Portfolio of Planning research and design

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Marvelous Echeng
Planning Project Portfolio

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Table of Contents
Resume ………………………………………………………………………… 3
Cover Letter ……………………………………………………………………… 4
Project: Essex Crossings …………………………………………………………… 5
References ………………………………………………………………………… 19

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Marvelous Echeng marv1020@hotmail.com
(904) 778-5028
EDUCATION
Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Design December 2018
RELEVANT COURSEWORK
• City Structure and Change • Site Planning and Engineering
• Planning Project • Designing Safer Communities
• Architectural Designs • Planning Design Studio
ACADEMIC PROJECTS
Planning Project: Research Proposal
• Worked on literature reviews, existing studies, and case studies that solidified a research proposal.
• Implemented the proposal that will improve the complete streets of a site in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
• The proposal created a plan for better sidewalks, street buffers, bike lanes, and narrower main roads.
Planning Design Studio: New River Cove Project
• Solved a mixed-use idea that includes parking space, residential, commercial and recreational amenities.
• Took photo concepts that helped emphasize the understanding of the streetscape and pedestrian realm.
• Utilized urban design concepts in projects including building façade, green design and street buffers.
Site Planning and Engineering: Site Design Project
• Solved the idea of a cut and fill within contour lines and within hardscapes and softscapes.
• Understood the idea of site analysis which includes, green solutions, demographic and topographic concepts.
• Drafted site plans which includes azimuth and altitude of the sun, regulations, setbacks and property lines.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Florida Atlantic University Alumni Center Boca Raton, FL
Call Representative September 2018 - December 2018
• Calling alumni prospects, building rapport, and asking for donations to support the college funded programs.
Florida Atlantic University Bookstore Boca Raton, FL
Team Member 1 May 2018 - December 2018
• Locate books for transfer orders, return orders and pick up orders for customers.
• Checks out books, retail, materials for the customers.
• Stores, organizes, and shelves course books, materials, university apparel and retail products.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Jacksonville Public Library Jacksonville, Florida
Library volunteer Sept. 2010 – June 2011
• Shelved and discharged books, movies, DVDS, CDs, comics and other items
• Assisted customers with any inquiries about shelfed items in the library.
• Earned a certification for completing 100 hours of involvement.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Knowledgeable in Sketch Up, AutoCAD, Photoshop and ArcGIS systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Publisher.
AWARDS
• CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) Certificate April 2018
Florida State College Jacksonville, FL
Associate of Arts Degree December 2013

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Dear Hiring Professional,
I would like to express my interest in working with your company. I believe my utilization of skills and
background in customer service, research, communication, leadership, critical thinking, and problem
solving would be of a great fit to this position. My goal is not just to enhance my work experience and skill
through the communicative and working industry but to be of a great asset and benefit to the team.
Enclosed is my resume which includes my education, project, work and volunteer experience. I have
received a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Design in addition to my Associate’s in General Studies. Over the
years, I have studied and worked on urban planning, development, design aspects and projects. The study
covers an analysis of several parcels, streets, roads and districts within Florida. It includes literature reviews,
case studies and existing studies. Through studying, I developed a research proposal that recommends the
need for improvement of complete streets within a community. The development of the proposal highlights
necessary elements for complete streets which includes the improvement of sidewalks, street buffers, bike
lanes, and main roads.
I have worked on a design project in class which is attributed to an apartment complex called the New River
Cove within Davie, Florida. With careful analysis, research, critical thinking and groupwork, we were able
to successfully create a redesign project. The design project incorporates studies of mixed-use ideas which
are walkable neighborhoods, hotels, business districts, commercial and industrial districts, shops, and
amenities all within one area of living.
Through my studies, I also gained knowledge and experience using the Microsoft office, computer
programs such as AutoCAD, Photoshop, ArcGIS systems, and Sketch up. I believe that working with you
is a great way to enhance my skillset in these areas, to be of great contribution and being part of the
experience while working with your team.
Thank you for your time and patience. I would love for the opportunity to have a talk with you, to discuss
the requirements, procedures of the company and as well as my ability to fulfill them. I hope that I can be
of great consideration to the position above.
Sincerely,
Marvelous Echeng

