Post study work rights: USA

Student visa [F-1] holders are eligible for a total of 12 months Optional Practical Training [OPT] per educational level completed.
To get the Additional 17 months OPT extension [total of 29 months which includes 12 months OPT as stated above], student must complete a degree from STEM Majors. STEM refers to degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics.

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Broadwalk Hollywood, Florida

Hollywood founder Joseph Young's idea in 1920 for a new resort community was simple: plan and build what would be the Atlantic City of south Florida. Drawing on the "City Beautiful Movement" for inspiration, he bought his first parcel of land in 1921. By 1923, he had completed what would become the town's signature promenade, the 30-foot-wide by one-and-a-half-mile-long pink cement walkway named Broadwalk.

Designated area

Two and a half miles along the Atlantic Ocean between Jefferson Street to the south and Sherman Street to the north.

Summary

Development of Hollywood continued at a rapid pace until September 18, 1926, when the "Great Hurricane" hit the area and left hundreds dead. The resort community would rebuild, but not before Young's "Dream City" went through bankruptcy, and many of the city's initial investors and speculators sold at a loss.
Despite the city's early tragedy, the Broadwalk and adjoining architecture — mostly low- and mid-rise hotels and apartments built during the late 1920s and 1930s in the Streamline/Art Moderne, Mediterranean Revival, and Mid-Century Modern architectural styles — are still there. Together with palm trees and the white sand beach, they give Hollywood the look and feel of old Florida.
To capitalize on the city's historic character and unique walkway, Hollywood established the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in 1997 with the goal of making the city's ocean frontage a dynamic place to invest, work, live, and play. An extensive planning process was undertaken to obtain community input and develop a comprehensive plan for the beach, the Broadwalk, and the 42 adjoining street block ends that terminate at the cement walkway. CRA issued $20 million in revenue bonds in 2004 to implement the plan.
Among the improvements two new features are catching the attention of other coastal municipalities. New woven mats (called "Mobi-mats") that extend onto the sand from the promenade have been installed to provide handicap accessibility to the beach. Also, period-appropriate LED lighting is creating a safer environment for nesting sea turtles that use the beach. These and other changes notwithstanding, many visitors report Hollywood and its Broadwalk still looks and feels "like you're back in the '70s."
History

• Originally envisioned by Joseph Young, Hollywood's founder; platted and paved (1922)
• Hollywood Beach Casino was built (1924); located on the Broadwalk; 824 dressing rooms, 80 shower baths, shopping arcade, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool
• Hurricane hit South Florida (1926); Hollywood's growth and development stopped overnight; property values plummeted; city went bankrupt

Revitalization

• Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Beach Master Plan adopted, historic district created (2007); provides setbacks, height restrictions, design review to keep existing character
• A large part of the $6.6 million the city takes in each year from tourists is collected at the businesses along the Broadwalk
• Redevelopment agency's Broadwalk promenade revitalization project completed (2007)
• Improvements include new public restrooms, palm trees, addition of ADA-accessible shower
• Broadwalk becomes part of Florida East Coast Greenway (2011), which is part of the national East Coast Greenway, an urban trail network that extends from Key West to Maine
• Margaritaville Resort in Broadwalk's central district; $147 million public-private partnership between the city, redevelopment agency, and developer
• Margaritaville Resort completion expected 2015; will complement other major resorts — Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa, Marriott Hollywood Beach, and Hollywood Crowne Plaza Hotel

Design

• Promenade 27 feet wide and one mile from downtown; spans 2.5 miles along Atlantic Ocean
• Hollywood's oceanfront is a Blue Wave Certified Clean Beach
• New design includes designated "lanes" for walking, jogging, and biking; organizes space (2007)
• Unified palette of like materials; terra cotta pavers, coquina stone retaining wall, historic street lighting, and aluminum "corrals" contain drinking fountains, trashcans, newspaper boxes
• Coquina stone low wall; keeps promenade free from sand erosion; provides separation from beach and bench-like seating; incorporates beach showers, foot washes, directional signage
• Planter boxes at street ends; contain native, salt-tolerant plants that survive typical weather
• New LED light fixtures comply with local ordinance; feature 270-degree shields which decrease light pollution towards the water; create safer environment for nesting sea turtles

