August 2015
Public Life in NYC’s Plazas
One City 8.5 Million Residents 61 Plazas How does reclaimed street space in the shape of NYC plazas  impact public life?
Presentation Purpose This presentation includes an update on the NYC plaza program, using data from the report “Public Life & Urban Justice in NYC’s Plazas” by Gehl Studio and the J. Max Bond Center on Design for the Just City (JMBC)
Project Purpose.
“Cities are the problem solvers and the centers of innovation. As Mayors, we are on the front lines. It is our responsibility to create more opportunities for our citizens and more equitable cities.� Bill de Blasio, Mayor of the City of New York
The economic impact of the plazas is measured. But what is the social impact? Increased retail sales +172% on Pearl Street, Brooklyn (compared to 18% borough wide) Decreased commercial vacancy rates 49% after Union Square was extended for pedestrians and cyclists
Measuring the Street: New Metrics for 21st Century Streets
1
What happens when all kinds of people feel invited, welcomed, and safe in new public spaces?
What decisions lead to more equitable public spaces?
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How do we prioritize investments in the public realm? (where and when)
How do we decide on a specific design and programming interventions? (what)
To begin to answer these questions, we need to understand who feels invited and why.
The NYC Plaza Program is the perfect place to begin to examine some of these questions
There are 61 plazas across the city in economically diverse neighborhoods providing the context for a true research experiment to take place.
The plazas were developed as interim projects, and are easily changed providing the opportunity for experimentation.
NYC’s landscape and transportation network provide the infrastructure needed for social mixing.
The NYC Plaza Program is the perfect place to begin to examine some of these questions
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There are more plazas planned, and there is an opportunity to use our findings to improve existing and new plazas
People are there - meaning that we can study the impacts without a huge investment
NYC Plaza Context.
NYC Plaza Program In the past 7 years 61 plazas have been created to transform 40,000 square feet of underused streets into vibrant, social public spaces, and help ensure that all New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of quality open space.
Pearl Street Triangle Plaza, DUMBO Photo Credit: DOT
NYC Plaza Program.
NYC DOT funds a limited number of interim plaza projects per year. Non-profits and local community groups can apply for the right to receive DOT funding. DOT partners with community groups that commit to operate, maintain, and manage the plazas.
Moveable chairs Planters
Paint
NYC Plaza Program Plaza Toolkit Paint Gravel Movable tables Umbrellas Permanent benches Bike Parking
Planters Granite blocks Street lighting Signage Concrete Pavement markings
The research.
Gehl
PSPL Methodology is based on two core indicators:
Public Space Public Life
JMBC
The Just City Methodology, is based on eleven core indicators:
Urban Justice
How can we mesh these indicators together to study connections between public life, public space, and urban (social and spatial) justice?
Equity Access Choice Connectivity Health & Wellbeing Diversity Ownership Participation Beauty Inclusion/ Belonging Creative Innovation
How can we understand who benefits from new public spaces?
Gehl Studio and the J. Max Bond Center on Design for the Just City partnered up to study public life, public space, and urban justice.
7 Plazas Gehl Studio and the JMBC collected data on 7 Plazas
Manhattan Flatiron District Plaza Meatpacking District Plaza
Queens Diversity Plaza Corona Plaza
Brooklyn Putnam Plaza Zion Triangle New Lots Triangle
New Plazas: Areas Underserved by Open Space:
Next Generation World Class Streets, Plazas:
Data and Survey Methods. Data was collected at the Census tract level within the half-mile buffer around the plaza
1.Desktop Research 489 surveys were collected. Surveys were done on a weekday and weekend day, between 8am-8pm, in October 2014.
Surveys were done on a weekday and weekend day, between 8am-8pm, in October 2014.