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Urban Renewal: Essex Crossings (Lower Manhattan)
Introduction
We are going to be looking at Essex crossings originally called Seaward Park Extension
Urban Renewal Area (SPEURA). Located on the Lower East side of Manhattan in New
York City this area will hold about 1.9 million squares of residential, commercial and
community space. The crossings will feature nine sites being on six acres of land which
was said to have been vacant since 1967 and was one of the most significant Urban renewal
developments in history of New York. The site was also one of the most contentious cities
in the year of 1967. The city construction knocked down a neighborhood of buildings,
displacing nearly 2000 residents which led to tons of battles. During the 1900’s came a
wave of immigrants including Italians, Germans, Greeks, and Eastern European Jews
seeking work from the waterfront. (Curbed NY, 2017) The slum clearance first happened
in 1955 because of the need for urban renewal. As part of the Seaward Park extension
project which began in 1959, the urban renewal cleared building that started hundreds of
years ago. (Curbed NY, 2017). In 1969, there remained scarred, deserted, brick strewn lots
cleared of decayed tenements.
Essex crossing plans to bring affordable housing and new commercial activity. The Lower
east will have a multi-ethnic housing for the elderly; will reflect the residence of the
neighborhood and will represent its past. The tenement museum would be made to connect
the past with future, and it is meant for future generations to learn from their history as

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well. The Seward Park Extension Urban Renewal Area legislation lasted for 40 years until
2005. This project was a long continuation from slum to SPEURA to what is now known
as the Essex crossings. (Curbed NY, 2017) Essex is a plan to revive the residential
buildings; in time, several will be made, and others will continue to be built. The project
will create a vibrant, mixed income community anchored by new market rate and
permanent affordable income limited housing that offers both rental and homeownership
opportunities. (Low-Down, 2013) This includes a grocery store, bowling alley, Movie
Theater, a rooftop urban farm and other sites reserved for public schools.
Urban Redevelopment Areas
The Essex crossings made a major transformation in Seward Park. The market line which
is a 150,000 square foot retail destination will anchor several of the other megaproject’s
buildings. (Low-Down 2015) When completed, the whole market line will stretch over 700
feet across three Essex crossings building, including the revamped Essex street market
which is operated by the city and other new places. The buildings would all be
interconnected where the market line would seem like a crossing distance. The market line
will be connected to Brome St. The nine sites in Essex Street will become an l.65 million
square foot housing development. There will be 15,000 square feet open space and the new
expanded Essex street market. (Low-Down 2015)
On Delancey Street, the site will be reserved to build a public school by the school
construction authority and development will commence in the future. The overall project
will transform New York connecting downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Clinton, and an
Applied Science Campus on Roosevelt Island.

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This will allow for daytime traffic to reach the neighborhood supporting local businesses
throughout the day. Although five buildings on the sites of south of Delaney, were
proposed on 2015 to be completed, two adjacent sites between Norfolk and Clinton streets
were left out. Two other buildings would take the remaining parcel of land in Delancey
Street and across Rivington Street, as part of the Essex crossings. The six blocks in Seward
Park Renewal Urban Area have served as a symbol of the struggle to preserve affordable
housing in the working-class neighborhood against the fast-growing luxury development.
For example, in North of Delancey and Essex streets, there is the Blue tower, which is a
17-story glass condominium and it’s located at 105 Norfolk Street.
The tower was finished in 1959 but opened in 2007. The SPEURA also includes Grand
Street and Willett Street dating back to 1965, which is also part of Lower Manhattan. For
more than half a century, these redevelopment areas have remained under construction. An
urban redevelopment and renewal area also take place in Norfolk, Broom Street and
Clinton Street. (6sqft, 2015) Other projects such as the low line park and movie theater
were proposed to be built in the Delaney, Essex Street, and the Brome Street Park in
Brome. (6sqft, 2015)
Redevelopment: Land Use Mix and Approaches
In the lower east side of Manhattan, the Essex crossings project consists of 9 sites in three
phases. The market line is designed to complement and provide seamless access to the
Essex street market, the Essex street subway station and surrounding neighborhood. The
first phase of the project consists of sites 1, 2, 5 and 6, with construction beginning in mid-
2015. The second phase includes sites 3, 4, and 8, and the third phase being sites 9 and 10.
Site 1 located at 242 Brome St., is approached in a way where the land use was occupied
for condos. (Low Down, 2015) While there was a lot to celebrate in terms of affordable
housing at this site, the 421-a expiration, which is a tax break program, forced developers
to take away some of the affordable condos. Site 5 however, has a 15-story building,