Beach Restoration, Storm and Climate Protection

• From 1876 through 2005, 18 hurricanes have passed within 60 miles of the city; significant beach erosion occurred with landfall of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma (2005)
• Hollywood beach eroded along shoreline at a rate of four feet per year from 1989 to 1998
• Entire 6.85 miles of city's coastline recognized by state as critically eroded
• Since early 1960s Broward County has helped Hollywood with shore protection, beach restoration, and beach sand management; constructed with federal cost-sharing
• Renourished beaches provide enhanced protection for existing infrastructure valued at nearly $1 billion plus billions of dollars in property and thousands of lives
• Broward County adds "Climate Change Element" to comprehensive plan (2013); first local government in state to comply with "Adaptation Action Areas" policies
• Predict one-foot sea level rise for Hollywood next 100 years; 0.7 foot rise during past 70 years

Adjacent Amenities, Activities, Programs

• Ninety-eight small hotels on Broadwalk, also three oceanfront parks, restaurants, shops
• The 1.85-acre Charnow Park at Connecticut Street-end; redeveloped by city, CRA (2008); includes parking garage, meeting facilities, historic racquetball courts, play equipment
• Broadwalk connected by county bus, trolley, bike share, bike rentals
• Hosts annual festivals, parades, other events year-round; farmer's market and juice bar on Sundays with all-organic produce, juices
• Historic band shell across from Johnson Street end has live music, outdoor concerts
• CRA-initiated "City Pass" cooperative program with cruise companies in Port Everglades brings an average of 6,800 visitors annually on day trips to Hollywood Beach
• New "Broadwalk Ambassador" program supported by Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Hollywood Beach Civic Association, CRA, city; volunteers to provide tourist info

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Essex County Branch Brook Park Newark, New Jersey

The nationally historic, beautifully landscaped, and highly popular Essex County Branch Brook Park is the crown jewel of the Essex County, New Jersey, Park System. As such, it plays many roles: as a public backyard for the residents of Essex County, as the playing fields for the city's 40,000 students, and as the destination for 100,000 visitors each spring who come to see the nation's largest collection of blossoming cherry trees.

Designated area

Park is generally bounded by Interstate Highway 280 on the south, the Newark City Light Rail line on the west, and Belleville Park with an extension between Mill Street and the Second River on the north. The eastern boundary moves along many streets, principally Clifton Avenue, Lake Street, and a line extending from Branch Brook Place.

Summary

Originally conceived in 1867 by Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., and Calvin Vaux, Branch Brook Park became the country's first county park for public use. The park is a mixture of iconic Olmsted–designed elements — including long, rolling greenswards, statuesque tree groupings, waterways, and naturalistic woodlands — and more utilitarian areas for general recreation, team sports, and special events.
At 360 acres, Branch Brook is the largest park in the Essex County Parks System. The park, whose borders move in and out forming an L shape, is approximately a quarter-mile wide and four miles long. There are two major circulating drives that connect the park's four divisions and 12 miles of walking paths.
Despite its beloved status in the community and philanthropic support, Branch Brook Park fell victim to benign neglect and delayed maintenance. To direct public attention to the park, several local citizen groups, including Friends of Branch Brook Park, Concerned Citizens of Forest Hill, and members of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's Women's Board, joined together. Among their initial steps was getting the park added to both the state and national registers of historic places in 1980 and 1981, respectively. This was not enough to prevent the space from being "loved into decrepitude," which is how the park was described in the five-volume "Cultural Landscape Report, Treatment, and Management Plan" published in 2002.
A successful voter referendum in 1998 established a county open space trust fund and a source of money to start a comprehensive, $50 million restoration of Branch Brook Park, which the county began in 1999. Five years later, Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. was elected Essex County executive. As someone who grew up next to Branch Brook Park, he was a strong and vocal proponent of the county park system and of Branch Brook Park in particular. Under DiVincenzo's leadership, additional funding for Branch Brook Park's capital improvements and repairs has been secured.
Since 2003, the park's revitalization has been supported with public grants from the New Jersey Green Acres program and the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, as well as private contributions from Prudential Financial President and CEO Arthur F. Ryan and his wife, Pat, who serves as co-president of the Branch Brook Park Alliance. The Ryans gave $1 million to the Branch Brook Park Alliance. Another source of support is the public-private partnership between Essex County and the Branch Brook Park Alliance, in which the alliance retains the services of the landscape architectural firm of Rhodeside & Harwell, Inc. of Virginia and Newark to guide the restoration. Essex County provides matching funds and technical support for the revitalization projects.
Today the park is in the final phase of implementing its restoration plan, including long-deferred capital improvements, and addressing recommendations in the Cultural Landscape Report that aim to restore the park's original artistic legacy created by the genius and vision of Olmsted and Vaux more than 150 years ago.
Early History

