhoods Now 2022: 82nd St Partnership

NHDM N H D M Architects has been working with the inspiring people at Libreria Barco de Papel to enhance their spaces, figuring out ways to improve its engagement with the street and the neighborhood. They have also been working with the local community to gauge their current thoughts on and the potential of Manuel de Dios Unanue Park.

To provide 82nd St. Partnership with assets to engage with local stakeholders and elected officials, they produced urban analysis and design proposals for the potential renovation of the Park, which will transform this critical public space in Jackson Heights.

Libreria Barco de Papel and Manuel de Dios Unanue Park Project

FRIED FRANK

Plant & Paint Event

82nd St Partnership Jackson Heights

Goals

FRIED FRANK NHDM MA’AM SO – IL

• At the center of this goal is fostering a safer space in the Dunningham Triangle by anchoring activities directed at children and families, increase foot traffic and transform the area into a more welcoming place where community is able to support small businesses and safely re-engage with this public space.

• Create and implement a roadmap for the 82nd Street commercial corridor to rebuild from the pandemic as a thriving, family-friendly business district.

Fried Frank supported the team with legal guidance. They worked with NHDM Architects on property boundaries and ownership of street frontage and other Department of Building regulations, provided liabilitywaiver forms, and attended City Planning working meetings, on behalf of 82nd St Partnership, to discuss potential changes to the Zoning Resolution to support small businesses in the area.

SO – IL SO – IL worked with the Partnership to create artistic and accessible multifunctional modular outdoor furniture that will support activities in the public realm, starting at Dunningham Triangle. Their proposal is designed to work as storage when closed, and as multifunctional furniture when open. It is adaptable to support multiple activities and resistant to weathering conditions.

82nd Street Partnership Visual Identity

MA’AM MA’AM has worked closely with the 82nd Street Partnership to create a cohesive brand architecture and visual identity for the organization. We were inspired by 82nd St itself - the vibrant, multi-cultural community, the passion radiated by small businesses, and the commitment of 82nd Street Partnership to celebrate and elevate the neighborhood. The new visual identity is dynamic and multifaceted - a reflection of the partners and people who call Jackson Heights home.

With bold typography and an expressive color palette, we are signaling pride and optimism for what’s next.

Outcomes and Next Steps The work completed through Neighborhoods Now was awarded the International Downtown Association 2022 Award of Excellence.

This summer alone, the partnership hosted 68 events at Dunningham Triangle, and in the process helped the community reclaim their local park, increased small restaurants customer base, and engaged NYC’s agencies to address quality of live issues. Across the neighborhood, three new Street Seats were installed, creating more welcoming streetscapes. The team in now engaged in ongoing conversations with Parks about installing Dunningham Triangle’s furniture.

In addition, the team began developing plans to transform Manuel de Dios Unanue Park into a user-friendly space, and is working with NYC’s only Spanish-language bookstore to use its space more efficiently to increase inventory and visibility.