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.

Jerold Kayden on 560 Third Avenue | Murray Hill Mews:
Dear Mark, As you know from the POPS profile of this space, the public-private interface has been an ongoing problem. You may file a 311 complaint to secure an inspection. Thanks for commenting. APOPS|MAS
Mark Pine on 560 Third Avenue | Murray Hill Mews:
Greetings, this restaurant has completely taken over the public plaza. https://elriograndenyc.com/
anon on 52 Broadway:
The space has been redesigned. The walls on the south wall are no longer marble, but of clear glass with lights underneath. The eastern section of the lobby (on the Broadway street level) has always had chairs and tables, as far as I can remember. And that goes back to 2003. I can't speak for accessibility during times of Pandemic, but prior to the Pandemic, they were always open to the public. Additionally, there is a third floor cafeteria that is (during normal times) open to the public
Matthew Ostman on 10 East 29th Street:
Additional Photo: Tables/Chairs
Matthew Ostman on 10 East 29th Street:
Additional photo: Sheltered seating behind plantings
Matthew Ostman on 10 East 29th Street:
This POPS is spacious and well maintained, with only a couple minor issues. Extensive seating is available - in addition to the 10 required tables with chairs, benches ring the central circle of the space, and a separate path semi-secluded behind plantings on the eastern side of the space provides for more secluded seating. With the exception of the grass on the central mound (which given the time of year of this visit, may have been a victim of the winter), the greenery is well maintained, with a large variety in terms of the plants present in planters. Signage is clearly posted with correct hours. On the downside, two of the four entrances had locked gates across them, though the other two (including the westernmost with the accessible ramp) were open. The required water fountain, while present, appeared to be disconnected or otherwise non-functional.
Matthew Ostman on 172 Madison Avenue:
Additional photo: Street-facing seating; signage
Matthew Ostman on 172 Madison Avenue:
Additional photo: Central area with sittable concrete blobs; non-functional water fountain
Matthew Ostman on 172 Madison Avenue:
This POPS appears well maintained and quite usable, though with a couple issues - the area fronting the street as well as the back wall of the space are lined with comfortable wooden benches with backs, while all planters also have sittable ledges. A long, backless wooden bench runs parallel to one such ledge, which, along with an array of concrete blobs at sitting height in the center of the courtyard, provide plenty of space for seated conversation. The space is clearly open to the street, and signage is clearly posted with correct (24 hour) access hours, while the depth of the space also allows for a bit of distance from the traffic on 33rd street. The lack of tables does somewhat limit the usefulness of the space during the lunch hour. In terms of other amenities, at the time of visit, the required retail frontage appeared to be present but under construction inside, but the required bicycle parking could not be located, and while present, the required drinking fountain was not functional.
Matthew Ostman on 325 Fifth Avenue:
Permit referenced in previous 311 complaint has since expired, and construction scaffolding and materials (with the exception of about a dozen planks of wood on one bench) have been removed, however the space is still closed off to the public via locked rolling fence, and required POPS signs are missing (or at least not visible from the street).
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