• Formerly Camp Frelinghusen, land for park used to train New Jersey volunteers at start of Civil War (1862)
• New Jersey state legislature authorizes Newark Park Commission to find location for a municipal park (1867)
• Fredrick Law Olmsted, Sr. and Calvin Vaux develop original concept of the park (1867)
• Newark Common Council donates 60 acres for what eventually becomes Branch Brook Park
• Essex County Park Commission is formed (1889)
• Essex County Park Commission hires Olmsted Brothers firm to develop the park (1898)
• Philanthropist Harman W. Hendricks donates family home, adjoining 23 acres for the park (1924)
• Essex County acquires 94 acres to link Hendricks Field Golf Course and Bellville Park (1924)
• Two thousand Japanese flowering cherry trees donated by Caroline Bamberger Fuld, sister of department store magnate Louis Bamberger (1927)

Design and Features

• Park has four divisions: North Division is most natural; Middle Division has ball fields and paths; South Division is oldest segment; Park Extension area has highest concentration of cherry trees
• Park's 4,300 cherry trees make the largest, most diverse collection in U.S.; Cherry Blossom Welcome Center recently renovated to create central gathering location for annual cherry festival
• Park covers 360 acres with network of lakes, ponds, connecting streams; largest lake is 24 acres in the park's Southern Division. The interconnecting waterway is a Passaic River tributary
• Prudential Lions located near the largest lake in the South Division have been park icons since 1959; symbolize Prudential Financial's support for the park
• Elegant Ballantine Gates by architects Carrere and Hastings located at the entrance along Lake Street in Newark's historic Forest Hill neighborhood

Examples of Restoration Projects

• Branch Brook Park Alliance hired Rhodeside & Harwell to produce the Essex County Park, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan funded by Prudential and Victoria Foundation (2002)
• Five-volume "Cultural Landscape Report, Treatment, and Management Plan for Branch Brook Park" by Rhodeside & Harwell, Inc., completed for Essex County and Branch Brook Park Alliance (2002)
• Since 2003, county made approximately $29 million in capital improvements and repairs to the park
• Improvements of $6.4 million upgraded Middle Division ballfields with lighting, scoreboard, new press box, grading, draining, field relocations, parking, pedestrian entrance (2006)
• New entrance built on the west side, making the park accessible from four light rail stations and 11 bus lines
• $6.2 million was invested to restore the Park Avenue Bridge in 2005 and the Bloomfield Avenue bridge in 2009
• $1.1 million was invested to rehabilitate the Prudential Concert and Kiyofumi Sakaguchi Memorial groves (2012)

Community Involvement

• Branch Brook Park Alliance formed in 1999 to raise public awareness and include neighborhood residents and corporations in supporting the park's rehabilitation
• Corporate, college, and nonprofit volunteers, and professional arborists participate in service days, park clean-ups, and caring for the trees through programs such as the annual "Pru Cares Day"
• An urban-based farm operates in the park's two greenhouses, providing an educational opportunity for residents and students, and a source of food for underserved communities
• Branch Brook Park Alliance and the Essex County Parks Department sponsor a spring fishing derby that draws 350 to 500 children
• Local cultural groups hold special activities in the park, such as the old Italian game of bocce
• The Cherry Blossom Gala held annually by Branch Brook Park Alliance raises park visibility
• Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival attracts 100,000-plus visitors each spring; includes bicycle races, 10K run, student essay and poster contests, music, Japanese cultural demonstrations
• Community Picnic involves over 1,500 school children and their families and offers a fun run, paddle boating rides, music, games, vendors, and refreshments
• North Ward Center, Roberto Clemente Little League, La Casa de Don Pedro have established conservancy relationships with Essex County to support the ongoing revitalization initiatives
• North Ward Center and Robert Clemente Little League sponsor youth recreation programs that attract thousands of children
• Park hosts Easter egg hunts, wedding photographs, North American Tree Climbing Competition, fundraisers for local organizations, elementary school nature and environmental classes 

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Forest Park St. Louis, Missouri

Dedicated in 1876, Forest Park's 1,371 acres — which make it roughly 500 acres larger than New York City's Central Park — are home to 30,000 trees and five of the region's major institutions: the Missouri History Museum, the Muny (the nation's largest amphitheater dedicated to musical theater), the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Saint Louis Science Center, and the Saint Louis Zoo.