3.Intercept Surveys
2.Observational Surveys
4.Interviews with Plaza Managers
Meatpacking
New Lots Triangle
Flatiron
Putnam Plaza
Diversity Plaza
Corona
The plazas and neighborhoods all have very different characteristics This poses both challenges (hard to compare findings) and opportunities (diversity of insights) for the analysis
Zion
2%
MeatpackingMeatpacking Surronding Land Use Land8% Surronding Use
11% 1%
11%
15%
4%
1%
18%
RESIDENTIAL
35%
75%
Flatiron Surronding Use Land Use Flatiron Land Surronding
RESIDENTIAL 35%
2%
4%
Diversity Surronding1% Land Use
35%
2% 25%
25%
1%
18%
25%
1% 25%
Diversity Surronding Land Use
9%
25%
1%
9%
18%
MIXED USE MIXED USE
MIXED USE
1%
11%
RESIDENTIAL 19% RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL
51%
28% Putnam Surronding Land Use Land Use Corona Surronding New Lots Surronding Land Use Meatpacking Flatiron
9%
1% 2%
6%
6% 2%
2,5% 13%
13% 6,5%
6,5% 2,5% 13%
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL
1%
8%
15%
Flatiron 2,5%Surronding Land Use
Meatpacking Surronding 4% 13% Land Use
Flatiron S
2%
4%
35%
11%
Residential Residential 25%
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL
57%
RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE
1%
MIXED USE
RESIDENTIAL
Mixed, Commercial & Office Mixed, Commercial & Office
13%
Industrial & Industrial Public 73% Facilities & Public Facilities
75%
18%
35%
73%
25%
Open space and Recreation OpenOutdoor space and Outdoor Recreation 28%
13%
25%
18%
15%
RESIDENTIAL
13%
6,5%
3% Meatpacking Surronding Land Use 1% 11%
RESIDENTIAL 75% 13%
Corona Surronding Land Use Diversity PlazaZion Surronding Land Use
1%
19%
71%
13%
71%
13%
51%
3%
8%
Zion Surronding Use Land0,5% Zion Land Surronding Use
13%
4%
11%
57%
28%
71%
1%
19%
0,5%
MIXED USE MIXED 18%USE
28% Diversity Surronding Land Use Land New Lots Surronding Use
0,5%
Putnam Surronding Land Use
73%
75%
Putn
65%
MIXED USE
51%
Parking and Parking Vacant land and Vacant land 65%
New Lots Triangle
65%
Zion Surronding Land Use
Putnam Plaza
Corona 6,5%
Zion
2,5%
Putnam Land Use Flatiron Surronding Land Use Diversity Surronding Land UseSurronding Putnam Surronding Land Use Surrounding Land Use Outer borough plazas are in1%primarily residential areas, 2% 11% 1% 1% 11%RESIDENTIAL 1% 4% 11% 9% 9% while those in Manhattan are 0,5% more mixed use. 0,5% 13%
Diversity Land Surronding packing Surronding Use Land Use
28%
18% 18%
35% 18%
Mixed, Commercial & Office Industrial & Public Facilities Open space and Outdoor Recreation
13%
25%
Residential
Zion Surronding Land Use 65%
6,5%
Parking and Vacant land
The findings.
How do the plazas perform...
How do the plazas perform? »» public life »» public space »» socio-demographic mixing
0238
What activities took place? And what contributed to making them happen? 
People are walking through the plazas. 3,500
Corona
3,000
Flatiron 2,500
2,000
Diversity
1,500
Meatpacking 1,000
Average: 847
500
0 8
10
Weekday Pedestrian Flow
12
2
4
6
Neighborhood density correlates to pedestrian volumes.
Corona:
3250
pedestrians walking at peak hour 3-4 pm
The foot traffic at Corona Plaza is comparable to that of Manhattan thoroughfares at a similar time.
Corona had the highest peak number of pedestrians walking through the plaza.
When people stay in the plazas, they tend to engage in stationary activities. 93% 93%
92% 92%
82% 82%
81% 81%
99% 99%
80% 80%
99% 93%
92% 82%
60% 60%
81%
Stationary Standing Stationary
52% 52%
80%
52%
Secondary LyingSeating Down Cafe Active Seating Movable SeatingPlaying Children LyingActive Down
New Lots Triangle New New LotsLots Triangle Triangle
Zion Zion Triangle Triangle Zion Triangle
Putnam Plaza
Putnam Putnam Plaza Plaza
Corona Plaza
Corona Corona Plaza Plaza
Diversity Plaza
Meatpacking Plaza
Diversity Diversity Plaza Plaza
Commercial Activity Children Playing Physical Activity Active Commercial Activity Working / Meeting Children PlayingActivity Physical Commercial Activity Police Working / Meeting Physical Activity Social Contact Police Working / Meeting Maintenance Police Social ContactPersonnel Flatiron Plaza Meatpacking Meatpacking Plaza Plaza
80%
Waiting Standingfor Transport Bench WaitingSeating for Transport Secondary Seating Bench Seating Stationary Cafe Seating Secondary Seating Standing Movable Seating Cafe Waiting for Seating Transport Lying Down Bench Seating Seating Movable
60%
Flatiron Flatiron Plaza Plaza
80% 80%
SocialMaintenance Contact Personnel Maintenance Personnel
80%
of the staying activities across the 7 plazas were stationary.
