The topic of this research is to discover how the transitions of a public space affect pedestrians moving across and through them. In order to understand the transition of the spaces in question, we would need a brief history, the site's location and what transportation is available.  We would also need the layout of each space in order to identify what changes are needed. The research compiled here is to help city and regional planners as well as architects who develop or renovate new pedestrian spaces. 

Research of these locations and associated information was conducted over a four week period from May 28 thru June 18, 2011.

Pedestrian Movement in Transition

   During the research period, I have investigated  how people travel across the sites referenced below and how the transitions of the spaces changed pedestrians’ movement.

   The goal of this research is to better understand the movement of people through a formal public space and what city and regional planners can do to enhance and encourage pedestrian movement.

   The spaces of observation were Columbus Circle, Times Square, and the Highline in Manhattan and Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, of New York. All four sites have either gone through or are currently going through transitions.

   I researched the history of each space as well as its physical and social aspects and how the spaces change. Through the use of maps, I documented how people related to and used the spaces in order to understand the relationship to the surrounding environment. I made numerous visual observations to understand how people used the spaces, to get their opinions of their feelings toward the use of these areas. I observed how people accessed the spaces. I made notes of what they did, their diversity, how long they stayed, their direction of travel, and their physical numbers.

   What I have discovered through this research is that in order for the cities to become more walkable, the ambiance and atmosphere of public plazas are more important than the pathways which connect them. There is also a need for a destination and variations of interest along the way, such as the formal public spaces as indicated in this research. Traffic through these spaces should flow smoothly, avoiding overcrowding, with the resultant degradation of these public areas. Lastly the people need to feel that they are safe from vehicular traffic, and all forms of physical harm. 

The High Line: Observations

The High Line is an oasis above an old and dingy industrial area. The park is long and narrow widening at key areas to allow people to congregate.  The park is full of life with a wide assortment of plants in various arrangements to create different types of environments. In some areas on the High Line the views of the streets and buildings below are undisturbed.  These spaces are mainly along walking paths. Other streets below are framed to create interest.  With the addition of seating these spaces become focal points as can be seen where the park crosses over the intersection of 10th and 17th.

The largest number of people gathered around the stadium seats with the view of the streets below and the wooden lounge chairs near the narrow strip where water flows along the surface of the walking path.

The most notable transition that the High Line has on the neighborhoods is that surfaces facing the High Line have become marketable. Many billboards face the park. Many windows of buildings  aligned with the park have paintings and company names and information on the windows. The park has also become a common place for photo shots and documentaries.

Atlantic Yards: Observations

   The busiest intersection was the triangle of Atlantic, Flatbush, and 4th, both for vehicles and pedestrians. Along the street is the entrance to the Atlantic Terminal for the Long Island Rail Road, several bus stops, and subway entrances. With all the people using public transportation coming back from work or shopping in the mall, the sidewalks become packed with people. Walking paths became narrow due to bus stop crowds. Vehicular traffic in all directions was bumper to bummer as trucks pulled in and out of the construction site.

Atlantic Yards: Observations

The sidewalks around the site were closed forcing all pedestrian traffic to the other side of the street. The sidewalks opposite the site were wide and had shops that opened out on to them. At the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues is a mall also owned by Forest City Ratner. The stores include Target, Marshals, and Best Buy. In front of the mall's main entrance is a large public plaza raised up a few steps from the sidewalk and uses a different material to indicate its importance. 

There were more people on the mall side of the site than at the mom and pop style shops on the other side. The mom and pop shops were located on Flatbush Ave. and intersect streets starting past Dean Ave. On this side of Atlantic Yards Pedestrians seemed to be locals doing their daily routine, such as strolling, and walking their dogs, then those on the other side whom seem to be running errands, out on shopping excursion, or commuting.

High Line: History

In 1847 rail lines started appearing on the west side streets of Manhattan. Within years so many accidents occurred that men on horses were hired to warn traffic of the approaching trains. Even with the flag men, regular accidents happened until 1929 when the City and State of New York agreed on a raised rail line, or High Line, to run above the city.