Designated area

Forest Park is bordered by Lindell Boulevard to the north, Kingshighway Boulevard to the east, Oakland Avenue to the south, and Skinker Boulevard to the west.

Summary

Superlatives and accolades for Forest Park abound. Some patrons consider it on par with the Smithsonian, while others speak of the park as the "heart and crown jewel of St. Louis" or cite it as the reason they chose to move to St. Louis. The park attracts more visitors annually than the Grand Canyon and Yosemite combined. It played host to the World's Fair and parts of the first Summer Olympics to be held in the United States in 1904. Among its amenities and attractions are lakes, museums, monuments, playing fields, bike and pedestrian paths, golf courses, sculptures and fountains, skyline vistas, and a world-class zoo.
The park drew international attention at the turn of the 20th century when it was selected to host the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, more commonly known as the 1904 World's Fair. Renowned landscape architect George Kessler was tapped to redesign the park for the event, and he made several dramatic changes including the transformation of wetlands from five connected lakes.  Permanent structures still remaining from the fair are the Flight Cage, Emerson Grand Basin, and the Saint Louis Art Museum.
If the early 20th century was the park's zenith, the nadir came 60 to 70 years later, after years of budget shortfalls and underfunding created a backlog of deferred maintenance and crumbling park infrastructure. But in 1993, the City of St. Louis and Forest Park Forever — a nonprofit founded in 1986 to protect, restore, and care for the park — initiated a comprehensive master planning process to restore it to its former glory. Following the plan's adoption in 1995, a public and private partnership was established to implement the plan, which has involved raising $100 million for extensive building, landscape, habitat, and roadway capital improvements.
With several recreational facilities — including tennis courts, golf courses, boat rentals, skating rinks, handball courts, and fields for softball, baseball, soccer, cricket, rugby, and archery — there is something for each of the 13 million local residents, special event attendees, and tourists who enjoy Forest Park every year.
History

• Forest Park Act of 1874 authorized tax for acquiring land; one of the largest U.S. urban parks (1,371 acres)
• Initial design by Maximillian G. Kern and Julius Pitzman; 50,000 attended opening June 24, 1876
• During 1890s, streetcars brought nearly 3 million visitors a year to the park
• Almost 20 million attended Louisiana Purchase Exposition; greatest of World's Fairs (1904)
• Site of diving, swimming, water polo events during 1904 Summer Olympics
• Charles Lindbergh addressed crowd of 100,000 at park following his solo transatlantic flight (1927)

Design, Amenities

• EmersonGrand Basin, Art Hill and Post-Dispatch Lake area the heart of park and provide major     gathering space; lined with classical promenades and eight fountains that propel water 30 feet high
• Dual Path System (2011); asphalt path for bicyclists, skaters and gravel path for joggers, walkers
• Thirty-six-holes of golf, tennis courts, boat rentals, skating rink
• Art Deco floral conservatory, the Jewel Box (1936), surrounded by rose gardens, lily ponds, statuary, monuments; listed in National Register of Historic Places
• Lindell Pavilion streetcar shelter (1892) now the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center
• World's Fair Pavilion restored with $1.1 million from private donations
• The French Second Empire-style Cabanne House (1876) is one of park's oldest buildings; originally served as park keeper's house; listed in National Register of Historic Places and a city landmark (1971) 

Restoration

• Nonprofit Forest Park Forever was founded to raise funds for park restoration (1986)
• City adopts the Forest Park Master Plan (1995)
• Forest Park Forever and City create private-public partnership to raise $94 million for "Restoring the Glory" Park renovation campaign (1996)
• 100th anniversary of the World's Fair showcased a renovated and restored Forest Park (2004)
• Forest Park Forever strategic plan adopted to guide park during post-restoration era (2009)
• St. Louis Board of Aldermen adopted enhanced Maintenance Cooperation Agreement to strengthen Forest Park Forever's public-private partnership with City of St. Louis (2011)
• Second comprehensive fundraising campaign is under way to raise $30 million for additional capital improvements and $100 million park endowment (2013)

