The urban life blogs that I came across to complete activity nine were as follows:
The First blog which was http://www.urbanlifeblog.com/ that is based in Phoenix, Arizona that pertains to the real estate market as well as the rental investment market in the greater Phoenix area as well as a life blog. The business partners that upkeep the website call themselves the “The Urban Team” that focus on updates on reviews for restaurant and business particularly in downtown/central Phoenix area.
The second blog that really intrigued me was http://www.urbantravelblog.com/ which tells of a traveler named Stuart Wadsworth who in his free time visit areas of central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The newest blog on the link posted April 26th 2010 featured his revisited to the city of Lviv in Ukraine. This particular city has ruins that compile a great mix of Russian, Polish and Austrian influences and Wadsworth captures the everyday functions of the historical remains such as Dominican Cathedral and Latin Cathedral. The architecture of the churches reminded me on our group tours in the Lower East Side of Manhattan where we were shown the only Polish Cathedral in New York City Metropolitan area.
The third blog I came across was http://veggiegardenblog.blogspot.com/ which was one of my favorites! The blog featured very beautiful photographs of forestry, flowers and home gardens. The purpose was to show people how to conserve our spaces and how to cultivate freshly grown food in our very backyards, again, this blog reminded me of the community gardens of Sixth Avenue and Avenue B area of Lower East Side Manhattan. People are investing their time into harvest crops as well as provide very helpful and simple hints as to how you can also do the same.
http://reinventingtransport.blogspot.com/ was the fourth blog I came across that boasts of reinventing urban transport. This blog basically featured a book that can be viewed or downloaded with the provided link. The blogger also included that “the purpose of this guide is to introduce urban transport issues to a wider audience than just professional transport planners and experts”. The book is making the effort to aware community organizations, journalists and decision-makers about the basics of urban transport. I recall the zoning laws of New York in the Williamsburg area of New York which affects its residents concerning the construction of a waterfront which will indefinitely affect urban transport.
The fifth and final blog that caught my eyes was http://www.urbansketchers.com/p/about-this-blog.html that features sketches of the stories of artists featured in more than 30 countries around the world. Illustrators, architects, web developers and graphic designers alike all share their passion for drawing of the buildings, surroundings and people etc. on location. There is a colossal and beautiful drawing of the city of Málaga, Spain just to give mention of attention to detail by the artist. I can only imagine how each traveler was a flaneur on a regular day and was motivated by what was in their immediate viewing and took the time to record exactly what they have seen in urban spaces and places. I was very moved to post my comment on this blog consequently.
Finally, as I have critiqued on these various blogs, I am leaving my blog for any interested person(s) to do the same on mine which is http://sohoflaneurs.blogspot.com/ Share your common interest, concerns on what my group members and I have experienced as we explored the Big Apple and provided feedback! Appreciated! Enjoy!!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Activity # 9- Nicole McGuire
Nicole McGuire
Activity 9
As I began my search looking for other blogs that discussed urban life, the first blog I found was http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/ . This blog basically discusses urban mobility within the Washington, DC area. Richard Layman (the creator of this blog) discusses the zoning updates, having a very own bicycle station, project with public spaces, streetcar technology, and anything dealing with getting the people around the city. This relates to our blog because we did a lot of these activities when we went on our scavenger hunt for activity # 4. We had to search for zoning laws, how the bicycle lanes and traffic lanes connect, and look for old streetcar trolley tracks. Also in Activity # 3 we had to search for public v. private spaces. It seems that in any urban place there are going to be a lot of the same problems and issues. No matter if you are from New York City or Washington D.C.
The second blog I found was http://urbanvista-boston.blogspot.com/ . As I was reading this blog it showed that this person was trying to show the different parts of the city of Boston. This person had great pictures of what Boston looks like in the spring and winter. This person than gets into the discussion about the Industrial part of the city which I found really interesting because it made me think of Kunstler’s term “frontier neighborhood”. It seems as if the neighborhood is in the middle of a developing area and the neighborhoods become separate. In the person’s last post, I found it very interesting that he/she was discussing New York City and described it as the “ultimate urban vista”. The pictures this person took of the buildings in New York shows the urban landscape and what makes New York one of the most urban places to be.
The third blog http://urbanblink.blogspot.com/ , showed different images of New York City. I thought it was very interesting because it captures all the different elements of New York that makes it so urban. The different holiday decorations placed on buildings, the Chestnuts being made on nut carts on the corners of streets, the old newsstands, the scaffoldings, the graffiti on buildings, and also the capture of the skylines. This person also shows pictures of some of the most important spots in NYC such as 125th St. in Harlem. It captures the constant movement of the city and how the city never sleeps. In this blog http://nyportraits.blogspot.com/, there were pictures of NYC also and these pictures show the different lives people live. There was actually a picture of a community garden in alphabet city which relates to the field trip our group took with our guide Johanna. She took us through the East Village and Alphabet city and showed us around the different parts. In this blog there was a photo of the Polish President and his wife who passed away from the horrific plane crash in front of the church, and Johanna informed us of that being the only Polish Catholic Church still around. This relates to our blog because we have actually gone through the East Village and were informed about these facts before I even found this blog.
In the 5th blog I found, http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/, discusses how New York is slowly vanishing. The old buildings are being torn down and being replaced by huge apartment buildings, movie theaters, parking lots, etc. There was also a discussion about the President arriving in Cooper Union which our group also visited this historic place during our field trip. Astor Place is even where we all met up for our trip and that was one of the places the media was located. This blog shows how New York City is changing either for better or for worse. This relates to our blog because we have actually visited the East Village before, and I have not realized how historic the East Village really is. It’s sad to know that New York City is being replaced by all these new images that people are slowly forgetting how NYC came to be known as one of the most urban cities in the world.
On all of these blogs, I have left a comment on some of the entries and I have discussed how there entries are related to our class and to the different activities we have done throughout the semester. Some of the entries in these blogs were also somewhat similar to what we had to discuss in our blogs. On these 5 blogs I have found I have left our link to our blog and wrote comments such as this one “I found this entry to be very interesting. I did not realize that the President visited Cooper Union. I actually visited Cooper Union for the first time about two weeks ago and I did not realize how historic the East Village really is. I've lived in New York my whole life, and it's sad to say that NYC really is vanishing slowly. I'm in an Urban Studies class, and we are discussing all the different elements that makes a city urban. We also go on all these different activities that deal with going to different places around New York and experiencing new things. If you could please check out my blog http://sohoflaneurs.blogspot.com/ , and read some of our entries you will see all the different activities we do and all the interesting things we never knew about our own city! Thanks!” on http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/. Hopefully other bloggers will read some of our interesting entries and be able to relate to our experiences.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tamon Charles-Activity # 8
Activity # 8
It was a beautiful sunny day for the meeting up of two excited groups from our Urban Life class in order that we participated in two tours in two different boroughs. Sunday April 11th at 1pm was the designated date and time for the ladies of “SoHo Flaneurs” as well as “Urban Fever” to assemble near the cubical structure at Astor Place in the East Village. Our group; the “SoHo Flaneurs” were responsible for the first tour in the East Village that was lead by Johanna, whilst “Urban Fever” covered the DUMBO area of Brooklyn.
Our immediate places of interest that I recalled will waiting on our group members included the private Cooper Union University to our left and a Starbucks to our right. We started our exploration on St. Mark’s Place which had some very interesting boutiques, restaurants (I remembered one that served vegetarian cuisine), as well as an amusing outdoor vendor who meant business as he tried to persuade all passers by to purchase bracelets and sun glasses. There was much representation of various European cultures in some of the authentic restaurants as well and these spots were quite filled with citizens that were out enjoying their lunches in the lovely weather.
As we walked and talked we came to the end of street at Avenue B to Tompkins Square Park which was crowded with many people engaged in different activities. Some couples enjoyed each other’s company laying in the grass and soaking up the sun while others were taking a stroll holding hands. To the far left of the park was a gated area that was a mini dog park for pets to also enjoy themselves without the contraption of a leash but with their owners standing closely by and conversing without other owners. Leaving Tompkins Square Park, we headed towards the community gardens that the area had also contained for the purpose of neighbors coming together and taking turns to maintain freshly grown fruits and vegetables. Johanna also informed us that the community kept the garden under control by the use of gates and so everyone who has a membership would have a copy of their own key to these gardens. Shortly after, we were brought to view the only Polish Cathedral in the New York City area and I took note of how beautiful the detailing was on its architectural structure. We were also made aware of another nearby private church that also had a school (St. Joseph’s); however, this church was privately owned and one can see how quickly the gates are closed shortly after parishioners are existed. From then one, Johanna was ecstatic to share one of her favorite eat out places to try falafel which was a well seasoned vegetarian dish served in a roll and this chic place even offered student discounts upon producing your student identification card.
Afterwards, we then headed towards the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop via the six train line to continue our exploration in DUMBO, Brooklyn. For this part, shortly after we exited the train, we had a great excursion on the historical Brooklyn Bridge. I observed that the walking trial on the Bridge was separated by a white line for pedestrians as well as cyclists. At the other end of the Bridge was the ever hectic Brooklyn Heights that we quickly walked passed to get to DUMBO.
I have realized that Maya was taking us along a more deserted part of Brooklyn with buildings that were once used as factories and to our surprised were a few crews of people with models that we capturing the remainder of these buildings of which some had very artistic graffiti works. As we left the secluded area (intersection of Pearl Street and Water Street) we arrived at Old Fulton Street and later on, the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory that boosts of its very delicious homemade ice cream. I believed in their slogan based on the massive line that took us forty five minutes before we arrived at the counter to order our cold treats. The location overlooked the water and New York City water taxis were heavily in use that day while others came to take photos of celebrated events that day—a bridal party could have been seen as they try to include the beautiful New York City skyscrapers in the background on a memorable day.
