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.

Mario Burger, Burger International Photography on 30 West 61st Street:
This image was taken on October 18, 2012: http://www.burgerinternationalinc.com/p895900662/h4e93e4b8#h4e93e4b8 Thanks, Mario Burger, Burger International Photography www.burgerinternationalinc.com
Mario Burger, Burger International Photography on 200 West 60th Street:
This image was taken on October 18, 2012. http://www.burgerinternationalinc.com/p895900662/h4e93c7dc#h4e93c7dc Thanks, Mario Burger, Burger International Photography www.burgerinternationalinc.com
Teena on 60 Wall Street:
This really is the 3rd article, of yours I personally checked out. Still I personally enjoy this particular 1, “60 Wall Street | POPS” the best. Thanks -Doreen
jkayden on 590 Madison Avenue:
Thanks for your comment. Our reply to your comment is on the 590 Madison Avenue profile page. We agree with your concerns and will check with the owner to see what it has in mind. We will report back to this web site on what we find.
APOPS on 590 Madison Avenue:
Thank you for your comment. Rules imposed by owners in POPS must be reasonable. The owner here appears to be barring any games played at the tables, whether the games are cards or chess. If the rationale for the rule is to prevent someone from occupying a table for hours and hours to the point of an unreasonable amount of time that excludes others from a table, that would be understandable. A ban on games, however, is an overinclusive way of accomplishing this, given that it is hard to see how card games or chess would cause problems in a public space. In short, to answer your question, the rule as described doesn't strike me (Jerold Kayden) as reasonable. APOPS@MAS will contact the owner to learn the rationale for the rule to see if we are missing something. We will post the results of the owner's response and our reaction to it as well. Thanks for the information.
J D Hamkins on 590 Madison Avenue:
I went to this space today to play some chess with my two young children (ages 6 and 10), and was shortly harassed by the security guards, who claimed that no chess was allowed there. The guards told me that the posted sign says “No game playing”, but I found out upon inspecting the sign that this isn’t true (although it does say “No gambling, no card playing”). What are the actual rules? Is it really true that there could be a rule against chess playing? We were not disturbing anyone and were behaving in a calm, civilized manner. Why should they forbid me to play chess with my kids? This makes no sense to me, and I find it absurd that they insisted I stop playing and pack it up immediately. I would like to be able to play chess there, since it is a great space for that purpose. Do I have the right to play chess there?
J D Hamkins on 590 Madison Avenue:
I sent to this space today to play some chess with my two young children (ages 6 and 10), and was very soon harassed by the security guards, who claimed that no chess was allowed there. The guards told me that the posted sign says "No game playing", but I found out upon inspecting the sign that this isn't true (although it does say "No gambling, no card playing"). What are the actual rules? Is it really true that there could be a rule against chess playing? Why should they forbid me to play chess with my kids? This makes no sense to me, and I find it absurd that they insisted I stop playing and pack it up immediately. I would like to be able to play chess there, since it is a great space for that purpose. Do I have the right to play chess there?
Alisha on 60 Wall Street:
How can we contact these public spaces?
gregg solomon on 235 West 48th Street:
Jerold, Glad to see this APOPS website. 235 West 48th Street: Remember that the Urbanists/MAS helped the owners fast-track city approval to rebuild the plaza in honor of the fifteen fireman from Engine 54 that lost their lives at WTC on 9/11-- Engine 54 is right across the street from the plaza. The plaza has in addition to seating, lighting, and plantings a granite fountain with the names of the firemen engraved, a sidewalk plack with a dedication and quote from Plato (I think the MAS's Phyllis Cohen selected the quote). With the owners of the plaza we also helped organize an opening ceremony that was attended by about 500 people including the families of the fallen firemen, all the firemen of Engine Company 54, dignitaries and Engine 54 Chief Nardone who eulogized each and every fireman, his euology had us in tears and laughter. When Chief Nardone was approached for his approval to rebuild the plaza he said "thank you" and cried. We had spoken to owners a few weeks before 9/11 and as "advocates" the owner did not want to met with us but by conversation we were able to make him comfortable. Our meeting was scheduled for about 9/20/01. On the morning of the meeting we called him "what do we- meet?" And we kept the meeting. Upon arriving Engine 54 was right there and they had lost 14 firemen. Simultaneously the owner and us [grammar] said "why don't we rebuild the plaza as a memorial?" And that's what happened. An example of advocates and owners working together. A worthwhile story of people working together and a worthwhile use of POPS.
Brian Nesin on 118 West 57th Street | Le Parker Meridien:
I agree that the space is unusually elegant for a POPS. On the other hand the hotel has done its best to disguise the public nature of the space. The northern section of this POPS appears to be the hotel's private lounge. Those iron gates are a blatant violation of this POPS function as a through-block arcade. Bring a bag lunch, sit on the couch, and enjoy the space - but don't let the staff hassle you.
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