The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to elevate freight trains carrying dangerous material above Manhattan's streets to the industrial district. The High Line opened in 1934. The rail line ran in the middle of the block so the trains could deliver their goods directly into the buildings.

By the 1950’s, with the growth of interstate trucking, train transport began to plummet. By the 1960’s the southernmost section was demolished, and by 1980 it officially closed. In the following years many property owners along the High Line lobbied for its demolition. However, just as many people opposed the demolition and even tried to reestablish service on the High Line.

By the end of the millennia a group by the name of Friends of the High Line advocated for the city to transform the abandoned structure into a public park. In the early years of the millennia studies were done and designs were made to reclaim the High Line. In 2004 the designers were selected. The ground breaking ceremony took place in April 2006, marking the start of construction on the first section. In 2009 section one opened to the public and section two opened two years later in 2011.

Bibliography

N/A. About High Line History. 2010. http://www.thehighline.org/sites/files/images/deathavecowboy_1.jpg?rand=355746093 (accessed June 15, 2011).

—. High Line Park Information. 2010. http://www.thehighline.org/about/park-information (accessed june 15, 2011).

High Line: Transit

There are an abundant amount of public transit stops in the area of the park. Buses run close to the park stopping within a block of some of the entrances. The M11 stops on Washington St. and on 9th Ave.  The M14 also stops on 9^th Ave. The M23 and M34 stop on 10th Ave. There are also seven different subways in the area that are a few blocks away but the walk to the High Line is easy in any weather.

Since the High Line is rise above the street leave, the vehicular traffic below is uninterrupted by pedestrians. The High Line has become the focal point of the area, by dominating interests of visitor.

The entrances can accessed from 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 28th, and 30th street, with ADA elevator access from 14th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.

Bibliography

N/A. High Line About Maps. 2010. http://www.thehighline.org/about/maps (accessed June 15, 2011).

—. High Line Park Information. 2010. http://www.thehighline.org/about/park-information (accessed june 15, 2011).

High Line: About the Park

The High Line is a public park built on an abandon elevated rail structure. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The High Line is being built in three phases. Each phase is to be opened within two years of the last starting from the southern end.  Section 1, spanning from Gansevoort Street to West 20^th Street, was opened on June 9, 2009. Section 2, spanning between West 20^th and West 30^th Streets, opened June 8, 2011. The third and last phase above West 30^th around the West Side Rail Yards is owned by a separate entity.  Development now depends upon plans being discussed by the state-run MTA and its related companies. At this point it is uncertain whether the third phase will be restructuring or demolition.

The mile-and-a-half-long elevated park combines meandering concrete pathways and naturalistic plantings, with fixed benches, movable metal seating, and wooden lounge chairs. The park is equipped with lighting so that it can remain open at night.

The High Line is open from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily and can be accessed every two to three blocks. 

Bibliography

—. High Line Park Information. 2010. http://www.thehighline.org/about/park-information (accessed june 15, 2011).

High Line: Location

The High Line is located in Manhattan, New York on the West Side. The park runs above the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and ends in Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen.  The first staircase is located just off Gansevoort Street and Washington Street. The elevated park then weaves through the districts to its end point on West 34th Street, between 10^th & 11^th Avenues. 

Bibliography

N/A. High Line Park Information. 2010. http://www.thehighline.org/about/park-information (accessed june 15, 2011).

. High Line Park Information. 2010. http://www.thehighline.org/about/park-information (accessed june 15, 2011).

Atlantic Yards Traffic disruptions

The 22 acre development of Atlantic Yards has disrupted the traffic flow for residents of the area. The developer was granted permission to tear down a bridge on Carlton and close off parts of Pacific St. which affected the daily travel patterns of the residents, especially those who live on Carlton Ave.

Carlton Ave deadend

Pacific St. is a one way street and has been closed off in two locations. The first part lies between Vanderbilt Ave. and Carlton Ave. The street is open to public traffic between Carlton Ave. and 6^th Ave. and closed again between 6^th Ave. and Flatbush Ave. at the intersection of 5^th Ave.