As the our field trip came to an end and we kept on enjoying the warm weather, I was fascinated to learn about parts of Brooklyn that I have never experienced before as well as the historical events that are attached to it—for instance, we were informed by our guide Maya that the ice cream factory was once a light house for incoming tug boats hence the obvious external structure of the building. “Extraordinary changes of scale took place in the masses of buildings” (Kunstler, 35). In all, it was an amazing experience with friendly classmates and indeed an enjoyably spent Sunday afternoon.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Johanna Kelly-Activity #7
Johanna Kelly
Activity #7
For my plaza observation, I went to visit Paley Park located on East 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan. I went there during an early break that I had in school. As I arrived there, I didn’t see much people there probably because it wasn’t around lunchtime yet. Thus, there were many seats there available for me to sit on. As I sit down I decided to face the falling water at first. It was a very pleasant feeling to have a break in a quiet spot. I noticed how this unique park was very serene and relaxing. It did not feel like any of the other parks that I usually encounter in my every day life. It was a very warm day however; I noticed that where I was sitting there wasn’t any sun. I spotted a chair where it was directly standing in the sunlight. I decided to sit there instead. As I sat around and observed the scenery, I noticed that it was getting warmer as it was reaching mid afternoon. And now the sun was not beaming on me anymore but in a different area. This reminded me about what William H. Whyte wrote in his book about urban spaces. He noted in his text that the sun does not directly link to the people. People in urban spaces enjoy sitting in the sunlight. However, even if the sun does shift away, the place feels warm enough to the people that it does not want them to move.
As I looked around, I saw a few people sitting alone in their chairs. Their ages varied from thirties to maybe early sixties. I spotted a young girl about in her early thirties dressed in a black and white suit. She was eating her lunch while listening to her iPod. I found this interesting because I on the other hand did not even think to listen to my iPod. I found it very serene to listen to the water falling instead. I noticed how little time I ever have in the day to pay attention to what is going on in the city. One of the important ways to make observations is by using one of the five senses, such as hearing. So I did not want to disconnect myself from the rest of the world with music as the young lady next to me did. I then spotted a woman about in her early sixties. She was sitting and reading a book. I noticed that people came to Paley Park for different reason. Some came during their lunch breaks at work and some just to relax away from the busy streets. The trees surrounding the parks created a sense of serenity and it clearly felt like I was separated from the noisy New York City streets. As I sat and observed the area, I noticed that more people were coming to the park. People in pairs were coming very excited to talk and eat their lunch. They grabbed seats that were available and positioned them in different places. I noticed that the people who sat alone liked to face to the side where they could have more privacy and not be distracted. People sitting talking with others positioned themselves more to the center or towards facing the street. I really enjoyed sitting and observing the people in this park. It was nice to experience being in a different kind of park in the city. The setting of the environment in Paley Park was very pleasant to be in and I would definitely return there for leisure time.
Activity #7
For my plaza observation, I went to visit Paley Park located on East 53rd Street in Midtown Manhattan. I went there during an early break that I had in school. As I arrived there, I didn’t see much people there probably because it wasn’t around lunchtime yet. Thus, there were many seats there available for me to sit on. As I sit down I decided to face the falling water at first. It was a very pleasant feeling to have a break in a quiet spot. I noticed how this unique park was very serene and relaxing. It did not feel like any of the other parks that I usually encounter in my every day life. It was a very warm day however; I noticed that where I was sitting there wasn’t any sun. I spotted a chair where it was directly standing in the sunlight. I decided to sit there instead. As I sat around and observed the scenery, I noticed that it was getting warmer as it was reaching mid afternoon. And now the sun was not beaming on me anymore but in a different area. This reminded me about what William H. Whyte wrote in his book about urban spaces. He noted in his text that the sun does not directly link to the people. People in urban spaces enjoy sitting in the sunlight. However, even if the sun does shift away, the place feels warm enough to the people that it does not want them to move.
As I looked around, I saw a few people sitting alone in their chairs. Their ages varied from thirties to maybe early sixties. I spotted a young girl about in her early thirties dressed in a black and white suit. She was eating her lunch while listening to her iPod. I found this interesting because I on the other hand did not even think to listen to my iPod. I found it very serene to listen to the water falling instead. I noticed how little time I ever have in the day to pay attention to what is going on in the city. One of the important ways to make observations is by using one of the five senses, such as hearing. So I did not want to disconnect myself from the rest of the world with music as the young lady next to me did. I then spotted a woman about in her early sixties. She was sitting and reading a book. I noticed that people came to Paley Park for different reason. Some came during their lunch breaks at work and some just to relax away from the busy streets. The trees surrounding the parks created a sense of serenity and it clearly felt like I was separated from the noisy New York City streets. As I sat and observed the area, I noticed that more people were coming to the park. People in pairs were coming very excited to talk and eat their lunch. They grabbed seats that were available and positioned them in different places. I noticed that the people who sat alone liked to face to the side where they could have more privacy and not be distracted. People sitting talking with others positioned themselves more to the center or towards facing the street. I really enjoyed sitting and observing the people in this park. It was nice to experience being in a different kind of park in the city. The setting of the environment in Paley Park was very pleasant to be in and I would definitely return there for leisure time.
Tamon Charles-Activity 7
Activity # 7
For my plaza observation, I took a trip to one of my favorite places in the borough of Brooklyn--- the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza. The Central Library was opened on February 1st 1941 and is the major reference source for the sixty location system of the Brooklyn Public Library system. The Library’s architectural structure is very beautiful and is noted as one of the borough’s landmark and its features that are shared between Eastern Parkway on Grand Army Plaza and Flatbush Avenue resemble an opened book and I really like the golden pillars that surround the main entrance (I have used another entrance in the past due to renovation). "...this classicism was an architecture worthy of the forward looking, rational culture.." (Kunstler, 63).
As its name suggest, the Brooklyn Public Library is used not only for research and study purposes with over one million copies of multimedia material, books , maps, manuscripts, photographs and cataloged books but it also has in its local history division a collection of Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia and other important items. As a result, there is literature for people of all ages. As mentioned earlier, the renovation implemented the use of the library for concerts during the summer time. There is also the S. Stevan Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture, which hosts readings, lectures and musical performances/events for all ages.
The spaces within the library are definitely used in the way that spaces ought to be used. The library is sectioned off according to various disciplines and people/students are occupying the sitting areas individually or collectively as a group, but more individually at the computer area. The computer area is timed for thirty minutes at a time when your library card is swiped and there is little waiting/easy access in this way. Concerning outside spaces, people can be seen on the entrance steps that lead to the enormous brass doors enjoying the weather and reading a newspaper while others are walking their dogs near the entrance and may sit for a bit; however they are more dispersed since sitting areas are more limited. “What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people…many urban spaces are being designed as though the opposite were true, and that what people like best were the places they stayed away from”(Whyte, 18). The area is also located with mostly huge residential apartment buildings on the Eastern Parkway side so less businesses are within close range of the library and consequently, little number of people are passing by during peak hours such as on their lunch break and the Flatbush Avenue side is occupied by the beautiful Prospect Park and more residential buildings. The busier area is away passed the Grand Army Plaza train stop and near to the Seven Avenue train stop on the Q train as well as Bergen Street by commute via the number two or three trains. Another is that the library is also located at a very heavily trafficked area away from the train lines as both Flatbush and Eastern Parkway are utilized mostly for commute to the Downtown Brooklyn district as well lead to major bridges for entry into New York City.
The surveillance mechanisms are used in terms of security cameras as well as library staff members. Benches are more provided at the adjacent Prospect Park whether at the entrance near to Flatbush Avenue side or on the inside of the park. Some people are even seen stretching or running along the library’s steps as part of their physical workout regimen. I feel as if this public space could have a bit more used in terms of sitting area on the outside, however, I do feel safe in being that space as it is located in one of the quiet and well kept neighborhoods in Brooklyn. I have learned from this exercise that spaces are used in various ways and similarities/differences are based on location and type of services that a facility/plaza provides.
For my plaza observation, I took a trip to one of my favorite places in the borough of Brooklyn--- the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza. The Central Library was opened on February 1st 1941 and is the major reference source for the sixty location system of the Brooklyn Public Library system. The Library’s architectural structure is very beautiful and is noted as one of the borough’s landmark and its features that are shared between Eastern Parkway on Grand Army Plaza and Flatbush Avenue resemble an opened book and I really like the golden pillars that surround the main entrance (I have used another entrance in the past due to renovation). "...this classicism was an architecture worthy of the forward looking, rational culture.." (Kunstler, 63).
As its name suggest, the Brooklyn Public Library is used not only for research and study purposes with over one million copies of multimedia material, books , maps, manuscripts, photographs and cataloged books but it also has in its local history division a collection of Brooklyn Dodgers memorabilia and other important items. As a result, there is literature for people of all ages. As mentioned earlier, the renovation implemented the use of the library for concerts during the summer time. There is also the S. Stevan Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture, which hosts readings, lectures and musical performances/events for all ages.
The spaces within the library are definitely used in the way that spaces ought to be used. The library is sectioned off according to various disciplines and people/students are occupying the sitting areas individually or collectively as a group, but more individually at the computer area. The computer area is timed for thirty minutes at a time when your library card is swiped and there is little waiting/easy access in this way. Concerning outside spaces, people can be seen on the entrance steps that lead to the enormous brass doors enjoying the weather and reading a newspaper while others are walking their dogs near the entrance and may sit for a bit; however they are more dispersed since sitting areas are more limited. “What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people…many urban spaces are being designed as though the opposite were true, and that what people like best were the places they stayed away from”(Whyte, 18). The area is also located with mostly huge residential apartment buildings on the Eastern Parkway side so less businesses are within close range of the library and consequently, little number of people are passing by during peak hours such as on their lunch break and the Flatbush Avenue side is occupied by the beautiful Prospect Park and more residential buildings. The busier area is away passed the Grand Army Plaza train stop and near to the Seven Avenue train stop on the Q train as well as Bergen Street by commute via the number two or three trains. Another is that the library is also located at a very heavily trafficked area away from the train lines as both Flatbush and Eastern Parkway are utilized mostly for commute to the Downtown Brooklyn district as well lead to major bridges for entry into New York City.
The surveillance mechanisms are used in terms of security cameras as well as library staff members. Benches are more provided at the adjacent Prospect Park whether at the entrance near to Flatbush Avenue side or on the inside of the park. Some people are even seen stretching or running along the library’s steps as part of their physical workout regimen. I feel as if this public space could have a bit more used in terms of sitting area on the outside, however, I do feel safe in being that space as it is located in one of the quiet and well kept neighborhoods in Brooklyn. I have learned from this exercise that spaces are used in various ways and similarities/differences are based on location and type of services that a facility/plaza provides.
