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Inside NYC's First Post-Disaster Housing Units
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 10, 2014
Modified Jun 10, 2014
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jun 10, 2014
Modified Jun 10, 2014
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This morning the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM), headed up by Commissioner Joseph Bruno, and Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Feniosky Pena-Mora unveiled the city's first post-disaster housing prototype.
The prototype, which includes one handicap-accessible unit, is made up of three apartments: one 3-bedroom and two 1-bedrooms, ranging in size from 480-square-feet to 813-square-feet. The space—next to OEM's offices near Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn—measures approximately 40’ x 100’. Each unit comes with a small balcony, storage space, a kitchen, living space, and bathroom, on top of the bedrooms. For comparison's sake, the microunits that were unveiled last year as part of the city's "adAPT NYC" pilot program ranged from 250 and 370-square-feet.
Here's a timelapse showing how the units were assembled. They are designed to be built on site, allowing people to stay in their neighborhoods in a post-disaster situation, even when they cannot access their own homes.
The housing units are a first-of-its-kind model, and will "test the many facets of disaster housing in an urban environment," Bruno explained, noting that they are a local solution to a national problem.
The prototypes will be tested out in the coming months by some of those who were involved in the project, initially with short stays by OEM and City employees. In addition, "two academic institutions will conduct evaluations throughout the next year: NYU-Poly will study how well the prototype performs as a living space and Pratt will look at how the buildings could be used in large numbers to restore neighborhoods."
There is also a public gallery in the structure, showcasing the project's development process. The OEM tells us, "The first floor contains a public gallery with information about the project and post-disaster housing. It is expected to open in the next few weeks and hours will be posted soon, both on signage outside of the prototype and through OEM’s public channels."
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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