ASLF Presents at The Great Plains LID Research and Innovation Symposium 04.03.2014

From Vacant Lots to Emerald Isles:
Transform Urban Vacant Land through Public-Private
Collaboration and Innovative LID Practices
ATLANTIC STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION, INC. (ASLF)
The Great Plains LID Research and Innovation Symposium, 04.03.2014
Hongbin Gao, Samuel H. Sage

GREAT PLAINS LID RESEARCH & INNOVATION SYMPOSIUMATLANTIC STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION 04.03.2014
ABOUT ASLF
• ASLF is a New York based not-for-profit,
headquartered in the Near Westside area in
the City of Syracuse
• Established in 1982 to provide legal,
technical, and organizational services to
individuals and organizations dealing with
environmental issues
• Is incorporating innovative strategies to
improve economic, social , and
environmental sustainability
• Has been taking a leading role in
protection and restoration of Syracuse
waterways and addressing CSO issues
ASLF Office Building at 658 West Onondaga
Street, Syracuse, New York

CSOs IN ONONDAGA COUNTY
• 7,660 acres
• 49 CSOs
• ~1 Billion gallons/year CSO
City of Syracuse
Onondaga Creek
Harbor Brook
Onondaga LakeOnondaga County,
New York

AMENDED CONSENT JUDGMENT (ACJ)
• First Entered in 1989
• 1st ACJ Amendment in 1998
• 2nd ACJ Amendment in 2006
• 3rd ACJ Amendment in 2008
• Landmark Revision – the 4th Stipulation: In 2009, when Onondaga
County gained federal court approval of its new Save the Rain Green
Infrastructure program, Syracuse became the first community in the
United States with a legal requirement to reduce sewage overflows
with green infrastructure (GI).
• Requires 95% of overall CSO capture by 2018, with 6.3% through GI
http://savetherain.us/

SAVE THE RAIN (STR) PROGRAMS
• GI on County’s Properties
• Onondaga County Civic Strip
• GI projects on City’s Properties:
• City streets and right-of-ways
• City parks and open space
• City parking lots
• Public facilities ground and roofs
• Vacant Lots under STR Vacant Lot
Program
• GI on Private Properties
• Green Improvement Fund

SAVE THE RAIN (STR) PROJECTS

Save the Rain-Courts 4 Kids
Porous Basketball Court in Skiddy
Park, Syracuse, NY

VLP Pilot Project Rendering: Urban Orchard at 701
Oswego Street, Syracuse, New York

WHY VACANT LOTS
• Economically draining for city
• Lower property value
• Aesthetical degradation
• High rates of crime and arson
• Public nuisance and health
issues
Property Value Degradation around A Vacant Property
Source: Temple University Center for Public Policy and Eastern
Pennsylvania Organizing Project. “Blight Free Philadelphia: A Public‐
Private Strategy to Create and Enhance Neighborhood Value.”
Philadelphia, 2001.
The Impacts

WHY VACANT LOTS
• Economically draining for city
• Lower property value
• Aesthetical degradation
• High rates of crime and arson
• Public nuisance and health
issues
• Urban infill development
• Public amenities
• Stormwater retention
• Urban forestry
• Urban agriculture
• Habitat creation and conservation
The Impacts The Opportunities

VACANT LOT INVENTORY IN SYRACUSE
• 3,668 vacant parcels in the City of
Syracuse (2012 data)
• 1,786 vacant parcels (392 ac.) in
combined sewer service area where
the County needs GI projects to
managing stormwater and reduce
CSOs
• 828 publicly owned vacant parcels
which could be potentially used
Vacant Lots in the City of Syracuse.

VACANT LOT INVENTORY IN SYRACUSE
• 814 of 828 public vacant parcels are under City ownership
Ownership NYS County
City of Syracuse
TotalCity
Owned
City TD
City
Agencies
Seizable
Parcels
Inventory
Parcels 6 8 78 120 37 579 828
Acreage
2.26 7.39 36.72 28.33 6.09 107.27 188.06
Candidates
Parcels 0 0 24 60 25 332 441
Acreage 0 0 6.92 12 5.06 80.14 104.12

SAVE THE RAIN VACANT LOT PROGRAM (VLP)
- PROGRAM GOALS
• Reduce a minimum of 9 million gallons of CSO annually by 2018 by
building GI on publicly owned vacant lots
• Provide different types of GI for the community
• Simultaneously reclaim greenspace in a useful way and improve the
overall value of vacant lots to the community
• Engage the public in VLP and STR projects

INTER-MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP
• Between Onondaga County and
City of Syracuse
• Allows Onondaga County to built
GI projects on City owned vacant
lots
• defines the County’s and the City’s
responsibilities in O&M of the
VLP projects
The City of Syracuse Ordinance that depicts the City‐
County Agreement on installing GI on the City
properties

VLP RECLAMATION TYPOLOGIES
Urban Agriculture
• Urban Orchard
• Vegetable Garden
Greening
• Native Plant Garden
• Urban Forest/Tree Planting
In combination with other green stormwater infrastructure practices such as
rain garden, cistern, bio-swale, stormwater planter, tree trench, etc.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURE

STR-VLP PROJECTS
• Urban Orchard
• 701 Oswego Street
• Runoff Reduction: 195,000 gallons
• CSO Reduction: 93,600 gallons
Before After

STR-VLP PROJECTS
• Rain Garden + Trees
• 1344 West Onondaga Street
• Runoff Reduction: 133,000 gallons
• CSO Reduction: 63,840 gallons
Before After

STR-VLP PROJECTS
• Rain Garden + Trees
• Westmoreland Ave
Before
After

CHALLENGES
• Previous Site Use &
Subsurface Conditions
• Reverse the Grade
• Potable Water for Urban
Gardens
• Trespassing & Vandalism
• Long Term Ownership and
O&M

CHALLENGES
• Reversed Grade
Gardens
• Long Term Ownership
• Maintenance

CHALLENGES
Gardens
and O&M

CHALLENGES
Gardens
and O&M
• Under public ownership
• Under private ownership and operation
• Land Trust model

For more information:
Hongbin Gao Samuel Sage www.aslf.org
hgao@aslf.org Samuel.sage@aslf.org SaveTheRain.us
QUESTIONS

ASLF Presents at The Great Plains LID Research and Innovation Symposium 04.03.2014

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ASLF Presents at The Great Plains LID Research and Innovation Symposium 04.03.2014