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"Privately owned public spaces" do indeed have a pretty mixed history... but if projects can be structured in such a way as to let a private entity provide supp
by sethhochberg 9y ago
"Privately owned public spaces" do indeed have a pretty mixed history... but if projects can be structured in such a way as to let a private entity provide support for public land, the results can be fantastic.
The Central Park Conservancy or Bryant Park Corporation in NYC are great examples - public land, managed and principally funded by private entities, going way beyond what a public parks department could ever hope to accomplish on their own.
https://ny.curbed.com/2017/4/19/15355610/nyc-privately-owned-public-spaces-audit https://ny.curbed.com/2017/4/19/15355610/nyc-privately-owned...
POPS projects can work if the government enforces them properly. They aren't replacements for public parks, but are better than nothing on a block that might otherwise not have any public space at all - and even public parks can benefit from private investment and control if done properly. Both the city and developers though should avoid the trap of thinking a POPS is a substitute for a public park. They serve different purposes.
- sp332 9y agoAnother example: Occupy Wall Street was forced out of Zuccotti Park repeatedly for trespassing. That's because it's not really a public space.
- nradov 9y agoCities frequently limit opening hours for public parks and force out people who are present after hours.
- sp332 9y ago"About half of the privately owned plazas are required to be open 24 hours a day, according to the Department of City Planning." This includes Zuccotti Park. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/nyregion/zuccotti-park-is-privately-owned-but-open-to-the-public.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/nyregion/zuccotti-park-is-... Edit: you know what, I'm not going to get into it here... it was years ago and people can look up what happened if they're interested.
- mseebach 9y agoOWS was easily the most visible public protest in decades, going on for two months. Not sure that example exactly supports your thesis.