Tamon Charles-Activity # 6
Activity # 6
My neighborhood in Brooklyn is very much populated with mostly groups of people from a West Indian Heritage. Located in the eastern part of Brooklyn, as I walked an eight block radius for this activity, I am aware of what makes my surrounding the way it is. Less than half a block away, there is the first resource for the working parent which is a day care center that is located within the confinements of a residential home (something that is often seen in Brooklyn).
On the immediate outskirts of my apartment building, there is my church that is adjacent to a Jamaican and also a Hispanic restaurant. Turning a right corner, there is a lively unisex salon and corner store with local people hanging around and discussing the headline stories from the newspaper and sharing their interest on how the cover story affects what is currently taking place in our communities whether direct or indirectly. Right next to the store is the ever so frequently used liquor store with long lines. The laundry facility is also conveniently located with its private parking lot at front and next to it is a dance/karate center that serves as an afterschool program. In the opposite direction on the outskirts, are many other neighborhood shops and fruit/vegetable stores and as well as a money gram center for business transactions. There are a few dry cleaning stores that are very close (within two blocks of each other) that are also utilized for working parents.
I have also took notice of a small store that sells vegetarian products such as food products that are to be prepared (nothing that was sold in there were already prepared) as well as natural herbs that substitute the use of over the counter products as natural remedies. Close by are both Capital One bank and a Chase bank that are adjacent to each other as well.
As I continued walking, I observed barbershops and beauty parlors that are always flourishing with customers. I have noticed this in particular for the barbershops where the men are also paying close attention to sports on the television screen. Further at 52nd Street next to a convenient store is a huge clinic that boosts of various specialties in the areas of medicine, an indoor pharmacy and for more expediency is fact that they are also opened for business on Sunday. This medical facility is owned by an African doctor and is mostly used by all the citizens in this area as well as others and does not discriminate on cultural backgrounds and also consist of a very diverse medical staff. "American citis flourished almost solely as centers for business, and they showed it..Beyond advertising itself, business had a limited interest in decorating the public realm" (Kunstler, 33).
Question three: I am aware that city parks and restaurants are where queer/gay individuals claim spaces for themselves in New York City; however, this is seldom in my neighborhood. I think that this group of people picks these particular spaces maybe due to their rationale on open public space that is to be enjoyed by everyone.
Question four: As I have researched a “gay map of New York”, the places/spaces that are come up include bars, clubs, hotels and saunas as well as descriptions on the annual gay pride parade and so on.
Question five: The places/spaces in my neighborhood where people are engaging in “private” activities would be in night entertainment such as restaurants with bars and there is only one bar within my eight block radius walk.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Nicole McGuire- Acitivty 8
Nicole McGuire
Activity 8
On Sunday April 11, our group went on a field trip with Group 3, first to the East Village than to a part of Brooklyn called DUMBO. The day turned out to be beautiful, with the sun shining and made the trip so much more enjoyable. Our tour guide for our group was Johanna and she showed us all different sections of her neighborhood in the East Village. Group 3’s tour guide was Maya and she showed us the more historical side of Brooklyn.
We all met at Astor Place right in front of this huge statue that moved when you pushed it. As we started walking through the East Village on St. Mark’s Place there was all these different little boutiques and shops selling little odds and ends. There were tattoo places, places to get piercings, smoke shops, and bars and restaurants all over the place. “The ballet of the good city sidewalk never repeats itself from place to place, and in any once place is always replete with new improvisations" (Jacobs, 110). Not one of the streets was alike which made it more interesting. We walked past Cooper Union College (which I never even knew existed), she showed us the only Polish Catholic Church left in New York, and took us through this park called Tompskin’s Park. During the summer, the park had a public pool which I found interesting because there are not that many public pools in NYC. The park was pretty crowded with all different types of people, and there was dog shows going on also. The park was filled with people of all ages and was actually quiet crowded because of the nice weather. Johanna showed us different community gardens, and I did not even realize they had these in NYC since I have never actually seen one. But it was so beautiful how everyone came together and uses there own ideas to make the garden unique and different. We then went to eat in this small restaurant called Tahini to eat lunch. They served different types of food such as falafels. This was the first time I ever ate a falafel, and I must say it is one of the tastiest things I have ever ate.
From there we all took the 6 Train to the last stop which is Brooklyn Bridge. We then walked over the Brooklyn Bridge to the section of DUMBO. At first I felt a little uncomfortable because there was not many people around and I was not familiar with the neighborhood. “And third, the sidewalk must have users on it fairly continuously, both to add to the number of effective eyes on the street and to induce the people in buildings along the street to watch the sidewalks in sufficient numbers.” (Jacobs, 35). Maya (who was our tour guide) informed us of different facts while walking over the bridge such as when the bridge was built and the main reasons for the bridge being built. I found it very interesting that, that part of Brooklyn used to be basically all factories and that was the main reason for the making of this bridge. As we reached Brooklyn, I started to realize that there were not too many people around. There were a lot of people walking over the bridge to Brooklyn, but I did not see any of those people as we started walking off. As we started walking through Brooklyn we passed some Project Housing. These project houses made me think of Kunstler’s idea of “frontier neighborhood” because of the project houses being in the middle of a developing area. “The kind of houses that the FHA frowned upon were those in the cities: old houses with leaky plumbing, jammed into narrow lots on crowded streets, inhabited in some cases by immigrants, or, increasingly, African-Americans” (Kunstler, 102). Because literally about 2 blocks away from the projects there was a very quiet neighborhood with homes being built as it seems. We then reached Old Fulton Street and waited in line for the Brooklyn Ice cream Factory. The line was pretty long but it was definitely worth the wait. As we were standing on line, Johanna tried to grab a chair from on of the tables so that she did not have to sit on the floor and one of the workers told her she was not allowed to move the chairs. This made me think about the movie we watched in class based on Whyte’s “The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces” about how people move chairs in different directions and spaces and how people sometimes follow.
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I would definitely say this is going to be a field trip that I will always remember. I had such a good time with the group and experiencing different neighborhoods. I learned a lot of new things from this trip and also know different sections of NYC that I have not really spent much time in. I would really like to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge again since I do work really close to the bridge. Going on this trip also made me realize the different types of neighborhoods people live in and the different experiences they go through.
Activity 8
On Sunday April 11, our group went on a field trip with Group 3, first to the East Village than to a part of Brooklyn called DUMBO. The day turned out to be beautiful, with the sun shining and made the trip so much more enjoyable. Our tour guide for our group was Johanna and she showed us all different sections of her neighborhood in the East Village. Group 3’s tour guide was Maya and she showed us the more historical side of Brooklyn.
We all met at Astor Place right in front of this huge statue that moved when you pushed it. As we started walking through the East Village on St. Mark’s Place there was all these different little boutiques and shops selling little odds and ends. There were tattoo places, places to get piercings, smoke shops, and bars and restaurants all over the place. “The ballet of the good city sidewalk never repeats itself from place to place, and in any once place is always replete with new improvisations" (Jacobs, 110). Not one of the streets was alike which made it more interesting. We walked past Cooper Union College (which I never even knew existed), she showed us the only Polish Catholic Church left in New York, and took us through this park called Tompskin’s Park. During the summer, the park had a public pool which I found interesting because there are not that many public pools in NYC. The park was pretty crowded with all different types of people, and there was dog shows going on also. The park was filled with people of all ages and was actually quiet crowded because of the nice weather. Johanna showed us different community gardens, and I did not even realize they had these in NYC since I have never actually seen one. But it was so beautiful how everyone came together and uses there own ideas to make the garden unique and different. We then went to eat in this small restaurant called Tahini to eat lunch. They served different types of food such as falafels. This was the first time I ever ate a falafel, and I must say it is one of the tastiest things I have ever ate.
From there we all took the 6 Train to the last stop which is Brooklyn Bridge. We then walked over the Brooklyn Bridge to the section of DUMBO. At first I felt a little uncomfortable because there was not many people around and I was not familiar with the neighborhood. “And third, the sidewalk must have users on it fairly continuously, both to add to the number of effective eyes on the street and to induce the people in buildings along the street to watch the sidewalks in sufficient numbers.” (Jacobs, 35). Maya (who was our tour guide) informed us of different facts while walking over the bridge such as when the bridge was built and the main reasons for the bridge being built. I found it very interesting that, that part of Brooklyn used to be basically all factories and that was the main reason for the making of this bridge. As we reached Brooklyn, I started to realize that there were not too many people around. There were a lot of people walking over the bridge to Brooklyn, but I did not see any of those people as we started walking off. As we started walking through Brooklyn we passed some Project Housing. These project houses made me think of Kunstler’s idea of “frontier neighborhood” because of the project houses being in the middle of a developing area. “The kind of houses that the FHA frowned upon were those in the cities: old houses with leaky plumbing, jammed into narrow lots on crowded streets, inhabited in some cases by immigrants, or, increasingly, African-Americans” (Kunstler, 102). Because literally about 2 blocks away from the projects there was a very quiet neighborhood with homes being built as it seems. We then reached Old Fulton Street and waited in line for the Brooklyn Ice cream Factory. The line was pretty long but it was definitely worth the wait. As we were standing on line, Johanna tried to grab a chair from on of the tables so that she did not have to sit on the floor and one of the workers told her she was not allowed to move the chairs. This made me think about the movie we watched in class based on Whyte’s “The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces” about how people move chairs in different directions and spaces and how people sometimes follow.
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I would definitely say this is going to be a field trip that I will always remember. I had such a good time with the group and experiencing different neighborhoods. I learned a lot of new things from this trip and also know different sections of NYC that I have not really spent much time in. I would really like to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge again since I do work really close to the bridge. Going on this trip also made me realize the different types of neighborhoods people live in and the different experiences they go through.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Nicole McGuire-Activity 7
Nicole McGuire
Activity # 7
The plaza that I visited and observed was the Chase Manhattan Plaza. It’s a banking skyscraper, and it’s located financial district and it overlooks Pine, Liberty, Nassau, and Williams Street. At first I was overwhelmed by the huge building that has 60 floors, and I was not exactly expecting to see that huge building. It’s the 11th tallest building in New York City, and it’s filled with workers who obviously work for Chase Bank. Even though there was construction being done on the plaza I was still able to observe the different things that were going on.