Only
2.2%
of the activities across the 7 plazas were children playing
Corona had the highest percentage of children playing
12%
Few playing activities were registered across the 7 plazas
The activities people engage in seem to correlate to available options
44%
Sitting on movable chairs
Flatiron plaza has a high number of movable chairs
24% engaging in commercial activity
Corona has a weekly farmers market and commercial units lining the square
41% waiting for transport
New Lots is alongside a prominent bus route
Plazas with consistently set-up furniture and those near bus stops had more people staying.
67%
said the plaza increased time spent outside
People are spending more time outside.
Neighborhoods that most severely lack open space report a greater increase in time spent outside 100%
75%
50%
Has this plaza increased the time you spend in public space?
25%
No Yes
New Lots Triangle
Zion Triangle
Putnam Plaza
Corona Plaza
Diversity Plaza
Meatpacking Plaza
Flatiron Plaza
0%
No difference Greatly or somewhat
53%
across all 7 plazas recognize or know more people since the plaza opened
Plazas foster social connections.
Residential plazas with more local and frequent users correlated with higher social interactions and recognition
New Lots Triangle
Zion Triangle
Putnam Plaza
New Lots Triangle
No, I don’t recognize No, I don’t/recognize know more / know more Yes, I recognize Yes, I/recognize know more / know more Zion Triangle
0% Corona Plaza
0%
Putnam Plaza
25%
Corona Plaza
25%
75%
Diversity Plaza
50%
Diversity Plaza
50%
Meatpacking Plaza
75%
Flatiron Plaza
75%
Meatpacking Plaza
100%
Flatiron Plaza
100%
of the outerborough plazas recognize or know more people since the plaza opened
Those earning less than $50,000 were much more likely to make new connections 25% 20% 15% 10% 5%
No, I don’t recognize / know more Yes, I recognize / know more (blank)
$100,000 or more
$50,000 to $99,999
$15,000 to $49,999
$0 to $14,999
0%
No, I don’t recognize / know more Yes, I recognize / know more
People who identified as Hispanic / Latino reported meeting or recognizing new people at a higher rate
How do plaza operations vary?
Operational budgets and pedestrian volumes are not correlated pedestrian volumes
4,000
4,000
weekday weekend
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
2,000
2,000
1,000
1,000
0
0
8 AM
8 AM10 AM 10 AM 12 PM 12 PM 2 PM
2 PM 4 PM
4 PM 6 PM
Flatiron 45,000 sq ft. Operations Budget (2014)
$375,000
6 PM
1,000
1,000
0
0
3X the space. 6X the budget.
1475
1475
1186
1186
8 AM
8 AM10 AM 10 AM 12 PM 12 PM 2 PM
2 PM 4 PM
1552
4 PM 6 PM
Corona 13,500 sq. ft. Operations Budget (2014)
$65,000
6 PM
NR OF PEOPLE
1552
NR OF PEOPLE
911
2,000
NR OF PEOPLE
2,000
1626
NR OF PEOPLE
1637
1626 911
4,000
PEAK 3477 PEAK 3477
PEAK 2486 PEAK 2486 1637
4,000
Corona does a lot for a little
Who used the plazas?
