PARK(ing) DAY NYC 2010
One of my favorite urban reclamation events, PARK(ing) Day, is coming back September 17th! The concept is simple: turn parking space into public space. It’s part political, part environmental, part cultural. And for urban planners and architects, creative too. This year, I will be part of Columbia University GSAPP’s parking spot. Last year, GSAPP’s spot … Read more
THE GHOST BIKES of NYC
Photo by Amanda Chatel Since I accidentally started a trend of finding real and ghost planes in Google Maps last week, I figured I would follow that up with a post on ghost bikes. These bikes are real (although upon investigation, many ARE missing). The bikes, painted white and chained to street furniture, serve as … Read more
W Train Funeral/Protest
The W train will die on the night of June 25th, just short of its 9th birthday. To memorialize its passing, join the Manhattan Young Democrats, Queens County Young Democrats, Long Island City Alliance, and the Powhatan Democratic Club on the last car of the W train at Times Square Station at 7:30pm and we’ll ride to Astoria … Read more
NYTimes LENS BLOG: A Timely Global Mosaic
A different type of mosaic than that of Alexander the Great, but The New York Times LENS blog is putting together a global mosaic of photographs all to be taken at approximately 15:00 hours (U.T.C.) on May 2nd. Anybody can submit: amateurs, professionals, taken on your fancy DSLR or your cell phone. That’s 11am in … Read more
Global. Timeless. Placeless.
Photo by Michelle Young Global. Timeless. Placeless. These were the keywords from a publisher who was interested in my photography for the cover of a forthcoming book by architect Jan Gehl, who designed the new pedestrian spaces in New York City, including Times Square and Herald Square. Gehl’s new book is about people and the … Read more
COOL COMPANY ALERT: JumpPost.com
While this is not directly architecture or planning related, I want to cover a new company called JumpPost.com because it’s still important to address the (in)efficiencies of what drive and support new construction, new architecture and ultimately how it affects you & me. JumpPost is a new way to list your apartment for rent without … Read more
I Have to Pee!: PUBLIC BATHROOMS IN NYC
Retired Bathroom on Allen and Delancey Streets (Photo © Untapped Cities by Christoffer Delsinger) Recently untappednewyork discovered this at Bedford Avenue and N.7th in Williamsburg. Looks like something is in the works for 2010! I first became intrigued with public bathrooms upon seeing the reppropriation of the Astor Place women’s room into a newsstand. Then … Read more
THE PRISONS AMONG US
The Original Tombs Prison, Lower Manhattan. 1896 The word infrastructure usually conjures up images of roads, highways, bridges and mass transit. One thing that Kate Ascher taught me is that the really interesting stuff is what you don’t see. The idea for her captivating book, The Works, came while observing the aftermath of the World … Read more
PEDESTRIAN X-ING: No Cars Allowed!
Photo by Michelle Young In a dramatic reappropriation of urban space for public use, Times Square was closed off to cars earlier this summer. Less well known is that Summer Streets are already in place all over the five-boroughs this summer, thanks to the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and that a section of 34th … Read more
