Public Space
Streetsblog Basics
Paris to Return Its Great Public Squares to the People
If you look at paintings from the pre-automotive era, Paris's monumental public squares were full of people strolling comfortably. But over time, car traffic has consumed most of these squares.
September 19, 2016
Eyes on the Street: The Return of “Plaza 33” — Maybe for Good
"Plaza 33" is back, transforming the eastern half of 33rd Street between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue into a car-free public space -- and it's set to remain indefinitely.
July 21, 2016
Eyes on the Street: Early Spring Means Earlier “Street Seats”
Despite this weekend’s snow forecast, for a few days there it felt freakishly like spring. Yet another sign of winter’s demise is the reemergence of DOT’s “Street Seats.”
March 2, 2016
Trottenberg Announces Plaza Equity Program at Plaza de Las Americas Reveal
Just eight months after the groundbreaking ceremony, officials held a ribbon-cutting this morning at Plaza de Las Americas, an impressive new public space in Washington Heights. Also today, Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg announced a City Hall initiative to assist plazas in neighborhoods without the resources of a major business improvement district.
November 23, 2015
Eyes on the Street: 33rd Street Plaza Gone… Til Next Year?
As planned, the pedestrian spaces installed near Penn Station are being removed this week. A painted sidewalk extension and seating were added to 32nd Street for the summer, while 33rd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues was converted to a plaza.
October 16, 2015
DOT Secures Federal Grant to Add More Sidewalk Seating
A federal grant will bring more public benches to NYC sidewalks, DOT announced yesterday.
September 23, 2015
Times Square Coalition: Keep the Plazas, Regulate Naked People
The Times Square Alliance and a coalition of electeds has a plan to address complaints about Times Square without destroying the hugely successful pedestrian plazas.
September 17, 2015
Meet the People Breathing Life Into NYC’s Overlooked Public Spaces
There are two dueling visions of public space in New York City. On one side, tabloid columnists and the police commissioner believe that any problems encountered in Midtown's public spaces -- whether homeless men or hustling desnudas -- should be fixed by replacing space for people with good old-fashioned car traffic. On the other side are residents and advocates working hard to improve public space in communities across the city, using shoestring budgets and their own street smarts.
September 11, 2015