Privately Owned Public Space

Wall Street Journal reporter Kaya Laterman writes about the popularly known “Big Screen Plaza” with its 16-foot-by-30-foot high-definition television screen in the 10,000 square foot privately owned public space. Owner Andrew Rifkin sees the space as a cultural venue, with movie screenings and viewings of athletic events. The plaza’s digital director, Dave Scala, has promoted emerging artists by displaying images and short animated films.

New York Times reporter David W. Dunlap writes about stones from the Hudson River Railroad embankment dating back to the 1840s that have been identified in the privately owned public space at 75 West End Avenue owned by the Brodsky Organization.  Designer Quennel Rothschild & Partners originally incorporated the stones into the POPS years ago.  Dan Brodsky, senior partner of the Brodsky Organization, responded favorably to urban archaeologist Joan Geismar’s proposal to install an identification sign for the stones which, happily, was designed by Geismar’s husband, graphic designer Tom Geismar.

David Dunlap of the New York Times writes about the $10 million upgrade to the covered pedestrian space and arcade at 560 Lexington Avenue, a New York City office building owned by long-time city real estate owners the Rudins. The architectural firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill designed the renovation. With its entrance to the subway, the MTA New York City Transit was a willing partner.

Bradley Garrett writes in The Guardian about London POPS, asking whether such spaces provide the same quality of ‘publicness’ as publicly owned public space.

Matt Chaban of The New York Times reports  on the removal of a public bench in Trump Tower’s covered pedestrian space to make room for a counter selling Trump Store memorabilia. The owner had previously immobilized the bench in the 1980s by placing planters on it.

Tribeca Trust article describes how motorcycles have occupied an outdoor POPS at the southeast corner of Broadway and White Street.

In an article for the Londonist, Sarah Gaventa, former director of CABE, explores the tensions between public space and private interests.  Edwin Heathcote, architecture and design critic for the Financial Times, writes more critically about public space provision by private actors.

An article in Curbed describes the proposed treatment with lights, a green wall, and a waterfall for the through block galleria at 135 West 52nd Street.

Should Toronto follow New York City’s lead with regard to POPS, asks an article in Spacing Toronto. Read the full article here.

Keiko Morris of the Wall Street Journal reports on plans to upgrade the POPS at 180 Maiden Lane to include an art gallery, movie screen, and turf lawn.  The article also mentions recent upgrades to other POPS in Lower Manhattan, including the POPS at 17 State Street and 55 Water Street.  Read the entire article here.