Monuments, Cultural Institutions, Events

• More than 30 statues, monuments and works of art are placed throughout the park
• Park's most visited feature is the Saint Louis Zoo; has more than 18,000 animals (opened 1910)
• Saint Louis Art Museum originally was the Palace of Fine Arts during 1904 World's Fair;  more than 3,000 works of art including works by Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso
• Missouri History Museum's Jefferson Memorial Building; first memorial built to honor Thomas Jefferson; funded with proceeds from the 1904 World's Fair
• The Muny, opened in 1916; considered country's oldest and largest outdoor music theater
• Saint Louis Science Center includes planetarium; attracts more than a million visitors annually
• Special events include Great Forest Park Balloon Race (hot air), Shakespeare Festival, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra outdoor concerts, St. Louis African Arts Festival, and much more

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C Street Virginia City, Nevada

The legacy of the miners and prospectors remains along C Street where wooden-plank walkways, gas street lamps, historic buildings with awnings, and swinging saloon doors harken back to the time of the discovery of the Comstock Lode. In 1859, the discovery transformed the area from an encampment of tents along the slope of Mount Davidson into the "richest place on earth."

Designated area

Approximately one mile starting north at 113 North C Street and 537 South C Street to the south.

Summary

Known for its 100-mile-views over Nevada's basin-and-range and late 19th century architecture, C Street is situated along sloping terrain. In 1966, Virginia City was named the nation's largest historic landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 1969, Nevada State Statute created the Comstock Historic District Commission that today oversees and regulates development for the preservation of the historic treasure. As a result, C Street is remarkably well-preserved, with its historic architecture and streetscape reminiscent of the Old West. Fans of the western television show Bonanza might recognize C Street, which was used when filming the Cartwright family's trips into town for supplies.
A handful of structures on C Street that were originally constructed in 1862 survived the fire of 1875. When more than half of Virginia City burned in that fire, it was rebuilt in a matter of months. To date, nearly all the buildings of Virginia City's heyday remain intact and in use along the C street corridor. Two of those buildings are the Fourth Ward School Museum and The Territorial Enterprise Building.
The Fourth Ward School, built in 1876 to honor the nation's centennial, is a prominent building on C Street. The four-story building could accommodate more than 1,000 students and boasted state-of-the-art heating, ventilation, and sanitation systems as well as water piped to all floors. Today, the Fourth Ward School is a museum where visitors can learn about the history of Virginia City and the Comstock Lode, which was the first major silver discovery in the U.S. The Territorial Enterprise Building was built in 1876 as the third and final office of Nevada's first newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise. In 1862, a young Samuel Clemens began his writing career as a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise under the pen name of Mark Twain. Today, the building is the Mark Twain Museum.
Several preservation efforts for C Street have been made to continue its legacy. After undertaking an archeological survey of the Virginia City National Historic Landmark, Storey County crafted Project 85 which constitutes a total survey of all buildings in Virginia City, including those on C Street. Storey County also adopted a master plan in 1994, currently being updated, and local zoning ordinances that balance sustainable growth and modern mining with tourism and historic preservation.
Planning and Preservation

• In 1961, Virginia City along with C Street became part of nation's largest historic landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966
• In 1969, Nevada State Statute created Comstock Historic District Commission that today oversees and regulates development for preservation of historic landmark
• First comprehensive inventory of historic buildings and structures, known as the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service (HAER), undertaken in 1980 by Department of the Interior; inventory provided initial archaeological planning studies
• In 1985, Project 85 constituted a total survey of all buildings in Virginia City, including those on C Street. Project also proposed a cultural resources management plan and pointed toward development of the Virginia City Tourism Authority to encourage cultural tourism
• Storey County adopted master plan in 1994 and local zoning ordinances that balance sustainable growth and modern mining with tourism and historic preservation; now being updated
• Visitor's Center located on C Street helps market the historic area for tourism purposes.   

Architecture

• Most C Street buildings are mixture of masonry and wood frame dating after 1875 when fire swept through the city
• Territorial Enterprise Building built in 1876 as the third and final office of Nevada's first newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise; building is an example of vernacular 19 century commercial style; constructed with a high decorative parapet and a cast-iron storefront with fluted Tuscan pilasters
• Fourth Ward School architect C.M. Bennett may have drawn inspiration from popular 19th century architectural pattern books; Second Empire structure with distinctive Mansard roof  

