You Choose: Which Design is Best for Hoboken’s Newest Park

Starr Whitehouse presented four design options for a new park in southwest Hoboken. Following the presentation, the designs were posted online along with a survey to solicit community feedback. Starr Whitehouse will analyze the public’s response and fold their considerations into the final design.

The Hudson Reporter details the second public meeting for a new park in southwest Hoboken. At the meeting, Starr Whitehouse unveiled four potential concepts and renderings for the park: a market square, an urban woodland, a neighborhood park, and an active play space. Attendees had the opportunity to provide feedback on each proposal which Starr Whitehouse will use to develop a final concept design for the park.

Starr Whitehouse has been conducting extensive economic research in Gowanus, as a part of a Brownfield Opportunity Area Study. Stephen Whitehouse says “what we found is that there’s a lot more economic activity in the Gowanus area than is generally reported – there’s a very diverse set of economies there… There’s a lot happening. It just doesn’t generate activity on the street.”

This Department of Parks and Recreation press release highlights the design features of Bushwick Inlet Park, designed by Starr Whitehouse and Kiss + Cathcart.

Starr Whitehouse is taking a lead role in developing Community Rebuilding and Resiliency Plans after Hurricane Sandy. Partner Laura Starr is quoted saying, “When we were developing ideas for the waterfront, we ultimately wanted to create landscape for all aspects of the community. It is completely feasible for a waterfront landscape to perform in many different ways, such as for habitat, for recreational space, as an economic generator, and of course, for protection.”

The Architects Newspaper profiles Starr Whitehouse’s work on a new signature residential building designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. The landscape design calls for a central courtyard reminiscent of Central Park where people can sunbathe, barbeque and play.

Starr Whitehouse is selected to participate in the HUD’s Rebuild by Design Competition, a design competition aimed at developing innovative and implementable solutions to protect and enhance Sandy-affected communities. Starr Whitehouse team members include Bjarke Ingels Group, One Architecture, James Lima Planning & Development, Green Shield Ecology, Buro Happold, AEA consulting, and Project Projects.

Starr Whitehouse unveiled renderings of the proposed Echo Bay waterfront development in New Rochelle, NY. LoHud quotes Partner Stephen Whitehouse as saying “New Rochelle has a beautiful waterfront, and the new park… will bring this experience into easy walking distance of downtown and the East End neighborhood…The park will restore an industrial site for nature and people, enhancing and celebrating the rich native ecology of the tidal flats.”

Dwell showcases Bushwick Inlet Park, for which Starr Whitehouse won a 2013 ASLA-NY Design Honor Award. The award winning park, featuring a turf field that doubles as a storm water retention basin and park house with a sloping green roof, is the first phase of a larger park planned for North Williamsburg.

Laura Starr discusses the future challenges of landscape architecture in the post-Bloomberg era and the need for a more comprehensive and integrated green infrastructure for New York City.