February 6th, 2025
8:30am - 10:30am
Perkins Eastman
115 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, USA
Heidi Wolf has nearly two decades of expertise in urban design and pedestrian planning. She is currently the Interim Deputy Director for BQE Corridor Planning at the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT). Previously, Heidi served as Deputy Director of NYCDOT’s Pedestrian Unit, where she led efforts to design and implement capital and operational projects aimed at improving pedestrian accessibility, safety, and quality of life. Her work centers on advancing policies, design standards, and projects that promote walkability, fostering healthier communities and a more sustainable future.
Gretha is the Chief of Staff of the Strategy Unit at NYC DOT. She advises the Chief Strategy Officer on strategy, leveraging policy, intergovernmental affairs, and communications tools to achieve agency and administrative goals, including advancing equity initiatives. In this role, she also helps to manage the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) Central Project, which seeks to find a long-term solution for the aging infrastructure of the city-owned portion of the BQE (Interstate-278)—from the Atlantic Avenue to the Sands Street interchanges in Brooklyn, including the historic “Triple Cantilever.” Gretha was born in a small town called Los Palos, in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, and migrated to Miami with her family when she was ten years old. She has fostered her public service career in various roles at NYC Parks and at the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) by working in projects that improve the conditions, accessibility, and safety of the public realm.
Join us for a breakfast roundtable on the vision for BQE North and South with Heidi Wolf and Gretha Suarez.
Last year, the New York City Department of Transportation received community input from over 2,600 stakeholders and advocates on ways to reimagine the public realm along the BQE Corridor. Together, they developed a shared vision for the transformation of the adjacent streetscapes to improve pedestrian safety, public space activation, and neighborhood connectivity.
Fellows will hear from Heidi Wolf and Gretha Suarez with the NYC Department of Transportation who will share new design concepts for the BQE corridor.
How can we transform and repurpose transportation infrastructure to improve community health and cohesion?
Guest & Accessibility Policies
Urban Design Forum promotes conversations between invited civic leaders, designers, developers, and advocates. This event is open to Forum Fellows and their guests.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.
- The venue will have an entrance and elevators that are ADA-accessible.
- This event will have microphones and speakers.
- If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Face masks are encouraged, particularly if you have been recently exposed to colds, flus, or other illness. If you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days, a high-quality, well-fitting face covering is required at all times.
- Please refrain from wearing strong fragrances to accommodate guests with allergies or environmental sensitivities.
- If you have additional needs, we will do our best to accommodate. Please contact rsvp@urbandesignforum.org.
About Public Works
Public Works is a discussion series to drive civic dialogue around new and forthcoming built environment projects in New York City. Throughout the year, we invite government officials and private sector leaders to present design and development initiatives that shape the public good. Our goal is to create an open and collegial venue for deeper conversation between the public sector and our network of civic leaders building, caring for, and maintaining our city.
Support Our Work
Public Works is made possible through the support of our Board of Directors, Director’s Circle, Company Members, and our Campaign for Courageous Leadership, and company and individual members. Our programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
To learn more about supporting Public Works, please contact Miranda Bellizia, miranda@urbandesignforum.org.
Image Credit: Tdorante10
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