Pictures and footage from yesterday's Save Union Square Rally:
Visit saveunionsquare2008.blogspot.com for the latest:
SAVE UNION SQUARE - Banner Drop from Xris Spider on Vimeo.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Not For Sale
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5 comments:
Oh, come on. New York is an over-regulated, predictable corporate playground. There have got to be better cities out there.
Way to go young radical puppy!
I've always been conflicted about Union Square, and unlike most pockets of Manhattan, its enormous size meant that I every time I emerge from the subway into it, I never have a clear opinion about what it ought to look like and how it ought to be "fixed". What do you think of Bryant Park? It's a huge success but some argue that it's just a little too cosmetically perfect. Still, I love sitting in it. It feels a bit Parisian. Then there's Tompkins Square Park which is perhaps a better role model for Union Square. Then there's Madison Square, a successful park that could provide at least one ingredient for the more multi-faceted Union Square. Gotta keep the green market, of course, and above all, the vehicular traffic needs to be "calmed" (urban redevelopment speak for "fewer lanes of traffic") once those things are in place, cafes and restaurants that spill onto wide sidewalks would be a fine component. Many years ago, I took an interest in the Union Square Redevelopment Authority and the parallel merchants org, but it's been obvious over the years that they haven't been able to accomplish much.
I think it would be interesting if you would go out on a limb and blog your personal vision for the square. You might also want to become familiar with "The Project for Public Spaces" which will equip you with the basic principles of "new urbanism". (I am a rabid New Urbanist, but having been in the business of urban redevelopment for 25 years, I know the value of compromise and negotiation.) In terms of understanding "process", I hope you have been following th High Line Project and the twists and turns of the west side Rail Yard project.
Tony, the Park does not need to be fixed.
We're not talking about a blighted area, or under-used greenspace. We're talking about a 150-year old landmark public space that is well-used, fairly well-tended and is already the site of one of the neighborhood's major attractions -- the Greenmarket -- as well as a great place to sit on a warm day.
How is this for a vision:
Don't do anything to the park.
Aaron,
I will respectfully disagree. There are many aspects of that square that are downright ugly and blighted and do indeed need to be fixed. So many Jersey barriers and so much crumbling pavement. A lot of work to be done here.
PS: (I am amazed that person as well traveled as you would say what you said. Can we possibly be talking about two different places? Think of the potential.)
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