Project by: Malika Adrien, Jose Luongo Alcalde, Natalie Aramendia, Marco Barrientos, Chanel Chin, David Marvin, Charlie Olson, Bolun Qiu, Haochen Tan, Xinyu (Kelly) Yan, June Yoon, Eddy Zhang
This urban planning studio examines Phase 2 of the MTA’s Second Avenue Subway, which will extend the Q line from 96th Street to 125th Street, adding stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets with regional connections to the 4/5/6 and Metro-North. As the MTA advances property acquisition, including acquisitions via eminent domain, key decisions about the future use and disposition of these sites remain unresolved. In partnership with CIVITAS, the project explores how these publicly controlled sites can support equitable, community-driven development. Building on prior rezoning efforts by the New York City Department of City Planning, the studio evaluates zoning, development potential, and policy constraints to identify opportunities for affordable housing, community facilities, and local retail. Through engagement with residents, community boards, and neighborhood organizations, the work emphasizes community-based planning strategies that address displacement concerns while aligning transit investment with local needs and long-term neighborhood stability.
