February 25

  • Macaulay Honors College Visit to David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center

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    Visiting on a Sunday the students and I (a professor at Brooklyn College teaching Peopling of New York City) had a chance to see the Atrium in action. It is a really impressive privately owned public space where people can mingle or just relax and read a book. Unfortunately the cafeteria was closed on Sunday. I noticed the high prices for breakfast (around $9) and lunch (sandwiches and salads starting at $14). This makes it less accessible to a wide public. It would be nice to see less expensive offerings and some more innovative use of the space as a place for exhibitions perhaps using this wonderful screen in more creative ways.

    See this post on its own page: Macaulay Honors College Visit to David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
  • 80 Central Park West

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    Rating: 2/5

    This was essentially a lawnspace for a residential building. The plants looked nice enough and there was shelter, though the only really sizable roof was over the entrance. I also thinked the walls looked quite nice, and I can tell that there was some care put into it. The lack of seats and over a dozen signs reminding me to curb my dog were somewhat offputting, and I don’t really see myself visiting this spot again. Also, there was no sign denoting that it was a POPS to begin with.

    By: Raheem Mohammed-Abraham (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West
  • 80 Central Park West

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    This was also a residential building area the interaction we had was a little nicer but still not a place where you would even know it was a public space. The greenery was not taken care of and no places to sit, where it looked like you could sit but you would probably be kicked out of the area.

    Joselyn Zainos, Brooklyn College

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West
  • 10 West 66th Street

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    Rating: 1/5

    This is hardly a POPS with how unappealing the environment is. Essentially, this is nothing more than the lawnspace of a residential building. There’s no sign, and we were even told by a guard that it’s a private space. In terms of scenery, the plants are all matted down and generally unkempt, the walkway in front of the residential building is actually a road for cars, and there is absolutely no shelter except at the very entrance to the hotel. Even then, the roof covers very little area, and the bench didn’t look very comfortable. Overall, a space that I would not want to visit again.

    By: Raheem Mohammed-Abraham (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66th Street
  • 80 Central Park West

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    This is another POP with no sign claiming that this is a public space. The only seating I saw was a ledge that had plants on it. As soon as we walked on this POP, the doorman was already eyeing to see what we were doing. I would rate this 2/5 because it seems like even the doorman didn’t know if it was a POP or not.

    -Nylah Rouse (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West
  • 80 Central Park West

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    I would rate this place a 2 out of 5. Compared to the other POPS that we had gone to previously was an improvement. There was seating next to the planters although we were being watched it still felt a bit more welcoming. The worker was unsure whether it was a POPS was still welcoming. It has some plants and signs that only told us to “curb your dog.” Although it wasn’t too eye appealing it didn’t make me feel like I was in a sketchy place like the other places.

    Sandy Quishpi – Queens College

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West
  • 10 West 66th Street

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    This place was very unwelcoming, the space was a lot bigger but the two people encounters we had made it seem like we were unwanted vistors. One person said that this was not a public space and the other one made us seem inferior as people. The place was filled with more greenery but it was not maintained at all, there was one bench but kind of in an akward space that would make it seem that only residents are allowed in this area.


    Joselyn Zainos, Brooklyn College

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66th Street
  • 2 Lincoln Square

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    Rating: 2/5

    This POPS is astoundingly small and has no seats, and definitely could be mistaken for an alleyway. The sign does not say anything about it being “open for the public” and feels more like a warning. I appreciate the plants, but the visible security cameras (around the entrance), the sidewalk floor, and the general alley-like appearance makes it an unwelcoming place. At the very least, there’s a roof, so you could use it for shelter if the weather is bad, in which case it’s conveniently placed.

    By: Raheem Mohammed-Abraham (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 2 Lincoln Square
  • 10 West 66

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    This POP’s environment felt kinda hostile. The doorman claimed that it was private property which made us believe that we were in the wrong place. Some of the residents felt unwelcoming and this makes me believe that if anyone else were to use this POP, they would experience the same thing. There was like one bench and no sign claiming that it was a POP. There were a good amount of plants. I would rate it a 2/5.

    -Nylah Rouse (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66
  • 10 West 66th Street

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    I would give a 1 out of 5 rating to this place. The doorman wasn’t even aware that they had a POPS and there was no sign saying it a POPS either. Instead encountered a rude old lady and I felt like I was again trespassing a very fancy hotel. Everyone was staring and the only available seating was a bench. It did not feel welcoming at all.

    Sandy Quishpi – Queens College

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66th Street
  • 2 Lincoln Square

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    In this POP there was no seating and looked very dull. We couldn’t find an original sign that said it was a POP. There were lights but some of them didn’t work. There was a sign in the area stating that the cameras don’t provide protection. If I didn’t know it was a POP I would say it looked like a garage. I would rate it 1/5.

    -Nylah Rouse (Queens college)

    See this post on its own page: 2 Lincoln Square
  • 80 Central Park West

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    This was the last area where I visited and it was not surprising in the very least. There were few if any indications for the public. The place felt unwelcoming and alienated from the environment. There are no means for accommodation to the public and it almost makes it seem like it was forced to be there displaying the bare minimum effort. -Jonathan Molina Queens College

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West
  • 2 Lincoln Square

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    I would rate this place a 1 out of 5. The POPS made me feel like I was entering a parking garage and like I was trespassing. The only sign available were telling us to not sit on the planters and we were unsure of the “POPS” sign. The only amenity this place would serve is protection from the weather.

    Sandy Quishpi – Queens College

    See this post on its own page: 2 Lincoln Square
  • 2 Lincoln Square

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    The moment you walk into this space you get a very depressing feel, it’s very small and dark. There is no sign to indicate that it’s a public space. There are a few potted plants but they are not taken care of at all, It almost seems like a truck delivery place. There are no benches or water, and there is a requirement for artwork but there was none in sight. You are discouraged from sitting anywhere with many signs telling you to not sit.

    Joselyn Zainos, Brooklyn College

    See this post on its own page: 2 Lincoln Square
  • 10W 66th Street

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    The area although having some green space available for the public eye, the place itself was still basic and had no desire to be appealing to the public. The environment in the area feels intimidating and an outsider would not feel comfortable being in a place like this. No signs were even found – Jonathan Molina Queens College

    See this post on its own page: 10W 66th Street