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.

Bill H on 325 Fifth Avenue:
The POPS at 325 5th Avenue (actually on 33rd between 5th Ave. & Madison Ave.) would be a great public space, if it was actually open or even intended to be open. As the comments from 2012 and 2015 indicate and my recent site visit in September 2017 confirmed, the space is closed off and the space is used as construction storage for construction work that does not seem to be happening anywhere nearby. If open, the various seating options - including high-top bar-style tables - would be great for mid-day office lunches or evening relaxation, but unfortunately it is now used for construction material storage and motorcycle parking.
Alex Dashev on 200 East 69th Street:
Trump Palace
Zainab on 60 East 8th Street:
Unfortunately this is unwelcoming space! Before I visit this space, my expectations were not as what I saw. I went to the area and passed the space twice without even noticing there is an actual public space for people to enjoy. There was no clear sign that states “This is a public space”. This space was depressing although there was a beautiful fountain that people could actually enjoy and taking selfie or set on its ledge. The entrance was closed due constructions, so there was no chance of getting there. By looking through the net, I notice there were no benches which was surprising since the area is 10,975.00 sf
Ian Leidner on 55 Water Street:
The name of this Privately Owned Public Space (POPS) provides important information about its physical characteristics. The space is indeed elevated, approximately 40 feet above street level, and is, according to its website, indeed an acre in size. Due to its distance from the sidewalk, the Elevated Acre is accessible only by four flights of stairs or two escalators. The entrance is by no means hidden; however an unknowing passerby may be unable to discern that it is a public space and mistake it for a private office tower amenity. By virtue of its elevation and cloistered location, shrouded on two sides by the enormous office tower in which it resides, the space has little interaction with the rest of the public realm of streets and sidewalks in the surrounding neighborhood. In spite of this disconnect, the space does not lack for noise due to its proximity to the FDR Drive and Downtown Manhattan Heliport. The roar of helicopter blades and highway traffic, amplified by the high walls of the office towers, more than compensates for lack of proximity to busy Water Street. The dense flora that welcomes visitors at the top of the stairs and covers half of the space is a respite from the banal steel, glass and concrete of Water Street. The lunch crowd and some tourists with children filled nearly every chair and table placed among the trees, bushes and flowers in that part of the space. The northern half is defined by 5 large concrete steps, curved in a near semi circle around an astroturf field. The shady portions of this space were most popular on a hot and sunny first day of fall. Although the Elevated Acre is a well used and well liked space, with lush landscaping, ample seating and enough space for a variety of activities and users, its lack of report with the surrounding neighborhood calls its publicness into question. Further, because it is only accessible by stairs or escalators, the space is inherently exclusionary to people with physical disabilities. Its existence begs the question, can this be a truly public space for all when portions of the population are physically unable to enjoy it? Is it fair to those who cannot use this space that an exchange was made for the benefit of private interests that does not benefit them? In spite of the pleasant features of the space described before, because of its inaccessibility, the Elevated Acre hopefully serves more as a cautionary tale for the provision of POPS in the future than a model.
Alex Dashev on 200 East 69th Street:
The Plaza is not particularly welcoming. In fact, I struggled to find it. I asked the bellhop at Trump Palace about it, and he didn't know it existed. After walking around, I realized it was located in the back of the building and gated in, with two openings. there were two clear signs that stated this was a public space, however it seemed secluded and unlikely many people would accidentally stumble upon it and walk in. It was surrounded on 3 sides by buildings and by a gate on the other. Immediately when you walk in there is plenty of seating . The granite seating is 1.6 feet tall with backing that is 1.5 feet. These are comfortable and all surround a square of vegetation. However, some of the plants go over the bench, and partially restrict where people would want to sit. The space met all the necessary requirements (Trees, water fountain, signage, bike racks). However, bike and scooter riding was not allowed in the park. Overall it was a nice quiet place, but everyone was seated and only engaged with whom they had entered the park. The park feels remote, which is part of the appeal, but also makes it difficult to find as it located in the back of the building, and on a street with less foot traffic. If it had a more inviting entrance, I think it would get even more visitors from the public.
David on 26 Astor Place:
Picture of people using 26 Astor Place POPS place at lunch time. A well used and maintained public space. Inviting to the general public passing by and well designed. Plenty of seats and shade from trees.
David on 26 Astor Place:
This POPS was well maintained and used. A suggestion to make it better would be to have more plants to break up the heavy stone and steel used throughout the area. The area had a good amount of trees to provide shade but some shrubs or smaller plants would help improve the area. It's a small public space still well used considering it's location.
David on 26 Astor Place:
Picture of people using 26 Astor Place POPS place at lunch time. A well used and maintained public space. Inviting to the general public passing by and well designed. Plenty of seats and shade from trees.
Bill H on 325 Fifth Avenue:
Fence/Gate closed.
Alexander R. Sigrist on 6 East 43rd Street:
A photograph of the statue.
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