Carlton Ave. is a one way street which used to connect to Atlantic Ave. over the site via the Carlton Street Bridge.

Both routes that have been blocked affect Carlton Ave. residents, both for vehicular and pedestrian travel. The demolition of the Carlton Ave. Bridge effects traffic to Atlantic Ave. over the site. Since Carlton Ave. is a one way street all vehicular travel has been detoured extending their trip and adding to outgoing traffic.

With the closure of the bridge and Pacific St., residents of Carlton Ave. now have to circle around the whole site in order to travel one street to Atlantic Ave. And to get from Vanderbilt they can no longer turn down Pacific St. but must either continue down to Atlantic Ave. and circle around to 6^th Ave. and over to Dean Ave. and then turn on to Carlton Ave. or turn down Bergen St. then over to Carlton Ave.

The site has inconvenienced outgoing traffic more than incoming traffic. The final plans of Atlantic Yards propose to erect a new bridge reconnecting Carlton Ave. to Atlantic Ave.

Bibliography

Sam Schwartz Engineering. Atlantic Yards: arena opening Traffic Mitigation Plan. May 19, 2011. http://www.esd.ny.gov/Subsidiaries_Projects/AYP/AtlanticYards/AdditionalResources/052311_ArenaTrafficMitigationPlan.pdf (accessed June 23, 2011).

Times Square a Pedestrian Zone

City officials have minimized traffic from 42nd to 47th Streets at Times Square all the way up Broadway until Columbus Circle in hopes of getting rid of traffic jams, pollution and frequent accidents with pedestrians.  They’ve added outside seating and shops in an attempt to make Times Square more attractive to visitors. The Pedestrian Plazas are now used for block parties and events such as the taste of New York event which was to take place later in the day that I visited.

On days when there are no events the extra space helps to alleviate pedestrian traffic by letting people spread out over a greater area. The pedestrian plaza can be transformed for different uses. As the sidewalks become over-crowed with slower traffic of shoppers and lines for Broadway shows, the plaza begins to be used as a makeshift express lane for resident New Yorkers trying to get by. At the same time the space is used by both tourists and New Yorkers to eat and lounge in the sun. Many tourists use this space to take pictures standing in front of the monuments without getting run over. People walking on the sidewalk could circumnavigate around them.

With the transformation of the two-way vehicular traffic into one way streets, along with the reductions of lanes, the streets are now safe for pedestrians to cross.  This reduction also brings a sense of ease to Times Square and seems less chaotic.  Bike lanes were also added to ensure the safety of the bikers and to help the flow of traffic by separating them from the faster vehicles on the road.

Bibliography

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Times Square. 6 6, 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square (accessed 6 6, 2011).

McLachlan, Sean. Times Square becomes a pedestrian zone. 5 27, 2009. http://www.gadling.com/2009/05/27/times-square-becomes-a-pedestrian-zone/ (accessed 6 10, 2011).

Moon, Johnny. Times Square New York City. 2011. 

Times Square The Center of the World

In the northern triangle of Times Square there is another square called Duffy Square which was dedicated in 1937 to Chaplain Francis P. Duffy of the New York City Infantry Regiment.  Today, on this square site, there is a memorial to Duffy along with a statue of George M. Cohan. The statue and square were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. These monuments are overshadowed by the TKTS discount theater ticket booth, with its large red roof and bleachers style seating that are used heavily on nice days.

Times Square is the iconic image of New York, with its soaring LED signs and jumbotron displays encircling the square. Times Square is the only neighborhood with zoning ordinances requiring building owners to display illuminated signs.  Many prominent attractions can be found in Times Square.  These include live television broadcasts, large toy stores and candy stores, famous themed restaurants and bars and the theater district.

Bibliography

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Times Square. 6 6, 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square (accessed 6 6, 2011).

