The Presentation: Public Life in NYC's Plazas

Page 1

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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$

Po p

ula tio

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en

sit y

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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

=

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


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