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designed by Beyer Blinder Belle and will have 211 rentals with half of them being
affordable. Overall, the market line plans to be completed in 2018. (Low Down, 2015)
There will be an open space along with an extra park and 50% affordable housing to
resemble the Lower East side Manhattan’s neighborhood. A rooftop urban farm which is
about 250,000 square feet in measurement is included along with an office space of 15,000
square feet. This will be a diverse mix of retail space: micro-retail, creative, tech co-
working and incubator space. The SPEURA included “scale and variety” avoiding
uniform, monotonous buildings that looked as if they had been stamped out of a cookie
cutter. (Curbed NY, 2017) The unique space known as the market line is a concourse
created through vaulted archways from the second floor through the cellar of three sites
south of Delancey between Essex and Clinton streets. It is naturally a light-filled,
continuous market line that will include a variety of space, consisting of small to medium
sized vendor stalls for retail and food-oriented uses. These stalls will be leased by tenants.
In addition, 40 micro–retail spaces will be added in the market line. (Lo-Down, 2015) The
inhabitants also requested for a large grocery store to be added to the community which is
strongly urged to fulfill a critical local need. This will in turn allow businesses to flourish.

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The updated construction work for the sites are as listed below (Essex Crossing, 2015).
Site 1
⦁ Going through excavation, pile driving, soil removal and pile work continued.
⦁ Concrete pour process from bottom to 14th
floor, some crane and steel work
continues
⦁ Rebar and formwork, concrete superstructure.
⦁ Curtain wall and window deliveries.
⦁ Located on 242 Brome Street
⦁ 14 story, 55 condos
⦁ Ground level space added in the museum (Andy Warhol) included terracing
effect, sculpture garden transparent façade.
⦁ Human scale added so that the streets feel intimate.

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Site 2
⦁ Revamped Essex market site, street market, ⦁
Will contain approximately 2,000 apartments.
⦁ 195 units of housing, half will be available to individuals and families earning
40% to 155% of the Area Median Income.
⦁ Will includes street market, regal cinemas, first retailer’s market line, and an
urban farm.
⦁ Installation of structural steel and concrete work.
⦁ A 24 story gateway urban access.
⦁ Open-aim feel with a wall of glass meant to replicate feel, space for residents.

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Site 3
⦁ Was 50/50 rental.
⦁ Now market rate-condo building, non-affordable.
⦁ Connects to the market line.
⦁ 98 total residential units
⦁ Scheduled for demolition and ground break at the end of 2017.
Site 4
⦁ Glass, concrete, and steel.
⦁ Mixed use-rental building.
⦁ 50-50 affordable market ratio.
⦁ Demolition planned out in June.
⦁ 25 story building located on 180 Brome Street.
⦁ 150,000 square feet making the one of retail center (3 overall) along Brome
and Delancey.
⦁ First part of the market line.
⦁ 1000 apartments and office space (evenly divided)

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Site 5
⦁ Affordable housing that became available on March 2,
2017.
⦁ It is the continuation of development for 50 years, when hundreds of homes
were demolished.
⦁ 211 apartments remaining.
⦁ Located on Clinton Street
⦁ Includes grocery store, gym and other ground floor retail use.

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Site 6
⦁ Made for seniors with separate rooftops spaces for residents.
⦁ Connected to Williamsburg Bridge.
⦁ 14 story structure built at 175 Delancey Street with commercial and residential
rentals.
⦁ Expected to create 300 construction jobs and over 300 permanents jobs.
⦁ It is worth 12 million
⦁ Has an industrial feel, masonry construction, metal accents and a view for
natural light allowance.
⦁ Easy access by transportation.
⦁ 20,000 square feet community space, 26,000 non-profit use.
⦁ 50,000 square feet medical facility space.