The first thing that attracted my attention from afar was the sculpture called “Group of Four Trees”. It attracted my attention because of how large the sculpture is and how it’s in black and white and at a first glance it actually looks like a bunch of mushrooms. The second thing that attracted my attention was the huge circle, and when you look down it is a water sculpture made by Noguchi. The circle was right in the middle of the plaza where people can look down. When you do look down there are windows all over, that people from the inside of the building from the ground level can also see the sculpture and see the people that are standing on top. At first it looks as if it’s a reflection of the other people on the opposite side of the circle until you look across and realize its different people. Mainly the people that were at this plaza were the worker’s of Chase. It was a nice day outside and mostly people were standing around chatting about their jobs or their family. A lot of people were looking down at the waterfalls and other’s were just observing their surroundings. A lot of people were taking their cigarette breaks or eating lunch and enjoying the warm sun. “We discovered some plazas, especially at lunch time, attracted a lot of people” (Whyte, 13). It was pretty busy considering that it was 12 in the afternoon, but I am assuming this is when most people were taking their lunch breaks.
If you look at the space of the plaza, at first glance it does not seem very inviting because their really is no exact place to sit. Some people were trying to sit comfortably on the ledges near the trees planted in these rectangular squares, but it is obvious that this space was not meant for people to lounge around. It seems as if it was designed just to give the building a nice look. “During peak hours the number of people on a plaza will vary considerably according to seasons and weather. The way people distribute themselves over the space, however, will be fairly consistent, with some sectors getting heavy use day in and out, others much less” (Whyte, 17).There were other places to sit around the area, but it seems as if the people did not want to leave far from their post. This space is very different though because you can see what the people are doing around you and even inside on the ground floor. This space was really just meant to be looked at and nothing more. “The preference for pillars might be ascribed to some primeval instinct: you have a full view of all comers but your rear is covered” (Whyte, 20).
As I said before there is no exact sitting space and there were no trees located next to the circle but there was some located around the plaza. But a lot of the people were standing around the circle over the bars just looking at the fountain. “They show an inclination to station themselves near objects, such as a flagpole or statue.” (Whyte, 20). There was no food located right on the plaza grounds, and there was water but you were not close to it because it was really far from the ground. The people on the ground level also were not close to the water because they were enclosed by the windows. A few feet away from the plaza there were different places to eat at such as fast food restaurants or hot dog stands. Inside the plaza seemed restricted and was only for the people who worked inside the building. Looking from the inside looking out seemed more comfortable because you could get a better view of the Noguchi design and it was only for the worker’s view. So if you’re standing there you probably feel more secure because you know that the other people standing around also work in the building. On the outside of the plaza there was a wall that seems as if it is blocking out the public. It was probably made that way to make it look like a private space and to keep the “undesirables” out.
As I was walking around the plaza I did not really see any exact surveillance mechanisms in the area. There might have been hidden cameras throughout the plaza that were not noticeable. I did see a few guards walking around but they seemed as if they were also on their lunch break. There was a man standing a few inches away who accidently dropped his cell phone into the fountain but there was nothing the security guards could really do, since the phone was most likely dead anyways. The guards were not really patrolling the area and many people were taking up the sitting spaces available to the public by lying down and taking their afternoon naps. “When a place is jammed, a person sits where he can. This may or may not be where he most wants to” (Whyte, 17).
When you are looking from the street the plaza does not seem public at first because its higher above the ground and is surrounded by a wall that you could see through. “What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people. If I belabor the point, it is because many urban spaces are being designed as though the opposite were true, and that what people liked best were the places they stayed away from” (Whyte, 18). Even though anyone is allowed on the plaza, I do not think that anyone can just go inside the building. I did see some guards check for I.D.’s, so it seems that this building is privately managed. I did not try to get into the building because I forgot my I.D. at home, but when you are looking down towards the window, it seemed as if it was just workers looking through the windows. I did not see any exact signs that stated that this plaza was privately managed, but the tall building being separate from the public street made it feel private. The different architectural designs make it feel more public because anyone is allowed to view these different sculptures since they were made for the public’s eye.
As I was sitting there, I realized that there were also a lot of other people taking notes or maybe just writing poems about strangers. I would not say I felt comfortable, but I also did not feel uncomfortable. Everyday I analyze people and I realize that most people are similar in what they do. Some people sing to themselves, others talk to themselves, and everyone has a unique way of walking or carrying themselves. I felt that a lot of people were looking at me because I was just walking around looking lost. One woman even came over to me and asked me if I was lost. I actually found that kind of funny because she actually made me feel like a tourist in my own city.
Activity # 7
The plaza that I visited and observed was the Chase Manhattan Plaza. It’s a banking skyscraper, and it’s located financial district and it overlooks Pine, Liberty, Nassau, and Williams Street. At first I was overwhelmed by the huge building that has 60 floors, and I was not exactly expecting to see that huge building. It’s the 11th tallest building in New York City, and it’s filled with workers who obviously work for Chase Bank. Even though there was construction being done on the plaza I was still able to observe the different things that were going on.
The first thing that attracted my attention from afar was the sculpture called “Group of Four Trees”. It attracted my attention because of how large the sculpture is and how it’s in black and white and at a first glance it actually looks like a bunch of mushrooms. The second thing that attracted my attention was the huge circle, and when you look down it is a water sculpture made by Noguchi. The circle was right in the middle of the plaza where people can look down. When you do look down there are windows all over, that people from the inside of the building from the ground level can also see the sculpture and see the people that are standing on top. At first it looks as if it’s a reflection of the other people on the opposite side of the circle until you look across and realize its different people. Mainly the people that were at this plaza were the worker’s of Chase. It was a nice day outside and mostly people were standing around chatting about their jobs or their family. A lot of people were looking down at the waterfalls and other’s were just observing their surroundings. A lot of people were taking their cigarette breaks or eating lunch and enjoying the warm sun. “We discovered some plazas, especially at lunch time, attracted a lot of people” (Whyte, 13). It was pretty busy considering that it was 12 in the afternoon, but I am assuming this is when most people were taking their lunch breaks.
If you look at the space of the plaza, at first glance it does not seem very inviting because their really is no exact place to sit. Some people were trying to sit comfortably on the ledges near the trees planted in these rectangular squares, but it is obvious that this space was not meant for people to lounge around. It seems as if it was designed just to give the building a nice look. “During peak hours the number of people on a plaza will vary considerably according to seasons and weather. The way people distribute themselves over the space, however, will be fairly consistent, with some sectors getting heavy use day in and out, others much less” (Whyte, 17).There were other places to sit around the area, but it seems as if the people did not want to leave far from their post. This space is very different though because you can see what the people are doing around you and even inside on the ground floor. This space was really just meant to be looked at and nothing more. “The preference for pillars might be ascribed to some primeval instinct: you have a full view of all comers but your rear is covered” (Whyte, 20).
As I said before there is no exact sitting space and there were no trees located next to the circle but there was some located around the plaza. But a lot of the people were standing around the circle over the bars just looking at the fountain. “They show an inclination to station themselves near objects, such as a flagpole or statue.” (Whyte, 20). There was no food located right on the plaza grounds, and there was water but you were not close to it because it was really far from the ground. The people on the ground level also were not close to the water because they were enclosed by the windows. A few feet away from the plaza there were different places to eat at such as fast food restaurants or hot dog stands. Inside the plaza seemed restricted and was only for the people who worked inside the building. Looking from the inside looking out seemed more comfortable because you could get a better view of the Noguchi design and it was only for the worker’s view. So if you’re standing there you probably feel more secure because you know that the other people standing around also work in the building. On the outside of the plaza there was a wall that seems as if it is blocking out the public. It was probably made that way to make it look like a private space and to keep the “undesirables” out.
As I was walking around the plaza I did not really see any exact surveillance mechanisms in the area. There might have been hidden cameras throughout the plaza that were not noticeable. I did see a few guards walking around but they seemed as if they were also on their lunch break. There was a man standing a few inches away who accidently dropped his cell phone into the fountain but there was nothing the security guards could really do, since the phone was most likely dead anyways. The guards were not really patrolling the area and many people were taking up the sitting spaces available to the public by lying down and taking their afternoon naps. “When a place is jammed, a person sits where he can. This may or may not be where he most wants to” (Whyte, 17).
When you are looking from the street the plaza does not seem public at first because its higher above the ground and is surrounded by a wall that you could see through. “What attracts people most, it would appear, is other people. If I belabor the point, it is because many urban spaces are being designed as though the opposite were true, and that what people liked best were the places they stayed away from” (Whyte, 18). Even though anyone is allowed on the plaza, I do not think that anyone can just go inside the building. I did see some guards check for I.D.’s, so it seems that this building is privately managed. I did not try to get into the building because I forgot my I.D. at home, but when you are looking down towards the window, it seemed as if it was just workers looking through the windows. I did not see any exact signs that stated that this plaza was privately managed, but the tall building being separate from the public street made it feel private. The different architectural designs make it feel more public because anyone is allowed to view these different sculptures since they were made for the public’s eye.
As I was sitting there, I realized that there were also a lot of other people taking notes or maybe just writing poems about strangers. I would not say I felt comfortable, but I also did not feel uncomfortable. Everyday I analyze people and I realize that most people are similar in what they do. Some people sing to themselves, others talk to themselves, and everyone has a unique way of walking or carrying themselves. I felt that a lot of people were looking at me because I was just walking around looking lost. One woman even came over to me and asked me if I was lost. I actually found that kind of funny because she actually made me feel like a tourist in my own city.
Nicole McGuire- Acitivty 5 Board Meeting
Nicole McGuire
Activity # 5
The Community Board # 1 of Manhattan has a population of 34,420, up from 25,366 in 1990 and 15,918 in 1980.Of them (as of 2000), 23,041 (66.9%) are white non-Hispanic, 2,348 (6.8%) are African American, 4,868 (14.1%) Asian or Pacific Islander, 30 (0.1%) American Indian or Native Alskan, 457 (1.3%) of some other race, 902 (2.6%) of two or more race, 2,774 (8.1%) of Hispanic origins.9.5% of the population benefit from public assistance as of 2004, up from 5.8 in 2000.The land area is 1,100.3 acres, or 1.71 square miles (4.45 km²).