Community Character

• Wooden-plank sidewalks which extend along C Street for several blocks and gas street lamps reflect the character of 19th century mining town
• Authentic Old-West character, countless 19th century buildings create experience where visitors can truly "step back in time"
• Nearly a million visit Virginia City and C Street each year; visitors enjoy laid-back shopping with gift shops, gourmet candy stores, and eclectic restaurants
• C Street is home to several museums including Fourth Ward School Museum, Comstock Firemen's Museum, the Mark Twain Museum at the Territorial Enterprise, and The Way It Was Museum
• Several unique events happen on C Street, including parades, Street Vibrations, and World Championship Outhouse Races

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Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii

Kalakaua Avenue is one of the most economically prosperous, yet environmentally vulnerable, streets in America. Located alongside the world-famous Waikiki beach, the street commands sweeping views of Diamond Head; provides the address for a number of the country's most opulent retailers; showcases a unique architectural fusion of Hawaiian, Gothic, Asian, Spanish, and Moorish designs; and is part of the repository of Hawaii's immense cultural heritage.

Designated area

Kalakaua Avenue between Kapiolani Boulevard at the Hawaii Convention Center and Poni Moi Road at Kapiolani Park.

Summary

With its overhead canopy of palms, Kalakaua is an avenue characterized by its constant movement and high energy. It is a place that brings together residents with out-of-state tourists and world travelers, those of wealth with those of more modest means. People come here to work, shop, eat, vacation, sunbathe, swim, surf, or take in any number of events throughout the year that transform Kalakaua into a thriving, urban gathering space.
Setting the stage for Kalakaua Avenue's tremendous success was construction of the Ala Wai Canal. Completed in 1928 after seven years of construction, it allowed the area's rice paddies and wetlands to be drained, which created Waikiki's expanse of developable land.
The high-rise hotel building boom along Kalakaua Avenue and Waikiki reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In response, the city and county of Honolulu adopted a Waikiki Special Design District Ordinance in 1974 to restrict building heights and prevent the area from being overbuilt. To those who characterized the area as a "concrete wasteland," the damage was already done. Honolulu's new mayor, Eileen Anderson, responded with the "Waikiki 2000" plan in 1981. Despite her call for urgent action, the plan was not implemented. Honolulu's next mayor, Frank Fasi, guided the city through a high-profile planning process for Waikiki funded by the Queen Emma Foundation, a major land owner in the district.
The plan that resulted sought to make the experience of walking along Kalakaua Avenue "feel more like being in a park" rather than on a densely urbanized street, according to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris who took office in 1994. During the next 10 years, the city and county would spend more than $100 million on Kalakaua Avenue for new sidewalks, landscaping, walkways, historic-style street lighting, street furnishings, and plazas. Also added was the Waikiki Historic Trail designed by native Hawaiian activist and historian George Kanahele. The trail's 23 sites, many of which are located on or within steps of Kalakaua Avenue, highlight Hawaiian culture and history.
Given the avenue's location between the Ko'olau Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, how the city and state address flooding in the Ala Wai watershed and sea level rise as a result of climate change will largely influence and shape the avenue's future. A plan under development by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating various options to protect Waikiki and Kalakaua Avenue from a 100-year flood.
In response to projected sea-level rise affecting not just Kalakaua Avenue and Waikiki but all coastal areas in Hawaii, the state is among the leaders in the U.S. establishing a framework that enables local governments to plan for and adapt to changes from climate change. Last year Governor Neil Abercrombie signed into law Senate Bill 2745 that amends the Hawaii State Planning Act to include priority guidelines addressing adaptation to climate change. The amendment recognizes that sea level rise in Hawaii will occur and that adaptation strategies must be adopted. The private sector also is responding. For example, the Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts says the new, 300-foot-tall Diamond Head Tower hotel the firm is seeking approval to build next to Waikiki Beach will be constructed to withstand rising sea levels and other impacts caused by climate change.
History

• Long associated with Hawaiian Royalty and VIP visitors
• Kalakaua serves as the main entryway into Waikiki since the 1800s; known as Waikiki road until 1908, the street is named in honor of King Kalakaua, the last king of the Kingdom of Hawaii
• 1868 carriage replaced by horse-driven tramcar in 1888 and electric trolley in 1901; in 2004, Bus Rapid Transit System for Kalakaua is discontinued because of costs and low ridership
• Ala Wai Canal (1921-1928) initially proposed by Lucius Pinkham, president of Hawaii's Territorial Board of Health; canal enables wetlands drainage, allows Waikiki development
• Throughout World War II, several hotels along Kalakaua, including the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, served as a place of rest and relaxation for U.S. servicemen; tourism picks up after war ends