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Site 8
⦁ Part of the market line is connected to the Essex street market.
⦁ 19 market rate condos
⦁ 5 affordable ones
⦁ Now has 92 affordable studio apartments for low income seniors.
⦁ With the lack of the 421-a, demolition, and ground break would begin in June
2017 with four new building being planned to be opened the next year.
Site 9
⦁ Located next to Delancey Street Station for easements to subways.
⦁ Were condos but now 50/50 split between affordable and market rate
apartments.
⦁ There are 35 affordable rate units.
⦁ Construction work won’t begin until the street market is connected to line 2.
⦁ There are other plans for its connection to the market line.
⦁ Start date happens in fall of 2018 for the MTA elevator and escalator
installation.
⦁ The design so far will be made online in year 2021.

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Site 10
⦁ Composed of mixed uses.
⦁ 80/20 condo refashioned to market rate-condo project.
⦁ Healthcare has a lease on this space.
⦁ Non-affordable housing.
⦁ Construction is not expected to begin until the year 2021.

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Urban Redevelopment Motivations
The city wants to pursue redevelopment because of the need to transform a vacant empty
lot to a functional business district. On October 2012, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed
the Seward Park mixed Used Development Plan to fill up the vacant areas. (Curbed NY,
2017) This will welcome residential, retail, commercial tenants, but the ground will also
contain ample community park space where people can play, meet, think, and relax
together. It will also generate opportunities for training and employment programs will
work to feature the condo units. It will ensure that current neighborhood residents can also
participate in development. A residential space will be specifically for the elderly, as this
will come first in the development. Residents will have easy access to countless of
amenities, marketing, garden, cultural attractions, and also transportation. Living will
become more affordable for low, moderate, middle income families. The need for
affordable housing will be to seniors, seniors along with their extended families earning
the range of incomes from 40 - 155% of Area Middle Income. (Low-Down, 2015)
Individuals who lived in Seward Park from 1965-1973 may be eligible for former site
Tenant preference in the affordable housing development. (Curbed NY, 2017) There will
be an array of office space, retail and entertainment highlighted by the market line. It will
be a continuous three block shopping experience inspired by the world’s greatest public
markets. Overall this will grow and connect Lower Manhattan’s history and culture. The
included rooftop farm will have a garden featuring an open and green space, which make
a greener community in Lower Manhattan. They will also introduce schools and centers
which will be constructed. Individuals can learn craft skills, produce, and sell hand
merchandise. Residents will have access to business and tourism, all within the market line.
Included in the crossings is the Tenement Museum, a site for historic preservation and to
connect past with future generations. Essex crossings will replace acres of eyesores,
hopefully to forge a unity and synergy between the cultural resources that are already there
and those that are to come.

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Stakeholders involved
The stakeholders involved in the process are the Delancey Street Associates LLC. L+M
Development partners, BFC Partners, Taconic investment partners are all a combined
group under the Delancey heading. Over 1.1 billion of dollars of investment will create
1,600 permanent jobs, 4,400 constructions and will retain portions of the project. (Low-
Down, 2015) Another associate called Dattner architects designed the site 6, the grand
settlement and provide useful renderings. In time to come, the DSA will work with local
community Partners: Grand Settlement, Educational Alliance on the community and dual-
generation school. There are other stakeholders such as SHoP, Beyer Blinder Belle who
will be the primary architects (designers) for phase 1 of the Crossings. (Low-Down, 2015)
The New York Department of City Planning (DCP) that participated in the press provided
technical support. Delancey Street associates were selected by the city in September 2013
to develop the 1.9 million square foot Essex Crossings project. (Only 1000 residential units
meaning half of them were affordable). (Lo-Down, 2015) Some conflicts that come with
the stake holding process could mean the completion of sites is being pushed back and not
finished, the affiliations could lose their money in the investment.
Resources
Over 1.5 billion dollars is sent for the Essex crossings mega development. Trader Joe
signed a lease with Essex Crossings to develop a grocery market within the area. Goldman
Sach’s urban investment group plans to invest around $500 million in the project.
(Enterprise, 2017) Wells Fargo, a Public Sector, also provided 16.9 million construction
loan and 1.5 million in low-income housing Tax credits for the residential portion of Essex
crossings. (Real Deal, 2015) Eventually 25.8 million in total will be worth the tax credits
of the property. Goldman Sach’s and Delancey Street associate partnerships provided
additional 13 million in equities to take the financing package to nearly 80 million. Wells
Fargo had also funded $79.5 million for site 6. (Enterprise, 2017) In total, the bank’s
funding goes to over $200 million. The latest financing was $26.4 million in construction
loans which was given and 6 million of that came from nonprofit. A low-income
investment fund was given; $11.7 million in new market Tax credits to finance the
commercial portion of a 15-story mixed-use building. (Enterprise, 2017) The funding also
supports the urban farming which in turn, also supports the sales of the markets.
Urban redevelopment implementation: impact and consequences
So far, construction on the project had begun in spring of 2015. Five buildings are
scheduled to be completed by year 2018. The rest are scheduled to be completed in 2021
to 2024. Fifty years after hundreds of homes were demolished in the Seward Park; the first
affordable apartments are becoming available on site 5. (Essex Crossing, 2013) Of 211
apartments, 104 will be available for individuals and families with the area median income.
Individuals and families will now be able to apply for the housing lottery of site 5. The past
year has marked several milestones in the Essex crossings development site. The condo