The board meeting I went to was the Battery Park City Community Meeting, which is part of the Community Board # 1, which deals with Lower Manhattan. It’s made up of five neighborhoods: Battery Park City, Civic Center, Financial District, Greenwich South, Seaport, and Tribeca. There is a lot of residential growth happening, and 15,611 new housing units have already been built and in the process of still being built. There are over 31,000 or more residents within these neighborhoods. And the population of residents is continuing to grow.
This meeting was located at Battery Park City Authority, 1 World Financial Center, 24th Floor. The room was pretty large and there was actually a good amount of people that showed up. There was a podium and behind the podium was a huge projector. Since this meeting was about the neighborhood of Battery Park City, it made sense to hold the meeting right in the Financial District. I was one of the first people to show up, and when I turned around I realized how many people actually showed up to these meetings. In my neighborhood, not many residents show up, so this shows how concerned these people are about what’s going on in front of them. The meeting lasted about 2 hours, and many residents had a lot to say about the different issues that were spoken about.
The issues that were brought up at this meeting had to do with traffic safety issues, renewal of liquor liscenses, and permit processes. There was a discussion about safety traffic issues on Murrary Street and North End Avenue. The Vice President for Community Relations, Leticia Remauro, came out to speak about the monthly report of Battery Park City Authority. Then there was another major discussion about regarding permit processes for large events spanning multiple Community Boards. There was a report on Route 9A and West Thames Park by New York State Department of Transportation, discussing the development and operation of the highway system they created called Promenade South. This includes a new plaza area, better crosswalks, a bikeway, and a new and rebuilt entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Then Tom Amoroso and Mary Kearney both discussed the proposal of the additional loading zone for 325 North End Avenue and how it’s going to affect the community. This then led into how West Street was going to deal with the pedestrian management and maybe even bringing the idea of expanding West Street so that it is not so crowded. And the final discussion dealt with the renewal of liquor licenses to certain restaurants and bars. “When powerholders restrict the input of citizens' ideas solely to this level, participation remains just a window-dressing ritual. People are primarily perceived as statistical abstractions, and participation is measured by how many come to meetings, take brochures home, or answer a questionnaire. What citizens achieve in all this activity is that they have "participated in participation." And what powerholders achieve is the evidence that they have gone through the required motions of involving "those people"” (Arnstein). If they did not bring up these issues dealing with the community than the residents would of felt as if they had no say in their neighborhood. This then could of caused problems within this particular section.
The major discussion at this meeting was the traffic safety issues on Murray Street and North End Avenue. The speaker felt there had to be more signs put up regarding the elementary school and the children playing sign. A lot of the residents also felt the same way, but also added in the fact that more traffic officers should be placed around these streets. Many people have been in accidents due to the poor safety standards. One woman was arguing that even when school is not in session that an crossing guard or traffic officer should remain in the area at all times because it is constantly busy. But the speaker felt that, that was not really necessary and that the signs should be enough signals for the drivers. Than the resident became furious because her daughter was actually hit by a car over on Murray Street all because the driver went through a red light and if there was a crossing guard there this situation could have been prevented. A lot of the residents agreed, but the speaker did not. She felt that even with the presence of more crossing guards it was not going to stop people from speeding. Another resident brought up the idea that there should always be a cop present within these two blocks or put a bump in the road to prevent people from speeding. Since there were other things to discuss at the meeting, the speaker was cut off and the residents were told that they would discuss this issue at the next meeting. “Informing citizens of their rights, responsibilities, and options can be the most important first step toward legitimate citizen participation. However, too frequently the emphasis is placed on a one-way flow of information - from officials to citizens - with no channel provided for feedback and no power for negotiation. Under these conditions, particularly when information is provided at a late stage in planning, people have little opportunity to influence the program designed "for their benefit." The most frequent tools used for such one-way communication are the news media, pamphlets, posters, and responses to inquiries” (Arnstein). At this point, a lot of the residents actually left and were upset that this problem was not solved. A lot of people were saying how it’s not fair that there families have to suffer because the community does not want to hire more traffic agents.
At first I was a little bit uncomfortable at this board meeting because I felt like the other residents knew that I did not belong to this neighborhood. “Meetings can also be turned into vehicles for one-way communication by the simple device of providing superficial information, discouraging questions, or giving irrelevant answers” (Arnstein). No one said anything to me and I was shy to make any comments since I really had no say on what goes on in their neighborhood. A lot of the issues that were brought up were not really solved such as the traffic safety issue. This also happens in my community also, because on my block we used to also have traffic safety issues, and it was a while before signs were posted showing that there is children in the area playing. Luckily no children were ever hurt or killed but the cars were always speeding and since there is a huge hill on my block you could never see the cars. Even though the issues were not necessarily solved a lot of the residents seemed happy enough with being able to speak there mind and let out there feelings. At certain times I felt a lot of tension between the different residents because everyone had a different opinion. But I found this meeting to be very informative because it shows that there still are a lot of people out there that care about their neighborhood and the people who live in it. But it is sad to know that there are a lot of people who do not know what goes on right in their own neighborhood and everyone can make a difference if they just try.
Activity # 5
The Community Board # 1 of Manhattan has a population of 34,420, up from 25,366 in 1990 and 15,918 in 1980.Of them (as of 2000), 23,041 (66.9%) are white non-Hispanic, 2,348 (6.8%) are African American, 4,868 (14.1%) Asian or Pacific Islander, 30 (0.1%) American Indian or Native Alskan, 457 (1.3%) of some other race, 902 (2.6%) of two or more race, 2,774 (8.1%) of Hispanic origins.9.5% of the population benefit from public assistance as of 2004, up from 5.8 in 2000.The land area is 1,100.3 acres, or 1.71 square miles (4.45 km²).
The board meeting I went to was the Battery Park City Community Meeting, which is part of the Community Board # 1, which deals with Lower Manhattan. It’s made up of five neighborhoods: Battery Park City, Civic Center, Financial District, Greenwich South, Seaport, and Tribeca. There is a lot of residential growth happening, and 15,611 new housing units have already been built and in the process of still being built. There are over 31,000 or more residents within these neighborhoods. And the population of residents is continuing to grow.
This meeting was located at Battery Park City Authority, 1 World Financial Center, 24th Floor. The room was pretty large and there was actually a good amount of people that showed up. There was a podium and behind the podium was a huge projector. Since this meeting was about the neighborhood of Battery Park City, it made sense to hold the meeting right in the Financial District. I was one of the first people to show up, and when I turned around I realized how many people actually showed up to these meetings. In my neighborhood, not many residents show up, so this shows how concerned these people are about what’s going on in front of them. The meeting lasted about 2 hours, and many residents had a lot to say about the different issues that were spoken about.
The issues that were brought up at this meeting had to do with traffic safety issues, renewal of liquor liscenses, and permit processes. There was a discussion about safety traffic issues on Murrary Street and North End Avenue. The Vice President for Community Relations, Leticia Remauro, came out to speak about the monthly report of Battery Park City Authority. Then there was another major discussion about regarding permit processes for large events spanning multiple Community Boards. There was a report on Route 9A and West Thames Park by New York State Department of Transportation, discussing the development and operation of the highway system they created called Promenade South. This includes a new plaza area, better crosswalks, a bikeway, and a new and rebuilt entrance to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. Then Tom Amoroso and Mary Kearney both discussed the proposal of the additional loading zone for 325 North End Avenue and how it’s going to affect the community. This then led into how West Street was going to deal with the pedestrian management and maybe even bringing the idea of expanding West Street so that it is not so crowded. And the final discussion dealt with the renewal of liquor licenses to certain restaurants and bars. “When powerholders restrict the input of citizens' ideas solely to this level, participation remains just a window-dressing ritual. People are primarily perceived as statistical abstractions, and participation is measured by how many come to meetings, take brochures home, or answer a questionnaire. What citizens achieve in all this activity is that they have "participated in participation." And what powerholders achieve is the evidence that they have gone through the required motions of involving "those people"” (Arnstein). If they did not bring up these issues dealing with the community than the residents would of felt as if they had no say in their neighborhood. This then could of caused problems within this particular section.
The major discussion at this meeting was the traffic safety issues on Murray Street and North End Avenue. The speaker felt there had to be more signs put up regarding the elementary school and the children playing sign. A lot of the residents also felt the same way, but also added in the fact that more traffic officers should be placed around these streets. Many people have been in accidents due to the poor safety standards. One woman was arguing that even when school is not in session that an crossing guard or traffic officer should remain in the area at all times because it is constantly busy. But the speaker felt that, that was not really necessary and that the signs should be enough signals for the drivers. Than the resident became furious because her daughter was actually hit by a car over on Murray Street all because the driver went through a red light and if there was a crossing guard there this situation could have been prevented. A lot of the residents agreed, but the speaker did not. She felt that even with the presence of more crossing guards it was not going to stop people from speeding. Another resident brought up the idea that there should always be a cop present within these two blocks or put a bump in the road to prevent people from speeding. Since there were other things to discuss at the meeting, the speaker was cut off and the residents were told that they would discuss this issue at the next meeting. “Informing citizens of their rights, responsibilities, and options can be the most important first step toward legitimate citizen participation. However, too frequently the emphasis is placed on a one-way flow of information - from officials to citizens - with no channel provided for feedback and no power for negotiation. Under these conditions, particularly when information is provided at a late stage in planning, people have little opportunity to influence the program designed "for their benefit." The most frequent tools used for such one-way communication are the news media, pamphlets, posters, and responses to inquiries” (Arnstein). At this point, a lot of the residents actually left and were upset that this problem was not solved. A lot of people were saying how it’s not fair that there families have to suffer because the community does not want to hire more traffic agents.
