On November 4th, the KPF Architectural Designer hosted and moderated the public event alongside fellow members of the AIA 2021 Civic Leadership Program.
Following recent extreme weather on the East Coast, including Hurricane Ida, issues regarding the dangers of illegal basement apartments have come to the forefront. While vital housing stock, these basement apartments are often not up to building code, can pose serious health risks, and lack proper means of egress. Current increasing trends related to climate change and social inequality highlight the challenges of basement units and their disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities. The AIANY panel “What’s Next for Basement Apartments After Hurricane Ida?” invited industry leaders to discuss new, city-wide programs, and additional techniques that can help preserve this crucial housing option safely.
The panelists included Mark Ginsberg, Partner, Curtis+Ginsberg Architects; Deborah Gans, Founder and Principal, Gans and Company; and Kate Leitch, Senior Policy Analyst, CHPC. Christina alongside four additional members of the Civic Leadership Program, Alicia French, Jesse Hirakawa, Rocket Q. Osborne, and Alejandra Zapata, moderated the panel discussion.
This panel was hosted by the AIANY Civic Leadership Program (CLP), a group that cultivates architectural professionals into civic leaders through a six-month mentorship and training program, in partnership with nycoba| NOMA Civic Leadership Program. Learn more about the program here.
“What’s Next for Basement Apartments After Hurricane Ida?” was held virtually on Thursday, November 11th at 6 PM EST. Registration for the event took place here.