Times Square Social Transitions

As New York City grew, Time Square also became a cultural hub with theaters and music halls and became known as the theater district.

In its beginnings Time Square was a place to be seen.  It was a place to see celebrities and the wealthy. During the 1910’s and 20’s Time Square was considered one of the most desirable locations in Manhattan. During this period the area became corrupted and crime ridden due to the gambling and prostitution that was moving into the area.

  

From the Great Depression of the 1930s until the early 1990s the neighborhood surrounding Time Square became exceedingly dangerous. From the 1960s till the 90’s the area became filled with smut and adult entertainment.  Drug addicts lined the street.

In the 1980s Mayor Ed Koch saw the decline of Time Square as a huge problem. If Time Square wasn’t safe, then the entire city was not safe. In order to attract tourists, Times Square needed to be cleaned up.

Mayor Rudolph Giuliani continued the cleanup efforts starting in the mid 1990s until the early 2000s creating the Time Square we know today. This was achieved by increasing security, closing adult theaters and forcing drug dealers out of the area. Many of the old theaters have been restored and are used to house Broadway shows today. This transformation was done with the help of Disney which invested heavily to turn Time Square into a family friendly environment.

In 2009 Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that Time Square would be turned into a pedestrian plaza to ease traffic around midtown. It started by closing off multiple lanes and turning Broadway and seventh Ave. into one south running street. This was first done on a temporary basis of a year to measure its success.  With the success 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the pedestrian plazas would remain permanent.
In 2011, Times Square became smoke free.

Times Square History

Dating back before the Revolutionary War the land belonged to John Morin Scott, who was a general of the New York State militia. When he owned the land it was considered the countryside and was used for farming and breeding Horses. 

In the first half of the 19^th century a man by the name of John Jacob Astor bought the land. He then started selling off lots as the city rapidly spread uptown.

In 1904 the New York Times moved their newspaper operations to 42^nd street, at the address One Times Square, which until then was called Longacre Square. The square was then renamed after the prominent newspaper, becoming Time Square. On top of the building sits the famous Time Square Ball which drops every New Year’s Eve. Within weeks the first electrified advertisement appeared. In that same year the city started construction on a subway station there. Although the paper sold the building to Allied Chemicals in 1913 the square kept its name Time Square. In this same year the Lincoln Highway Association chose Time Square as its Eastern Terminus – the first road to cross the United States and end in San Francisco, California.

Bibliography

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Times Square. 6 6, 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square (accessed 6 6, 2011).

Moon, Johnny. Times Square New York City. 2011. http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/207131/new_york_guide/times_square_new_york_city.html (accessed 6 6, 2011).

N/A. Time Square History. 6 6, 2011. http://www.nyctourist.com/times-square-history.php (accessed 6 6, 2011).

Times Square's Location

Time Square is located in Midtown Manhattan, at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Ave., between 42^nd and 47^th. The plaza itself rests between those streets. The side streets have attached themselves to the importance of the location. Lying one block in either direction from time Square from sixth to eighth Ave, is the Theater District which stretches five blocks above Time Square to 53^rd street.

Bibliography

NYC Tours . MAP OF TIMES SQUARE MAP. June 24, 2011. http://www.nyctourist.com/map.asp (accessed June 24, 2011).

Atlantic Yards A Residences Dilemma

I spoke with a resident of Carlton Avenue about her feelings on the Atlantic Yards Project. She said that there is a shared concern amongst residents. They are concerned, more than anything else, about the disruption of traffic and lack of parking. With the closure of the Carlton Ave Bridge and parts of Pacific Ave., residents now have to circle around the whole site in to get to the other side.

Another fear is that when the arena is completed the streets will not be able to handle the additional traffic on game nights and residents may not be able to find parking on their own blocks. She is concerned that the streets will not be able to handle the extra amount of delivery trucks the arena will need, or that fire trucks will not be able to maneuver through them.

 Finally she made the point that having the arena in Atlantic Yards would not only affect the surrounding streets but the entire city.