66% walk
25%
take public transport
9% other
all plazas are located adjacent to public transport (subway or bus)
Most people walk to the plazas - indicating that most plaza visitors live or work nearby
At outer-borough plazas, locals who live within a 2 mile radius are primary plaza visitors
72% of visitors to
outer-borough plazas were local
50%
of local visitors to outer-borough plazas reported living in the neighborhood for +10 years
66% of visitors
were from NYC
The Flatiron Plaza is surrounded by many opportunities for work and shopping
The Flatiron Plaza serves New Yorkers from across the city
56% are tourists
(not from NYC metro area)
The Meatpacking Plaza is located close to many tourist attractions
The Meatpacking Plaza serves mostly tourists
Two or more races Asian
Plazas
Plaza
6% 9% 6% 3% 24% 2% 7% 1%
9%
24%
4% Corona Diversity Plaza Plaza
ty
5%
69%
62% 85%
Flatiron 5% Plaza
15%
2%
Corona Diversity 3%
y
Putnam Corona 7% Plaza Plaza
3%
3% 20%20% 24%
9%
3%
3%
Zion Meatpacking Putnam Plaza Triangle Plaza
69%
47% 42%
7% Diversity Plaza
6% 20%6% 2% 1%
13%
New Zion 5% Lots Triangle Triangle
7% Corona Plaza
5% 13%
New Lots Triangle
6%
Putnam Plaza
White42% 60%
74%60% 85%
62% 47% 74%
Black / African American
Neighborhoods
3% 2% 9% 17% 10% 2%
39% 2%
6% 5% 20%
11% 6% 6%2% 1% 7%
85%42%77%
Neighborhood 17%
6% 6%
5%
3% 2% 11% 3% 1%
10% 10% 37% 2%
8%
3% 1% >1%
4% Corona Putnam
>1%
Meatpacking Putnam Zion
>1% 1% 15% 17% 22%
37%
39%
7%
7%
Flatiron
11% 15%
Hispanic / Latino 3% 2% 11% 1% 22% 10% Other race 3% 1% American Indian / 7% Native Alaska
>1% 2% Diversity
New Lots Zion
Corona
Native Hawaiian / New Lots Putnam Pacific Islander Two or more races
76% 40%
2%
40%85%
Diversity plaza is a little less diverse at the plaza
41%71%
85%
41%
76%
Meatpacking is the same at the plaza
2% 84%
40%
84% 77%
85%
77% 41% Asian
New lots triangle is more diverse at the Plaza
The racial/ethnic diversity of plazas compared to the neighborhoods is hard to determine
Plazas
Plaza 20%38%
7% 5%4% 19%
38% 29%
Flatiron Plaza
Diversity Corona Plaza Plaza
y
29%
10% 4% 7% 25%
38% 31%
58% 31%
31% 25%
13%
25% 20%
26%
19%
38%
Meatpacking Putnam Zion Plaza Plaza Triangle
Corona Putnam Plaza Plaza
30%
3% 13%
37% 25% 58%
59% 25%
37% 38%
29%
3% 18% 38%
5%
Diversity Plaza
7% 4% 18% 38% 38%
Zion Lots New Triangle Triangle
59% 44%
Corona Plaza
Putnam Plaza
New Lots Triangle
44% 58%
31%
13%
25% 38%
37%
25%
Neighborhoods
%12%
Neighborhood 19%16%
10% 12%
9% 30% 20%
10% 14%
9% 16% 30% 15%
17% Diversity Corona
y
Flatiron
Meatpacking
Corona Putnam
8%
14%19% 32%
17%
8% 12% 13%
20% 20%
16% 32%29%
10%13%
20%
30% 29%
14%
$0 - $14,999
Diversity
Putnam Zion
Zion Lots New
Corona
Putnam New $15,000 Lots - $49,999 $50,000 - $99,999
24% 39%
30% 33%
39% 57% 31%
Diversity plaza
19% 33% 28%
50% 31%
28%
28% 40%
24%
Meatpacking
28% 30%
40%
39%
33%38%
New lots triangle
Lower income groups are over-represented compared to the surrounding neighborhoods
+ 38% 31% $100,000 28%
28
19%
of visitors were under 15 years old compared to 20% neighbourhood avarage
5%
of visitors were above 65 years old compared to 5% neighbourhood avarage
At Corona Plaza, there was a 1:1 match between seniors and children when compared to neighborhood Census data
There are gender imbalances in all plazas. But some are more extreme than others. Diversity and Putnam had a higher rate of men than live in their respective neighborhoods.
Corona had more women in the plaza than in the neighborhood.
75%
Neighborhood Difference in gender between plaza visitors and the neighborhood Plaza Neighborhood
60%
50/50
75% Di Ne ffer to igh enc Pl bo e az rh fro a oo m d
Plaza 100%
100% Corona Diversity New Lots Zion Putnam Flatiron Meatpacking
Corona
More women at plazas with programming.
58% female
Diversity More men at plazas without consistent seating.
It it unclear what drives the gender imbalances in different plazas
78% male
When did they visit?
Walking rates are highest in the afternoon between 126pm 3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
Average: 847
500
0 8
10
Weekday Pedestrian Flow
12
2
4
6
This indicates plazas are used for ‘optional’ activities
67%
of visitors across all plazas visited daily or weekly
Across all plazas, a majority of people visit on a regular basis
Some plazas with lower activity rates - such as Putnam - have higher rates of frequent visitors, indicating their value as a community asset and place to spend time outside, regularly.
How were the plazas perceived?
67%
felt a sense of ownership across all 7 plazas
People identified the plazas as ‘theirs’.
Respondents in outerborough plazas reported a stronger sense of ownership 100%
75%
Is this plaza Your plaza?
