2026 Theses Master's

From Edge to Life - a Toolkit for East Harlem’s Waterfront Transformation

Kadam, Nirupam Nitin

From Edge to Life - a Toolkit for East Harlem’s Waterfront Transformation focuses on how urban planning tools can transform an underinvested and vulnerable water edge of East Harlem into an accessible, equitable and climate adaptive public realm. Historically, New York City’s waterfronts have been an important aspect of trade and commerce, but in recent times, this picture has changed considerably. Waterfronts are now treated a s means of heavy public activity and recreational areas within the city. However, this transformation has been unequal.

While a majority of waterfronts in Manhattan are active sources of public activities, the stretch of East Harlem between 96th and 107th street remains physically and psychologically separated. This thesis asks: How can the reconstruction of the East Harlem waterfront between East 96th and 107th Streets be leveraged to achieve climate resilience and social equity simultaneously?

Rather than treating the project as an individual one focused only on the design aspects of the space, the research conceptualizes the site as a system that requires coordinated attention to spatial, policy and governance strategies. The study critiques growth-oriented waterfront models that risk climate gentrification and “green exclusion” and argues that resilience is not only limited to flood protection, but it must also consider defined access, equity and equal governance for all.

This thesis uses a mixed methods approach including spatial analytics, policy evaluation and community engagement to understand the needs of this development. These findings inform the development of a replicable Edge to Life Toolkit, structured around spatial prototyping, policy alignment, and community-based stewardship.

Thus, this thesis positions East Harlem’s waterfront as a model for integrating equitable shoreline transformation in a dense urban context. By integrating climate adaptation with environmental justice and participatory governance, the thesis advances a model in which resilience and equity are mutually reinforcing rather than competing objectives. To do so, it contributes both to planning theory and to the practice to transform the strategies for an equitable, sustainable and climate responsive urban future