President’s Letter: January 2026
The Mamdani Administration has set ambitious goals to create a more livable and affordable city. To accomplish these objectives, we need a unified urban design vision that leverages the power of design to deliver creative, efficient, cost-effective, and equitable solutions throughout New York.
In the final days of the Adams Administration, the Department of City Planning (DCP) announced structural changes to integrate the staff members of the DCP Urban Design Division into borough offices. This was a move that has confounded many civic organizations and urbanists. (See The Architect’s Newspaper.)
It is essential to recognize the substantial contributions made by the centralized Urban Design Division over the years in fostering accessible and welcoming places across the city, ensuring that urban design serves every New Yorker. The Division has been instrumental in collaborating with communities to envision vibrant neighborhood plans and negotiating with private developers to maximize public benefits in our built environment and public open space.
MAS has long fought for community-based planning that recognizes neighborhood values and celebrates cultural preservation along with growth. Our concern is that this restructuring will dilute the urban design expertise and significantly reduce the effectiveness of the City to deliver both public and private development projects—from housing our neighbors and activating our waterfronts to reimagining our streetscapes and integrating infrastructure needs into the fabric of our city.
The Urban Design Division’s work has been crucial for implementing a unified vision showing that our city prioritizes the needs of all residents when it comes to how our neighborhoods are designed and built, and that urban design is not just for wealthy communities. Since its establishment under the Bloomberg Administration, the Division has positioned New York City as a model for other cities worldwide, demonstrating that government can effectively serve the people through thoughtful city planning.
Design is how we deliver on our promises of affordability, meet the challenges of our changing climate, and collaborate across capital agencies to deliver an urban fabric and public realm that works for our communities and sets an example on the international stage. Design is essential for an integrated planning approach. We encourage the Mamdani Administration to empower agencies like the Department of City Planning and the Public Design Commission to champion the public good, utilizing innovative design as a vital tool for addressing challenges and fostering a more equitable and livable city for everyone.
Rethinking New York City’s Arterial Roadways.