At first I was a little bit uncomfortable at this board meeting because I felt like the other residents knew that I did not belong to this neighborhood. “Meetings can also be turned into vehicles for one-way communication by the simple device of providing superficial information, discouraging questions, or giving irrelevant answers” (Arnstein). No one said anything to me and I was shy to make any comments since I really had no say on what goes on in their neighborhood. A lot of the issues that were brought up were not really solved such as the traffic safety issue. This also happens in my community also, because on my block we used to also have traffic safety issues, and it was a while before signs were posted showing that there is children in the area playing. Luckily no children were ever hurt or killed but the cars were always speeding and since there is a huge hill on my block you could never see the cars. Even though the issues were not necessarily solved a lot of the residents seemed happy enough with being able to speak there mind and let out there feelings. At certain times I felt a lot of tension between the different residents because everyone had a different opinion. But I found this meeting to be very informative because it shows that there still are a lot of people out there that care about their neighborhood and the people who live in it. But it is sad to know that there are a lot of people who do not know what goes on right in their own neighborhood and everyone can make a difference if they just try.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Johanna Kelly-Activity #6
Johanna Kelly
Activity #6- Gendered/Sexualized Places
For this activity, I took a walk around my neighborhood in the East Village. I spotted many stores in the area that seemed to be very gendered. For example, at the Polish hair salon, I observed that only women worked there. They are notoriously known for gossiping while being there. Thus, is also being gendered bias saying that only women in salons gossip. A few feet away from the salon, was a Polish deli where Polish women shopping for groceries. This store also seemed to be gendered since very few men were there shopping.
As I continued to walk up the street, I noticed a deli where men would stand either inside or outside the store. They were busy buying their lotto tickets or the scratch offs. It was interesting to see how the deli had become a social gathering of men. I could hear them cursing in Polish as they did their scratches. Later on, I passed by a men’s barbershop. It specifically said on the store that they only did men haircuts. I also encountered a gym and noticed something interesting. The majority of the women were running on the treadmill and using the elliptical. Most of the men were using the weight machines or picking up weights. So it was interesting to even perceive these gender differences in a gym where both men and women were.
Something that I noticed were also the laundry mats. I looked at the time hours and they seemed very plausible. The laundry mat was opened from 7AM to 11PM. These hours seem very reasonable for enabling working people in doing laundry. In the article, Dolores Hayden states, “Because of residential zoning practices, the typical dwelling will usually be physically removed from any shared community space-no commercial or communal day-care facilities, or laundry facilities, for example, are likely to be part of the dwelling’s spatial domain” (Hayden, 174). This indicates that because of residential areas, such facilities are not available to perhaps women with families. However, the laundry mats located in my neighborhood prove differently because they are available to all people of distinct working schedules. In addition, it is opened seven days a week. Therefore, single working mothers have the same advantage of using those facilities as married women do.
A very entertaining place that I recognized in the East Village was the popular restaurant/bar Lucky Cheng’s. This place is definitely considered as sexualized and gendered space. Drag Queens work their as waitresses and thus, it becomes a place where certain people would like to go. This activity through my neighborhood was engaging to see how the gendered and sexualized places were mixed in various places.
Activity #6- Gendered/Sexualized Places
For this activity, I took a walk around my neighborhood in the East Village. I spotted many stores in the area that seemed to be very gendered. For example, at the Polish hair salon, I observed that only women worked there. They are notoriously known for gossiping while being there. Thus, is also being gendered bias saying that only women in salons gossip. A few feet away from the salon, was a Polish deli where Polish women shopping for groceries. This store also seemed to be gendered since very few men were there shopping.
As I continued to walk up the street, I noticed a deli where men would stand either inside or outside the store. They were busy buying their lotto tickets or the scratch offs. It was interesting to see how the deli had become a social gathering of men. I could hear them cursing in Polish as they did their scratches. Later on, I passed by a men’s barbershop. It specifically said on the store that they only did men haircuts. I also encountered a gym and noticed something interesting. The majority of the women were running on the treadmill and using the elliptical. Most of the men were using the weight machines or picking up weights. So it was interesting to even perceive these gender differences in a gym where both men and women were.
Something that I noticed were also the laundry mats. I looked at the time hours and they seemed very plausible. The laundry mat was opened from 7AM to 11PM. These hours seem very reasonable for enabling working people in doing laundry. In the article, Dolores Hayden states, “Because of residential zoning practices, the typical dwelling will usually be physically removed from any shared community space-no commercial or communal day-care facilities, or laundry facilities, for example, are likely to be part of the dwelling’s spatial domain” (Hayden, 174). This indicates that because of residential areas, such facilities are not available to perhaps women with families. However, the laundry mats located in my neighborhood prove differently because they are available to all people of distinct working schedules. In addition, it is opened seven days a week. Therefore, single working mothers have the same advantage of using those facilities as married women do.
A very entertaining place that I recognized in the East Village was the popular restaurant/bar Lucky Cheng’s. This place is definitely considered as sexualized and gendered space. Drag Queens work their as waitresses and thus, it becomes a place where certain people would like to go. This activity through my neighborhood was engaging to see how the gendered and sexualized places were mixed in various places.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Maria Popa - Activity 6
We went on both our field trips this past Sunday, and it truly was an informative and productive day. We started the day at Astor’s Place, and Johanna guided us around the East Village. We walked by Cooper Union College, and then spent some time in Tompskins Park. I couldn’t help but notice that unlike Central Park, where I usually go, this park was much more crowded, and the majority of its patrons were young people. Around 1 in the afternoon the park was full of families with little children, groups of teenagers, people walking their dogs, and a couple of homeless people sleeping on benches.
We walked around the East Village for a couple of hours and almost every street we walked on was full of people. Jane Jacobs would attribute this to the fact that this is a diversely developed neighborhood. None of the streets were strictly residential or for business; they all had a combination of small shops, restaurants, business offices and apartment buildings. Most of the people walking around that time were locals, and our group couldn’t help it but look very touristy and get a couple dirty looks as we were taking pictures of a community garden and blocking the entire sidewalk.
After our lunch break at Tahini we set off for Brooklyn. I haven’t walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for a while, and have forgotten what a big attraction it is for tourists and locals alike. It was a warm and sunny afternoon, and the walkway was very crowded. There were people jugging, biking, rollerblading, as well as people who moved at a speed of 1 mile per hour, and stopped at every 5 feet to take pictures, but most people were not visibly bothered by it.
After we got off the bridge we walked around Dumbo for a while. I never knew what Dumbo actually stood for (down under Manhattan Brooklyn overpass) and never really walked through it. The area is very old, and as our tour guide, Maya, informed us, it used to be an area of factories, but those got converted into lofts for artists in the 1960s, and now most of them look abandoned. The streets in Dumbo see far less pedestrian activity than the streets in the East Village. The main streets had 2 or 3 car lanes, and except the occasional jogger, we were the only ones on the sidewalk. As we got further from the bridge, we walked around the older part of the area. The only people we saw there were the people hanging around the projects, and a couple of camera crews on old, cobbled streets, shooting by abandoned, graffitied buildings.
Last on our agenda was the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. The shop is in an old light house and the only one in NYC, needless to say the line was 30 minutes long and people kept lining up regardless of how long the line was. Outside the ice cream shop, there is something like a dock area and people can sit by the water and eat their ice cream under a picturesque view. Throughout the time we were there we saw 2 couples come to take wedding pictures, and Qunicenera party. There were also little children riding their bikes, parents playing with their children, big groups that came just for the ice cream, dog walkers etc.
Even though I’ve been to both areas before, I’ve learned a lot on this trip. As a group we were able to recognize several things we read for the class in daily life.
We walked around the East Village for a couple of hours and almost every street we walked on was full of people. Jane Jacobs would attribute this to the fact that this is a diversely developed neighborhood. None of the streets were strictly residential or for business; they all had a combination of small shops, restaurants, business offices and apartment buildings. Most of the people walking around that time were locals, and our group couldn’t help it but look very touristy and get a couple dirty looks as we were taking pictures of a community garden and blocking the entire sidewalk.
After our lunch break at Tahini we set off for Brooklyn. I haven’t walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for a while, and have forgotten what a big attraction it is for tourists and locals alike. It was a warm and sunny afternoon, and the walkway was very crowded. There were people jugging, biking, rollerblading, as well as people who moved at a speed of 1 mile per hour, and stopped at every 5 feet to take pictures, but most people were not visibly bothered by it.
After we got off the bridge we walked around Dumbo for a while. I never knew what Dumbo actually stood for (down under Manhattan Brooklyn overpass) and never really walked through it. The area is very old, and as our tour guide, Maya, informed us, it used to be an area of factories, but those got converted into lofts for artists in the 1960s, and now most of them look abandoned. The streets in Dumbo see far less pedestrian activity than the streets in the East Village. The main streets had 2 or 3 car lanes, and except the occasional jogger, we were the only ones on the sidewalk. As we got further from the bridge, we walked around the older part of the area. The only people we saw there were the people hanging around the projects, and a couple of camera crews on old, cobbled streets, shooting by abandoned, graffitied buildings.
Last on our agenda was the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. The shop is in an old light house and the only one in NYC, needless to say the line was 30 minutes long and people kept lining up regardless of how long the line was. Outside the ice cream shop, there is something like a dock area and people can sit by the water and eat their ice cream under a picturesque view. Throughout the time we were there we saw 2 couples come to take wedding pictures, and Qunicenera party. There were also little children riding their bikes, parents playing with their children, big groups that came just for the ice cream, dog walkers etc.
Even though I’ve been to both areas before, I’ve learned a lot on this trip. As a group we were able to recognize several things we read for the class in daily life.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
maria popa - activity 5
Manhattan Community District 4 includes the Chelsea and Clinton neighborhoods on the West Side. It has a total population of 87,479; 60.3% of which are white, 20.8% are Hispanic, 8.3% are Asian, and 7.3% are African American. 81.2% of them rent in the area, and 18.8% own the housing units they live in. The median household income in the area is $61, 525. (nyc.gov)
Community district 4 holds its meetings in conference room B in Roosevelt Hospital. The hospital is close to the end of the district on 58th street (the district ends at 59th street) and 10th Avenue, and it is about 15 minutes from the subway stop. But despite it not being conveniently located in the middle of the district and near a subway stop, there were over 100 people attending the meeting. Except a couple of Asian attendees, everyone else at the meeting was white; every member of the community board (present at the meeting) was white and predominately male.
I attended the community board meeting on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 and the first issue raised by the board’s chairmen was the shootings that took place in Times Square on Sunday. Even though the shootings took place right outside the community district, the chief inspector of NYPD came in at the beginning of the meeting and gave a detailed account of what happened and assured the community members that despite media allegations the police department was adequately prepared to handle the attacks. To my surprise, there was only one question from the crowd and that was a plea to the police inspector to put more police officers on the west side of 8th avenue. If I lived so close to the shootings I would be very concerned, so I expected more questions from the crowd.
