Author: Rikkie Ray Garcia

Group Members: Brandon Paton, Berk Koccaz, Jennifer Reyes, Rikkie Ray Garcia

Outline: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X39z4jeKja9ZGgTevudKkZ6l1zvIqUe1Idcdxin4nV0/edit?usp=sharing

Script: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Gfxx9N–OotnQ8v8bxM3ejhMUVmvEhN_KlbyylulXzI/edit?usp=sharing

Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mcUNGpJJyQARV21oYVUxf2RSUmkL0Qp_FUugoFTU8Ys/edit?usp=sharing

Final Project Podcast: https://youtu.be/Avo7dxtzSN0

Rikkie and Jennifer

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1X6tXCIDwaNQBywPjKZ8heYOLlPUTaBwDPku_FahnfCs/edit?usp=sharing

From the presentations that I’ve seen, I learned a lot about the history of the Brooklyn area that we are studying which is MetroTech. Through each presentation. I like that each group decided to study different things about the area due to the free decision making that the professors gave us. Each group gave me new websites and tools to use that I can use in future classes that I have. The presentations showed me different events that happened during the time that they were making the super block of MetoTech. Learning from other people helps me expand my knowledge and it keeps me wondering what would’ve happened today if MetroTech never happened.

https://books.google.com/books?id=huI3AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1&lpg=RA2-PA1&dq=metrotech+environmental+impact+statement+volume+1&source=bl&ots=IT2pzhNks-&sig=ACfU3U1Adf0NEnH5T2OuRWfw8eEFSo3Ang&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwix8Ojv17LlAhUPnFkKHc0qDk4Q6AEwAHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=metrotech%20environmental%20impact%20statement%20volume%201&f=false

In the trip we focused on looking at the different architecture. Looking into the architecture we noticed the differences between the modern building that have more of a simple modular design and the design of a historical buildings that have a complex design focused into details that were made uniquely. We understood how they modernized those historical building by changing the use of it instead of destroying it and starting a new building. Then we moved on to take about the proportion of the building in the area some building would take up the whole block and on the other block you would see houses that are 3 family houses next to a tall and big company building. the building building that takes up the whole block creates it own disadvantage because there is a back to the building where they want to create commercial stores and most people aren’t interested in have their space at the “back” of the building. – Jennifer

During our third walk around trip, we focused mainly on the architectural aspects of the buildings in the Metro tech area. As we walk around the area, I can see that the older buildings have more character than the newer one. We can see in the old buildings that it has more details and more designs in it. We also learned that some of the older buildings are being renovated and used for a new purpose. For example, the 1890 – 1891 Offer man building is now being used for lofts and studios and underneath it is a retail store. Seeing how even though the buildings are older, they still find a way to restore its history and keep it standing rather than demolishing it. – Rikkie

On the trip we had around the neighborhood near jay street and metro tech we learned how to make better observation. Observations that compared the neighborhood from the 1980s to present day, there we spotted how major changes where made with time. Street were wiped out of the map and housing or residential building were put there. When streets are wiped out of map that would create neighborhood division. So, when one is walking through the streets you could feel the change in neighborhood that could go from quiet to loud from crowded to empty. This is one of many topics we discussed in how to notice the change a neighborhood has gone through.it helps our observation skills to look deeper into why they decided on those changes and if it was the right move for the future of the neighborhood. Looking into that it helps to understand better and to be more aware of our surrounding and appreciate some of the effective changes that happened. – Jennifer Reyes

The walk around of Metro tech on Wednesday gave me a better idea of what changes actually happened in the area of our study. It also gave me a personal experience and practice with the voice recording. As a person that likes to learn visually, this walk around trip helped me further understand and see the actual change and characteristic in the area. Seeing where roads used to be shows how much the area actually have a drastic change. I also like that we all as one group take time and share each other’s findings. Hearing other people’s views and thoughts keeps me engage in looking deeper into the area rather than having a quick glance and saying these disappeared now this appeared. – Rikkie Garcia

Doing this project allowed me to learn more about my area than what I knew before. This allowed me to be more observant of my surroundings and gave me knowledge that I didn’t know before. The project showed me new websites that I never knew existed. Using these websites, it helped me expand my knowledge as to what other features each site have and what areas looked like back in the day. This exercise allowed me to express my neighborhood and to show people what it is like around my area. It also allowed me to learn about other parts of NYC from my classmates. Seeing the different areas that I would’ve never gone to, gave me a small information about the history of the area and what the demographic is like in the specific neighborhood. 

I feel like this exercise allowed me to get a little bit more comfortable in what we are going to do for this semester. It helped find certain things that I should’ve paid attention to more. It also gave me the confidence that I need to talk into a phone and record my surroundings without letting strangers bother me. This exercise was a good way to get out of my comfort zone.

Updated presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OxwE5NlG9Q1EtgJ7ViQUeI-Zfh_IAYN-6U3LsVeOMuA/edit?usp=sharing

My Neighborhood