Repurposing North Brother Island

Abstract

This proposal offers recommendations to enhance the once-urbanized North Brother Island (NBI) to benefit the island itself and the surrounding New York City East River communities through Social, Financial, and Ecological focused proposals. Given NBI's untouched nature and proximity to one of the densest cities in the world, answering which of the avenues of focus would benefit the island's environment and/or community's social well-being could benefit many parties. Readers can expect recommendations based on various sources. Primary sources will include photographic evidence showing the dilapidation of NBI, personal communications from an urban planner and civil engineer, and maps. Secondary sources include research that pertains to ecology, urban development, and history. The proposal concludes that, after a qualitative cost-benefit analysis, the combination of the ecological and financial plan is the best use of the island.