Next on the agenda was the public session. Coming in to the conference room, everyone was required to sign in on either the “speaking” or “non – speaking” sheet. At the time I came in there were more people on the “speaking” sheet than on the other one. Popular topics of the public session were: the opening of the “Excel Lounge” on 56 street (everyone who spoke was in favor of it), the Hudson Hotel acquiring a cabaret license (everyone who spoke was against it), the failure of the Hudson Hotel of dealing with late night noise issues and traffic congestion caused by the taxis at its entrance, as well as their inadequate garbage disposal (one woman was complaining that they do not recycle and don’t have their dumpsters emptied frequently enough so there is an odor by her apartment). These are some examples of “citizens achieving dominant decision – making authority over a particular plan or program” (Arnstein, 242), because these residents actually had the power to decide whether to grant liquor or cabaret licenses to certain hotels, or to allow the opening of a new lounge in their neighborhood. A representative of the company who will build Excel Lounge came in with presentation posters of their plans to convince members of the community to allow it, at least making them feel like they had a say in it. There were also some other groups that spoke during the public session; a representative from “The Highline” park came in to announce their new, summer hours of operation, as well as some small, independent groups that organize community activities such as movie nights with documentaries about community district boards.
During the formal part of the meeting, the board chairman introduced the new members of the community board. Afterwards, the chairmen of the transportation planning committee, the waterfront and front committee, the business license and permit committee, quality of life and cultural affairs committee, and Chelsea preservation and human services committee, took turns to read several (27) letters of their individual committee meetings and resolutions. I found this part to be a little confusing since they didn’t introduce some of the issues they were talking about but just announced their decision. After the head of the committee announced their resolution, the board members voted whether they were in favor of it or not (they were in favor of all the 27 resolutions). One of the most important topics that the community was concerned about was the closing of St. Vincent Hospital’s Emergency Room. This was a fairly new issue in the community, and many of the residents of the district were outraged that their community no longer has a 24 hour emergency room and asked everyone to go to rallies and work together to force the city government to save the emergency room. All of the board members agreed that this was an important topic and that they would discuss it in depth at the meeting on Tuesday where all the board members will be present. This last part would be part of the manipulation ring on the ladder of citizen participation, because even though community members are allowed to express their concerns, board members would often “strongly encourage them to take it to the specific committee meeting”.
Ultimately, I was amazed and pleased to see so many people – from retirees to high school students – care about their community and actually speak up for what they believe in. It seemed like they were all friends (there were numerous inside jokes that I was completely out of the loop on) and worked together, joined committees, started websites, movie nights etc. to improve their community. And even though Arnstein labels committees and such meetings where the members are allowed to speak about their concerns as nonparticipation and a way for the government to manipulate the people and “serve no other purpose [but] educat[ing] them or engineering their support” (237), to see how passionate they were about their community made me eager to go to a meeting in my own community.
Community district 4 holds its meetings in conference room B in Roosevelt Hospital. The hospital is close to the end of the district on 58th street (the district ends at 59th street) and 10th Avenue, and it is about 15 minutes from the subway stop. But despite it not being conveniently located in the middle of the district and near a subway stop, there were over 100 people attending the meeting. Except a couple of Asian attendees, everyone else at the meeting was white; every member of the community board (present at the meeting) was white and predominately male.
I attended the community board meeting on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 and the first issue raised by the board’s chairmen was the shootings that took place in Times Square on Sunday. Even though the shootings took place right outside the community district, the chief inspector of NYPD came in at the beginning of the meeting and gave a detailed account of what happened and assured the community members that despite media allegations the police department was adequately prepared to handle the attacks. To my surprise, there was only one question from the crowd and that was a plea to the police inspector to put more police officers on the west side of 8th avenue. If I lived so close to the shootings I would be very concerned, so I expected more questions from the crowd.
Next on the agenda was the public session. Coming in to the conference room, everyone was required to sign in on either the “speaking” or “non – speaking” sheet. At the time I came in there were more people on the “speaking” sheet than on the other one. Popular topics of the public session were: the opening of the “Excel Lounge” on 56 street (everyone who spoke was in favor of it), the Hudson Hotel acquiring a cabaret license (everyone who spoke was against it), the failure of the Hudson Hotel of dealing with late night noise issues and traffic congestion caused by the taxis at its entrance, as well as their inadequate garbage disposal (one woman was complaining that they do not recycle and don’t have their dumpsters emptied frequently enough so there is an odor by her apartment). These are some examples of “citizens achieving dominant decision – making authority over a particular plan or program” (Arnstein, 242), because these residents actually had the power to decide whether to grant liquor or cabaret licenses to certain hotels, or to allow the opening of a new lounge in their neighborhood. A representative of the company who will build Excel Lounge came in with presentation posters of their plans to convince members of the community to allow it, at least making them feel like they had a say in it. There were also some other groups that spoke during the public session; a representative from “The Highline” park came in to announce their new, summer hours of operation, as well as some small, independent groups that organize community activities such as movie nights with documentaries about community district boards.
During the formal part of the meeting, the board chairman introduced the new members of the community board. Afterwards, the chairmen of the transportation planning committee, the waterfront and front committee, the business license and permit committee, quality of life and cultural affairs committee, and Chelsea preservation and human services committee, took turns to read several (27) letters of their individual committee meetings and resolutions. I found this part to be a little confusing since they didn’t introduce some of the issues they were talking about but just announced their decision. After the head of the committee announced their resolution, the board members voted whether they were in favor of it or not (they were in favor of all the 27 resolutions). One of the most important topics that the community was concerned about was the closing of St. Vincent Hospital’s Emergency Room. This was a fairly new issue in the community, and many of the residents of the district were outraged that their community no longer has a 24 hour emergency room and asked everyone to go to rallies and work together to force the city government to save the emergency room. All of the board members agreed that this was an important topic and that they would discuss it in depth at the meeting on Tuesday where all the board members will be present. This last part would be part of the manipulation ring on the ladder of citizen participation, because even though community members are allowed to express their concerns, board members would often “strongly encourage them to take it to the specific committee meeting”.
Ultimately, I was amazed and pleased to see so many people – from retirees to high school students – care about their community and actually speak up for what they believe in. It seemed like they were all friends (there were numerous inside jokes that I was completely out of the loop on) and worked together, joined committees, started websites, movie nights etc. to improve their community. And even though Arnstein labels committees and such meetings where the members are allowed to speak about their concerns as nonparticipation and a way for the government to manipulate the people and “serve no other purpose [but] educat[ing] them or engineering their support” (237), to see how passionate they were about their community made me eager to go to a meeting in my own community.
Tamon Charles-Activity 4
Scavenger Hunt
7. According to a foreclosure tracking firm, the Borough of Brooklyn has faced an all time high of in foreclosure homes. As of January 2010, there was an increase of 35% compared to December of 2009. The most tattered Brooklyn neighborhoods affected include Bedford-Stuyvesant, Flatlands, Canarsie, East New York and East Flatbush respectively.
Brooklyn foreclosure counselor Stephan Dookeeram, [who works with the Pratt Area Community Council] said that he has been seeing a faster pace of foreclosure homes listing because of job losses in this economic struggle. Homeowners operating a second home as rental housing have also been losing these second homes due to foreclosure because their tenants no longer have sources of income as well.
My experiences of this task were studying the various areas and then maneuver myself around to find evidence of foreclosure to complete this assignment. I think that it is also interesting to find these homes/buildings amongst a neighborhood that you may initially think that seem to be flourishing as you find other homes being utilized until you find a few that are vacant.
8. New York City Department of City Planning declares that “zoning shapes the city. Zoning determines the size and use of buildings, where they are located and, in large measure, the densities of the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Along with the city's power to budget, tax, and condemn property, zoning is a key tool for carrying out planning policy. New York City has been a pioneer in the field of zoning policy since it enacted the nation's first comprehensive Zoning Resolution in 1916.”
The New York City Department of Buildings primarily has the responsibility for implementing the Zoning Resolution and also for interpreting its provisions. One such neighborhood that is affected by this is the Williamsburg area.
In the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area in Brooklyn, Community District One covers approximately 184 blocks where the zoning, for the most part, does not permit new residential buildings. This area under study is bordered by the East River, the Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and McGuinness Boulevard.
The Department of City Planning has proposed new zoning changes to allow for housing as well as open spaces, for both light industry and commercial uses, along the two miles of Brooklyn’s East River waterfront and the upland neighborhoods. The proposed actions include a zoning map and zoning text changes to facilitate the new housing and local commercial development. Also, in concurrence with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the city map will change to launch a new, 27.8-acre waterfront park.
7. According to a foreclosure tracking firm, the Borough of Brooklyn has faced an all time high of in foreclosure homes. As of January 2010, there was an increase of 35% compared to December of 2009. The most tattered Brooklyn neighborhoods affected include Bedford-Stuyvesant, Flatlands, Canarsie, East New York and East Flatbush respectively.
Brooklyn foreclosure counselor Stephan Dookeeram, [who works with the Pratt Area Community Council] said that he has been seeing a faster pace of foreclosure homes listing because of job losses in this economic struggle. Homeowners operating a second home as rental housing have also been losing these second homes due to foreclosure because their tenants no longer have sources of income as well.
My experiences of this task were studying the various areas and then maneuver myself around to find evidence of foreclosure to complete this assignment. I think that it is also interesting to find these homes/buildings amongst a neighborhood that you may initially think that seem to be flourishing as you find other homes being utilized until you find a few that are vacant.
8. New York City Department of City Planning declares that “zoning shapes the city. Zoning determines the size and use of buildings, where they are located and, in large measure, the densities of the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Along with the city's power to budget, tax, and condemn property, zoning is a key tool for carrying out planning policy. New York City has been a pioneer in the field of zoning policy since it enacted the nation's first comprehensive Zoning Resolution in 1916.”
The New York City Department of Buildings primarily has the responsibility for implementing the Zoning Resolution and also for interpreting its provisions. One such neighborhood that is affected by this is the Williamsburg area.
In the Greenpoint-Williamsburg area in Brooklyn, Community District One covers approximately 184 blocks where the zoning, for the most part, does not permit new residential buildings. This area under study is bordered by the East River, the Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and McGuinness Boulevard.
