Layering Connections: Reclaiming Abandoned Post Industrial Infrastructure

Abstract

Industrial Infrastructure fueled the birth and growth of countless small towns and cities throughout the United States. In many instances, the railroad served as the main source of employment. Local economies were often tied to the continued success of the railroad industry and mirrored their decline in the mid-20th century. The transition away from rail resulted in a network of abandoned rail lines, vacant rail yards, and unemployed towns. This thesis examines the Erie divisional rail yard in Port Jervis, New York and the voids left from abandoned industrial infrastructure. It proposes a solution that PROVIDES spaces that meet the community’s needs; ORIENTS the city as a regional port; RECONNECTS residents to the city’s past; and creates higher educational and TRAINING opportunities.