Sustainability

• University of Hawaii study (2012) details state-wide sustainability milestones — greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020 and adoption of 70 percent clean energy by 2030
• Studies by geologist Charles "Chip" Fletcher and others predict sea level rise for Hawaii of 1 foot by 2050 and 3 feet by 2100; 3-foot rise would flood Kalakaua Avenue as it is built today
• Without adaptation, losing Waikiki beach could cause $2 billion drop in annual visitor spending

Economic, Urban Development

• Waikiki Livable Community project examines how public streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way are used and how they could be improved for better transport (2003)
• During the past decade, private sector spent more than $3.4 billion upgrading infrastructure throughout Waikiki and along Kalakaua, refurbishing and redesigning hotels
• Kalakaua Avenue is North America's fifth-most expensive retail market; luxury stores include Chanel, Prada, Tiffany's; as of 2004, storefronts along Kalakaua are nearly 100 percent occupied
• Waikiki is the most-advertised tourist destination in state, contributing almost 44 percent of Hawaii's tourism revenue; accommodates approximately 85,000 visitors daily

Tourism, Local Attractions

• Royal Hawaiian Hotel, also known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, is icon of Hawaii's glory days; built in 1927, hotel was designed in the Spanish and Moorish style
• Moana Hotel (1901), also known as the First Lady of Waikiki, listed in the National Register of Historic Places; hotel designed in a Hawaiian Gothic fusion style
• Diamond Head is a volcanic tuff cone located right off Kalakaua; designated as a National Natural Landmark (1968); tuff cone resembles the shape of a tuna's dorsal fin
• Waikiki Historic Trail designed in 1994; marked by bronze signs in the shape of surf boards, the trail leads tourists to important historic sights both on and off Kalakaua Avenue
• Kalakaua Avenue often closed to traffic for parades, other significant events including Honolulu Marathon, Brunch on the Beach, Sunset on the Beach
• Hawaii's largest and oldest public park, Kapiolani Regional Park, located along east end of Kalakaua; park serves as a natural border between Waikiki and Diamond Head
• Fort DeRussy Military Reservation, located near Royal Hawaiian Hotel, was important American bastion of defense (1908); it is now a public park with the Hawaii Army Museum and a hotel and dedicated to the U.S. military 

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Downtown Norwich/Chelsea Landing Norwich, Connecticut

It was a grand vision put forth in a 1971 waterfront plan — and a $12-million dollar gamble by a local developer who had faith in the plan — that saved historic downtown Norwich. The neighborhood, some 350 years in the making, continues its progress with the guidance of synergistic planning efforts, community involvement, and tens of millions of dollars in public and private investments that have both preserved and enhanced the downtown's natural and man-made assets.

Designated area

Bounded by the Yantic River to the west; Shetucket River to the east; Norwich Harbor to the south; and Oak Street, Willow Avenue, and School Street to the north.

Summary

With buildings of monumental character and dramatic views because of steep-slope terracing, downtown Norwich boasts streetscapes of unusual historic integrity and variety. Located at the confluence of the Shetucket, Yantic, and Thames rivers, this compact neighborhood exudes 19th century charm while offering 21st century amenities. The rivers, key to neighborhood's initial prosperity, are a recreational resource today. A $12 million world-class 200-slip marina replaced an abandoned coal distribution site.  Adjacent to Norwich Harbor is the Howard T. Brown Park with boat launching site and pedestrian paths.
Shortly after Norwich's 1659 founding it became a bustling port, and water-dependent industries flourished. Downtown served as an early, New York–to–Boston transportation hub, but the city's geographic advantage evaporated when the interstate highway system passed it by. Intent on reestablishing itself as a regional transit center, downtown recently inaugurated a $22 million Intermodal Transportation Center that, ultimately, will connect bus, rail, and ferry.
The 1929 stock market crash signaled downtown Norwich's decline. Textile mills headed south. New construction slowed. By 1970, the neighborhood was a hub for the disenfranchised. Downtown turned to planning for guidance and possible solutions. The 1971 waterfront plan jump-started redevelopment, and 10 years later a historic resources inventory led to the 64-acre Downtown Norwich Historic District being added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A merchant-funded plan in 1982 resulted in the creation of a downtown development corporation that encouraged building facade improvements, renovations, and adaptive reuse.  Streetscape improvements, including brick sidewalks and period streetlamps, were made in 1992. A $3.38 million plan, approved by voters in 2010, is funding code corrections, lease rebates, and low-rate loans.
Redevelopment is focused on increasing the number of moderate- and high-income residents to spur economic activity. The neighborhood has roughly 500 housing units, ranging from stately mansions to affordable apartments, such as The Wauregan, a renovated 1855 hotel. Housing for artists is available in a former shoe factory located in the heart of the neighborhood's vibrant arts district. The district has two live theaters, the Slater Memorial Museum and the 1850 Otis Library. With support from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the $18.9 million mixed-use Mercantile Exchange with 100,000 square feet of office space was built in 2004.
A host of events throughout the year reflect the neighborhood's cultural and ethnic diversity, including the Taste of Italy and the River Fest-Dragon Boat Racing that celebrates the most concentrated Asian community in the region.
Historic Architecture and Street Design