The Department of City Planning has proposed new zoning changes to allow for housing as well as open spaces, for both light industry and commercial uses, along the two miles of Brooklyn’s East River waterfront and the upland neighborhoods. The proposed actions include a zoning map and zoning text changes to facilitate the new housing and local commercial development. Also, in concurrence with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the city map will change to launch a new, 27.8-acre waterfront park.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Maria Popa - Activity 7 Seagram Building Plaza
The Seagram Building Plaza is one of the “successful plazas” Whyte studied. He attributes its success to the fact that it is open to the street, has plenty of sitting place, and it has trees to provide shade as well as privacy and “on a good day, there would be a hundred and fifty people sitting, sunbathing, picnicking and schmoozing” (14). I observed this plaza on a nice, warm, Friday afternoon and during what Whyte calls peak time - from noon to a little before two (18), but despite the nice weather there were not many people there. During the peak time the number of people who were using the plaza was consistently around 50 or 60, and after two o’clock it consistently stayed around 30.
Like Whyte said, most of the people on the plazas are “young office workers from nearby buildings” (16). Both men and women dressed in business attire came on the plazas to eat their lunch. Many of the men bought their lunch from the Halal stand right next to the plaza while the women had salads in plastic take out containers or brown bags. Whyte states that “the best used plazas are sociable places, with a higher proportion of couples …and more people in groups” (17), but most of the office workers came on their own or in twos at the most. The largest group I saw on the plaza was about 6 office workers, both male and female, who stopped under the flag pole and chatted for a couple of minutes then went into the building.
The Seagram plaza has everything Whyte deems necessary to be successful. There is plenty of sitting place, and yet many of the younger people like to sit on the steps and block other people from entering the plaza. It also has a couple of trees in a section in the rear right, which seems to be separated from the rest of the plaza since it is so dark and seems claustrophobic. The whole time I was there, I never saw a woman go in that shaded section, there were at most two people in there at once but they were always men and tried to stay far from one another. I also noticed that most of the women liked to sit by the water. My friend and I were also sitting there, and had to lift our feet many times to let women walk across the 1 foot wide ledge to get towards the middle of the pool. Women prefer sitting on that wall because it is high from the street, it is facing the plaza, and most importantly the large pool of water provides protection, so they feel safe yet not alienated from the rest of the plaza.
Although I did not notice any surveillance cameras or security guards patrolling the area, for a brief period of time there were a couple of policemen walking back and forth Park Avenue, right in front of the plaza, but they did not stop anyone and eventually left. I think this plaza as many other popular public spaces are trusted to be patrolled by the people who use them because it is in their own interest to keep the plaza clean and free of crime. Also, I haven’t seen any signs that indicate that certain areas are private, but I’m sure the Seagram Building itself is not a public place.
I did my observation of the plaza immediately after we watched the movie in class so I was a little disappointed not to see the passionate lovers or the girl watchers, Whyte poked fun on. But I immediately recognized certain elements he focused on such as how people enjoy the sense of adventure of walking along the small ledge along the pool, or how some like to sit on the steps and clog walking areas, and how no one really likes to use the vast empty space in the middle of the plaza and either stand by the flag pole or sit on the walls all along the plaza. I felt comfortable there not only because I was with a friend, but also because there was a diverse group of people there from school kids running around, to old men reading or simply watching the street, and young office workers on their lunch break, so no one really feels like they do not belong there.
Like Whyte said, most of the people on the plazas are “young office workers from nearby buildings” (16). Both men and women dressed in business attire came on the plazas to eat their lunch. Many of the men bought their lunch from the Halal stand right next to the plaza while the women had salads in plastic take out containers or brown bags. Whyte states that “the best used plazas are sociable places, with a higher proportion of couples …and more people in groups” (17), but most of the office workers came on their own or in twos at the most. The largest group I saw on the plaza was about 6 office workers, both male and female, who stopped under the flag pole and chatted for a couple of minutes then went into the building.
The Seagram plaza has everything Whyte deems necessary to be successful. There is plenty of sitting place, and yet many of the younger people like to sit on the steps and block other people from entering the plaza. It also has a couple of trees in a section in the rear right, which seems to be separated from the rest of the plaza since it is so dark and seems claustrophobic. The whole time I was there, I never saw a woman go in that shaded section, there were at most two people in there at once but they were always men and tried to stay far from one another. I also noticed that most of the women liked to sit by the water. My friend and I were also sitting there, and had to lift our feet many times to let women walk across the 1 foot wide ledge to get towards the middle of the pool. Women prefer sitting on that wall because it is high from the street, it is facing the plaza, and most importantly the large pool of water provides protection, so they feel safe yet not alienated from the rest of the plaza.
Although I did not notice any surveillance cameras or security guards patrolling the area, for a brief period of time there were a couple of policemen walking back and forth Park Avenue, right in front of the plaza, but they did not stop anyone and eventually left. I think this plaza as many other popular public spaces are trusted to be patrolled by the people who use them because it is in their own interest to keep the plaza clean and free of crime. Also, I haven’t seen any signs that indicate that certain areas are private, but I’m sure the Seagram Building itself is not a public place.
I did my observation of the plaza immediately after we watched the movie in class so I was a little disappointed not to see the passionate lovers or the girl watchers, Whyte poked fun on. But I immediately recognized certain elements he focused on such as how people enjoy the sense of adventure of walking along the small ledge along the pool, or how some like to sit on the steps and clog walking areas, and how no one really likes to use the vast empty space in the middle of the plaza and either stand by the flag pole or sit on the walls all along the plaza. I felt comfortable there not only because I was with a friend, but also because there was a diverse group of people there from school kids running around, to old men reading or simply watching the street, and young office workers on their lunch break, so no one really feels like they do not belong there.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Johanna Kelly-Activity #3
Johanna Kelly
Activity #3- Public vs. Private
For this activity, I decided to visit the Gramercy Park on 18th street between Park and Third Avenue. Even though this park is located on the street where the entire public can see it, the park is actually private. This means that it is private property that can be only owned by certain people. The public is not eligible to go inside Gramercy Park and sit there like other parks allow us to. A tall gate circulates the entire park and is closed with a lock. Thus, only people with a key to the park are allowed to go inside. This indicates that the park is a private place located here in midtown Manhattan. Even though the streets are open to the public, the park is not.
The park appeared to be very elegant and not like every other park you see here in the city. The gates around the park looked very rich and they had a lock on the entrance gate. However, you could see through the gates and observe what was going inside the park. This park reminded me more of a garden because it had a lot of open plant spaces. I could imagine how much flowers there must be in the summer. There were benches in the park but they were empty. Because it was a cold day, there were not so many people hanging out in the park. However, you could tell that the people that were in the park were of a high middle class. I spotted two elderly ladies sitting on the benches and they were dressed in long coats with fur collars. They were talking amongst themselves; however their volume was very low. Thus, I interpreted that they were of a higher class just because they were so proper and how they were interacting with each other. They were sitting on the bench with great posture. Therefore, I knew that those ladies were of a higher class and could be able to afford going to a private park.
It was very interesting to me how something like a park could be even considered a private spot. Usually, when I think of walking on the street, I perceive everything as public because everyone is entitled to walking where they wish. However, everybody does not have access to Gramercy Park. In the book, The Geography of Nowhere, James Howard Kunstler states, “But it only made sense as something that ordered the relationship between the yard and the sidewalk. The wooden prickets had meaning only in the relation to the spaces between them, which allowed a person on the street to see through the fence and yet still be informed that the private yard beyond it was a separate place from the public street” (Kunstler, 250). This quote evidently connects back to the separation of Gramercy Park and the public sidewalk/streets. Even though it is titled as park, it could also be considered as a private yard that is separated from the “public street.” In suburban areas, the people’s homes and yards are considered private spaces. However, right over the fence/gate, is a street/sidewalk and that is already considered to be public. As I was looking at the park through the gate, I felt as if I was watching someone sitting in his/her yard. This activity was very interesting to see how private areas do exist in city streets and sidewalks.
Activity #3- Public vs. Private
For this activity, I decided to visit the Gramercy Park on 18th street between Park and Third Avenue. Even though this park is located on the street where the entire public can see it, the park is actually private. This means that it is private property that can be only owned by certain people. The public is not eligible to go inside Gramercy Park and sit there like other parks allow us to. A tall gate circulates the entire park and is closed with a lock. Thus, only people with a key to the park are allowed to go inside. This indicates that the park is a private place located here in midtown Manhattan. Even though the streets are open to the public, the park is not.
The park appeared to be very elegant and not like every other park you see here in the city. The gates around the park looked very rich and they had a lock on the entrance gate. However, you could see through the gates and observe what was going inside the park. This park reminded me more of a garden because it had a lot of open plant spaces. I could imagine how much flowers there must be in the summer. There were benches in the park but they were empty. Because it was a cold day, there were not so many people hanging out in the park. However, you could tell that the people that were in the park were of a high middle class. I spotted two elderly ladies sitting on the benches and they were dressed in long coats with fur collars. They were talking amongst themselves; however their volume was very low. Thus, I interpreted that they were of a higher class just because they were so proper and how they were interacting with each other. They were sitting on the bench with great posture. Therefore, I knew that those ladies were of a higher class and could be able to afford going to a private park.
It was very interesting to me how something like a park could be even considered a private spot. Usually, when I think of walking on the street, I perceive everything as public because everyone is entitled to walking where they wish. However, everybody does not have access to Gramercy Park. In the book, The Geography of Nowhere, James Howard Kunstler states, “But it only made sense as something that ordered the relationship between the yard and the sidewalk. The wooden prickets had meaning only in the relation to the spaces between them, which allowed a person on the street to see through the fence and yet still be informed that the private yard beyond it was a separate place from the public street” (Kunstler, 250). This quote evidently connects back to the separation of Gramercy Park and the public sidewalk/streets. Even though it is titled as park, it could also be considered as a private yard that is separated from the “public street.” In suburban areas, the people’s homes and yards are considered private spaces. However, right over the fence/gate, is a street/sidewalk and that is already considered to be public. As I was looking at the park through the gate, I felt as if I was watching someone sitting in his/her yard. This activity was very interesting to see how private areas do exist in city streets and sidewalks.
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