‘If You Build It, They Will Come’: City’s Chief Public Realm Officer Outlines Progress, Priorities

By Mark Chiusano

Ya-Ting Liu was appointed New York City’s inaugural chief public realm officer two years ago this month. How has the realm changed so far during her tenure? 

That was the subject of Liu’s talk at New York Law School’s 196th CityLaw Breakfast on Wednesday, during which she described well-used public space as “the secret sauce of cities” and how she thinks pedestrians should be “the main character” in New York City design. <Read More>


DDC Celebrates Completion of Reade Street Sidewalk Vault Restoration

On January 21, 2025, Commissioner Thomas Foley of the New York City Department of Design and Construction announced the completion of the reconstruction and stabilization of a two-story high underground sidewalk vault located at 22 Reade Street. This $5.7 million project was managed by the City Department of Design and Construction for the City Department of Citywide Administrative Service through using the Construction Manager-Build (CM-Build) contracting method.


DDC Celebrates Water Main Upgrades in Park Slope

On November 1, 2024, the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced the completion of a $40.7 million project that focused on protecting Brooklyn residents from the future impacts of climate change. The project was managed by the  Department of Design and Construction on behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation. The upgrades in Park Slope aim to improve stormwater drainage and the overall capacity of the … <Read More>


City Expands Program to Replace Private Lead Water Lines

On October 9, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the expansion of the lead service line replacement program. Through this free program, the City will cover the replacement of privately-owned water service lines, made of lead or galvanized steel, at eligible properties in the Bronx and Queens. Water service lines connect directly to the City’s water mains, and property owners are responsible for the maintenance of their property’s service lines, which are estimated … <Read More>


City Announces Award of $260 Million in Federal Grants for Brooklyn Marine Terminal, Inwood Greenway Expansion

On September 23, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams announced that New York City was issued $260 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding will support key infrastructure projects in New York City, including the transformation of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and the construction of a greenway segment along 10th Avenue in Inwood. The City has secured $2.37 billion in funding, including roughly $1.3 billion in competitive … <Read More>