Comments Archive

Our website is a digital space for collaboration about physical space. We invite you to participate  in the creation of knowledge designed to secure greater public use of New York City’s 525 or so POPS, those zoning-created plazas, arcades, and other outdoor and indoor privately owned public spaces. Here is an archive of comments from visitors like you.

Luke on 515 East 79th Street:
POPS at 515 East 79th Street in Manhattan has been closed for years. When will it be reopened?
Luke Szabados on 1285 Sixth Avenue:
This POPS is huge. It includes essentially 3 massive public spaces: a gargantuan through block galleria that serves as an entrance to several retail fronts, Rockafeller Center/subway, and 2 urban plazas along 52nd and 51st streets. The galleria is enormously impressive, not only in scale but in curation. Sol Lewitt murals ascend along the walls up to a skylight far in the distance. In the urban plazas, however, while the seating is appreciated, there are several required ammenities missing, no water fountains, no litter receptacles (2 smoking posts!), supposedly movable chairs provided, I don’t see any! Maybe it's a lousy excuse, but the front of the buildling (along 6th Ave) is undergoing partial construction, perhaps this is why not all amenities are provided. Wonderful planters though and the public furniture was created by Sculptor Scott Burton. The development team on this site had an eye for art.
Luke Szabados on 1755 Broadway:
What a great use of public space. A line of trees provide shade and separation from the busy street. The site is well signed, maintained and used. It's no exaggeration to call this successful POPS a haven with a quality appreciated by all.
Luke Szabados on 1301 Sixth Avenue:
Beautiful space, well designed to facilitate spacious wandering. Beautifully maintained flower gardens. However, a section of arcade on north side of 52nd st has been acquired by restaurant. Is this permitted?
luke szabados on 1345 Sixth Avenue:
Partial Construction...Western plaza (functions as a through block connection) is closed for construction. The plaza along 6th Avenue is well used and permits the seating of masses of people with public benches. Unsure how kiosks fit into the space. Are those supposed to be within the plaza currently under construction? Tables are not really provided at the section currently open to the public. How long do these construction project last?
luke szabados on 125 West 55th Street:
, Through block connection serves as a lobby and entrance for building tenants. The 55th street side currently has an installation of a giant flower (called Grown Up Flower, courtesy of PlayLab), which is a multi site exhibit along 6th Avenue and adjoining streets; the inside lobby space (through block connection) has a few benches (4). Certainly a quiet, quick getaway enjoyable in the summer heat. A tiny film shoot was occuring for the cafe on the southern end of the Through Block Connection (on 55th street) though not obstructing public space, or gathering much attention to itself
luke szabados on 118 West 57th Street | Le Parker Meridien:
Certainly an impressive vestibule, with an elegance unmatched in NYC's POPS. The benches appear to be marble, the corridor is lined with parellel mirrors extending the space visually ad infinitum. However nice this public space appears to the eye, some important facts remain. There are no trees inside space, does the listing of "3 of four-inch caliper" on the required amenities tab actually require these? A bar occupied the northern section of the interior through block connection. While this did not seem to inhibit traffic flow on the Saturday I visited, I wonder how the space is managed when private guests and customers share the space with the general public. Is there a permit for this private enterprise?
Luke Szabados on 146 West 57th Street | Metropolitan Tower:
Metal rails along flower planters have been removed allowing the required seating. Signs clearly label the urban plaza and through block connection on 56th street as being a public space, however signage isn’t provided on the northern entrance (from 57th street). Requirements should be more specific on where signage is required rather than quantity of signs. The flowerbeds are kept up nicely, and the through block connection serves its purpose for alleviating traffic flow while also providing a security desk and entrance to the building.
Luke Szabados on 1325 Sixth Avenue:
The space is certainly grand. With an accessibility ramp, skylight, litter receptacles and some seating. A private cafe has enclosed a large swath of the space (partially afflicting traffic space) and uses seating and tables as an extention to their enterprise. Obviously a private acquisition of public space. Also, when surveying on Saturday, I found that the entire space was redesigned and was in the process of being set up for a wedding (although they did say it would occur after open hours)
Luke Szabados on 230 West 55th Street:
A major renovation has occurred since this space was last catalogues on this site. The white planter wall is no more. The entrance is wide and easily understood as available for the public. 2 well positioned placards aid with this. While planting beds are rid of weeds, stones and gravel comprise the majority of space in front of the required sculpture, which has no identification. According to the informative “required amenities” placard, this site requires 12 trees only 9 are provided. The water fountain does not work. When asked why, the front desk attendant said that the new super of the building does not know how to turn it on. It’s good to know that these details are acknowledged whether they will get attended to in a timely manner is a different matter entirely. The public space near a service door to 230 W 55th is occupied as a trash collection site, which does not add appeal to this public site. Bike parking is used
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