Putting Green Infrastructure on Private Property in New York City

New York City, like other cities that built combined sewer systems in the early twentieth century, is embarking on the reconfiguration of its approach to stormwater management- one that shifts away from exclusive reliance on "grey infrastructure" (asphalt, pipes, tunnels) to greater reliance on "green infrastructure" ( green roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavements). That reconfiguration will entail physical changes as well as changes to the regulation and financing of stormwater management. This paper describes this reconfiguration in four sections. The first provides an overview of the problems confronting New York City as a result of existing stormwater management infrastructure and regulation, and also summarizes the City's current green infrastructure goals. The second section summarizes the benefits and costs that are expected to accompany GI in the the New York City context. The third describes the City's goals for creating GI on public and private property. Finally, the fourth section examines the knotty administrative and legal issues involved in using public money to increase the volume of GI on private property.