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sales have become more popular more than any point in time. With the redevelopment, this
could help to reduce traffic issues and fix the overcrowding conditions. Redevelopment
however has its consequences also. However, several statements have been made in some
areas, before the start of the development. During the 20th
century, there had been
complaints that it would be more dangerous to include more parking meaning vacancy
would only worsen the slum conditions. Without development, the already existing
conditions would be overcrowded and worsen. While redevelopment is needed and may
help benefit the city, the process needs to be strong and structural or else the stakeholders
could risk being lawsuits and residential complaints. There have been complaints of falling
concrete at site 6. (Bowery Boogie, 2016) A car was damaged due to the falling debris
during the summer of 2016.
Conclusion
Essex crossings show that historic preservation can occur while also stimulating economic
growth and urban renewal. Since the 17th
century, vast lands have been excavated;
residential districts have been torn down to better the slum conditions. The extension of
Seward Park indeed did reduce the cramming of the population in the tenements. Although
most inhabitants rejected the idea of filling up vacant spaces with commercial and
residential facilities, this in fact benefited the city of Lower East Manhattan. The urban
renewal will create a system with plenty of opportunities for the future generations to come.
Essex crossings is indeed a vision that will bring vibrancies, mixed uses, farming,
marketing, entertainment and a future that would revolutionize living.

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References
Essex Crossings: Renderings & Development Plans Detailed. (2013). The Low-Down.
Retrieved March 3, 2017, from The Low-Down Online:
http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/2013/09/essex-crossing-renderings-
development-plans.html
The creation of Essex Crossing, from slum to SPURA to city-backed megaproject.
(2017). Curbed New York. Retrieved March 3, 2017, from Curbed New York:
http://ny.curbed.com/2017/2/22/14568396/lower-east-side-history-spura-essex-
crossing
Essex Crossing – Site 6. (2017). Enterprise. Retrieved March 4, 2017, from Enterprise
Online:
http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/financing-and-development/portfolio-
andapproach/new-markets-tax-credits/essex-crossing-site-6
Archive February 2017. (2013). Essex Crossing. Retrieved March 4, 2017, from Essex
Crossing:
http://essexcrossingnyc.com/2017/02/
Renderings: Here’s Your First Look at Essex Crossing (Phase 1). (2015). The LowDown.
Retrieved March 4, 2015, from The Low-Down Online:
http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/2015/01/renderings-heres-your-first-look-at-
essexcrossings.html
Essex Crossing Site 5 Affordable Housing Lottery is Now Open. (2017). The Low-Down.
Retrieved March 4, 2017, from The Low-Down Online:
http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/tag/essex-crossing
Wells Fargo takes Essex Crossing funding to over $200M. (2015). The Real Deal.
Retrieved March 5, 2017, from The Real Deal Online:
https://therealdeal.com/2015/12/18/wells-fargo-takes-essex-crossing-funding-to-
over-200m/
First Four Essex Crossing Building Revealed. (2015). 6sqft. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from
6sqft Online:
https://www.6sqft.com/first-four-essex-crossing-buidings-revealed/
Falling Concrete from Essex Crossing Site 6 Damages Passing Car. (2016). Bowery
Boogie. Retrieved March 5, 2017, from Bowery Boogie Online:
http://www.boweryboogie.com/2016/05/