There would be traffic throughout Brooklyn with people heading toward the site. Even with the Long Island Rail Road, buses and subway many people, especially from New Jersey, would chose to drive.

Atlantic Yards Why the Project is Behind Scheduled

Atlantic Yards has been opposed by the community around the site due to its large scale and environmental impact. Although the project is adding numerous amounts of affordable housing units many fear that the overall amount of apartments and condos will flood the market.

The project has been plagued by several issues that have slowed down the development. The development has been involved in several legal battles.  It was also hurt by the credit crisis, slowing economy and weakening housing market.

The project was announced at the end of 2003. Officials broke ground on March 11, 2010. The current opening date for the arena is now projected to be the fall of 2012.  Completion of the entire project is not yet set.

Bibliography

Unknown. Atlantic Yards (Brooklyn. March 17, 2011. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/a/atlantic_yards_brooklyn/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=atlantic%20yards&st=cse (accessed June 1, 2011).

Atlantic Yards information

Atlantic Yards is a mixed-use development project of 16 high-rise buildings and an arena currently under construction the future home of the New Jersey Nets, Barclay Center. The project is part of the Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal Area. Atlantic Yards is being developed by the Forest City Ratner Co. located in Ohio. The original project architect was Frank Gehry who was removed from the project in June 2009 although he is still the lead designer of the master plan. SHoP Architects and Ellerbe Becket have replaced him as the new designers of the arena.
Atlantic Yards is located in the Prospect Heights neighborhood, near downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene. The site sits between the north border of Atlantic Avenue and south of Pacific Street.  It stretches from Vanderbilt Avenue, goes past the cut off Carlton Ave, 6^th Avenue, and ends at the diagonal Flatbush Avenue.

Atlantic Yards’ site sits on 22 acres of land with over eight acres of open space. The project includes 8 million square feet of apartments, offices, stores and an arena for the New Jersey Nets.

The project sits on top of the rail yard and tracks of the Long Island Rail Road.   The project was named Atlantic Yards because it was built on a rail yard and Atlantic Avenue which lies to its north. 

Bibliography

Unknown. Atlantic Yards (Brooklyn. March 17, 2011. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/a/atlantic_yards_brooklyn/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=atlantic%20yards&st=cse (accessed June 1, 2011).

Columbus circle observation of the inner circle

I observed the inner circle of Columbus Circle between 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm.

There are three entrances which break through the outer garden to gain access to the central plaza. In order to protect the fountain from cars each entrance has two 18 high inch pylons, flanked by sloping walls of the garden and fountian.  At its highest point the wall is around four feet. The garden is made up of six different types of ground cover and one type of tree, fifteen trees in total. The fountain has three tiers, with spouts on the top two. There are three fountains with a total of 99 spouts (29, 31 and 39).  The largest fountain having the most spouts is on the Central Park Entrance side.

I noticed that at any given time there were no fewer than 20 people in the inner circle. The highest volume of people was around 80. Most people were in small groups of about three or four. The crowd was relatively made up of young adults, but did include a full range of people including infants and senior citizens, of which there were only two.

There were five skateboarders and three scooters (one was a young child).

Thirteen people were eating lunch most listening to music, four read, and one was playing a game on their phone. All people in the space would check their phones regularly 

On average, people by themselves stayed longer.

People with bikes moved through the circle and did not stay.

Most people read.

The majority of people had cameras.

There were three photo shoots two of couples, and one for the groom’s men.

There were three types of lighting in the circle.

One man played his guitar and one woman danced in a ballerina outfit.  Neither one asked for money. 

Columbus Circle Memorial Day Weekend Observation

12:15-2:00

On my two trips to Columbus Circle on consecutive days I made the following observations about the space:

People who used the central space around the Columbus statue worked in the surrounding buildings, mainly, out on their lunch breaks.

People on the sidewalk in front of the Center were walking to and from work or going shopping in the Center.  They did not generally congregate out front except to wait for the light.







People on the Central Park Plaza were mainly tourists or were working in tourist oriented services.