Team

Michelle Ammirati
Kenny Morifi-Winslow

Methods
Desk research
Polling
Expert Interviews
Rapid Prototyping

Research Methods

Our goal with the initial research was to understand wants and needs of the primary stakeholders. To get that better understanding we:

• Collected desk research from the media, online documents, case notes and the synchronous sprint

• Conducted an online poll and interviews to learn about how buildings communicate with their residents

• Spoke with a community organizer who worked with developers in Brooklyn and is an advocate in both Brooklyn and the Bronx

Desk Research Themes

Emerging themes from our desk research include concerns from the community about their input in the development and about what makes their neighborhood unique. Greenpoint also has a history of activist networks in the area that are concerned with upholding a strong community network. The community has also suffered from pandemic-related business and work effects.

It is clear from our desk research that this is a tightly knit area and that any developer needs to understand and take an interest in adding to the community in a positive way - not by increasing their burden.

Polls & Interviews

We did social media polls to understand how other buildings and complexes are communicating with their residents. We did not define scope of building size or location in order to be inclusive of a greater diversity of residents and developments. The majority of respondents mentioned email and Whatsapp.

From interviews, we learned about how residents collect daily info, which communication methods they enjoy most and least, and how community is built in their buildings. We also learned that building communication methods are outdated and residents feel a lack of community in their buildings and in the larger areas they live in.

Expert Interview

We interviewed a community organizer that highlighted the need for a community coordinator on the developer side that would build relationships before, during and after the influx into the neighborhood. She emphasized a need for genuine concern and care and a way to connect with the people that are not represented in official channels and local boards, which developers interact with already.

Initial Solution

Keeping our learnings in mind, we ideated on how to facilitate a connected community and sense of belonging for the people who inhabit Greenpoint Landing and interact with it as part of the larger Greenpoint ecosystem. Our solution is a mobile intranet where users are connected to the building, the community, and the larger networked ecosystem.

Functionality

The features we believe are essential to this resident-community platform are, a public bulletin board with the ability to submit events and updates, the ability to view and RSVP to those events, the capacity to book, pay for and claim amenity vouchers, clear and easy to access COVID-19 protocols and resources, and internal news, announcements and requests.

Testing

We tested a mockup with 6 people. They liked the awareness of and access to events in the wider community, streamlined communication between management and tenants and contactless check in and delivery notifications. 

To improve we could integrate with social media to share events and ‘check-in’, add the option to consolidate and pay bills on the platform and add a rewards system to incentivize return community business.