50%
No, not interested 25%
No, just visiting Not really No, not interested No, just visiting Not really YES! YES! New Lots Triangle
Zion Triangle
Putnam Plaza
Corona Plaza
Diversity Plaza
Meatpacking Plaza
Flatiron Plaza
0%
Despite only
3% of all
surveyed saying they participated in the plaza planning
64%
Across the board, folks said they would pick up a piece of trash in the plaza, if not too dirty.
Users felt a sense of stewardship for the plazas
66%
across all 7 plazas said the plaza greatly or somewhat increased the feeling of safety
The plazas are welllit at night, which may positively influence perceptions of safety.
People reported an increased perception of safety
People reported that the plazas have improved the aesthetics of the area
Yes, they said ‘no
100%
75%
87%
50%
across all 7 plazas said the plaza increased the aesthetics of the area
25%
No opinion No Yes New Lots Triangle
Zion Triangle
Putnam Plaza
Corona Plaza
Diversity Plaza
Meatpacking Plaza
Flatiron Plaza
0%
Even in areas where plazas had low cleanliness, like New Lots, responses were positive
How do the plazas perform...
How do the plazas perform? »» public life »» public space »» socio-demographic mixing
0238
Key findings 75%
of the outer-borough plazas recognize or know more people since the plaza opened
1. People are using the plazas with
pedestrian peaks in afternoons and more stickiness on weekends, which indicates plazas are used mainly for optional activities
2. People are meeting 3. Those earning less each other Outer-borough than $50,000 were much plazas have more local more likely to make and frequent users and new connections. They correlate with higher social also visit most frequently interactions and recognition and are over-represented compared to neighborhood surroundings
67%
said the plaza increased time spent outside
4. People are spending more time outside, with the highest increase in Queens plazas that most severely lack open space
Key findings 67%
felt a sense of ownership across all 7 plazas
5. People feel a sense of ownership and stewardship even if
only 3% across the board participated in planning meetings for the plazas
72%
of visitors to outerborough plazas were local
6. The majority of visitors are locals,
especially in the outerborough plazas, and locals are more likely to make new social connections
67%
visited daily or weekly
7. People visit their plazas frequently and
rates are higher at plazas where visitors are local
Corona has only of the Flatiron plaza budget
17%
8. Plazas do a lot for a little, especially in
Queens plazas where budgets do not correlate to level of use
Key findings 66%
4.7%
66%
of plaza visitors were under 15 years old
reported an increased feeling of safety
87%
9. Most people walk to the plazas and the
10. Children are underrepresented
11. Plazas increase the feeling of safety
12. Plazas have improved the aesthetics of the area
walk to the plaza
second most common way to get there is public transportation
and few play activities were registered
and typically are well lit into the evenings
said the plaza increased the aesthetics of the area
with people noting planters and furniture as the biggest contributors
Recommendations and Next Steps
Recommendations »» Incorporate people and behavior metrics (including urban justice indicators) into citywide planning initiatives »» Increase plaza funding and operational support (Equity) »» Align support for new and existing plazas with the Mayor’s affordable housing agenda (Access) »» Identify how plazas can further reduce traffic crashes and support Vision Zero (Connectivity; Safety) »» Leverage plaza support and creation with DOHMH Building Healthy Communities initiatives (Health & Wellbeing) »» Provide additional support to plazas to diversify programming and foster civic engagement (Inclusion/Belonging;Participation)
Next Steps: The Experiment
More socioeconomically diverse plazas through invitations and programs for children.
?
What are the design and program signals that invite children and families to spend time in the plazas? How might we determine if more children in a place fosters greater interaction among different socioeconomic groups?
We know where you live matters.
A recent study by the economist Raj Chetty shows that the neighborhoods kids grow up in play a major role in upward mobility. And the longer they live in these neighborhoods, the bigger the impact.
We know where you live matters. Upward mobility is linked to neighborhoods with: »» elementary schools with higher test scores »» a higher share of two-parent families »» greater levels of involvement in civic and religious groups (social capital) »» more residential integration of affluent, middle-class and poor families »» less sprawl (shorter commutes)
And the longer they live in these neighborhoods, the bigger the impact. »»
We also know that simply interacting with different types of people in public space has an impact on your life.
What is social mixing in the public realm? Civic Mixing 1
No Contact
2
Passive Contact
3
Chance Contact
4 3
Familiar Stranger
5
Friends
Thank You. For more information contact: Jeff Risom, jeff@gehlstudio.com Julia D Day, julia@gehlstudio.com