Train Terraces: Incubating Urbanism in Westbury — Design Proposal Westbury, NY

Our proposal is designed with multiple terraces that bridge under, over, and along the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), intensifying connections within the Village of Westbury. The design creates a dynamic interchange between transportation, commerce, culture, and living in the place of single-use surface parking, dramatically expanding the functions of a commuter parking and train stop.

By building on both sides of the elevated train line, on surface lots that straddle the commuter rail station, we seek to link the downtown of Westbury to a new small business incubator, engaging the LIRR as a catalyst for future growth.

The South Lot

We look to double the parking on this lot, owned by the LIRR, while introducing innovation and small-scale fabrication uses. To the east, near existing industrial buildings, we recommend a start-up office and fabrication incubator space to build a creative community with access to digital production tools and software.

The west end, facing Post Avenue, is a great location for a low-impact intermodal transportation hub, providing a sheltered bus stop, with ample bicycle parking. A solar array and canopy shades the structure, providing power for an electric car charging station.

At the heart of this southern structure is a new urban rooftop green at track level, accessible by delivery trucks, and transformable into a farmers’ market and special event space to extend the hours of use by the parking facility and to reimagine the commuter train station as an integral part of Westbury’s future.

The North Lot

On this lot, owned by the Village of Westbury, a multi-level parking deck doubles the number of parking spaces, but is bounded on all sides by residential and commercial buildings.  A new pedestrian street extends the main commercial street of the Village to the train station, creating a vibrant corridor and public connection to the station.

At the north edge, on Scally Place, we propose commercial spaces for restaurants and cafés, taking advantage of the low traffic volume. Above are residences stacked and terraced to respect the character of Westbury while providing sufficient density to support the development costs. These residences extend in terraced form, on top of the parking structure, down to the train station, creating an urban amphitheater.

An Urban Incubator

The challenges and opportunities facing Westbury today are emblematic of greater Long Island, where the ease of horizontal thinking is seeing a limit. Our proposal looks intentionally beyond the boundaries of the given site, to rethink the potential of Long Island reorganized and revitalized around new patterns of living and travel.

We propose doubling the number of parking spaces, encouraging villagers to take the train while simultaneously increasing the residential and commercial density of the heart of Westbury. Phased development of the two sides can occur independently, with the parking occurring as the first phase for both, setting the stage for subsequent construction of the commercial and residential areas that frame the parking.

Key Facts

South Lot

• Current surface parking spaces: 312
• Proposed structured parking spaces: 695
• Net new parking spaces: 383
• PLUS uses: open green space, bicycle shop and parking, bus stop and shelter, incubator shop space, office space, and train station
• 351,100 sq. ft. of new construction
• Cost range of $20 to $28 million (parking at $14 to $20 million)

North Lot

• Current surface parking spaces: 324
• Proposed structured parking spaces: 744
• Net new parking spaces: 420
• PLUS uses: 80 residential units, retail space, green surfaces, and outdoor terraces
• 506,000 sq. ft. of new construction
• Cost range of $42 to $54 million (parking at $15 to $22 million)

Economic Impacts (from parking consultant Gerard Giosa)

• Classic Transit Village; youth-oriented model
• Concept can support over $35,000,000 in new downtown investment
• Residential elements would import over $3,000,000 in disposable income per year to the heart of the downtown area
• Over $1,500,000 per year in tax revenue
• Model attracts youth that will support long-term economic viability of the Village

Project Credits

LTL Architects
Paul Lewis
Marc Tsurumaki
David J. Lewis
Vibha Agarwala
Keith Greenwald
SangWook Lee
Clark Manning
Kevin Hayes