• Downtown's oldest home built 1737; a brewery is oldest commercial structure built 1741; 13 structures from 18th century, 55 buildings from 19th century, 30 buildings from 20th century
• 19th century architecture includes Italianate, French Second Empire, High Victorian Gothic, and Greek Revival styles; most prominent houses are  John Fox Slater (1843) and Buckingham Memorial (1847)
• Downtown Norwich Historic District, added to National Register (1985), comprises 64 of 74 acres
• Clustering of buildings creates visual character; unique streetscape derives from combination of dense development — relieved by occasional open squares — with irregular road pattern
• Street design results in narrow, angular lots, necessitating development of triangular buildings with rounded apexes and buildings with distinct facades on the two streets on which they front
• Adaptive reuse dates to early 1800s; rise in commercial property values led to conversion of residential structures; 21st century adaptive reuse creates theaters, restaurants, apartments

Planning and Redevelopment

• 1971 waterfront plan envisions recreational use of rivers and adjacent shoreline
• Local developer, Ron D. Aliano, invests $12 million to transform coal distribution point into marina
• Downtown merchants raise $20,000 to fund "Downtown Norwich" redevelopment plan (1982)
• $230,000 streetscape project (1992) results in installation of brick sidewalks and period streetlamps
• Norwich Community Development Corporation administers funding for development of $18.9 million, 100,000-square-foot Mercantile Exchange (2004); first new downtown office building in 30 years
• $10.5 million upgrade of Otis Library completed 2006
• Wauregan Hotel (1855) reopens after $18 million restoration (2006); has 70 affordable housing units
• Voters pass $3.38 million proposal (2010) providing favorable financing to businesses and grants to owners of historic properties to renovate uninhabitable upper floors; $1 million encumbered to date
• Vibrant Communities Initiative (2012) seeks to guide historic resource redevelopment
• $70 million invested over 10 years; $8 million in pipeline includes two mixed-use waterfront projects

Transportation Hub

• Site of city's first public landing (1684), which attracted merchant ships from as far as West Indies
• Steamboats connect downtown to New York (1816), trains link neighborhood to Boston (1832); streetcars introduced 1880s and electrified in 1892
• Marina at American Wharf is $12 million public-private project (1989); $1 million upgrade 2012
• $22 million Intermodal Transportation Center with 162 parking spaces, taxi services, rail connections is operations base for Southeast Area Transit District (2012); will link to future maritime services
• The Harbor Management Commission is developing a kayak trail along the waterfront with will connect to the Uncas Leap Heritage Area
• The entire downtown area is very walkable place with numerous sidewalks

Scenic Resources, Arts and Entertainment

• Downtown overlooks picturesque Norwich Harbor; at confluence of Shetucket, Yantic, and Thames rivers; terraced downtown built on steep, lower slopes of Wawecus Hill
• Heritage Walk starts from Howard T. Brown Park ; follows Yantic River, ends at Uncas Leap gorge
• Spirit of Broadway Theater, an 80-seat, black-box theater, located in historic firehouse
• Norwich Arts Center features 600 square feet of exhibition space; ArtSpace provides artist housing
• Slater Memorial Museum, a Romanesque Revival house (1886) displays fine and decorative art
• Community's ethnic diversity celebrated with annual River Fest-Dragon Boat Racing, Taste of Italy 
• "Rock the Docks" at Howard T. Brown Park and "Norwich First Fridays" attract residents, visitors
• The downtown neighborhood is surrounding by hills, many of them containing historic residential neighborhoods of their own (e.g., Jail Hill, Laurel Hill, Little Plain)

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