The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) recently announced a significant reorganization of its Urban Design Division (UDD). This move, communicated just days before the new Mayoral administration took office, has sparked considerable debate among urban planners, architects, and community leaders across the city.
The decision involves moving approximately ten UDD employees into other departments within the DCP. While the agency states this will integrate urban design principles more broadly, many professionals fear it could weaken a crucial unit responsible for shaping New York City's built environment.
Key Takeaways
- New York City's Urban Design Division is undergoing a major reorganization.
- Employees will be reassigned to different departments within the Department of City Planning.
- The announcement occurred days before Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration began.
- Former DCP Commissioner Amanda Burden and other urban design experts oppose the decision.
- The DCP defends the move as an evolution to embed urban design across the agency.
The History of Urban Design in NYC
The Urban Design Group first emerged in New York City in 1967 under Mayor John Lindsay. It was later disbanded in 1980 by Mayor Ed Koch. The current Urban Design Division (UDD) was re-established in 2007 by Amanda Burden during Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tenure.
Since its re-establishment, the UDD has played a vital role in numerous significant urban developments. These include the Gowanus, Long Island City, and Jamaica Neighborhood Rezonings. The division also contributed to the creation of New York City’s first Street Design Manual and the award-winning Active Design Guidelines in 2010.
Key Achievements
- Led major neighborhood rezonings in Gowanus, Long Island City, and Jamaica.
- Helped create New York City's first Street Design Manual.
- Developed the 2010 Active Design Guidelines, which received an award.
- Fostered collaboration between city agencies, community groups, and developers.
The Reorganization Plan
On December 17, 2025, DCP executive director Edith Hsu-Chen verbally informed the UDD of the impending changes. An official email from DCP Commissioner Dan Garodnick followed on December 18, formally announcing the decision. This timing, just before Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration, has raised questions among many observers.
Under the new structure, Erick Gregory will retain his title as DCP Chief Urban Designer and Director of Urban Design. However, the UDD itself will no longer exist as a distinct entity. Sagi Golan, currently Deputy Director of Urban Design, will become a Senior Urban Design Specialist. He is expected to serve as a key resource for policy discussions.
The remaining UDD employees, estimated at around ten individuals, will transition into various divisions across the agency. A source familiar with the plan indicated that no UDD staff members were consulted before the decision was made public.
"Urban designers have literally been in tears over this, they don’t understand," stated Jeffrey Shumaker, who served as Chief Urban Designer and Director of Design for the UDD under Amanda Burden. "First of all, why is it happening now? Why do such a big move before a new [DCP] commissioner and executive director come in?"
DCP's Rationale for the Change
DCP executive director Edith Hsu-Chen defended the reorganization. She described it as a natural evolution for urban design within the department. According to Chen, urban design has grown from a specialized function into a core component of DCP’s broader work.
Chen emphasized that urban designers are already embedded in borough offices, applying their expertise to neighborhood plans and private development applications. She believes this reorganization will build on that success by integrating urban designers into citywide, policy-focused divisions.
The goal, she explained, is to ensure that the values of good urban design are reflected consistently across the entire agency. Chen expressed confidence that the important work of urban designers will not only continue but will also be enhanced within this new framework.
DCP's View
The Department of City Planning argues that urban design has become an integral part of its operations. By dispersing urban designers across different divisions, the agency aims to strengthen design principles in all aspects of its work, from policy development to neighborhood planning.
Strong Opposition from Design Leaders
The decision has met with significant pushback from prominent figures in New York City’s planning and design community. Amanda Burden, who re-established the UDD, voiced her strong opposition. She highlighted the division’s crucial role in crafting large in-house projects and reviewing major submissions.
Burden also stressed the UDD's importance in improving even small projects and fostering a sense of place. She noted its critical function in helping communities understand proposals, enabling informed feedback and improvements. She believes a collective, skillful team is more effective than individual designers working in separate borough offices.
"The Design Division was essential in both crafting large projects in-house as well as commenting on large submissions," Amanda Burden stated. "It was a team that was collectively productive and skillful. Individual designers in separate borough offices do not have the benefits of collaborative input and cannot effectively advise the Commissioner on an ongoing basis."
Voices from Academia and Practice
Kate Orff, founder of SCAPE and director of the Urban Design Program at Columbia GSAPP, called the restructuring an "unwelcome surprise." She emphasized the need for a dedicated group of urban designers to connect the work of various city agencies.
Julio Salcedo-Fernandez, director of the Urban Design Program at the Spitzer School of Architecture at City College, echoed these concerns. He argued that solely operating at the borough level diminishes the capacity for integrated solutions needed to address New York’s densification challenges and social disparities.
Claire Weisz, founder of WXY, affirmed the tangible benefits New York City has seen from embedding an urban design group into city planning. She cited projects like the High Line, Freshkills Park, and various neighborhood rezonings as evidence of urban design strengthening planning across diverse contexts. Weisz concluded that planning needs design, and design needs planning, especially when negotiating public and private priorities.
- Amanda Burden: Emphasizes loss of collaborative input and integrated project oversight.
- Kate Orff: Expresses concern over fragmentation and loss of inter-agency coordination.
- Julio Salcedo-Fernandez: Highlights diminished capacity for city-wide, integrated solutions.
- Claire Weisz: Stresses the proven benefits of a dedicated urban design group in past city projects.
The future of urban design within New York City’s planning framework remains a topic of intense discussion. The new administration faces the task of balancing the DCP's vision for integration with the concerns of a community that values specialized urban design expertise.